“Yes,” Hamel said, “I worked with Hamedi for a time in Hamburg. A brilliant man. Is Interpol still worried about him?”

“Still?” Sanderson queried.

“I was interviewed shortly after he left for Iran, the usual nonsense. Did he have any political leanings? Did he frequent particular mosques? I said it then and I’ll say it now—he was a good man, brilliant, and very hardworking. I don’t think we ever once discussed politics or religion. He was Muslim, of course, but it wasn’t something he pushed on others. Hamedi had an expansive bookshelf in his apartment, one that we combed through together many times—I never saw anything more extremist than a copy of the Koran.”

“Actually,” Sanderson said, “my reason for being here is more forward-looking. We have reason to believe that an attempt could be made on Dr. Hamedi’s life during his visit to Geneva this coming weekend.”

“I see. Yes, that is a concern.” Hamel clasped his hands tightly behind his back. “I did hear about the attempts in Iran—you know, all that business with the Israelis. It’s not the kind of thing my peers and I usually have to deal with. But you think he could be at risk here, in Switzerland?”

“Our information is not exactly concrete, but we must err on the side of caution.”

“Of course.”

“Tell me,” Sanderson said, “will you be attending Hamedi’s presentation tomorrow?”

“Yes. Dr. Michel and I worked closely with Hamedi in Hamburg and we were planning to go. But given what you’re telling me now—perhaps we should skip the speech and be satisfied with the reception.”

“Reception?”

“Surely you know about it—afterward, on the yacht?”

“Of course,” Sanderson played. “But I’d like to hear what details have gotten out.”

Hamel fished through a pile on his table and came up with an invitation that looked as if it had been printed from an email. He handed it over and Sanderson saw a picture of a yacht named Entrepreneur, along with a schedule for a reception involving an evening cruise that would take place immediately following Hamedi’s speech. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and wine, live entertainment.

“Yes, we’ve had a close eye on this,” Sanderson said. “By your understanding, who will attend this event?”

“It looks a big enough boat, but all I can tell you is that ten, perhaps twelve of us from CERN have been invited. Two or three of Hamedi’s old colleagues from Hamburg are coming as well, I think. And the U.N. people, of course—the chief weapons inspector and his staff. I’m sure the Iranians will have a delegation.”