“His name is Murquin al-Kazaz. Denny has known him for over a decade.”

“Do you know him?” Zack asked.

“No. I never did liaison intelligence shit. I don’t trust the House of Saud the way Denny does.”

Court said, “We need to identify al-Kazaz’s involvement with Operation BACK BLAST.”

“Easier said than done. I don’t have any access to that.”

“It doesn’t matter, Matt. We have access to him. You just have to get me into Alexandria Eight. I’ll get him to talk.”

Hanley snorted into the phone. “Did you not hear what I just said? It’s Fort Knox, Court.”

“If it’s a safe house, then you have schematics on it.”

“I do. I have blueprints, and the defensive plan from security. That’s how I know it’s impenetrable.”

“Prove it. Let me see the prints and plans.”

Hanley thought it over a minute. “All right, I’ll send them to Zack’s phone and you can look. But that’s only to prove to you that I’m right. You aren’t getting in there, and I’m not going to let you go on a suicide mission.”

—

Court spent nearly a half hour looking over the defenses at the CIA safe house while Zack drove. The facility was impressive, to say the least, but Court was motivated to find a way in.

He found himself significantly less motivated to find a way out.

While Court worked, Zack listened to country music on the radio. He sang along with Dwight Yoakam, then hummed along with Johnny Cash. When some cornball and sugary new country artist came on the radio, however, Zack just sat there and bitched about the state of the music industry till Court told him to shut the hell up so he could think.

An aircraft flying low overhead on its base leg to Stafford Regional Airport, just a mile to the south of where he sat, gave Court an idea. After a few more minutes’ work, he called Hanley back.

While Zack and Matt listened quietly, Court laid out his plan in as much detail as he could.

When he was finished, Court said, “So, Matt. What do you think?”

Hanley replied with one word. “Disallowed.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s suicide, that’s why.”

“I can do it.”

“No one can do it. Plus, you told me how you’d get in, but not how you’d get out.”

Court cocked his head. “I did tell you how I’d get out.”

Hanley said, “I . . . I thought that part was just a joke.”

“It might still be. But I’m willing to try it.”

“Are you insane?”

“No, sir. But I am in a hurry. If we do this we have to hit right now, while al-Kazaz is there.”

Hanley wouldn’t budge, so Court said, “Matt. Denny is going to figure out you helped me. The war between you two is going to get worse.”