Page 123 of High Treason
“Answers for what?” the woman said. “My husband and son are innocent of betraying our country. We are all loyal to Saudi Arabia.”
“I hear concern in your voice, and I don’t want to see you lose a family member. But evidence is mounting that either Rashid or Youssof has helped in an assassination plot against Saudi Prince Omar bin Talal. People are dead. Right now your husband and son look guilty, which means both face serious charges.” Monica tilted her head. “Are you ready for both of them to face death?”
The woman rose from her chair. “They are innocent.”
“Why was Youssof in the US illegally?”
“I didn’t know he was there.”
“Pay dirt,” Kord said.
A younger woman shook her fist at the camera, her anger apparent in her tone. “Mother, you know Youssof believed his friends. Father tried to persuade him, but you saw how he treated Father.”
“What happened?” Monica said.
The younger woman rose and took her mother’s hand. “After we moved to Riyadh, Youssof and Father argued about him returning to Iraq. When Father blocked the door and would not let him pass, Youssof pushed him against a table. Father is loyal to Saudi Arabia, and it’s wrong for him to take the blame for Youssof’s actions.”
The older woman buried her face in her hands. “What am I to do? Choose between my husband and son?”
“Mother, choose the truth and save my father.”
“Who is guilty?” Monica waited.
The older woman looked up with a tearstained face. “My son. He has friends who are bad men.”
“Why did he choose their ways?” Monica said.
“Youssof was a small boy. Weak. Many teased him about his size. The bad men promised him money and power.”
“Do you have names of these men?”
“No. Rashid followed him a couple of times, but Youssof seemed to sense it and my husband learned nothing.”
“Your sorrow must be great. What you’ve said will help your husband.”
“And my son?” She heard the anguish in the mother’s voice.
“I wish I had an answer for you. He’s getting the best care available for his burns and injuries.”
“How will we be informed about his condition?” the mother said.
“I’ll make your request known to Prince Omar.” Monica wished she had the power to ease their minds.
The mother whispered her thanks, and Monica ended the interview.
They had corroboration of Youssof’s friendship with possible suspects, but no names. Would Rashid have discovered his son’s friends? Would he go to his death protecting his son?
MONDAY AT NOON,Kord propped his feet on an ottoman on the rear patio and reviewed intel. A text from SAC Thomas stated Youssof Dagher died twenty minutes earlier. The young man’s injuries overpowered any will to live. He’d become an enemy of the US and Saudi Arabia who’d faced the consequences of saddling up with a terrorist regime. What had convinced Youssof, like so many others, to forsake family and friends for a deadly cause? Kord saw how loners, criminals, and those who’d broken laws looked for companions with a united cause, a family. Youssof found acceptance when others turned him away because of his stature.
Kord typed into the secure FBI site for updates. The FIG was digging into the many unanswered questions. He texted SAC Thomas for the camera footage near and around the burn unit at Memorial Hermann. Although techs were on it, he needed to see for himself. If questionable visitors had attempted to gain entrance into Youssof’s room, he wanted to identify them. Others involved could fear Youssof might talk and seek to eliminate him.
Was there an Iranian man in the city who had agreed to help in the prince’s assassination? And where was the intel linking the right people to the crime?
The camera footage from the hospital arrived. He phoned Monica, who was probably napping, but she’d want the info.
“What’s happening?” The words were muffled from her obvious dreamworld.
“First off, Youssof died before noon. Richardson and another agent were there to see him at ten thirty. He was already unconscious.”
