In Harm’s Way, page 8
Two of them jerked me up and walked me over to a nearby patrol car, then threw me into the back seat. I stayed silent even through their taunts and the jabs they delivered to my ribs. During the ride to the jail, the cop in the passenger seat spoke in Hungarian. He laughed incessantly as he stared back at me.
When we pulled up to the booking station, that cop whispered something indiscernible into my right ear as he pulled me out. It sounded more Russian than it did Hungarian. I made a point to study his face and get a close look at the name on his uniform: Toth. I overheard the cop in the driver seat refer to him as Lazlo. I had a hunch I’d be running into Lazlo Toth down the line.
I had always heard Hungary was a progressive, safe place to visit, but those tourists never had to endure the bowels of the Gyorskocsi Street jail. The dank, overwhelmed jail was something out of the Dark Ages. I was thrown into a musty room with bright green paint chipping off the walls. The smell of urine and bleach permeated the area.
I sat in the room, chained to a steel bar in the corner for over an hour. Finally, a tall, thin man with a scraggly beard walked in. He was accompanied by two officers, one of whom was Lazlo Toth.
“I’m Albert Szabo, the warden of the Gyorskocsi Street jail.” He had an insincere smile on his face as he introduced himself. “We’re here to ask you some questions. It’ll go well for you if you answer honestly.”
I looked up from the ground briefly. “I would like a representative. A lawyer.”
Szabo let out a hearty laugh, and the guards joined the chorus of cackles.
“Your country affords representation to prisoners. I’m not speaking until I get a lawyer.”
The warden’s face grew redder by the second. He sat down in a chair and scooted next to me, his face inches from my face. “What do you think this is, USA?” Then he let out another maniacal laugh, and the others joined in once again.
I looked at him without expression. “No lawyer, no talk.”
Szabo looked back to Toth. “Show our guest how we do things in Hungary. Make him talk!”
My hands remained chained to the steel bar on the wall, but my feet didn’t. Toth withdrew his baton and raised it high. I dipped my shoulder and kept my eyes on him as he lowered the baton toward my ribs. I whipped my left leg in the air, kicking the baton out of his hands. It rolled across to the other side of the room.
The warden took his Taser out, and my groin absorbed the shock. I took a few steps back, but that was it. I looked into the warden’s eyes, and fear was written across his face. He wasn’t dealing with a novice when it came to receiving torture, and he was now aware of it.
“You’re not gonna get me to talk, Warden. You can torture me until you kill me, but it won’t work, trust me. I have a high threshold for pain. Just get me a lawyer, and I’ll talk.”
Szabo was willing to test the veracity of my claim. He nodded to both guards and shouted something in Hungarian. They left the room briefly and then came back in with a rectangular container not much bigger than a shoebox. The warden opened the box, and he made sure I saw what was inside.
“Razors, pliers, or a small handsaw.” He smiled. “Take your pick.”
I said nothing.
“Okay, then. I’ll start with the pliers.”
The one guard grabbed my legs and held on for dear life while Toth grabbed my hands. They didn’t have to hold so tight. I wasn’t resisting.
Szabo grabbed my pinky finger and squeezed down with the pliers, drawing a slight trickle of blood before looking up into my eyes. “I’ll start with your pinky and end with your thumb. You can avoid this by talking. I want to know why you killed Anna Varga.”
23
“Lawyer!” It was the only word I spoke to the warden. Even with my right pinky clamped down by a rusty pair of pliers.
Szabo grunted and then began squeezing my pinky slowly. I could hear the bones crunch, but there was a loud knock on the door before he could finish the job. He let up on the pliers and yelled over to the guard holding my legs tight. “Go see who that is.”
The guard opened the door and stood up straight as someone on the other end gave him instructions. He came rushing back to Szabo and said something in Hungarian.
The warden quickly pulled the pliers off my pinky and yelled over to Toth in Hungarian. Toth bolted out of the room and less than a minute later reentered with a first aid kit. He grabbed my finger and tried to cleanse it, but I pulled it back. I wasn’t about to have him clean it. Whoever was on the other end of that door, I wanted them to see what was done to me.
Szabo’s facial expression changed dramatically. His voice was humble and contrite as he called over to Toth, “Unchain him from that pipe, now!”
The two guards walked out before me, and it was just Szabo and me alone in the room. He put his hands gently on my shoulders and spoke softly. “Please accept my apologies. I hope we can move forward and forget this whole thing.”
I looked up at him the same way I had all along—expressionless. “Who was at the door?” I asked.
“That was our booking attendant.”
“Why the dramatic change when the booking attendant came to the door? What am I missing?”
“She explained that you’re being bailed out.”
“I don’t understand. Why would that change everything? I’m surprised you’d allow me to be bailed out. I’m obviously missing something.”
Szabo nodded. “It isn’t my place to speak further about who bailed you out. You’re free to go. Again, please accept my apologies.”
I checked out of the jail and walked out with my bag in hand. Everything was still in there. Weapons. Passport. Everything.
