Page 141 of High Treason
“Your press secretary and his conservative following sold you out to the highest bidder.”
“Parvin Shah. Malik paid her.”
Jafar fought to keep from triggering the bomb. “Malik will be executed, but you don’t know the names of the others in your country against you.”
“Saudi security has every name, every opposition to moving our country ahead. Neither the conservatives nor our enemies will stop progress.”
Jafar slammed a fist into Omar’s jaw. “Youssof told me about Malik. He had big plans for your sister.”
The prince’s face reddened.
“Move, and I trigger the bomb.” Jafar laughed. “If Malik slit his own mother’s throat, what would he do to Yasmine? He was one step ahead of you for so long.” He stared up at the dark sky, ready to strike before he ended it for himself and the prince.
“He was caught before he touched my sister.”
“Ah, but by then they had access to all Malik knew about you.”
“Who recruited Parvin?”
Why not tell Omar the truth? They both were about to die. “Malik. He enlisted Youssof’s help too. Got him to send a virus to your phone. Money talks, Prince.” He spat the title. “When he shorted Parvin on the advance, she sent the e-mail that implicated him.” Jafar laughed. “I tried to get to Youssof when he was in the hospital. Dressed as an old woman. But Allah saw fit to take his life and end Malik’s.”
Prince Omar dragged his tongue across his lips. “This is between us, not all these innocent people.”
“My only regret is not spending more time at the library. There I read so many books about the US.” Jafar smirked. “The best way to have victory over the enemy is to learn all about them.”
“Who—?”
“Shut up. We’re done talking.” He lifted a small pair of binoculars to his eyes. “Your bodyguards and cops are moving into place. Just what I wanted.” He held up the dead-man switch. “Are you ready?”
IN THE TORRENTIAL RAIN,Kord stared up at Monica struggling to reach the top of the roller coaster. “Let me do this. You aren’t in any shape to take down the killer.”
“No thanks.”
“Between the lightning and pneumonia—”
“Kord, hush. I’m going to finish this.”
“Correction: we are.”
Ali spoke to him in the earbud. “Allah be with you both.”
“God is. Both of us,” Kord said. “I’m sure of it.” He joined Monica about ten feet from where the cars traveled to the top of the tallest hill. From there, one of them would have a clear shot at Jafar. Both men were crouched on the floorboard of the gondola.
Why hadn’t Jafar detonated the bomb? Could the man possibly be afraid? Kord prayed so.
A chill settled on Kord. The storm only added to the difficulty of taking the killer down and increased the risk of him blowinghimself up and others. If he or Monica were able to take a shot at Jafar, Prince Omar must immediately hold the dead-man switch down. The prince was no stranger to the stakes, and Kord believed he’d be ready.
Kord’s attention swerved to the tiny woman climbing higher on the roller-coaster tracks. He followed while keeping his sights on Jafar and Prince Omar. Sirens wailed and thunder pounded along with the rain. What chance did they have?
“You care for Miss Alden,” Ali said into his earbud. “Together you can do this.”
“You have feelings too.”
“I care for what she represents and her beauty. You love her heart. It’s in your face when you look at her.”
Later Kord would talk to Monica. “Who’s with you?”
“Saad, Inman, and Wasi.”
