Page 80 of High Treason
“Should have known she’d be ahead of their thinking. What about the apartment management records? Her rental application?”
“Copied. The manager was glad to help. Agreed to let the FBI image all his records.”
The two men walked the sidewalk leading to Kord’s Charger. The temps were nearing sixty-five, comfortable until they soared into the heat of late spring and summer. The rain had stopped for today. He’d take a little sunshine and hope Parvin Shah’s death and investigation meant time for the FBI to find those behind the plot while the masterminds scrambled to regroup.
“Miss Alden handles herself well. Fearless and beautiful.” Ali kept his gaze straight ahead.
Unusual comment from Saudi culture. “Her record’s outstanding.”
“I’ve read it. Like you, she values others more than herself.”
“The reason we’re teamed up.”
“I watched her chase the killer from the restaurant. Impressive.”
“I missed it.”
“Is she unmarried?”
Kord understood exactly where Ali was headed. “Yes.”
“Spoken for?”
Monica was in for a huge surprise. “I have no idea.” Kord wanted to laugh considering she suspected Ali as aligning himself with the enemy. “She’d be a tough woman to tame.”
No emotion creased Ali’s face. “I think she’d be worth the trouble.”
Kord glanced away to hide his grin. “I thought you two didn’t get along?”
“Controversy makes life interesting.”
“Your temper might get you killed.”
“I might enjoy it.”
“She’s a Christian.”
He shrugged. “I like a challenge.”
Before he could discourage Ali any more, Monica walked their way. “I have the report from Macy’s. Shah quit two months ago. Excellent work record. Detail oriented. No absenteeism. No friends. Disconnected phone number.”
“Another dead end—” His phone rang. FBI tech division.
“Found a library card for the downtown branch in the taxi Parvin Shah used today.”
“Find out what she’s been reading.”
ONCE MONICA AND KORDreturned to the Saud home and shared dinner, he with his boys’ club and she with the girls’ club, the two met in the natatorium with their laptops. They chose two chairs by the pool’s edge. She hoped the bubbling waterfall distorted their conversation. No one else was around, but ears were always listening. Sheer stubbornness and an intense desire for privacy caused her to hide her words and thoughts. If she wanted the prince to hear a remark, she’d make sure he heard it.
“Do you have the taxi driver’s interview?” she said. “If not, I’ll send mine.”
“Got it.”
Sitting next to him made her nervous. This mission deserved her 100 percent focus, but between an attractive agent and a persistent headache, she was scattered.
They pulled up the feed. The driver, a Caucasian, gave his name and address to a pair of agents. His background checkedout—Houstonian. Father of two teens. Lived in the southwest part of town. Worked for Yellow Cab fifteen years. A team of agents was working on the taxi and interviewing personnel.
Kord and Monica played the interview on his laptop.
