A FEW MINUTES BEFORE NOON on Thursday, SAC Thomas walked into his office at the FBI and shut the door. “Kord, we have nothing on Malik al-Kazaz to hold him. Forty-eight hours, and he’s out of here unless we find proof of his involvement.” Frustration scraped every word. “The only suspicious activity is the IP address linking him to Arabic chatter. But the time stamp on the e-mail was when he and Princess Yasmine were having their little tryst. We’re waiting for evidence to prove an e-mail hack because this may be a setup.”
“I heard the interview, and I see the holes. Did he give you a name when he asked to speak to you privately?”
The SAC slumped into his chair. “No. Malik’s afraid you’ll assist in his death. His story about the trip to Iraq for his father checked out. We ran a background on Rashid Dagher, and he’s not affiliated with any terrorist groups or those opposing the Saud family.”
Kord could have guessed that, but he wasn’t about to say so.
“There’s a twenty-one-year-old son, Youssof, who cleared too.”
“Can’t we keep him until we have arrests? The diplomatic immunity went by the wayside with suspected murder.” He heard near exhaustion in his own voice and forced strength into his words. “At least until you verify the link to Arabic chatter.”
SAC Thomas uttered a familiar phrase about Kord’s smart mouth, the curses rattling the small room. “Do you need a reminder of the critical nature of this case? You’re wasting your time with an innocent man.”
“I brought Malik in this morning with suspected ties to a murder. My job. What more do you want?”
The SAC rubbed his face. “If nothing surfaces, I’ll have him escorted on a flight back to Saudi Arabia. Let the royal family handle him.”
“Three men are dead.”
“I don’t need a reminder. The man in custody was with the prince during the three killings.”
“Has he contacted Consul General al-Fakeeh for legal representation?”
“No mention of it.”
“Has the FBI informed him?”
“Yes.”
The conversation was getting nowhere, and the air-conditioning inside the SAC’s office ran as cold as their differences of opinion. “So I accompany the prince and his men to River Oaks? Tell them if the FBI concludes Malik’s innocent, he’s expelled home? The man will be dead five minutes after the plane lands in Riyadh, and we won’t know a thing more than right now. You must have dug up something since Tuesday.”
“We’ve questioned him for over four hours, and he hasn’t budged from his story. You heard me offer him a deal if he’d give the names involved with the murders.”
Kord listened. No point in fueling the chilling temps unless he needed to make another point.
“I could care less about him meeting with a princess minus a chaperone. That doesn’t add up to murder.”
“Sir, I agree. Nothing in the interview or his body language indicated a conspiracy. But the Saudis are looking for someone to blame.” Malik had lost credibility with the prince, and Kord wished there was something to keep the man in custody longer than forty-eight hours.
SAC Thomas held up a finger. “The mole is in that fancy house, eating the best food and planning murder. No doubt in my mind. But it’s not Malik. Don’t ever question my authority again, understand? Every minute ticking by increases the chances of another American’s murder or Prince Omar’s death on American soil.”
“The man is like a brother to me. When have you ever seen me use poor judgment, emotion or not?”
“Our careers are finished if the plot is successful. More innocent Americans may be at risk. The conservatives in Saudi Arabia are dragging us to the gallows with the death of one of their own citizens.”
Kord swallowed his ire. “I am well aware of the potential repercussions. The consul general’s security is also a concern. What’s being done there?”
SAC Thomas drew in a breath. “Everything possible. Heavily guarded. Surveillance teams.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t be a target.”
“We’ll work our end. You work yours.” He looked at his watch. “When will Prince Omar and his bodyguards be done with prayers?”
“About ten minutes.”
“I’m due in a meeting, which means I’ll miss them. Give my regards and contact me later. You want to prove Malik’s knee-deep in this? You have forty-eight hours. We all have the same amount of time. No one wants this settled more than I do. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Yes, sir.”
SAC Thomas frowned and left the room. Kord understood the pressure the FBI and the CIA were under to keep the prince alive. But neither of the men had more at stake than Kord. Nothing in his growing-up years slid close to the level of commitment he had with Prince Omar.
He texted Monica.
Holding Malik 48 hrs.
If he’d lure Yasmine 2 lie & break culture, he can’t b trusted. What about trip 2 Iraq?
Same story as yours. Anything on ur end?
Youssof Dagher returned 2 Iraq.
Why?
Don’t know. Working on finding him.
News from princesses?
No. I don’t trust Malik.
Jury’s out here.
Why had Youssof returned to Iraq? The other matter that wouldn’t leave Kord alone was Nasim. Why hadn’t he called?