Saddam's Diamonds

By Reg Ivory

When Jack Novak is called back to active duty in Iraq by his ex-commander, General Thomas T. Temper, he doesn't know what to expect. Temper was and is malicious, vindictive and dangerous. And why force Novak, an Atlanta private detective, back into uniform? The apparent reason is to find and rescue an old friend who has been captured and brain-washed by ISIS. But General Temper quickly dispels that notion when he drops a brilliant diamond into Novak's whiskey glass and demands that he forget about his old crony and find the diamonds no matter what it takes. This sends Novak on a treacherous mission across Iraq and into Iran where he is beaten, tortured and left for dead. Rescued by his friend Frank Skinner, Novak is taken to one of Saddam Hussein's stunning palaces where the two men find the hoard of diamonds hidden by the former dictator. Now they are both hunted down by the Iranians, the Americans and ISIS. But how do they get the diamonds safely back to the states? Even if they do, General Temper has sworn to find Novak and get the diamonds. And what about Novak's mysterious former lover, the exotic Iraqi woman Serena? Is she in on the plot to get the diamonds and kill Novak? The action never stops in this well-documented thriller about Saddam's diamonds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098308735

Reg Ivory

Reg Ivory has been a newspaper industry lobbyist and director of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association. He attended Master’s programs in creative writing at Kennesaw State University and the University of Tennessee. He is the author of There is No President, Headless, and Heartless. He lives with his wife in Nashville.

Book preview

©2020 by Reg Ivory

Print ISBN 978-1-09830-872-8

eBook ISBN 978-1-09830-873-5

Contents

Author’s note

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

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27

28

29

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31

32

33

Author’s note

You can find much truth in fiction. If you could visit Shorja, Baghdad’s oldest market and trading center in the Alawi al Hillah district, you would find groups of Arab men sitting, drinking strong tea or coffee, and talking. They speak of their families, their government and about the war. And there is always a war. The younger men will bring up Iraq’s late murderer and dictator, Saddam Hussein. They ask if he was as brutal as they have heard. The old men agree that he was. Then someone asks about the palaces. How many did Saddam build? Those with grizzled beards flecked with white are quick to answer. ‘Over fifty,’ one will say. ‘More than one hundred’ another will reply. And where are they located? The older men point in all directions. ‘As far as one can walk in a year.’ Finally, one young man with eager eyes asks the inevitable question. ‘What about the diamonds? Are Saddam’s diamonds hidden in the palaces?’ The oldest and wisest of the group is silent for a time. Then, he will nod and say . . . ‘Ah, the diamonds . . . the diamonds.’

1

This looks like a military dog tag.

The man in Jack Novak’s office nodded as Jack examined it carefully.

Frank T. Skinner. How the hell did you get Frank Skinner’s dog tag? He was killed in Iraq over ten years ago. And who are you, exactly?

My name is unimportant, but here are my credentials. The man handed Novak a gleaming black leather wallet from the inside pocket of his jacket.

Jack had to smile at the name on his ID – John Smith, then stopped when he saw the federal agency designation. The CID? You’re with the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division?

That’s right. We’re commanded now by a man you may remember – General Thomas T. Temper.

Triple T.? I sure as hell ought to remember him, Jack said. Only he was a major when he commanded our MP unit in the Iraq war. He was a real pain in the ass. What’s he got to do with this?

The man pulled a file from his brief case and handed it to Jack. General Temper is back in Iraq as commander of Base Victory in Baghdad. He personally asked me to contact you because you were Skinner’s best friend when you were stationed together in Iraq. By the way, here’s a fun fact. Did you know that there’s a big black market in fake dog tags in Baghdad? Started in Vietnam after the war. People buy them now by the hundreds and they’re all fake. I’ve got one that says Elvis Presley. Funny, huh?

Jack didn’t think it was funny. He opened the file and studied Skinner’s picture. The memories came flooding back. The combat they shared, the women, the weekend drunks. ‘Skins’ was his blood brother in many ways.

Okay, Jack said. So, what’s this all got to do with me? Have they found his body – his remains? I had left the Army and was back in the states but was told that he had disappeared from the base and we assumed he had been captured and murdered. He was screwing some Iraqi women and their men would get quite upset about that.

The man considered his reply carefully. Skinner is still alive. We believe he left the base on his own. He deserted.

Novak abruptly stood up at his desk. BULLSHIT. I know Skins. We shared every secret we ever had in our lives. He was as loyal as they come and a fine soldier. And why is this coming up now? Where the hell has he been? Are you telling me he’s been a prisoner all this time?

Mr. Novak, this has all recently come to our attention because of photographs brought to us by Iraqi intelligence and confirmed by our own investigation. If he was a prisoner at the time he went missing, things apparently changed. Call it brainwashing or whatever. What we now believe is that he became a devout Muslim, is actively leading ISIS troops, and, over the years, is responsible for killing hundreds of American and Iraqi soldiers, as well as others.

Jack threw the file back at the man and took his seat. I have to say bullshit again. I don’t believe a word of this. And how do I fit in?

General Temper wants you to find him and bring him in – in any way you can. He raised his voice slightly. In ANY way.

I get the language. You want me to bring him in dead or alive. One of my best friends. You and the general are crazy as hell. Go screw yourselves, Mr. Smith.

The man referred to another file marked Secret. Mr. Novak, I have your complete service record here. Former Major Temper used you and your men on many missions of this type. We prefer to call them - eradication assignments. Your targets included several former Iraqi generals as well as members of Al-Qaeda, and ISIS in whatever name they called themselves at the time. I see you also led the team that captured Saddam Hussein. All these missions were successful and you developed quite a reputation. Now, General Temper wants you to return for one last mission – a most important one.

