The Calvary Arrive

A loud rap on the door shook the Inspector from his animated rant and he said : "Yes?"

"Your guests have arrived, Sir." the sergeant said, ducking out of the door when Colonel Balak and a smart-suited man entered the room. We stood. Sean rubbed his hands together. The colonel eyed the box, and then fixed his cold eyes on the Inspector.

Sean and I resumed our seats, Josh stood to attention next to his Colonel. Examining the red finger marks on Josh's cheek, the Colonel spun round quickly addressing the Inspector in a booming parade - ground voice.

"You have reprimanded one of my men, insulted an officer of Mossad, disarmed him forcibly and arrested him publicly." He spoke in English for our benefit, Josh interpreting for Maier's sake, and seemingly loving it.

"Aye and he slapped him," Sean said.

"You witnessed this?" Balak asked us, a fierce authority in his voice and manner. Muscles and sinews tightened with flexed arms. I sensed he was as mad as a hornet.

Balak looked toward us with piercing hooded-eyes and we nodded. He sprang across the room, reached across the desk, fiercely backhanding the detective's cheeks on both sides. Two loud "THWACKS" resounded in the air, echoing off the walls. It caused police in the outer area to leave their desks, craning to peer into the office.

Before the stunned Inspector could respond or call his men, the smartly attired stranger placed a business card on his desk, and handed one to me and Sean. The embossed card said: Israel's Minister of Homeland Security, Secretary to The Knesset, and Adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel.

Sean trumpeted, "hooray, the cavalry has arrived."

I nudged him to shut up, but smiled. The Minister spoke Hebrew, Josh interpreting for us. The Minister outlined the dangerous nature of the situation giving a precise and well - rehearsed statement. 'What an incredible memory,' I thought.

"All press releases and media contact must be handled via Mossad or my office." He said. "An Israeli citizen has been kidnapped. An attempt has been made upon his life. Foreign nationals have committed cyber-crime and phone-tapping. A distinguished lecturer in Cairo University has had items stolen and his personal information shared with criminals. A prominent health worker in Tel Aviv has been threatened and needed 24 hour protection. Hired killers made an attempt to assassinate a Mossad officer and his visiting friends, one of whom is a decorated officer with the British armed forces and the other being a leading businessman and employer."

Sean whispered, "God, he's so dry I bet his ancestors were having a barbeque in Noah's flood." I smirked, listening to Joshua's translation.

"Israel's National Defence Force - working closely with Interpol - put together a specialist team of personnel under the mandate of Colonel Balak and led by Sergeant Joshua Federman, who heroically risked his life to rescue an Israeli citizen. Inspector Maier, you are suspended from your position and duties pending inquiries. By publicly arresting and disarming a Mossad sergeant you have shown disrespect to national intelligence AND my office, AND THE PRIME MINISTER HIMSELF. In addition you have arrested innocent tourists and threatened their deportation with no authorisation from IDF."

"Friggin heck," Sean said. "He's reading the Riot Act! We might get a medal." The Minister scowled at Sean, who made the sign of the cross. Sean whispered, "He's as cold as ice."

The Minister continued. "The Homeland Office of Security will not allow our good relationship with Israel's allies to be jeopardised, nor will it allow the Tel Aviv police to be sued for wrongful arrest. The bumbling of the investigation - compounded by your unwillingness to co-operate - gives me no other choice. You are suspended. Now get out! Your personal possessions will be sent to you. Now go!"

He opened the door and stepped aside. The police in the detective area quickly scrambled to their workstations. Inspector Abraham Maier slouched away as white as a ghost. His shoulders sagged, his walk uneven like a drunken man. I think his colleagues knew he had made a serious enemy; they would treat him like a leper.

Collecting the box from the inspector's desk, The Minister tucked it under his arm. "Is it all here?" he said.

"I believe so, Minister," Colonel Balak replied. "Is it all here, Sergeant?"

Josh saluted and said, "Yes, Sir. The parchments and maps are all there. The cloth bag is empty I'm afraid."

"No matter," The Minister said. "The antique box is a patriarchal heritage to our nation. The heirloom and its scrolls will be kept and displayed in the national museums of Israel in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem."

Poking his head through the door The Colonel called the police sergeant to enter, and commanded him to release the prisoners and return the firearm to the Mossad agent, which he did.

In the squad room Colonel Barak, with his commanding voice, introduced The Minister and addressed the room.

"The kidnapping investigation that my sergeant conducted is concluded. Thank you for all your hard work." He said. "An arrest has been made. Unfortunately your Inspector is relieved of his duties for a pending gross misconduct inquiry. Our guests will be shown every courtesy and any items confiscated will be returned to them." The atmosphere in the room seemed to brighten.

The minister invited us with Josh to accompany him and the Colonel to the ground floor. He took the lead on the Down escalator. Standing on the steps of the police headquarters, adjacent to some works of art, The Minister shook Josh's hand. Shaking our hands in turn The Minister thanked us for the support we had given in the investigation, the subsequent rescue of an Israeli citizen, and return of a precious piece of Israel's history. He knowingly asked how Simeon fared. The minister knew far more than he let on. He waved and got into a chauffeur-driven white Mercedes.

Colonel Balak shook our hands also thanking us.

Sean said, "And I had heard lightning doesn't strike twice," making a back-hand movement to and fro.

Getting the joke, he roared with laughter, and slapped us both hard on our backs. I stumbled to keep my balance.

"Collect your luggage and my sergeant will take you to the airport." He said. "The bloodhounds within the media are baying. It's to your advantage to leave the frenzy that will surely come. You can keep the photocopies; we are only interested in the original parchments. The Minister will revel in the publicity of recovering artefacts and saving an Israeli."

'He knows about the copies,' I thought. But It appeared to me Balak knew his job and practiced ruthless efficiencycy. I believed he also served like a genuine servant of the Jewish nation.

Turning to Josh I heard him say, "Don't trust that snake. The Minister will use us to step upwards if he can, but has no interest in our work. Your car is here and is parked a few metres away. I will see you in the morning, take the night off you have deserved it."

Journeying towards the hotel in Josh's 3 Series BMW I called James to pack, explaining all, asking him to call or Skype the family with the liberating news. Calling Joseph made him ecstatic at the report. I invited him to our home anytime. In a few hours it would be the Sabbath. I assumed he and Simeon were going to thank God for Simeon's release.