Pandora's grave

“In order to remove this stain from her family, she has agreed to give her life in the holy jihad. In return for our help with this, he will help us get inside. What answer should I give him?”

The terrorist leader took a sip of the tea and made a face. It was still boiling hot. “Anything can be arranged, inshallah. Are you capable of making another bomb?”

9:20 A.M.

The hotel

Beirut, Lebanon

“And good-day to you as well.”

Asefi smiled as he turned off the TACSAT and handed it back to Harry. “The woman I just spoke with is my personal account manager, has handled my finances for years. Her voice-shall we say, it is unmistakable. I am satisfied. My apologies for doubting you.”

“Nichevo,” Harry responded. It doesn’t matter. “Suspicion is the coin of our realm. Now, to whom much is given, much is required. The information you agreed to provide?”

The Iranian took a cautious look around the lobby, then leaned forward, gazing intently into Harry’s eyes. “Hossein is on a mission from President Shirazi. His execution was staged to cover his role in this attack.”

“And the target?”

“Al Quds, or Jerusalem as you call it. The al-Aqsa mosque,” Asefi replied calmly. “During Friday prayers.”

Harry sat there for a moment, scarcely able to believe what he was hearing.

“You’re sure?” he asked. “A biological attack on the Temple Mount will kill thousands of Muslims. It doesn’t make sense.”

Asefi shrugged. “You can believe what you will, but it does not change what is true. The murder of Muslims at worship, in a place guarded by the Jews. It will be a pretext for war.”

“Dear God,” Harry whispered. “He’s going to set the Middle East on fire.”

A sigh escaped the Iranian’s lips as he glanced out the window. “ You mean the world…”

1:26 A.M. Eastern Time

NCS Operations Center

Langley, Virginia

She entered the log-in verification for the third time, then clicked OK on the screen that appeared. A moment later, the adjusted balance appeared, minus the eight million dollars. In and out. Everything according to plan.

“It’s done,” Carol announced in a tired voice, looking over toward Carter’s workstation. “The Agency gives with one hand and takes with the other. Situation normal.”

She rose and retrieved her purse. “Now, to home and to bed. Don’t try calling me again, Ron. My phone will be off.”

“I’m headed home too,” he responded with a grin. “We’ve earned some sleep.” He looked at the dregs of coffee at the bottom of his mug and grimaced. “And a fresh brew of coffee in the morning.”

A phone rang somewhere in the bowels of the op-center and they exchanged glances. A couple moments later, Daniel Lasker appeared, his face grim in the glow of the electronics.

“Carol,” he announced without preamble, “I want you to call the DCIA and DCS. Get them out of bed and in here at once. Ron, get me a run-down of our assets in the East Mediterranean, focusing on support structure in Lebanon and Israel. I’ll see everyone in Conference Room #5 at 0200 hours for a complete mission briefing. Have your sitreps ready and with you.”

And then he was gone, down the hallway.

Carol sighed. Ron rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand and glanced speculatively at the empty coffee mug on his desk. “Well, that’s the end of sleep for the night. What’s the name of the new guy?”

“Ames?”

“Yeah, Ames. Send him down to the cafeteria for coffee. We’re gonna need it.”

Chapter Fifteen

12:19 A.M. Pacific Time

Beverly Hills, California

There was a satisfied expression on President Hancock’s face as he stepped into the limousine. It had been a successful evening, a fundraising dinner attended by a who’s who list of Hollywood celebrities. He enjoyed a great deal of support on the West Coast, and this was turning out to be a good trip.

Hancock took his seat and smiled into the eyes of the starlet who already sat within, his hand closing over hers. The evening was yet young.

“Mr. President,” a voice broke in upon his thoughts. His head jerked up to see the head of his Secret Service detail, Curt Hawkins, with a phone in his hand. “I have David Lay on the phone, sir. He says it’s urgent.”

“Isn’t it always,” Hancock retorted in disgust. “I have briefing in five hours, can’t it wait till then?”

The agent shook his head. “That’s a negative, Mr. President.”

“All right, give it here.”

Hawkins shot a pointed look in the direction of the actress and the President sighed, kissing her on the cheek. “Give me a moment, darling.”

Another agent escorted her from the vehicle as he picked up the phone.“Hello, David.”

“Mr. President, we have a situation.”

“More of your agents in trouble, director?” Hancock suggested. “You’ve already disrupted my evening, so get to the point.”

“The Iranians have a commando team in Israel, planning to deploy the biological weapon within the next twenty-four hours.”

“How did this happen?”