She took a deep breath and walked back over to the table. “I don’t know Assad.”

“But that is you in this picture, right?” Monty asked.

“It looks like me, yes, but I never had coffee with Assad. I was at that coffee shop by myself, conducting surveillance. It was my first field op, so I remember it very well.”

“Okay.” Monty pulled out another picture. This one appeared to be taken from outside of a hotel room window, and she could be seen through the glass, standing with Assad’s arms wrapped around her. She thought she might be ill.

Frank crossed his arms. “Ms. Karam, do you deny having a romantic relationship with Assad that started in Paris of last year?”

Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. These allegations were almost too much for her to handle. Not only that she was knowingly working with a terrorist but also doing a lot more than that in a hotel room. “I unequivocally deny that.”

Monty leaned forward. “So you didn’t spend the night together in Paris?”

Now she was moving from frustration to outright anger. “Absolutely not. This is insane.”

“Maybe you thought you were working him? Turning him into an asset?” Frank asked. “That would be smart. Is that what happened here? Just tell us if it was. That would help us put together all of your actions. The Agency doesn’t frown upon using whatever it takes to bring in high-value assets. Just tell us what you did. Did you try to turn him?”

“I can’t tell you something that didn’t happen. I never met him, and I most certainly didn’t try to turn him through whatever tactics you’re insinuating.”

“Then how do you explain these pictures?” Frank asked.

She lifted up her hand. “Let’s back up a moment. Who took these photos?”

Frank frowned. “I’m not at liberty to provide information on how we acquired the pictures.”

“They must be fabricated,” she replied quickly.

“Our initial analysis tells us otherwise,” Monty said.

“With the advances in AI technology, these things can be faked, and it’s almost impossible to detect. Yes, it would take someone with access to high-end technology, but I believe this is a setup, and you guys are falling for it.”

“You know we will polygraph you,” Frank said.

“I welcome that.” She paused, thinking about how far she should go. “You two need to consider that if I’m telling the truth, someone went through a whole lot of trouble to frame me. Should I also remind you that I was a target in the restaurant bombing?”

Frank shook his head. “Our best and current intel doesn’t support you being a target. We have a homegrown terrorist taking complete responsibility.”

Isn’t that convenient?

“I think you gentlemen have gotten your questions answered.” Hunter rose from his seat.