Read The Armenia Caper for Free Online

not find a way to express regret to the Israelis.
     
    It seemed like I failed this assignment. On the other hand I knew a lot more than when we started. The rhythm of the rain seemed in step with the information so far. I asked the Israeli’s what they expected done.  They would simply be happy getting the stones back more than accusing the Armenian government of complicity or outright theft.  There would always be another time to donate assets towards their being left to their business in Yerevan. One thing about Israeli’s they have a patience I certainly had to work at. They did not want to lose their star diamond cutters or this city’s location.

Chapter 16
    Breaking Good
    Then my cell phone rang. Artem was on the call. He was breathless, a trait I did not think he was capable of. He said we needed to meet face to face and Osanna should be there as well. What was this? He said pull it together quickly and we should all meet in the next couple of hours. Meeting at the Tulip Hotel was the suggestion. My thinking was there should be somewhere less obvious to locals observing our movements.
     
    Artem thought for a moment and then came back with a small Armenian Pizza joint up near the Opera House. Acceptable I concluded and the time was set. Artem said he would contact Osanna and ensure she got their safely. It came together and there was an excitement in the air.
     
    Meanwhile I was hungry and took the liberty of ordering. Osanna suggested I try the Armenian version of pizza called Lahmajoun. This was a mixture of ground lamb and beef with tomato and local spices smothered over thin flat dough. Artem educated me suggesting it was actually more an Arabic item than Armenian but regardless Armenia has made it their own.
     
    It can be reported I would do this again. Coupled with Armenian coffee the Lahmajoun was a great variation from the everyday limp pizza found back home.
    The conversation began. Artem stated he had found the diamond recipient was still in Yerevan and did not give up the stones to the Russians. The cousin told Artem the satchel was given to him to hide in his balcony planter. The recipient said he would collect it when he felt it safe to move about. In the meantime he was laying low with his family hiding him a few kilometres out of Yerevan.  What great news!
     
    Did we want to find the recipient and punish him or did we just want to recover the diamonds? I wanted both. The bombshell was about to drop. Artem choked a bit as he whispered across the table. “Mr. Blacke it is all about the Mossad! It is the Mossad behind the disappearance of the stones!” Osanna and I looked at each other in disbelief. What the hell! Apparently the value of the diamonds was deemed far too much value to be gratuitously handing over to graft riddled Armenian government officials.
     
    The Mossad never believed prior investments in Yerevan infrastructure renewal got to where it did any good for the citizens. They were of the thought all the Israeli efforts went into the pockets of corrupt government people.
     
    One only had to look around the city and see the number of 600 series Mercedes and black Hummers parked outside the Tulip Hotel. The obvious was nobody in government was paid the kind of money needed to display such blatant opulence. The underground was functioning in high gear.
    The Mossad decided to turn the recipient and craft the story of both personal greed and absconding with the diamonds. It seemed they did a great job because the smoke and mirrors left all parties totally unclear of what happened. Accusations everywhere but all without authority.
     
    What a beauty I thought. Very cool outcome. Unfortunately the stones were still not back in the Israelis’ hands but sitting in some dweeb’s planter.
     
    I asked Artem did the Mossad actually know where the stones were and he smiled for the very first time since I met him. “No.” He, and now we, were the outsiders who knew where they possibly were.