“Or there could be twenty,” said Church. “I’m aware of the risks; however, the overall threat increases the longer we let this play out. The president wants the sweep to focus on the known targets, regardless of additional intel.”

“Yikes. There are a whole lot of ways this could go wrong.”

“Yes, and very few ways to get everything right. And once this is all over there will be very angry people in several foreign governments, even among our allies. We’re putting armed soldiers into play without seeking permission from any government. A lot of sovereignty rules are going to be bent or broken, and that’s too bad. The State Department is working up several variations of a presidential response, no matter how this spins out. Best-case scenario is that we’ll later claim to the world press that we were always working in concert with, and at the invitation of, these governments. If we find and de-arm the bombs, then those governments will have to stand by us publicly and agree that they invited us in as advisors.”

“Armanihandjob, too?”

Church didn’t respond. I was two for two with nobody laughing at that joke.

“We have to face the possibility that our enemies will detonate the remaining two devices as soon as they know about the hits.”

“Well, you’re just a ray of sunshine,” I said. “I so look forward to our little chats.”

“If you want something cheerier, I hear that Best Buy is hiring.” He cocked his head at me. “Until you determine that the device is, in fact, at the refinery, you will be operating under limited rules of engagement. Avoid conflict but don’t get taken. If fired upon, you are not authorized to use lethal force. We are not at war with Iran.”

“So don’t start one,” I said, “yeah, I get that. You’re asking a lot from Tasers and beanbag rounds.”

“This order comes from the president, not from me. However, make sure the nonlethal weapons aren’t all you are carrying.”

“Something else,” I said. “Khalid brought up the question of whether these dhampyri are vulnerable to garlic?”

“It varies. I know that some of them have been killed by Sabbatarians who attacked them thinking they were Upierczi. In heavy doses garlic is fatal to them too. But it’s not a matter of simply being around garlic. The garlic oil has to be introduced into the bloodstream, or in powder form into the lungs. They will be wearing ballistic shielding and each of them carries injectable epinephrine. Every soldier knows there are risks.”

He held out his hand.

“Good hunting, Captain.”

Chapter Ninety-eight

Chapter Ninety-Eight

Private Villa Near Jamshidiyeh Park

Tehran, Iran

June 16, 3:44 a.m.