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End of Chapter #18:
Delighted Fazzi beamed as he kissed Joseph and told him, "We can go anytime you want. From now on you and I will go (to the Mosque) every Friday if you are here. You better get moving if you are going to meet Richard's son. Give them all my regards and perhaps you can arrange some kind of social get-together, to launch the official beginning of the Arab American Investment Club. I think its time that we got together for social reasons now. Do you agree?"
"Well Richard Junior works evenings but the rest of the family might be amenable by now."
Chapter #19
After leaving the house Joseph pulled his car to the side of the road, opened his cell phone and checked in with Agent Barns. He reported on the Thursday meeting of the investment club and also mentioned about the conversations he had overheard at the Mosque.
"Bill, I have to admit it. It looks like you were right from the beginning." Joseph told Barns. "You know how I didn't want to believe it but it looks as if Fazzi and the club are going to be used as the new money source for Hamas and God knows who else. I'm convinced of it now. And it is not just what I overheard at the mosque, but also for the life of me I can't understand how people like that tailor can afford to invest a sum of $100,000. These people are not that loaded with cash."
"That money is most likely coming from the oil rich countries and it's being funneled through Syria. Ever since the U.S. and some of our allies started to close down some of the legitimate lines of aid, that money as well as other money had to find a new route. The people in power have decided to use people like your little tailor and perhaps hundreds or thousands like him. Your tailor most likely has many very rich clients that over pay for custom made garments. Sure he pays most of the legal taxes, but there are always those very big tips. Now they have hit on a new way of investing and using the profits as well as getting huge charity deductions. It's a high-tech improvement of the old Bingo Scam."
"Bingo Scam?" Joseph asked. "What the hell is a Bingo Scam?"
"Boy you sure are from Hicksville. I'll bet that until recently you even believed in the tooth fairy. The 'Bingo Scam is as old as the hills. For years churches and charitable organizations ran and still run bingo games and games of chance. There was a lot of money to be raised this way." Barns explained. "The bingo concession, which may or may not be the charity itself, always had trouble getting unpaid workers. After all who wanted to work when they could play bingo and maybe win some money. So what do they do to entice a few more workers? They came up with a simple solution. They would take a potential worker aside and tell him that since most of the players paid cash for the cards there was a lot of cash money floating around...."
"You don't mean that they allowed them to pocket some of it..."
"Oh no! It was a little more sophisticated and complicated than that." Barns continued. "At the end of the evening, in order not to have to carry huge amounts of cash (coins and bills) around until it could be deposited in the bank, these workers were permitted to write checks and take cash for the amount of the check. Since the checks were always made out to the charitable organization-they could be and were used as proof for a charity tax write-offs."
"Wow, I never heard of that." Joseph said. "And the churches never stopped it?"
"We like to think that they never knew anything about it." Barns laughed. "Anyway when the federal government got wind of it they clamped down on individual charity contributions. Now they demand a lot more evidence then a check. It looks as if Fazzi has found a new twist to the bingo game scam. It's a money-laundering cover-up for sure. Like you said, I never had any doubt that Fazzi was still a Syrian Agent. But it's nice to hear that you are finally convinced." Barns said. "However, I need not remind you that all this is still hearsay, and hearsay is not proof. Only by the illegal transfer of funds will we be able to get the hard evidence. You keep your eyes and ears open. Report everything back to me and be careful. It is difficult to get good agents into the Islamic community. You have been able to penetrate this cell deeper than any other agent we have ever had. I wish we had a hundred like you. Do whatever you have to do to maintain your cover. When my area director spoke to the federal director, he was so impressed that he took the files and reports to the very highest level and everyone is interested and backing this project now."
"That's good news! I'm glad to hear that because I would not like this to be considered a rogue operation."
"Rogue operation? Don't talk like a fool. Once you were able to get someone like Richard Worthington to come into this, it ceased being a game and became serious business. With a person of his reputation and connections, this operation could no longer take place without the very highest sanction and approval." Barns said. "You would be surprised at the eyes and ears that went up when I informed the director that Worthington was going to work with us. That man has a lot of friends and connections all the way up to and including the President. The director's ears perked up when I told him, and he put in a call to the White House. After all Worthington is a big contributor to both political parties as well as being on a first name basis with the last three or four presidents. As soon as the President was notified, I got a call to come down to Washington and was told by both the director and the big guy himself to make sure nothing happens to you or Worthington. In fact when this is over the president said he would like to meet with the two of you and express his gratitude."
