“I don’t give a damn about your director’s problems! I am here for a medical conference. David and I have a life, and we don’t need anything from you or Israel.”

Bloch’s coffee came, forcing a pause. When the waitress left he didn’t pretend to address his cup. “Christine, please listen to me. Mossad is in crisis. The missions I told you about failed because there is a traitor, a leak somewhere in the agency—it has frozen them. They can’t act directly on this opportunity, and Nurin believes there is only one other way to go after Hamedi. They must use someone outside the organization.”

Christine went rigid. Her voice struck an arctic whisper that surprised even her, “Don’t you even say it!” She pushed back from the table and stood. “You stay away from him!” Her voice kept rising. “Stay away from us!”

Bloch rose and grabbed her arm, his hand a vice. “That’s what I told Nurin!” Bloch whispered harshly. “I am on your side in this!”

People were staring.

He repeated it slowly. “I am on your side.”

Hesitantly, Christine eased back into her seat.

Bloch said, “I told him David would never do it, that nothing could make him go back. I suspected Nurin had called me in as a recruiter—to try and talk David into doing the job. He didn’t even try.”

Her gaze narrowed. “So what did he want?”

“He believes there is a way to force David into taking this assignment. He told me that … that you would be here in Stockholm today. Alone.”

Christine didn’t understand at first. As a physician she was accustomed to directness, not trained to search for snares. But finally she saw what Bloch was suggesting, and the cold realization swept her away. He kept talking, but the words barely registered.

“Can’t you see it?” he said. “I am the only person in Israel you would trust. The director asked me to help—he thought I might be able to bring you in quietly. I told him I would.”

Her world was spinning, but Bloch’s eyes held her in a grip harsher than the one that had just bruised her arm. “That’s what I told him. But the truth is that I came here to help you. I am going to get you out of this.”

She shook her head. “Whatever you are trying to tell me—”

“Listen very carefully, Christine. I want you to look discreetly across the street. You will see a silver Audi, two men. One is standing on the curb, the other sitting in the driver’s seat.”

Trying to be casual in a world gone mad, Christine tilted her head and saw them, two men and a car framed by the shimmering waterfront. The one standing was tall and heavy, dark hair. The man at the wheel, bald and thick-necked.