Page 175 of Protecting You
Ghazi studied her, seemed to be searching for the lie. After a moment, he gave a curt nod. “I am glad to know that. Have you given the authorities information about other things you’ve found for me since we’ve been working together?”
“I discovered today, after the party, that the FBI has been surveilling me. They’re the ones who stole my computer system the night after we met.”
They hadn’t gotten past her security yet, but she didn’t think it wise to tell Ghazi she’d given them her passwords.
“Your own government doesn’t trust you?”
“I’m not the only one being watched, Ghazi.”
He took that in, nodding. “Ah, but they have good reason not to trust me. And at the restaurant that night, did Templeton just happen to be there, or was he sent?”
“He got a tip that somebody was in danger. When he saw me, he made up the lie on the spot.”
“You played it well. Though I was suspicious, I believed you were annoyed that he’d interrupted your business meeting.”
“Believe me, I was.”
That garnered a smile, though on the terrorist, it looked sinister.
“Can I ask you a question?” At his nod, she said, “What was your plan?”
“The Russian is to be honored Monday night in Washington, DC. Now that you have confirmed the name, I know my source can be trusted. I planned to hit the restaurant.”
“And kill all those innocent people?”
The last trace of his smile vanished. “There are noinnocentsin America. You are all guilty. It is only a matter of degree.”
She contemplated his words. “I don’t disagree. ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’”
“What is that?”
“Scripture. It’s in Romans, though Paul was quoting Isaiah, I think. We are all guilty. We are all in need of a savior.”
“You’ll have no savior today, Alyssa.”
They’d see about that. “And now that they’re on to you? What will you do?”
“I will have to settle for less strategic strikes.”
Strikes. Plural.
As if hitting a hotel that could potentially have a thousand people inside could be consideredstrategic.
“Langley, the Pentagon, and I think”—he tapped his chin—“your father’s country club. Your mother and sisters are still there. If your father leaves, then he’ll have the rest of his life to grieve, to know their deaths are on his head.”
Horror and dread warred for first place in Alyssa’s mind. If she gave him what he wanted, everyone she loved would be at risk.
If she didn’t, Peri would pay the price.
Ghazi tsked. “Maybe if you’d kept your heart out of it, you guys could’ve figured a way to bring me down. When love gets involved, one loses the ability to think straight. Love is for fools.”
“You’ve never been a fool? Never been in love?” Her only answer was the flick-flame-extinguish of his lighter. “Not even with Fatemeh?”
He sat up on the bed, his dark brows lowered.
In her peripheral vision, she saw Benson straighten.
“How do you know that name?” Ghazi’s words vibrated with anger.