"It's rather comforting to know that. It would still appear that money still buys protection!" The soldier laughed.
"Joseph, don't be so cynical." Barns said. "Richard does not have to do any of this. Remember He is not taking any money for this and that family really cares about you and the country. I want you to be very respectful of them."
"Fuck it Bill, you do not have to lecture me on Worthington or the respect due to him-Fazzi does that all the time. By the way, I'm on my way to spend the weekend with them now. Did he report to you about the meeting Thursday?"
"Yes, early this morning, a full and detailed report including a complete description on the inside of the house. He gave us a list of everyone that was there, along with his or her address and phone number. He even included some descriptive information on some of them. Hell he even included the name of Fazzi's new cook. He said that when this is over that he might like to hire her. I think we have hooked this man and his entire family. He told me that nothing they have ever done before has brought the family so close together. They are having the time of their lives. When I told him that the President sends his regards and wants him to be careful, he just pooh-poohed it off. He also told me that he had received a personal call from his nibs already telling him to be careful. Anyway we took the list of names he gave us and ran them through our computer lists. The President also suggested that we check with the Mossad. You know who they are?"
"Yes I do. Are you sure it's a good idea to work with them?" Joseph asked. "Fazzi is suspicious of Jews or anyone who might even appear to be Israeli. At one time, so he tells me, he thought I might be a Mossad agent and he had his people run a complete check on me back to the day I was born. I am sure he did do that and that if he had found anything there, I would be feeding the fish at the bottom of the Atlantic by now. I just don't want my name to be linked with them. Besides, they have their own agenda and it might not be the same as ours."
"Fazzi is right to fear them. When it comes to Hamas, the Mossad has expert knowledge gained unfortunately through many years of having to deal with them. Also we never know when we might uncover one of their agents or they might have an operator of their own in the mix, so to speak. After all, they have operatives that look and speak Arabic better than some Arabs. They have been known to infiltrate these terrorist cells better than we have been able to do, that is, until now. At times they even share intelligence with us. I never told you before, but it was through them that we learned about that wife bargaining episode at Fazzi's that first Friday. They informed us that a certain American soldier, named Joseph Benson, might be turning into a traitor. Our own paid agent, who was also there, did not think it was important enough to tell us that. They had found out about that Arab that we were trying to get married to Fazzi's daughter. They were even thinking of doing something like that themselves. However, you screwed up their plans on that. They even thought about enlisting you as an agent, but turned down the idea." Bill said.
"How come they didn't?"
"Well first of all they try to use only one of their own people for this type of work. Secondly, you have to be kidding, use an American soldier! One who shows up at a Mosque in uniform? One who just happened, 'so to speak', to fall into the pot? Not even the CIA or Hollywood would dare come up with a stupid plot like that. It's too obvious. The Arabs think we are stupid, but not that idiotic. Not even Mossad, which is known for crazy hair-brained plots like that, would have attempted anything like it. At one time one of their agents penetrated deep into Syrian intelligence. He was able to rise to such high political and social heights that he was being considered for the post of Minister of Defense, which at that time was the steppingstone to the Presidency. In the past we have often had to ask for their help and we will continue to do so in the future. It has taken us a long time to develop Arabic speaking agents and we still don't have many that we completely trust. You are one of the few. We don't want to loose you! Be careful!"
I will Bill-I got to get going, please give my regards to the guys in the office."
Joseph eased his car back onto into traffic and then took Route 3 through the Lincoln Tunnel into the city. He made his way downtown and found a parking lot near the theater. He walked over to the ticket office and informed the cashier who he was. An usher directed into the wings of the stage where he was able to watch the play. Rich was on stage and it was the last act. After the final curtain call he came over to Joseph and the two of them went to his dressing room.
Rich closed the door and grabbed Joseph and the two of them kissed and clung to each other. "I missed you so much, Joseph. Dad told me about the meeting. Everything is going good-isn't it?" Rich asked.
"Everything is wonderful. We can talk about all it in the car. Do you want to go to Long Island tonight or tomorrow?" the soldier asked.
"It's up to you. I did pack an overnight case, but we could go to my place and get a good night's sleep or go to the Island right from here. I did tell mom to expect us tonight, but we can call and I'm sure she will understand."
