“You did well to find a way to return him to Iran. Even better that you were able to eliminate Behrouz in the course of … in the course of events. Hamedi’s plan can go forward now.”

Nurin saw Slaton’s attention dart to a pair of workers walking on a nearby path. They wore work pants and brown T-shirts, and had long shovels slung over their shoulders. Slaton waited for them to pass, then reestablish eye contact.

Nurin asked, “So your plan was to abduct Hamedi? And what would you have done then?”

“I was going to demand your public resignation, along with an admission that you had committed unspecified crimes, the details of which could not be revealed for reasons of national security. You would have gotten prison time. I was going to demand ten years—but I’d have settled for five. One always has to leave room for negotiation.”

“Negotiation? With whom?”

“I was going to bring the prime minister here, to the very spot where you’re standing. I wanted his personal assurance—in writing—that Christine and I would be left alone forever. Then I was going to hand him Hamedi to do with as he pleased.”

Nurin felt more at ease, finding himself on increasingly familiar terrain. “Yes,” he said appreciatively, “that was probably the best you could have done.”

For the first time Slaton’s eyes stopped scanning. Standing on wet earth between wire frames of hundred-year-old vines, the unsettling gaze drilled Nurin directly. “It wouldn’t have worked, would it? Not even if Hamedi was the fanatical anti-Semite everyone thought him to be.”

“No,” Nurin conjectured, “probably not. You might have gotten a degree of retribution—but only against those of us in Israel who were forced to make the difficult choices. A few moments of gratification perhaps, but the outcome wouldn’t have changed.”

“So for Christine and I there’s never going to be a way out, is there?”

“Over the years you have done great things for Israel, David. But in your line of work success comes with a price. Tell me—would you consider coming back? Mossad can always use a man of your talents.”

In the ensuing silence Nurin recognized a mistake. He quickly added, “You were very resourceful last night. When you learned the truth about Hamedi, how he was planning to neutralize the biggest threat we Jews have faced in decades, you immediately found a way forward.”

“I’m not done yet,” Slaton said.

“What do you mean?”

Slaton explained what was yet to come.

Nurin gave the assassin his most circumspect look. “I always suspected you were a good Jew. In the end, you are doing the right thing for Israel, David.”

“And you?” Slaton asked. “Do you feel in your heart that you’ve done the right things?”

“Certainly not. It is the curse of my position. But I can say in good conscience that I have always tried.”