The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.com2 p.m., so my free morning was a good time to check for surveillance.String Vest told me that the station officers in Belgrade rarely cameunder surveillance, but it was not a reason to be lazy. Sarah had askedme to buy her a handbag, so a shopping trip would provide good coverfor my anti-surveillance drills - I could traipse slowly around theleather goods stalls, idly stare at the displays, flit in and out ofthe shops, back-track and use the usual tradecraft tricks withoutlooking suspicious.Despite the sanctions, the shopping centres in Belgrade were thronging.Imported high-tech goods were unavailable or hugely expensive, butdomestic production of consumer goods - particularly leather goods andclothing - was booming. There was no shortage of shops displaying awide selection of handbags.Standing on a busy street, studying a shop window display, I cursedgently to myself that I had agreed to buy Sarah a handbag - she couldbe so fickle and it was difficult to know which to choose. Turning awayin exasperation, I noticed a young man a couple of shopfronts away alsomove off. He was of medium height, moonfaced, clean-shaven and with hishead covered with a grey cap. He was a grey man - perhaps a bit toogrey.An hour later, drinking a coffee at a pavement caf‚, I noticed the greycap reading a book at a caf‚ opposite. It was by no means conclusiveproof of surveillance. For that, I would need multiple confirmedsightings or two sightings of different watchers. The double sightingof one person could just be coincidence. Nonetheless, I decided to bevery careful.There was no question of aborting the meeting with Obradovich afterjust one dubious surveillance sighting. But it would be prudent tochange my plans slightly. I had planned to leave for Budapest by busthe following morning, giving me the whole day for the meeting. Butgiven the real possibility of surveillance and the ease of penetratingthe thin crust of cover protecting my identity, it would be temptingfate to risk an overnight stay. I decided to leave by the train thatdeparted Belgrade's central station at 1625. It would not leave muchtime for my lunch meeting, but that was now a lesser concern. I jumpedinto a taxi - a few were running despite the fuel shortage - andreturned to the hotel to pack.My concern mounted when Obradovich pulled up to the meeting an hourlate in a new red Fiat Bravo with diplomatic plates, parking itostentatiously on the pavement. `That's a smart little car,' Icommented as soon as we had shaken hands. `You must have some powerfulcontacts to get that.'`How else do you think I get petrol here, and am able to travel allover Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia?' he replied a little boastfully. Onlythose with diplomatic plates were excused petrol rationing and thelengthy queues, and only with neutral CD plates could he travel toCroatia. But how had he obtained such privileges? He had to be verywell connected - too well connected.At our lengthy, expensive lunch, Obradovich spoke animatedly andknowledgeably about the war and the situation in Bosnia but nowhere didpage- 93 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com