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“Zaman was killed with a single shot from a nine-millimeter. To authorities, it will also look like he was first tortured for information. El-Hashem died the same way, and unless I miss my guess, he’ll be found tied to a chair with the same kind of injuries. Sound like anyone you know?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“And there are witnesses, Mitch. The security men you put down in the hotel as well as the people you talked to in the elevator. I’m also guessing that the bodyguard who took out el-Hashem is giving the police your description and telling them about how he barely escaped with his life.”
“Is that all?”
“No. There are still the cameras in Monaco as well as all the eyewitnesses who survived the attack.” She leaned back. “That’s all.”
“It’s hard to complain about Nassar doing my job for me. At this rate, he’ll have his entire network wiped out by next week.”
“He’s framing you, Mitch! If someone showed me all this, even I’d think you were killing wealthy Saudis and shooting up nightclubs. We need to shift our focus to clearing you. We can easily argue that you discovered the threat to Terry’s at the last second and were trying to stop the terrorists and save the prince. It’s not airtight, but it will play. I can probably patch together some reasonably convincing evidence that you weren’t in Paris at the time el-Hashem was killed. That just leaves Brussels. It’s a harder problem, but if we can demonstrate a pattern of—”
“That’s all fine and good, Claudia, but what about Nassar?”
“What about him?”
“He’s partnering with ISIS. In all likelihood he’s going to use their power in the region to help him take over when King Faisal dies. Then Mullah Halabi won’t be flailing around with assault rifles and suicide vests—he’ll be backed by Saudi Arabia’s military and intelligence capability. He could conceivably use that to march straight across the Middle East.”
“How is any of that your problem, Mitch? Tell Irene what you’ve discovered and let the Americans handle it.”
“I think you’re missing the fact that I am the Americans. I’m not your husband. I’m not a contract killer. My job is to stop millions of people from being murdered by a bunch of fundamentalist psychos.”
“No, it isn’t. You don’t work for the CIA anymore. We’ve talked about this, Mitch. Everyone’s going to walk away from you. All the people you’ve kept from harm, all the politicians you’ve made look good, all the operatives you’ve bled with. By this time next week I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott’s men are chasing us around the world.”
“It’s not just my job, Claudia. It’s what I believe in. It’s who I am.”
“Well, stop believing in it and be someone else!” she said, her voice filling the tiny plane. “You’ve given enough of yourself to these people.”
“Maybe it’s time for you to move on.”
She folded her arms across her chest and tried to stare him down. “I’ve been in worse situations.”
“Really?”
“No. I was just trying to sound positive.”
“I appreciate the effort.”
“Mitch . . .” she started, choosing her words carefully. “I think this might be harder for you than you expect. I know the physical danger matters very little to you. But are you ready for your country to turn on you?”
“I don’t suppose I have much of a choice.”
“But the others do. Their motivations are different than yours. You asked them to help you capture a Saudi prince. Donatella would seduce him, he’d be drugged, and they’d be paid. Now you’re about to ask them to go after the Saudi intelligence chief while being opposed by America and all its resources. I know peopl
e like this, Mitch. They’re not going to hold together much longer.”
“Then we’ll have to move fast.”
“Fast . . .” she repeated under her breath. “Would you at least do one thing for me? Open a channel to Irene? Tell her what you’ve found and ask her what her plans are?”
He shook his head. “I’m not going to get her involved in killing the intelligence director of an ally, Claudia. If it ever came out that she even knew about it, she’d end up in jail and our partnerships all across the Middle East would collapse. If she wants to talk, she has my number.”
CHAPTER 37
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
