Rules of Betrayal

45

The two stood side by side watching Emirates Flight 221 climb into the sky. The observation deck was deserted except for an elderly woman standing at the far end of the concourse. All the same, they spoke in hushed tones. For Connor, it was habit. For Danni, it was necessity. There was no other way to mask her feelings.

“How’d he do?” asked Connor.

“What kind of question is that?” Danni snapped. “We’d hardly even begun.”

“And?”

“Not bad, but not good, either. He’s got a mind like a steel trap. The memorization came easily to him. He’s got a fine eye indoors. If he gets into Balfour’s office, he’ll do a good job finding what he needs. But he’s no field agent. Not by a long shot. He needs another month at least.”

“Too late for that.”

“It’s not right. He’s a rank amateur.”

“Don’t underestimate him.”

“I’m not. You’re underestimating Balfour. All those good manners and fancy clothes-it’s a disguise. He’s a cold-blooded killer from the worst streets you can imagine. My people tried to put a man into his organization two years ago. He lasted a month before his corpse turned up in a Pindi slum with his throat cut and his testicles stuffed into his mouth. And he was good, Frank. Sayeret. You’re putting a novice with no operational experience into a gangster’s household in a foreign country without any backup. How long do you think he’s going to last?”

“Long enough to tell us where Balfour is keeping that warhead and who he intends to sell it to.”

“Did you tell him about Revy?” asked Danni.

“I didn’t think it was necessary.”

“Can von Daniken keep it quiet?”

“He’s working on it. So far, so good, but he’s not as confident as I’d like.”

“You owe Jonathan the truth.”

“The truth will ruin his nerves.”

“And Emma?”

“He knows what to do if he sees her.”

“Think she’s there?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“He won’t do it. She’s his wife, for God’s sake.”

“He’s killed before. I’ve seen that look in his eye. He’s not as averse to it as you think.”

“Not like this, he hasn’t. You’re asking too much.”

“All the same, it needs to be done.”

Danni put a hand on Connor’s arm. “Don’t make him go through with it. You can reach him in Dubai. He has a six-hour layover.”

“That’s not an option. You of all people should know that.”

“He isn’t ready.”

Connor heard something in her voice. Something that he’d never heard before. “I’m sure you did a fine job, Danni.”

“He needs backup. You can’t just send him in there alone. He’ll never get out.”

Connor looked at her. The job had never sat so heavily upon him. Suddenly he felt very old and very tired. He sighed. “I never expected him to.”