In Iraq? He wants me to come to Iraq? Are you all nuts over there? Has the whole army gone crazy? I didn’t even know we still had troops in Iraq. Besides, I’m a civilian, my friend, living in Atlanta, Georgia, and running my own detective agency. I am NOT in the Army any longer.

We have over 4,000 troops in country at the moment. And actually, Mr. Novak, you are still in the regular Army reserves. You can be called up at any time for any reason. I’m sure you were familiar with those stipulations when you left the service. He handed Jack an envelope.

What’s this? Novak asked.

Those are your orders.

ORDERS? What the fuck are you talking about? You can’t order me. And why me? The Army CID has hundreds of investigators who can do this job and who are already on duty in Iraq. So, why me?

None of them know Frank Skinner and can identify him as quickly and easily as you can. I’ve already referred to your previous record and experience in this area. You know the country and the people. I’m told you even speak some of the language. You’re perfect for this essential assignment.

But – but I’m in my 40s for God’s sake and I’ve been out of the service for over ten years. And I’m an alcoholic – did you and the General know that? I drink. I drink a lot. I – I don’t even have a uniform. The general and I hated each other. And did I say I was an alcoholic?

Yes, we know all that. As your orders state, you will report to Fort Benning tomorrow at 9 AM, to the CID unit there commanded by Colonel Doggett. You will be fully briefed, receive proper uniforms and equipment, and leave for Iraq the next day. And look on the bright side, Mr. Novak. You’ve been promoted to temporary Major.

Promo - but – but you can’t do this. I’ll call my lawyer - my doctor and psychiatrist. I’m too old for this shit.

We’ve already spoken to your attorney, doctor and psychiatrist. You’ll receive an Army physical at Fort Benning, of course, but we’ve been assured you are physically fit for duty.

Jack stood up again. Oh, you have, have you? Well, what about my business? I can’t just walk away from my detective agency. I have clients who need me.

The man pulled out a notebook and glanced briefly at it. You do have a partner in your agency, Mr. – Major Novak. A Homer Kinney, I believe. Surely he can handle your business in your absence.

Homes? You want Homes to run the business? But he just retired from the Roswell police force. He doesn’t know all the ins and outs yet –

The man fastened his briefcase and stood up. I’m sure you’ll be able to work things out, Major. I can assure you that if there wasn’t an urgent need for your particular – talents, the Army would not have taken these steps. Remember, you report to Fort Benning tomorrow at 9 AM. Good luck.

He turned quickly, headed for the door, and left Jack standing at his desk, red-faced.

But, you can’t do – The door slammed before Jack could finish his sentence.

2

What do you mean you have to go to Iraq? Have you started drinking again? Homes Kinney could see his roommate was serious.

It’s a long story, Homes. The Army has activated me from reserve status and ordered me to Iraq to find some guy who apparently deserted and has been helping ISIS or whatever the hell they call the enemy this week. I don’t believe any of this but that’s what they say.

Homes scratched his head. Jesus, Jack. Why does it have to be you?

I know the guy – at least I used to when we were in Iraq together. Frank Skinner. He disappeared from base one night and the Army thought he had been kidnapped and then killed. Turns out, according to the Army CID, he joined the dark side and has been leading some of their troops and killing our guys. Again, I don’t believe any of this shit.

Homes sighed and got up from the sofa. You know, I’ve watched you get wound up in the damndest situations, drunk and sober, over the years. Most of them involved women, including one who claimed she was a witch. Not a bad looking one, either. Now, the U.S. Army wants to make you a soldier again, fly your ass to Iraq, and orders you to capture a guy you haven’t seen in – what – more than ten years? This would even make a bad movie. Why don’t you call your lawyer?

I did. He said what that asshole Smith told me. Since I’m still in the regular Army reserves, they can call me up any time. Well, I’ve got to be at Fort Benning at nine in the morning, I’ll Uber down and leave early. Can you handle the cases we’ve talked about?

I guess so. The real question is whether or not I get the women you’ve got lined up? I just want the ones who aren’t spooky like that witch.

They’re all yours, buddy. I’ll call you from Benning and let you know what’s happening.

3

The flying time from Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, to Baghdad, Iraq, is about fourteen hours. Military aircraft do not usually fly as fast as commercial flights, and Jack grunted as he was told their flight would take more than fifteen hours.

He and an assortment of army troopers and supplies were aboard a C-17 transport which cruises at around 450 knots. Despite the impressive size of the C-17, the men and supplies were packed together tightly. Jack lost hope for getting a few hours’ sleep. The troopers decided to sing and tell jokes. Jack thought about using his new rank to tell them to shut up but decided against it. Instead, he went mentally over the two days he had spent at Benning – not the one day his CID contact had suggested. They were long days, filled with refresher courses on military etiquette, fittings for uniforms, some target practice with weapons and, finally, a top secret briefing that contained very little that was secret.

He learned about current bases and their Iraqi names – all bases were now referred to as under Iraqi government control – as well as troop strength at each base. Jack knew the US Army still ran the show in Iraq no matter what was said publicly. Finally, he was told he would receive a more detailed briefing from General Temper when he landed in Baghdad. He could hardly wait. He and Temper had never gotten along. Jack decided that he would make a decent effort to find Frank Skinner, probably an impossibility anyway – then turn in his report and head for home. Might take a week, he thought. He still wondered why Temper had gone to such lengths