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Rapp thought about it for a moment. “I’d be surprised if Faisal was involved. He just wants to keep the shit from hitting the fan until after he’s dead. As far as the prince is concerned, he’s a useless prick who thinks he’s being unfairly passed over by the family. This could just be a tantrum.”

Alexander continued to pace, considering what he’d just heard. “I thought the same thing. But what if it’s not? My concern is that bin Musaid isn’t smart enough to do something like this on his own. How did he make these contacts? How did he set up the meeting? Neither thing is rocket science, but it would take a certain amount of persistence and initiative that he’s never demonstrated.”

The president’s anger seemed to be on an unstoppable upward trajectory. Rapp had heard rumors about Alexander’s temper but had never known anyone who’d experienced it firsthand.

“That deal was one of the biggest mistakes this country ever made,” the president said, spinning toward Rapp. “Those royal motherfuckers don’t give a shit about anyone but themselves. They’d destroy their own country, America, the world, and anything else they can get their hands on for another gold-plated Rolls-Royce.”

The volume of his voice had risen to the point that Rapp glanced over at the door to make sure he’d pulled it all the way closed.

“What if this is just the tip of the iceberg, Mitch? Faisal’s going to be dead inside of two years and his successor is going to have the power to decide who he’s going to back. The radicals or us.”

“More likely they’ll just try to keep limping along, playing it down the middle.”

“Unacceptable!” the president yelled.

“Sir, I think you should call—”

“I am not going to be the man who ushered in another decade of those pricks sitting around London nightclubs while our guys bleed in the sand defending them. They’re either with us or they’re against us. And if they choose the second one, I’m going to squash them like fucking bugs.”

Rapp rarely found himself in the position of being the voice of reason, but things were getting out of hand. “This is something you should sit down and talk to Irene about. She can—”

“You think I’ve lost my mind, don’t you?” Alexander said.

“No, sir. But I’m not sure why I’m here.”

“Then let me tell you. You’re here because it’s time for us to put the fear of Allah into these sons of bitches.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“I could slap the harshest economic sanctions in history on their country and you know what those royal assholes would do? Fly to Paris and drown their sorrows in ten-thousand-dollar bottles of wine while their people starved. The only way we’re going to get them to fall into line is by creating a penalty that they feel. From now on, I want them to know that it’s their asses on the line.”

“And how would you propose we do that?”

Alexander looked like he was going to make a move for the chair behind his desk, but chose the one next to Rapp instead. “I think you need to have a talk with Prince bin Musaid and at the end of that talk I think he needs to be dead.”

“Sir?”

“You heard me.”

“I’m not sure I did.”

“I want you to find out if this goes any further and I want you to make the point that no one is off-limits.”

“And how would I make that point?”

“By killing those people, too. It was suggested to another prince once that it’s better to be feared than loved. When the new Saudi administration comes in, I want it to be clear that when America says jump, the only appropriate response is to ask how high.”

Spent, Alexander leaned back in his chair. “You’re surprised.”

“That’s a lot of plain talk coming from a politician.”

“Then, while I’m on a roll, let me give you some more. This conversation never happened. The CIA can’t be involved in any way. If you decide to do this and you get caught, I’ll abandon you so fast, it’ll make your head spin. The Saudis need to know I’m responsible, but they can’t be able to prove it.”

“Understood.”

“So what do you think?”

Rapp shrugged noncommittally. “Obviously, you’re playing my tune. But then, you know that or you wouldn’t have called me.”

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