got to get inside.”
The woman said, “We can help.”
Another boom of the shotgun on the roof, and then another loud explosion up there, as if a drone had hit the building.
“Romantic. How copy?” Zack asked, but there was no response.
* * *
• • •
Mirza looked at the American CIA man with utter contempt. “What do you want to tell me about my mission, Mr. Hanley?”
Hanley said, “I want to tell you that you are being played.”
“Being played? Playing a game?”
“No. You are being used. Your men are being used. Your country is being used.”
Mirza laughed a little.
Hanley continued. “How do you think it was that your master told you exactly where to come in this house to find the ambassador? Where the safe room was, where the cameras are? Because he’s been here. He’s an American ally.” Hanley laughed derisively. “Hell, the man running you now was trained by the CIA.”
The Iranian shrugged. “That does not surprise me. But our objectives are the same. I do not care about anything more than this.”
“That’s just it. Your objectives are not the same. Do you even know the identity of Tarik?”
“Of course I do.”
Hanley looked at him dubiously. “Sultan al-Habsi? The son of the crown prince of the UAE?”
It was clear to the American that the terrorist in front of him did not know this. Still, the young man played it cool. Said nothing.
Hanley added, “Al-Habsi wants Iran destroyed because he thinks it’s the only way his father will make him the crown prince before he dies of cancer.”
Mirza shook his head. “Always tricks with the CIA. Always tricks. Americans and Jews.”
“Jews?” Hanley said, “Let’s talk about the Jews. The UAE made peace with Israel. Do you know why?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Because the UAE was worried the West wasn’t taking the threat posed by your people seriously enough. They wanted to partner up with the real anti-Iranians. With the UAE it’s all about the danger your nation poses to moderate Sunni nations. Oil states, specifically. Your cause is not his cause, you just think it is. You want this act tonight to strengthen Iran against the West. The truth is, it will lead to Iran being wiped off the face of the Earth.”
Hanley heard more shooting on the roof. Another explosion, louder, but farther away. This sounded to him like Hightower had tried to shoot down a drone but had been unsuccessful and it impacted with and detonated a police vehicle.
He continued telling Mirza what he knew. About Shrike Group, about al-Habsi giving the United States the intel it needed to kill the commander of Quds in Baghdad.
Mirza shook his head adamantly. “None of this matters. America won’t invade Iran. They saw what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Hanley laughed again. “And we saw what happened in Vietnam, and we still went into Iraq and Afghanistan, didn’t we? You think we learn from our mistakes? No, sir. We make them over and over again, sure that the next time is going to be different.” The big American shrugged. “And you know what? Maybe with Iran, we’ll be right. We’ll go in there and blow up enough shit to actually make a difference for once. Of course, you and I will be dead, so who gives a shit, but my bet is Shia expansion in the Middle East ends tonight. Just like your master envisioned.”
“My only master is Allah.”
“Bullshit! Sultan al-Habsi has his hand up your ass tonight, and he’s playing you like a sock puppet.”
Mirza was wild with rage; he took the butt of the short-barreled AK and bashed it into the fifty-eight-year-old’s forehead, dropping him hard to his knees. More blows battered Hanley’s head and back.
* * *
• • •
“Romantic? How copy?” Court asked over the net again.
A few seconds later he could hear Hightower coughing over his earpiece. Finally the man on the roof said, “I’m too old for this shit. I heard you guys. You want to try to hit the ambo’s office?”
“Can you help?” Court asked.
“Talk me to the location; I’ll come from the roof. Go through a window. All I have is a shotty with two shells remaining; I’m not going to fire near friendlies, but I can make some mischief for you.”
Court nodded at this. “We have three DSS agents here assisting. They can help us with the breach. Find a way to that window.” He paused, then spoke to Hanley. “Matt, if you can hear this, we need you to find a