Cahil hesitated. “I don’t know, Briggs. After Ford picked us up, I lost track of her. Last I heard, she was in Tel Aviv.”
What will they do to her? Briggs wondered. Mossad was not known for its compassion.
“Briggs? What about Leland and Walt?”
Tanner shook himself. “Sure, I want to see them.”
Dutcher and Oaken walked in.
“Good morning,” said Dutcher.
“Awake at last,” Oaken said with an ear-to-ear grin.
“All things being equal, I’d rather be back at the Star-light.”
Cahil barked out a laugh.
“Pardon me?” said Dutcher.
“Nothing.”
Oaken looked at Cahil. “Did you tell him?”
“What?” said Tanner.
Oaken hesitated for a moment. “Stucky’s gone.”
“I know that.”
“No, I don’t mean dead. He’s missing. While you were aboard Ford, Bear saw him jump aboard an Israeli helo. That’s the last anybody’s seen of him.”
“Mossad?”
“They claim they don’t know where he is.”
Tanner laid his head back. “Well, I’m sure he’ll turn up. There’s always somebody who needs a Stucky.” He looked at Dutcher. “How long do I have to stay here?”
“The doctors say another week. In addition to cuts and bruises and burns numbering in the double digits, you’ve got that bad wing, plus some internal contusions.” Dutcher paused. “They worked you over pretty good, son. It’s a miracle you’re not dead.”
Tanner nodded. “He stopped it, you know.”
“Azhar? Bear told me. Looks like he was the man you knew after all.”
Tanner smiled. “Yes, he was.”
After a lunch of jell-o and beef boullion that Tanner unsuccessfully tried to pawn off on his guests, Dutcher checked his watch. “You feel up to some more company?”
Tanner didn’t like the glimmer in Dutcher’s eye. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not really.”
Preceded by a trio of secret agents, the President strode in. He walked to Tanner’s bedside and shook Tanner’s hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Briggs.”
“And you, Mr. President.”
The president gestured to a chair. “Do you mind?”
“Please.”
The president sat down and groaned. “Lord, traveling in that damned overdecorated jumbo jet makes my joints ache. What am I saying? How are you feeling?”
“Tired, but otherwise pretty good.”
“Glad to hear it. Listen, Briggs, I thought about this all the way over. I’ve always prided myself on knowing the right thing to say at the right time. But I have to be honest, I’m a bit stumped. What you did—”
“It wasn’t just me, Mr. President.”
“I know, I know. I read the report. A lot of people went above and beyond the call of duty… including Leland, and Walter, and Ian here. And Abu Azhar. But you put yourself straight into the lion’s mouth. I hope a simple thank-you doesn’t fall short.”
Tanner smiled. “Not at all, sir.”
“Good. No doubt you’ll have some medals coming your way from Mason and the Israelis, but I wanted to get to you first.” The president looked at his watch and stood up. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Tanner looked at him. “As a matter of fact, you can.”
Once he finished talking, the President shook his head and chuckled. “Well, I’ll say this for you, you don’t do anything halfway. Have you got any idea what you’re asking?”
“Yes.”
“Briggs, she’s an Israeli citizen and Mossad katsa to boot. I can’t—”
“Sure you can.”
“Okay, I can. Whether they go along is a whole different matter.” The president paused. “I’ll look into it. That’s all I can do.”
“I appreciate that. And my other request?”
“As luck has it, Mason has something similar in mind. I don’t think it will take much to bring him around to your plan. I’ll have a talk with him.”
“Can he see me?” Judith asked, staring into the one-way mirror.
“No,” said Paul Randal. “He knows somebody’s in here — it’s procedure — but he doesn’t know it’s you.”
“It looks like a prison cell,” she whispered.
“It is,” said Randal. “Ms. Smith, you have to understand—”
“You don’t need to explain it to me, Agent Randal. I know what he’s done.”
“Yes, ma’am. Sorry.”
Judith stepped closer to the glass. She was torn. Anger and confusion and longing all fought for control of her mind, but underneath it all, her heart was saying only one thing.
Ibrahim Fayyad sat on his bed and for the hundredth time studied his room.
Room wasn’t quite the right word, was it? Despite the comfortable bed and chairs and white walls and wonderful meals, it was a prison cell. His door was always locked, there were no windows, and every piece of furniture was bolted to the floor. Not that it mattered, of course. Even if he could escape, where would he go?
Latham had said the debriefing might take as long as a year. After that, he would be sent to a maximum-security federal penitentiary, most likely in Marion, Illinois. Would he survive prison? he wondered. Real prison? He decided it did not matter.
His life had come full circle. He’d lived the first fifty years of it visiting evil unto others, and now he was seeing the consequences. It was strange how prison changed one’s perspective; of course, the change had started with Judith, but the truth was becoming clearer with each passing day. Actions… consequences.
He heard the click of his door’s bolt being thrown back.
The door opened, and in walked Judith Smith.
She stopped just inside the room. The door slammed shut. She jumped, and looked over her shoulder.
She turned back. “Hello, Paol — I’m sorry. They told me. Your real name is…”
He stood up. “Ibrahim.”
She nodded absently. “Ibrahim.”
“Judith, I’m so glad you came.”
“I don’t know why I did.”
“Would you like to sit down?”
“No.” Sticking close to the wall, she took a step forward and looked around. “The FBI isn’t much for decorating, are they?”
“No. But the food is good, and all things considered, it could be worse.”
She looked up sharply; he saw a flash of anger on her face.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Maybe it should be worse. I’m sure you’ve thought the same thing.”
Judith’s expression softened. “When they first told me, yes, I did.”
“And now?”
‘“How can you ask me that?” Tears welled in her eyes, and Fayyad felt his heart lurch. He took a step toward her. She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “Just tell me — and I want the truth — was it all a lie? All of it?”
“No, Judith. In the beginning it was, but before long, it wasn’t. For a long time I’ve had these feelings…. I don’t know how to explain. I was so frightened they were going to hurt you. You must understand: For twenty years, this is all I’ve—”
“Twenty years?” she whispered. “God. How many women?”
“Judith—”
“How many!”
“Too many.”
“My God.”
“You changed me, Judith.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“You can. Why would I lie? There’s nothing to gain from it. Judith, I’m going to die in prison—”
“Don’t say that.”
“I’ve come to peace with it. Besides, even if I were free, my former colleagues are not too happy with me.” He paused. “Tell me: Are you and the senator still—”