Honour Among Thieves

continued walking towards the square. The crowds were so large and noisy that she feared another public hanging must have taken place. When she reached the end of the road and turned the corner, she averted her eyes as she made a path between those who were standing, staring, some even laughing at the spectacle. 'Quite a high-up official,' someone joked. Another more serious voice said that he had heard he was a diplomat recently back from America who had been caught with his fingers in the till. A third, an elderly woman, wept when someone suggested that the other two were the man's innocent mother and sister. Once Hannah could see the barrier she slowed her pace. She stopped and stared across the road at the Ba'ath Party headquarters. She was pleased to be hidden in such a large crowd, even if it did occasionally obscure her view. 'She's facing the Ba'ath Party headquarters. Everyone else is looking in the opposite direction.' Hannah's eyes settled on the truck that was surrounded by soldiers, and then she saw the massive safe that was perched on the back of the vehicle and the two young men who were attaching large coils of steel to its base. One was Middle Eastern in appearance, the other vaguely European. And then she saw Kratz - or was it Kratz? Whoever it was disappeared behind the far side of the truck. She waited for the man to reappear. When he did, a few moments later, she was left in no doubt that it was the Mossad leader. She realised that she could not wait around in such a public place for much longer, and decided to return to her office and consider what needed to be done next. She gave Kratz one last look as a group of cleaners came out of the building, walked across the tarmac and passed by the barrier without any of the soldiers paying them the slightest attention. Hannah began to walk away from Victory Square, just as Major Saeed and Scott emerged from the building into the courtyard. 'She's on the move again, but she doesn't seem to be returning to the Ministry.' The man on the mobile phone listened for a moment and then replied, 'I don't know, but I'll follow her and report back.' When Scott stepped back into the courtyard he was pleased to see that Kratz had already got the crane into position to lift the safe off the truck. Aziz and Cohen were fastening long steel coils around the body of Madame Bertha while the specially constructed trolley, of which Mr Pedersson was so proud, had been placed on the ground between the front door and the side of the truck. Scott looked up at the crane that was taller than the building itself and back down at the operator, sitting in his wide cab near the base. Once Cohen and Aziz had jumped off the truck Kratz gave the operator the thumbs-up. Scott pointed at the safe and beckoned to Kratz, who walked, over, looking puzzled. He thought the operation was going rather well. 'What's the problem?' he asked. Scott continued pointing at the safe, and with exaggerated movements indicated how he thought it would have to be moved, while whispering to Kratz: 'I've seen the Declaration.' He moved to the other side of the safe. Kratz followed, now also pretending to take a close interest in the safe. Great news,' said Kratz. 'So where is it?' The news is not so great,' said Scott. 'What do you mean?' asked Kratz anxiously. 'It's in the Council Chamber, exactly where Hannah said it would be. But it's nailed to the wall,' replied Scott. 'Nailed to the wall?' said Kratz under his breath. 'Yes, and it looks as if it's beyond repair,' said Scott, as he heard the crunch of a gear shifting into place. He watched as the steel cords tightened, followed by a raucous revving of the engine. But Madame Bertha refused to budge an inch. The revving noise became even louder a second time, but she still remained unmoved by their solicitations. The operator pushed the long gear lever forward another notch, and tried a third time. Finally Bertha rose an inch off the back of the lorry, swaying gently from side to side. Some of the soldiers started to cheer, but they stopped immediately when the Major turned to stare in their direction. Kratz nodded and Cohen ran across the tarmac and lowered the tailboard, before getting into the cab and jumping behind the wheel of the truck. He switched on the engine, pushed the gear lever into first and moved the vehicle slowly forward until the safe was left dangling in mid-air. Aziz and Kratz then pushed the trolley a few yards across the tarmac so that