Nicole could hear Nir shouting orders, but his hand must have been covering the mouthpiece because she couldn’t make out the muffled words. “Okay, I was just assured by the agency who hired your driver that he’s very good at what he does. He wouldn’t have been breaking any traffic laws. It’s likely that they’ll tail you for a while, but then—”

“Matt. They’ve turned on the lights. We’re pulling over.”

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

07:40 / 7:40 A.M. IRST

Yusif opened his door and stepped out as three officers surrounded him. Just minutes ago, as he stared into his rearview mirror and tapped a rapid beat on the steering wheel, two more cars arrived along the side of the road. Nicole had asked the man what was going on, but his limited English vocabulary only allowed him to respond, “No worry. No worry.”

His words and his attitude didn’t mesh.

“Describe their uniforms to me,” Nir said over the phone.

“Black leather jackets. Dark blue pants. Black berets.”

After another muffled conversation on the other end of the line, Nir said, “They’re Traffic Police. Maybe they’re just looking for a bribe.”

The conversation between Yusif and the officers was getting heated, and one of the uniformed men pointed to her in the back seat. Yusif shifted his body, putting himself protectively between her and the men.

“It’s getting loud,” she said, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.

She shook her head, clearing it a little. Nicole, you’re an agent of the Mossad. You are not going to panic over some ridiculous little traffic misunderstanding.

But it was well past seven o’clock, and the vaults would certainly have been discovered by now.

“Julia,” Nir said, “so far we are sevens and elevens. You understand? Sevens and elevens.” He spoke as though he’d read her thoughts.

The tension in Nicole’s shoulders eased a bit. Nir’s words told her there was no massive response to the heist so far. No BOLO orders had been issued. No roadblocks set. Maybe the Iranians were still trying to figure out exactly what had taken place. But no doubt calm would give way to storm soon enough. She’d hoped to be all the way to Chalus by the time it all broke loose, but this delay made that goal seem less likely every minute.

In a move so fast Nicole nearly missed its happening, one of the officers pulled his baton and drove it into Yusif’s abdomen. The man doubled over. Then a second blow to the back of his knees dropped him to the ground.

“They’re beating Yusif!” Nicole cried.