Page 34 of High Treason
She turned to him.
“I owe you an apology. Originally I skimmed your résumé. I’ve been a jerk. Again.”
“No problem. I’m good. Try explaining it to God since He’s the one you’ve offended.”
He groaned.
“I’ll give you a little slack. We have two murders hovering over us, and your friend Zain is one of them.”
“That doesn’t justify my actions.”
“Right. I gave you a break.” She couldn’t resist a grin. “Next time is another matter.”
“For the record, I’m a proponent of only sure things.”
“Me too. Has the prince released his intel?”
“Still waiting. While we have a little time, let’s look at the security footage. The sound of the elevator will alert us to anyone.” Kord bored his attention into his phone while she did the same to hers.
She logged on to the secure site and found where she’d left off.
“Take a look at 9:35 a.m.,” Kord said.
“I looked at this earlier.” She found the footage. “The man rotated his body in the opposite direction whenever cameras could have captured his face. The only thing he couldn’t avoid was his height.” She paused the screen and studied it. “I’d say approximately five-six or -seven like the young man at Paramount High School said. The killer is scary skilled. Before it’s over, I want to find out who trained him. And where.”
“Right. None of the footage gives us the ability to run him through facial recognition software.” He stretched his neck.
Her mind spun back to who could be behind the attempted assassination. Suspicion crept into her processing. While she’d assumed a member of the prince’s entourage was responsible for the deaths, what about Americans who were upset with Prince Omar’s visit? Those who thought they were doing the world a service? She’d check backgrounds on every person she could think of before she and Kord compared notes.
No more murder cases with her name on them.
PRINCE OMAR AND CONSUL GENERAL AL-FAKEEHexited Princess Gharam’s hospital room with their bodyguards. Kord stood and Monica joined him. A light floral scent gave no doubt to her femininity. Trying to figure out the woman from her background proved more difficult than he imagined. Her Middle East missions proved her ability to outthink the enemy. But how did he size up a determined operative? But her innocent face and Jesus-freak attitude completely threw Kord for a loop.
He could trust her to have his back. No problem. But having her on a detail with an Arab prince who believed it was a man’s world ... Could Kord work effectively when he might have to run interference between Monica and Prince Omar? And she’d already compiled distrust against Ali.
“She’s either very good or will disrupt all we do,” Ali had said when confronted with what she’d lip-read. “Your government shouldn’t have assigned a woman.”
Kord valued loyalty. “Or her gender could be an asset.”
Now Prince Omar approached him. “Kord, the consul general is leaving. My plan to join him at his office has been postponed. Dr. Carlson wants to speak to Mother and me together.”
“I’ll escort Consul General al-Fakeeh to his driver.” Kord needed to explore the two conversations he’d missed between the prince and the consul general.
The consul smiled his thanks. “A limo is waiting outside. My driver texted earlier to arrange for a replacement.”
“Is he ill?” Kord said.
“A family emergency.” He reached for Monica’s hand ... in front of the prince.
Monica grasped it. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you. Have a good day.”
Kord turned to her. “I’ll keep you posted on our wire.”
She reached inside her jacket and positioned the earbud before taking a stance between the elevator and Princess Gharam’s room.
The elevator opened, and Kord gestured for the consul general and his two bodyguards to enter. The door closed with the protectors shielding Consul General al-Fakeeh.
“How was your time with Princess Gharam?” Kord said.
