“That I’m an Israeli secret agent? I’m like a female Austin Powers but with a yarmulke? Nicole le Roux, woman of mystery. Supermodel by day, superspy by night.”

“Stop laughing.”

“Is that what this is all about? You’ve held me here for however many hours because you think I’m some undercover model spy? No wonder you’ve kept me chained. You’re afraid I’ll use my secret martial arts training against you.”

“I said stop laughing.” Asadi leaned forward and slapped her across the face.

Nicole froze. “I want to talk to the South African embassy.”

Asadi had resumed his position in his chair, but she saw the rage on his face.

“What you fail to realize,” he said, “is this. First, you are a long way from your embassy. And second, nobody knows you are here. That gives us options as we decide what to do with you.”

It felt like a black hole had formed below her chair and she was about to tip into it. “But I’m a South African citizen. I have a right to speak to my embassy.”

Now the superiority was back in Asadi’s voice, mixed with a little vengeance. “Oh my pretty little girl, have you still not realized? You have no rights here. Being white and beautiful may buy you the world in other places, but it gains you nothing here in the mountains of Iran. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Think about it. If we send you to prison, what once may have been your greatest assets will quickly become your greatest liabilities.”

Nicole was angry with her weakness as tears ran down her cheeks.

Asadi smiled paternally, removed a handkerchief from his pocket, and dabbed her face. “Please don’t worry too much. It may not come to that. We may decide to simply make you disappear.” The lieutenant sat back and watched in silence as more tears formed in Nicole’s eyes and traveled south.

Finally, he said, “If I ask you more questions, will you give me the same lies?”

“They aren’t lies,” she answered softly.

He watched her a few more moments, then stood. “Then I guess it is on to stage two of our interrogation. I’m afraid this part is not my specialty, so I must step out and invite in one of my colleagues. Goodbye, Nicole. I hope I will have the opportunity to speak to you again sometime soon.”

As Asadi walked out the door, Nicole found her breathing once again speeding up. Slow down. In through the nose, out through the mouth. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Gradually, she gained control, but that did nothing to calm her fear.