Chapter Nine

 

 

Sfax, Tunisia

 

“Put him on speakerphone,” Justin said.

Patton shook his head. “No, he hates that. Plus, this isn’t exactly private.” He waved his hand.

Justin cast a sweeping gaze around. A couple of men were replacing a tire on an SUV at a small auto repair garage across the street. A group of women were walking a few steps ahead of Justin and Patton. Three or four vendors were chatting in front of their fruit stands.

Patton answered the phone, “Yes, chief, this is Patton.”

He listened for a long moment as a frown spread across his face. “Yes, yes, I understand,” he said after another pause.

Justin tried to read Patton’s face. It was clear that something bad had happened. But to whom? And how bad was it?

Patton nodded. “What’s our authorization?” he asked in a tone full of eagerness.

He listened, then shook his head. “But, if we don’t—”

His boss cut him off, and Patton was forced to listen again. He made a hand gesture to Justin, indicating that Patton’s boss was crazy, then said on the phone, “It is clear. Yes, yes, we will stay put and do nothing. All right. No, nothing else. Sure, have a good day. Yes, okay.” He ended the phone call and cursed out loud. “He ... he’s so stupid sometimes.”

“What happened?”

“Doma struck back. An attack on the UDPF’s HQ in Tripoli. A dozen or so supporters and officials have been killed or wounded.”

“Do we know for sure this is Doma’s work?”

“Nobody has claimed the attack, and, of course, Doma has denied responsibility.”

“What does your boss think?”

“He thinks Doma is playing both sides. He’s coming across as a moderate candidate and calling to his supporters to renounce violence. But in secret, he’s ordering these retaliatory acts. I share his view.”

Justin shrugged. “It could be that these are loose cannons, Doma’s supporters, but who are operating unsanctioned by the leader.”

“I don’t know. That could be the case.”

“And what does your boss not want us to do?”

“He doesn’t want us to get caught in the middle as these attacks escalate. At this point, only the Emiratis know we are involved, but they know we just arrived, and they’re not sure about our objective, otherwise Abdulkareem would have been more direct with us. My boss doesn’t want anyone from either side to point fingers and lay the blame on the CIA. For once, we’re not the ones to blame. Yet.” Patton grinned.

“Right. But did you know about your boss’s viewpoint? Is that why you told Abdulkareem that we’ll stay out of his hair?”

“No, of course not. I said what I said to calm him down. That’s what he wanted to hear, and that’s what I told him. But I had no intention of us not finishing our mission.”

“What about now, after receiving clear orders from your boss?”

Patton’s grin remained on his face. “Clear? They weren’t exactly clear...”

“Really? I heard you say that ‘We’ll stay put and do nothing.’”

Patton shrugged and brushed back his hair. “Yes, sometimes I don’t finish my sentences ... What I meant to say was that we’ll do nothing stupid. My boss only cares for the CIA’s reputation ... or should I say his own reputation, so that he’s not dragged through a scandal so close to retirement. So, as long as we’re not caught, we’re good.”

“Is it that easy?”

“Of course, but you don’t sound convinced. Have you never done anything against your boss’s orders?”

Justin smiled. “More than I can count.”

Patton smiled back. “So you understand. That’s why we get along so well.”

“Right.” Justin nodded and held up the flash drive Abdulkareem had given them. “Why don’t we return to the hotel and review these files? Then, we’ll talk to Abe and Carrie, and see if they have anything new.”

“And the car bombing site?” Patton tipped his head in that direction.

“With Abdulkareem on our tail ... not a good idea. Besides, maybe he’s right that there’s nothing there for us but further unnecessary exposure.”

Justin nodded. “Sure, but I still want to look around. Once we’ve shaken our surveillance.” He gestured over Patton’s shoulder. A white Mazda was still visible in the distance.

“They know better than to follow us.”

“But how did they find us?”

“Educated guess. They knew we’d come to the car bombing site, comb for witnesses, anything we can find.”

“And they were waiting here all day? I doubt that.”

Patton shrugged. “We were extra careful and saw no one tailing us.”

“Maybe they’re really good.”

“Or maybe they’re just lucky.”

“Whatever it is, let’s end it.”

“Sure thing.”

“How about we switch hotels?” Patton began to walk in the direction opposite the white Mazda’s.

“Good idea. Opposite side of town.”

“Yes.”

“And this time let’s make sure no one’s surveilling us.”

Patton nodded. “By all means. How about we start from here?” He pointed at a side alley, too narrow for a car to drive through.

“They know our hotel...”

“But they’re not sure we’re going there.”

“And we don’t have to.” Justin patted one of his jacket side pockets. He was carrying everything he needed for occasions just like this: his passport, wallet, cellphone, tablet, and a locked and loaded pistol with two extra magazines.

“Sure, let’s do this. It’s been a while since I’ve tried to shake surveillance on foot.”

Justin slowed down. “I’ll race you, but I’ll give you a head start.”

Patton gave him a sideways glance. “Because of my age?”

“No, your beauty.”

Patton grinned. “I’m flattered.” He glanced another time at the white Mazda, still coasting behind them, then turned the corner, entered the alley, and broke into a fast sprint.

Justin drew in a deep breath, counted until ten, and then bolted after Patton.