THE FBI COMMAND CENTER had turned into a sleeping dragon, resting now but able to exert intense power when aroused. Like the dragon, Johansson sat slouched in his leather chair, his chin resting near his chest, an empty coffee cup wedged between his legs. Agent Ackerman hesitated to wake him, but knew the director would want to know. He touched him on the shoulder. "Director, sir. Sorry to disturb you. I have news."
Dazed, Johansson opened his eyes and raised his head. "What? News?"
"Yes sir. The call came in minutes ago. It went off pretty well."
"Pretty well?" He pushed himself upright in the chair.
"Yes. As planned, Agent Sharif answered the call. She had no problem with the language. She followed the script and forwarded the call to her husband, Mr. Sharif who pretended to be the sick Professor Maloof. They convinced the caller that Rashid was his substitute."
"So we pulled it off?"
"Yes sir, but there was one problem.”
"Problem?"
The man who called asked to verify the identity of a Rashid al Youris, not Mohammad Faisal.
Johansson jumped up, fully awake. "Did you say Youris?"
"Yes, sir. Rashid al Youris, but Mr. Sharif went along with it. He vouched for this Youris guy. I hope that was okay?"
The Big Swede nodded. "Sure. Tell Agent Sharif and her husband we appreciate their help. Thank them.”
Ackerman stepped away.
Johansson felt a slight chill pass through him. So Rashid has changed the plan. He's using his identity. He must have also forged a letter of introduction with his name in it. I don't know why he’d do that. Maybe he feared his real identity might be recognized, and he didn't want to take a chance of our being discovered. I don’t know what's in his head, but he must have a good reason. I hope he had a good reason.