On Wings Of Eagles (1990)

Both Dadgar and Mrs. Nourbash seemed hostile. The interview became more like a courtroom cross-examination. Dadgar said that EDS's progress reports to the Ministry had been false, and EDS had used them to make the Ministry pay for work that had not been done. Bill pointed out that Ministry officials, who were in a position to know, had never suggested that the reports were inaccurate. If EDS had fallen down on the job, where were the complaints? Dadgar could examine the Ministry's files.

Dadgar asked about Dr. Towliati, and when Bill explained Towliati's role, Mrs. Nourbash--speaking before Dadgar had given her anything to translate--replied that Bill's explanation was untrue.

There were several miscellaneous questions, including a completely mystifying one: did EDS have any Greek employees? Bill said they did not, wondering what that had to do with anything. Dadgar seemed impatient. Perhaps he had hoped that Bill's answers would contradict Paul's; and now, disappointed, he was just going through the motions. His questioning became perfunctory and hurried; he did not follow up Bill's answers with further questions or requests for clarification; and he wound up the interview after an hour.

Mrs. Nourbash said: "You will now please sign your names against each of the questions and answers in Mr. Dadgar's notebook."

"But they're in Farsi--we can't read a word of it!" Bill protested. It's a trick, he thought; we'll be signing a confession to murder or espionage or some other crime Dadgar has invented.

Abolhasan said: "I will look over his notes and check them."

Paul and Bill waited while Abolhasan read through the notebook. It seemed a very cursory check. He put the book down on the desk. "I advise you to sign."

Bill was sure he should not--but he had no choice. If he wanted to go home, he had to sign.

He looked at Paul. Paul shrugged. "I guess we'd better do it."

They went through the notebook in turn, writing their names beside the incomprehensible squiggles of Farsi.

When they finished, the atmosphere in the room was tense. Now, Bill thought, he has to tell us we can go home.

Dadgar shuffled his papers into a neat stack while he talked to Abolhasan in Farsi for several minutes. Then he left the room. Abolhasan turned to Paul and Bill, his face grave.

"You are being arrested," he said.

Bill's heart sank. No plane, no Washington, no Emily, no New Year's Eve party ...

"Bail has been set at ninety million tomans, sixty for Paul and thirty for Bill."

"Jesus!" Paul said. "Ninety million tomans is ..."

Abolhasan worked it out on a scrap of paper. "A little under thirteen million dollars."

"You're kidding!" Bill said. "Thirteen million? A murderer's bail is twenty thousand."

Abolhasan said: "He asks whether you are ready to post the bail."

Paul laughed. "Tell him I'm a little short now. I'm going to have to go to the bank."

Abolhasan said nothing.

"He can't be serious," Paul said.

"He's serious," said Abolhasan.

Suddenly Bill was mad as hell--mad at Dadgar, mad at Lou Goelz, mad at the whole damn world. It had been a sucker trap and they had fallen right into it. Why, they had walked in here of their own free will, to keep an appointment made by the U.S. Embassy. They had done nothing wrong and nobody had a shred of evidence against them--yet they were going to jail, and worse, an Iranian jail!

Abolhasan said: "You are allowed one phone call each."

Just like the cop shows on TV--one phone call, then into the slammer.

Paul picked up the phone and dialed. "Lloyd Briggs, please. This is Paul Chiapparone ... Lloyd? I can't make dinner tonight. I'm going to jail."

Bill thought: Paul doesn't really believe it yet.

Paul listened for a moment, then said: "How about calling Gayden, for a start?" Bill Gayden, whose name was so similar to Bill Gaylord's, was president of EDS World and Paul's immediate boss. As soon as this news reaches Dallas, Bill thought, these Iranian jokers will see what happens when EDS really gets into gear.

Paul hung up and Bill took his turn on the phone. He dialed the U.S. Embassy and asked for the Consul General.

"Goelz? This is Bill Gaylord. We've just been arrested, and bail has been set at thirteen million dollars."

"How did that happen?"

Bill was infuriated by Goelz's calm, measured voice. "You arranged this meeting and you told us we could leave afterward!"

"I'm sure, if you've done nothing wrong--"

"What do you mean if?" Bill shouted.

"I'll have someone down at the jail as soon as possible," Goelz said.

Bill hung up.

The two Iranians who had been hanging about in the corridor all day came in. Bill noticed they were big and burly, and realized they must be plainclothes policemen.

Abolhasan said: "Dadgar said it would not be necessary to handcuff you."

Paul said: "Gee, thanks."

Bill suddenly recalled the stories he had heard about the torturing of prisoners in the Shah's jails. He tried not to think about it.

Abolhasan said: "Do you want to give me your briefcases and wallets?"