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Rapp leaned over Dumond’s shoulder and looked as he pointed the same tower near the Tigris. “Stan,” Rapp yelled, “get in here!”
A moment later Stilwell emerged from his office and joined Rapp and Gifford. Rapp pointed at the middle screen. “Is this the part of town you were thinking of when you were talking about the stone in the photo?”
“It’s exactly where I was thinking.”
Gifford grumbled, “That’s the heart of Indian country.”
“Yeah,” Stilwell agreed. “Shiite central.”
“The streets are really narrow,” Gifford said with a wary expression. “We’ve had more than a few patrols ambushed in there.”
Rapp noticed Dumond touch his headset and then watched him reach for his mouse. After a single click a man talking in Farsi came over the speakers resting on the table. Rapp immediately knew the voice belonged to Ashani. Only he and Stilwell spoke Farsi.
“Ali, is that you?”
There was an unnerving pause and then another voice said, “Cyrus, you sound different.”
“That must be Mukhtar,” Rapp said to Dumond.
“I’m on it.”
From the speakers came, “I was asked by our friend to call and see if there was anything you might need. He is stuck in a very important meeting.”
“There is much that I need.” The man they assumed was Mukhtar made no attempt to hide his irritation. “Things are not progressing the way we had planned, and I have only a handful of men to assist me.”
“Can I send you some help? I have men in the area.”
There was a sigh followed by silence and then, “At the moment, I fear it would only draw more suspicion.”
“Then what can I do to help?”
Dumond announced, “We’ve got him.” He clicked the mouse and the middle screen zoomed in on a four block area of downtown Mosul. A blinking red dot marked the location of the call.
“Nothing at the moment,” Mukhtar replied.
“Our friend would like a progress report,” Ashani stated.
There was another long pause and then, “Tell him the videotape he requested is taking more time than I anticipated. The actress is not cooperating.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I think if I employ some harsher methods, she will perform.”
Rapp’s gut twisted upon hearing the words. He pointed to the screen and asked Stilwell, “Where is that?”
“That’s the Great Mosque.”
“Oh shit,” Gifford moaned.
“What’s the problem?” Rapp asked.
“We can’t go in there.”
“What do you mean, you can’t go in there?” asked an irritated Rapp.
“The city would explode in violence.”
Rapp heard Ashani warning Mukhtar not to harm the actress. The words caused him to put aside what Gifford had just said and focus on Ashani and Mukhtar’s conversation.
