On Wings Of Eagles (1990)

There was a knock at the door and Coburn walked in, wearing his Michelin Man coat and his black knit hat. Perot brightened: perhaps he would have good news. "Did you meet with Deep Throat?"

"Sure did," said Coburn, taking off his coat.

"All right, let's have it."

"He says he can get Paul and Bill released for six million dollars. The money would be paid into an escrow account in Switzerland and released when Paul and Bill leave Iran."

"Hell, that ain't bad," said Perot. "We get out with fifty cents on the dollar. Under U.S. law it would even be legal--it's a ransom. What kind of guy is Deep Throat?"

"I don't trust the bastard," said Coburn.

"Why?"

Coburn shrugged. "I don't know, Ross ... He's shifty, flaky ... A bullshitter ... I wouldn't give him sixty cents to go to the store and get me a pack of cigarettes. That's my gut feeling."

"But, listen, what do you expect?" Perot said. "This is bribery--pillars of the community don't get involved in this kind of thing."

Howell said: "You said it. This is bribery." His deliberate, throaty voice was unusually passionate. "I don't like this one bit."

"I don't like it," Perot said. "But you've all been telling me that the Iranians aren't playing by our rules."

"Yes, but listen," Howell said fervently. "The straw I've been clinging to all through this is that we've done nothing wrong--and someday, somehow, somewhere, somebody is going to recognize that, and then all this will evaporate ... I'd hate to give up that straw."

"It hasn't got us far."

"Ross, I believe that with time and patience we will succeed. But if we get involved in bribery we no longer have a case!"

Perot turned to Coburn. "How do we know Deep Throat has a deal wired with Dadgar?"

"We don't know," Coburn said. "His argument is, we don't pay until we get results, so what do we have to lose?"

"Everything," Howell said. "Never mind what is legal in the United States. This could seal our fate in Iran."

Taylor said: "It stinks. The whole thing stinks."

Perot was surprised by their reactions. He, too, hated the idea of bribery, but he was prepared to compromise his principles to get Paul and Bill out of jail. The good name of EDS was precious to him, and he was loath to let it be associated with corruption, just as John Howell was; but Perot knew something Howell did not know: that Colonel Simons and the rescue team faced risks more grave than this.

Perot said: "Our good name hasn't done Paul and Bill any good so far."

"It's not just our good name," Howell persisted. "Dadgar must be pretty sure by now that we aren't guilty of corruption--but if he could catch us in a bribe situation he could still save face."

That was a point, Perot thought. "Could this be a trap?"

"Yes!"

It made sense. Unable to get any evidence against Paul and Bill, Dadgar pretends to Deep Throat that he can be bribed, then--when Perot falls for it--announces to the world that EDS is, after all, corrupt. Then they would all be put in jail with Paul and Bill. And, being guilty, they would stay there.

"All right," said Perot reluctantly. "Call Deep Throat and tell him no, thanks."

Coburn stood up. "Okay."

It had been another fruitless day, Perot thought. The Iranians had him all ways. Political pressure they ignored. Bribery could make matters worse. If EDS paid the bail, Paul and Bill would still be kept in Iran.

Simons's team still looked like the best bet.

But he was not going to tell the negotiating team that.

"All right," he said. "We'll just try again tomorrow."

3___

Tall Keane Taylor and short John Howell, like Batman and Robin, tried again on January 17. They drove to the Ministry of Health building on Eisenhower Avenue, taking Abolhasan as interpreter, and met Dadgar at ten A.M. With Dadgar were officials of the Social Security Organization, the department of the Ministry that was run by EDS's computers.

Howell had decided to abandon his initial negotiating position, that EDS could not pay the bail because of American securities law. It was equally useless to demand to know the charges against Paul and Bill and what evidence there was: Dadgar could stonewall that approach by saying he was still investigating. But Howell did not have a new strategy to replace the old. He was playing poker with no cards in his hand. Perhaps Dadgar would deal him some today.

Dadgar began by explaining that the staff of the Social Security Organization wanted EDS to turn over to them what was known as the 125 Data Center.

This small computer, Howell recalled, ran the payroll and pensions for the Social Security Organization staff. What these people wanted was to get their own wages, even while Iranians generally were not getting their social-security benefits.

Keane Taylor said: "It's not that simple. Such a turnover would be a very complex operation needing many skilled staff. Of course they are all back in the States."

Dadgar replied: "Then you should bring them back in."

"I'm not that stupid," Taylor said.