‘Let me spend time with them, first,’ Nassour briefed Golzar. ‘I want to see their faces when I tell them I know who they are.’ They were in his ride, being driven to the Grand Bazaar. A second vehicle was behind them carrying the six-member squad.
‘We’ll stand out,’ the operative pointed out, indicating their uniforms.
‘That’s the plan,’ the major said arrogantly. ‘I want all Iranians to know that no one can escape Quds. I am sure many people will film the capture on their mobiles. We will not stop them. Let the world see what happens when anyone crosses us.’
‘How hard do you want us to be?’
‘They are Mossad. They will be violent. I don’t know if they will have backup, but we will spot them immediately. You know what to look for. Anyone who does not fit, who’s lingering—’
‘Yes, agha,’ Golzar said respectfully. ‘I know how to spot such people.’
Nassour grinned. The killer reminded him of his younger days when he was out in the field carrying out attacks. ‘Do you know any of those men?’ he gestured at the vehicle following them.
‘Only two. I talked to them when they were assembling. They are good.’
They arrived at the parking lot, drawing attention as they headed to the Grand Bazaar’s twisty alleys.
‘Stay outside, look casual,’ Nassour told his protégé as the restaurant appeared in the distance. ‘I have a window seat. You can see me from outside. I will pull my left ear like this,’ he gestured. ‘That will be your signal.’
‘If they have weapons?’
‘Shoot to injure. If they have backup, kill those. We need these women alive. Try not to shoot other customers, but if any get injured or die,’ he shrugged callously, ‘we’ll deal with it. This is a Quds operation. Nothing and no one can stand in its way.’
He hurried inside the restaurant and nodded when the doorman straightened and opened the door with a flourish. The manager hurried over and escorted him to his table.
Nassour’s eyes flicked over the large man who was seated behind him and settled in his chair. No, that definitely wasn’t a Mossad man.
He glimpsed Golzar outside, browsing at a store. Military personnel were a common sight in the market which was why Nassour had insisted on uniforms. Authority had to be seen.
He scanned the other guests. Most of them were young. None of them looked watchful or had the hard-eyed look of experienced fighters.
They’ll come alone, he decided. They can’t resist me.
A wolfish grin crossed his face. They don’t know what I have planned for them.
There would be only one winner in Mossad vs Quds and it wouldn’t be the Israelis.