Asadi stared at her for a few moments, then said, “What a strange way of speaking. Almost as if you are reading from cue cards. Or maybe…” He leaned forward and put his hand on Nicole’s knee. “Maybe it was rehearsed. Why would you rehearse what to say to me?”

He wasn’t wrong. She had rattled off that little soliloquy like it was printed on a page.

“It is rehearsed,” she said, admitting that part of the truth with a forced smile. “Honestly, I was so scared when we were pulled over that I practiced what I was going to say while I waited in the back seat.”

“Ah, yes, we will certainly have to talk about when you were pulled over. But we’ll do that in a minute. Right now, I want you to answer me truthfully. Why are you in Iran?” He squeezed her knee with the precise amount of tension to elevate the sensation from discomfort to pain.

“What are you doing?” She tried to move her leg, but he kept his grip.

“Answer my question.”

“I did answer it. I’m doing a photo shoot at—”

“Liar! I have not been stationed here in the north for long, but even I know no one would travel to this country just to take photographs at Namakabrud Beach. I wouldn’t even drive my family there on a weekend to take any. Now, why are you here?”

“I don’t know what else to tell you,” she answered, the volume of her voice rising. “What other reason would I be here? I’m a model. I have my picture taken for a living as you clearly saw on the internet. The magazine I was hired for is doing a series called Shore Line: Danger Line—photo spreads taken on beaches in dangerous countries. Yes, it’s a stupid title, but it’s a paying job. So I took it. I don’t know what else to say.”

Asadi released Nicole’s knee and leaned back, then crossed his arms and watched her. She forced herself not to squirm under his stare.

After a long silence, he asked, “And do you think my country is a dangerous one?”

Nicole held up her hands and rattled the chains. “I didn’t at first, but my mind is changing.”

“Then let me tell you this, young lady. You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

08:25 / 8:25 A.M. IRST

The door opened again, and a man in an expensive, tailored suit walked in. Immediately, Asadi stood. Through the opening, Nicole could see another police officer just beyond the entrance to the room. Kazemi. His nose was packed with gauze, and his eyes were blackening. He was looking directly at her with violence in his stare. Then the man in the suit closed the door, shutting Kazemi outside.