The Kabbalist by Yoram Katz Page A

managed to set up a reasonably successful business.
    The two were now
sitting in Luria’s office.
    “Well, you want me to
take over the Porat case, so you can have time to allocate to the French girl,”
summarized Eitan. “I do not blame you. Noga keeps telling me wonders about that
chick of yours.”
    “This is pure nonsense,"
said Luria patiently. “While I do need time for this new case, the point is
that Porat now knows I am on his tail. I told you he had threatened me. He is
going to be extremely cautious now, and I need somebody else to tail him.”
    “But why tail him,”
wondered Eitan, “when you have already nailed him?”
    “I am pretty sure he
has another lover; at least one.”
    Eitan contemplated
this. “Suppose he has, so what? Will his wife pay us by the lover?”
    “Just don’t worry about
it, OK? She will pay whatever I have agreed with her. It was a piece of cake anyway.
I got the bastard in two days. I just want to do a professional job with no
loose ends.”
    Eitan looked at him
amused. “Luria… it is not like we have met today for the first time...”
    Luria was not amused.
“This is not what you are thinking.”
    “And what am I
thinking?”
    “Eitan, I do have a personal score to balance with this asshole, but this is not about
revenge now. I have good reasons for keeping him under surveillance. I want to
know what he is up to. The man threatened me, and you know who his friends
are.”
    Eitan looked at him
dubiously. “Are you afraid of Srur?” he asked. “This is not like you. And by
the way, Srur is abroad. He left this morning to visit his casino in Prague and
will be away for a week.”
    “This is neither about
Srur nor about fear. This is simply about being ready and staying one step
ahead.”
    “And what else?”
    “Isn’t this enough? My
stomach tells me that tailing Porat will pay off.”
    “You have already said
he knows you are on his tail.” Eitan still had his doubts. “He must be a
perfect idiot to meet his lovers right now. Yigal Porat is a scum and many
other things, but he is no idiot. I believe that in the coming few weeks he
will conduct himself like a monk.”
    “You may be right.”
    “So what do you want me
to do?” wondered Eitan.
    “Porat’s wife is
leaving for London on vacation tomorrow. If he does have a lover, then his
lover will expect him to seize the opportunity and devote some attention to
her. Am I making sense?”
    “I am listening.”
    “In this case, either
he will call her to explain why he is not coming over, or she will call him to
find out why he is not coming. Probably, both will happen.”
    “You expect me to bug
him? You know what big favors I will need to ask for that and how much it may
cost. Besides, bugging a lawyer? He will tear us to pieces if he finds out!”
    “If you do it right,
there is no reason he will.”
    Eitan smiled. “I was
just joking. You know I love this stuff. And besides, I loathe the little shit
no less than you do.”
    The phone rang. Luria
picked it up. “What is it, Noga?”
    “Your guest has
arrived.”
    “Thank you, I will see
him in a minute.” He put the receiver down, looked at Eitan and stood up. “So,
are we in agreement?”
    Eitan rose from his
chair as well. “Yes sir. I am with you, even though you are not telling me
everything. Good luck with the Frenchwoman.”
    “Please, Eitan, enough
of this nonsense.” Luria escorted his friend to the door and opened it. Eitan
crossed the lobby and disappeared into his office.
    Luria stepped out. In
the lobby sat a Hassidic Jew of about forty, dressed in a black robe, with a
beard and side locks framing his face. Having seen Luria, he rose to his feet, grinning.
“Peace be upon you , Rabbi Yossi.”
    Luria did not hide his
joy. “Aryeh,” he called, “it is so good to see you.”
    The two embraced.
Behind her desk, Noga looked in astonishment at the odd couple. “Can I get you something?”
she asked.
    “Noga, please meet
Aryeh, my