I got my car out of the impound lot. Once I climbed behind the wheel, I pulled my phone out and called Wasser. She finally picked up.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
“Where have I been? Seriously? I’ve been trying to reach you all day. Where have you been?”
Wasser paused. “Have you seen what’s going on with the whole Anna Varga thing?”
“Wait, are you actually serious? You mean to tell me you and the Agency had nothing to do with me being bailed out?”
“Bailed out of where? What are you talking about?” she asked.
“I’m coming down to the house right now.”
“The boss doesn’t want you coming down here again. Don’t do it,” she said.
I was thoroughly confused. If the Agency didn’t bail me out, then who did?
I got my answer a few minutes later when my phone rang.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Good evening, Dr. Abbott.” It was Carl Fuller. “I’m really sorry you had to go through that terrible ordeal. Are you okay?”
I was in so much shock that it took at least five seconds for me to answer. “Mr. Fuller. I had no idea it was you who bailed me out. I really appreciate it.”
“Hungary’s law enforcement can be hasty at times and their laws difficult to navigate for tourists. They were clearly overzealous in their pursuit of Ms. Varga’s killer. They only found her body a few hours ago.”
“Ms. Varga is dead?” I tried my best to come across convincing, but acting wasn’t my strong suit. “Did someone really murder her?”
“It appears so. We’re all very saddened.” Fuller’s voice cracked.
I intentionally stayed silent for a prolonged period of time and then cleared my throat. “I saw her just a couple days ago. Why would someone hurt her?”
“That’s the million-dollar question.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, do you know why they’d have arrested me?” I put it out there, but he wasn’t going to play along.
“Beats me. As I said, the Budapest police can be overzealous.” Fuller paused. “I’m heading out of town tonight, so I won’t see you before you start with the company. I just want you to please forget what the cops did to you and just move forward. Great things await you at QuoAc.”
“Once again, I want to say thank you for everything.”
I hung up and drove over to the safe house. I needed some answers, and it was time for the Agency to provide them.
24
I knocked on the safe house door for five minutes before someone answered. I found it sort of insane that there were dozens of people a few feet from the door, but no one acknowledged me.
Finally, Wasser peeked her head out the door and said, “Don’t come in guns blazing. Just stay calm. Let’s talk.”
I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I walked in the door and was confronted by the usual craziness. Agents rushing back and forth. On multiple phones at the same time. Walking up and down the stairs. I was no longer impressed by the organized chaos.
I pulled Wasser aside in the front room. “I want some answers. Now!”
“Let’s go downstairs and have a drink. It’s late, and it sounds like you’ve been through a lot.”
I followed her down to the packed bar. There must’ve been twenty agents in the tight quarters. Not exactly a great setting for conversation, but I didn’t care who heard us. I fired out the questions before I even took a sip of the Jack and Coke.
“You guys have my mind so twisted that I’m wondering if my interpretation of the bad guys is upside down,” I said.
Wasser sat on the stool a foot away from me, our faces mere inches from each other. “What’s got you so upset? Why this great change over the past day? Is this all because I didn’t answer your calls?”
“I literally came within a second of murdering a man because Belochkin, whoever he really is, is coercing me to do so. And your agency is in cahoots with him! Meanwhile, this ‘evil man,’ Carl Fuller, offers me a job and bails me out of a jail I was about to be tortured in.”
Wasser started to say something a couple times but stopped herself before doing so.
“You’ve got to give me something, because I’m not going to kill a person who doesn’t have it coming to him. I told Belochkin that when I was face-to-face with him in Moscow.” I noticed a few agents staring at me and brought it down to a whisper. “I won’t kill an innocent person, even if my own daughter is danger.”
“Well, I’m not going to sit here and try to convince you how bad of a person Fuller really is. He’s going to release that list any day now. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and everything he does is a calculated move meant to ultimately serve one person only, and that’s Carl Fuller.” Wasser didn’t bother sipping her michelada. She slammed it. “I’m also not going to pretend the CIA is an altruistic organization that does everything right. You have to decide for yourself who and what is the more right and more wrong. That’s going to be your call. I’m not here to try and persuade you.”
“I need real-time intelligence. Data. Something detailing this list, and that he’s about to release it. I can’t take someone’s word for it. I need to see something for myself.”
“That’s above my paygrade, Harm. Can’t help you there.”
“Until I see it, I’m not gonna put a hand on that man.”
Wasser swiveled around in the chair and poured herself another drink. I was still nursing mine. She looked down at the ground and then back into my eyes. “You’ve had a long day. Why don’t you get some sleep? See how you feel tomorrow.”
“I want answers tonight.” I wasn’t backing down.
“You still haven’t told me what happened today. All I know is you were arrested and the Good Samaritan bailed you out.”
“I got the job at QuoAc. I had another chance at Fuller, and he would’ve been six feet under had Frank Lorini not walked in before I did the deed.”
She raised her glass. “Well, you got the job. That’s huge! You’re in.”
I shook my head. “There’s nothing to toast. I just told you he’s no longer on my radar. Not until I see some hard evidence.”
