Page 102 of High Treason
She frowned. “This is a no-brainer. The man who asked for me left his number on a napkin, and Lori placed it in the café’s safe. I want to retrieve it before she chooses to give it to the police.”
“And?”
“Figure out if the man is someone I need to talk to.”
“I? Not we? This case or your previous one? Are you going all Jason Bourne on me?”
“I wish. Tired of playing housemaid.”
“So you’ve said.” Kord understood her frustration. “I get it. We’re used to being in the thick of things. For the record, if anyone tailed us from the mansion, I haven’t detected anything.”
“Doesn’t mean there isn’t one. By the way, have you mentioned again about sending Fatima and Yasmine home?”
He nodded. “Prince Omar is considering it.”
“Why would he want them to be in danger?”
“Because of a personal issue there. He feels he can better protect them here.”
“Okay. Can we talk about Parvin Shah?”
“Go for it.”
“She was prepared to use a suicide vest or at least had it in her possession. If she’d been successful, we’d never know who insideSaudi or Iran is responsible. Never mind the factions who are claiming responsibility. It’s glory day for those who want Saudi Arabia and the US to break ally relations.” She stopped. “I ramble on when I’m tired.”
He laughed. “I like hearing your thought process. Pushes the pieces closer together. Once we’ve figured out who’s behind this, Saudi will take extreme measures against them. Hard to say how the US will respond. The ludicrous risks Iran is taking could kill thousands.”
“Who is stupid enough to risk getting blown off the map unless they have a strategic plan? Who else is backing them?” She straightened.
“What is it?”
“Techs are working on linking Shah with father and son Dagher or Malik. We’re hoping to find who worked with her, and tonight we’ll learn who came looking for me at the café. If this is regarding our case, why look me up at Coffee Gone Dark and not you?”
“Who knew you worked there before the prince’s arrival to the US?” Kord said.
“My point. I’m not the biggest threat—you are because of your close alliance with Prince Omar. It doesn’t make sense.”
Kord recalled what SAC Thomas had said about his friendship with Prince Omar. “Not necessarily. You came into the task force with a superior skill set.”
She turned to him. “As though you’d overlook what might be happening?”
“Blindwas the word used.”
“What’s SAC Thomas’s position?”
“Prince Omar insisted on having me as part of the security detail. We’re the team, and we’ve both inflicted damage in the Middle East. We’re in the top ten of that region’s kill list. But you’re the one who has the spotlight. That has me baffled too.”
“If someone was watching when I chased Shah, she hit the pavement and fell between two cars. I spent a few seconds checking vitals. Could our bad guy be worried she gave me info? But if so, he’d be under arrest.”
“If the enemy believes you have an ID, you’re not in a good spot. The other factor is your ability to read lips. Two reasons to see you out of the picture.”
“I think Malik is working with the enemy,” she said with concrete firmness. “Use your influence to keep him alive until this is over.”
“Why?”
“Call it intuition while I find the evidence.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
