Goldstein, Johnson & Cole - 16. Chapter 16 Plus One

Joseph held Benjamin's hand tight as they stood in front of Ian and Kevin, the pleading look on both faces said everything as Joseph uttered one word, “Please.”

Kevin turned to Ben and Isaac, he didn't need to ask.

Picking up his phone Ben said, “I'll make a call.”

*****

Work in the 'back offices' of Associated Executive Car Services never stopped, it was a twenty four hour operation. Tom and Dick the UK operatives worked diligently with their Israeli counterparts, Dick spent most of his time 'out in the field'. Accompanying a courier he dropped off and picked up many small but important packages, discretion being paramount.

Tom's skills were best put to use sat in front of a computer. Most called him a computer hacker, Tom hated that phrase, hacking was something that he associated with blood, guts and gore and making a mess. Tom considered that what he did was done discretely with stealth and precision, there was nothing messy about it and never leaving a trace of having accessed, or altered, any system he came into contact with. He was one of the best and he knew it.

By accessing the right systems Tom could delete all traces of a persons identity. Creating an identity is a skill, it requires a legitimate birth certificate, full medical record from birth, an education record that matches educational achievements, and a current passport for any country in the world. The tricky part is accessing the systems in the UK and the USA, they are the best protected in the world. With the assistance of a colleague somewhere in the UK he accessed and manipulated the records that he needed to. Joseph's Israeli documents were ready and being delivered and a valid UK passport would be available in the next forty eight hours. If the passport arrived on time Joseph could use it to enter the UK and avoid immigration control.

Tom had just finished the tedious, but necessary, task of disconnecting from multiple IP addresses around the world, securing the pathway, the computer and it's systems and logging off when he was called into the main office.

“Tom, please may I have a few minutes if your time, there is an urgent matter that I need to discuss.”

Tom nodded then entered the office of his opposite number in the Israeli operation. “David, what can I do to help?”

“First let me say thank you for your help resolving the situation with Joseph, your work has been faultless our operatives have learned a lot from you.”

“Thank you, it's been a pleasure, they are very skilled operatives it has been beneficial working with them. But we both know that's not what you wanted to discuss, what can I help you with?” Tom wasn't a fan of smalltalk, he preferred to get down to business.

“Yes you're right in your assumption. It looks like your English friends, well it's Joseph's request really, he would like to take his 'brother' home with him if that's possible.” David raised his eyebrows questioningly as he slipped a document folder across the table. “If it can be arranged these are the 'brother's' details that need amending. Can this be done and if it's possible could we expedite matters to send them home together? That's if we have the materials needed of course.”

“Hmm, it's possible, I'll need to check with the UK contact before I can be sure. If I can do it the courier we have in place can deliver both sets of documents. I assume you can supply the Israeli documents when I perform my magic?”

“Yes, and thanks to your help they are the best we've ever produced.”

“We'll need the UK solicitor to hold the will, no action can be taken yet it could make things awkward, can you arrange that?”

“It's being taken care of as we speak.”

“Okay let me make the calls.” Tom left the office to make his calls from an untraceable burner phone.

*****

Pressing the red button Ben ended the call, placing his phone in his shirt pocket he asked Ian, Kevin, Joseph and Benjamin to join Isaac, Jacob and himself around the dining room table.

“I want you all to fully understand that once this is done there is no undoing this or going back, it will be permanent. So I'm asking you all one last time, are you all sure that this is what you want?” Ben looked around the table, seeing a series of nods and happy faces and hearing excited yes's. “Good, that was my friends telling me that they are ready to proceed. By this time tomorrow everything will be in place and fresh documents will either be here or on the way, and you two,” Ben pointed to Ian and Kevin smiling, “will effectively be fathers.”

“My problem is I need passport details to arrange airline tickets for the boys, if there are no seats available I'll have to rearrange our flights again.” Kevin's concern was understandable.

“Give me your flight details and let me take care of it.” Kevin got their tickets and gave Ben the flight details.

“What about my things, I've got nothing ready.” Joseph realised he'd only packed for a few days.

Isaac smiled, “That's been taken care of, what we could pack is ready in the back of Ben's car, I'll arrange for the remainder of you property to be shipped to you.”

Jacob spoke to Benjamin. “I'll take you to your house so that you can pack your clothes and anything else you can take on the flight. If you leave the keys with me and let me know what you want to keep I'll store it till it's shipped to you. I'll dispose of the rest and send you any money I manage to raise from it. Then I'll shut down the house, do you own it or is it rented?”

“It's rented, but I'm behind in the rent, the landlord wants the overdue rent and the house back.” Benjamin looked embarrassed, he'd used his dead brothers details to rent the house and obtain a driving license, at fourteen years old he was too young.

“Don't worry about the landlord, I'll take care of him.” Jacob placed his hand on Benjamin's shoulder and gave a friendly supportive squeeze. “I know your worried about Ariel and I know you will miss her. If Ian and Kevin agree I'll try to send her to you in the UK, if it's not possible Aaron and Asher will look after her as well as the pups.”

Benjamin threw himself into Jacob's arms and buried his face into Jacob's chest as floods of tears fell. Overcome with emotion he was happy to have a future to look forward to, and finding these people that had become irreplaceable friends. Ariel had been his since she was a pup and for a long time had been his only friend, he was upset about leaving her behind, he felt as though he was abandoning her.

*****

Tom had been hard at work for the last two hours, while maintaining constant contact with his man in the UK, records had been amended and a second authentic UK passport had been authorised. Both passports would soon be delivered to the courier. The Last Will and Testament of Emmanuel Goldstein was waiting to be delivered to Isaac's office, copies would then be forwarded to Mark Fellows in the UK and Isaac in Haifa. Now all Tom wanted was to rest. All that remained was to work with the team to amend Israeli records so that the supporting documents could be produced. Those records would be amended through the night to avoid detection.

During his time in Israel Tom learned that Emmanuel Joseph Goldstein was held in high regard and loved by many in Israel, all of whom considered themselves family. He only knew of one other man who could match that much respect, that is his old CO, Major Alexander Byron Oxley or The Ox as they affectionately called him. He knew that Ian and Kevin appreciated the influence that the two men had on their lives, he hoped that Benjamin and Joseph would also appreciate their influence.