“I guess my gut was right. You’re hiding something.” He smirked and brushed her imaginary hand print from his chest. “If you like, you can confess now. But I’d love an excuse to beat it out of you. In fact, it’ll be my pleasure.”

Huda eyed the rippling grass, the scrub, the lake.

“Listen, you need to come with me.” She tipped her head toward the water. “The diplomat’s wife can’t see this or all our hard work will be ruined. And there’s a nice piece of gold in it for you.”

“What are you babbling about?”

Huda uncurled her hand. Ally’s wedding ring glittered in her palm.

“Come on.” She sidled toward the hedge of prickly salt cedar. “The longer we’re out here, the more suspicious she’ll get.”

The Bolt Cutter lumbered after her. Huda hurried toward the beach.

“This better be good or—”

Huda spun on her heel, wound her arm back, and slapped his face.

The Bolt Cutter’s mouth fell open. He touched his cheek. Huda prayed that she’d hear the Land Cruiser roar to life. If Ally kept her foot to the floor, she’d easily outrun the Bolt Cutter’s old Chevy. Huda slapped the Bolt Cutter again, grunting with effort.

“Shame on you.” She drew herself up tall. “What would your mother think? Does she know you spend your day harassing women and threatening young boys?”

“What the . . . ?”

“Do you have a sister?” Huda had succeeded in bluffing the soldiers at the checkpoint. She prayed she could do it again. “Would you like someone to treat her like that?”

The Bolt Cutter’s fleshy lips twisted. His palm hit her mouth like an oar and she tumbled onto the dirt. She tasted the metallic tang of blood.

“You’re going to regret that, you stupid bitch. And so will your son and the two whores with him.” The Bolt Cutter glanced toward the tiny beach. “And if Abu Issa somehow finds out, I’ll tell him you had an unfortunate accident while swimming. What’s he going to do, anyway? File another report? Put another black mark in my personnel file?”

The Bolt Cutter leaned over her, blocking out the sun.

“Of course, I’ll have to make sure that foreign slut doesn’t open her mouth. And the poor little rich girl too, after I’ve had some fun with her.”

Huda stared up at him. She’d often imagined how it might end. She’d never dreamed it would be washed in a lake’s cool breeze, surrounded by grass, with water birds soaring overhead. The Bolt Cutter glanced toward the lake.

“How long can you hold your breath, Huda?” He reached down and grabbed her by the shirt. “Let’s go find out.”

Huda jerked and twisted like a fish pulled from a river but the Bolt Cutter barely noticed. He dragged her toward the shore.