Wasser continued like I hadn’t spoken. “So, the cops came by and took you into custody? Did they share any hard evidence with you?”
“No, they certainly didn’t. After a brief chase, they dragged me into a dingy room and started to torture me before the ‘Good Samaritan,’ as you call him, bailed me out.”
“It’s all part of his act. C’mon, you’re an educated man. You have street smarts. You’re not actually buying Fuller’s benevolence, are you?” she asked.
“I’m not buying anyone’s BS.” I polished off the rest of my drink and walked back upstairs to confront the big guy, Mel Renson.
25
“You can’t go up there. It requires a clearance. A clearance that most of us down here don’t have.” Michael, the nerdy guy I’d met the other day, stood between me and the door.
“Tell the director I want to speak to him immediately,” I yelled loud enough to bring the entire downstairs to an abrupt halt.
Michael was an office guy, and it showed. His hands were shaking violently. He didn’t know what to do with my aggression. I actually felt bad for the poor guy. I had no beef with him. I brought my voice down to a whisper. “Look, buddy, you aren’t my issue. Just get Mel Renson down here. That’s all.”
Michael flashed me a concerned look. “Dr. Harm, you’ve been drinking. I can smell it from here. Why don’t you get some sleep and speak with Mr. Renson in the morning?”
I moved Michael out of the way and started banging on the door.
Two guys who looked more like professional wrestlers than CIA agents approached me in a hurry. “Sir, you’re going to have to back up right now!”
I nodded and stepped back from the door a few steps. One of the men grabbed me by the back of my right tricep, and the other stood nearby.
The guard pulled me out of the room and to a back porch I was previously unaware of. He pointed in my face and started to lecture me on safe house protocols. “You’re a guest here, and there are rules you will follow, or you can find your way out of here. The number one rule is you don’t go upstairs without the proper clearance and prior authorization. I hope I’m clear.”
I had to play along. I wouldn’t get anywhere by being loud and obnoxious. “Look, I’m sorry. I got a little carried away. It won’t happen again.”
The other guard spoke up. “And your drinking privileges are canceled.”
I started to respond when Mel Renson came walking back in my direction. The guards closed in on me as he approached. Renson held his hand up, and they stepped back.
“I understand you want to speak with me, Dr. Harm. What’s the great urgency?”
“Can I have a word alone with you?” I asked.
Renson brushed the behemoths away and then tilted his head. “So, what’s up?”
“I’m sure you’re aware of all that’s going on with Carl Fuller and my infiltration into QuoAc, right?”
“I can’t confirm or deny anything. But I’ll say this: I make it my business to stay on top of everything related to my staff.”
“Well, I probably won’t get very far with you, in that case. I’m just letting you know I’m not seeing this malevolent side to Fuller you’re all talking about. In fact, I’m seeing just the opposite.”
“So, what is it you’re asking me?” Renson stood stone-faced.
“Okay, let me be perfectly clear. I’m going to need proof that Fuller actually has a list and that he’s endangering as many people as your agent has told me.” I shook my head. “If I don’t see it, then you can all go through with your threats. I no longer care.”
He didn’t blink. “There are documents and videos you aren’t privileged to see. Unfortunately, I can’t show them to you.”
“Well, then, I’m going to fly back to Boston tomorrow. There’s nothing else for me to do here.”
Renson’s face didn’t change one bit. I was impressed. “You do what you have to do.”
He started to walk away and spoke over his shoulder. “Just be careful you don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
I didn’t need to respond. I knew what awaited. But my mind was made up.
I walked back downstairs and jumped in bed. I tossed and turned for the first thirty minutes, and then I heard Wasser jump up on the rack above me.
I hopped out of bed and leaned toward her as she lay there with her headphones on.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” I asked.
She took her headphones off and grimaced, then put them back over her ears.
I rocked her gently until she asked, “What is it?”
“I’m sorry for getting a little carried away there.”
“A little?” She smirked.
“I’ll let you go back to listening to your music, but I just thought you should know I’m leaving for Boston in the morning. I appreciate all you’ve done for me. I really hope to see you again, under different circumstances.”
She jumped down to the ground and gave me a hug. “I know this isn’t easy. I’m not judging you. You have to do what you think is right.”
I wasn’t expecting that, but it was welcome. Wasser was someone I’d never forget and hoped to see again.
26
“Well, here’s your proof!” Wasser threw an early edition of the New York Times down at my chest.
“That’s a rude awakening. No ‘good morning’?”
She pointed to the newspaper sitting on my chest. “Read it!”
The bold headline jumped off the paper.
“Explosive Report Exposes CIA Agents”
I scooted to the end of the bed and looked up at Wasser, who was still standing above me. “When did he do this?”
“No clue when he submitted the list to the news, but they released it a few hours ago. Against our wishes.”
I looked down at the headlines and then back up at her. “So, he actually did it!”
“Yeah, there are over two hundred names on the list. That’s a lot of dead and destroyed lives.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose vigorously. “Well, you wanted proof. Now you’ve got it!”
