Blakey wanted to move on to more practical matters and asked Eugene how he intended to find the renegade couple in the midst of a population that was not friendly, if not outright hostile to the United States. Eugene said that according to his analysis of the situation the Pakistani Atomic Energy Commission (PEAC) would have to be involved in utilizing the information Nagib had. Blakey said that there was a scientist, codenamed Jairo, after J. Robert Oppenheimer who directed the Manhattan Project, with whom the CIA had an indirect connection. Jairo was in a close relationship with one of his co-workers, Alma, a young woman with whom he apparently had a romantic affair and she would get word to her American contact. The CIA agent who was responsible for retaining contact with Alma was a glamorous female agent, Linda Katz, whom no one suspected as being anything but an empty headed blonde, while in fact she was a very intelligent and well trained operative. Blakey said that several men had tried to hit on Linda but all were rejected out of hand and the rumor was that she was more interested in women, especially local liberated Pakistani women. Eugene said that he was not interested in rumors or in anyone's sex life and sexual preferences, and that as long as Linda maintained contact with Jairo through her relationship with Alma he was happy.
After a sleepless night in the uncomfortable narrow bed, Nagib and Alia met with Rahman and Junaid for breakfast that consisted of coffee, if one could call the dark fluid that was served in cracked cups coffee, and of tea that had a nice minty aroma, and some sweet pastries. In a deviation from their morning routine Nagib and Alia declined the doubtful coffee and preferred to have tea that actually tasted good and refreshing. Rahman said that he had to go to Islamabad to meet with General Masood who had returned there from Europe and had to take the sample blueprints that included the detailed design of the small nukes. He added that a meeting had been arranged with the leading scientists of the Pakistani atomic energy commission, and did not mention that only sympathizers of their nationalistic cause were selected. Nagib asked if they will be told about the source of the blueprints and Rahman assured him that sharing sensitive information will be, as it always was, on "a need to know" basis. In other words, the scientists will see the Los Alamos National Laboratory logo and the fact that it was highly classified information, but will not be told how Pakistani intelligence got hold of it and who brought it, and certainly not about their presence in Pakistan. Nagib asked how much longer they would have to stay in Swabi and Rahman said that he would make arrangements to have them transferred to a better residence at a safe place, and that they would only need to spend one more night at the Melmastun Hotel. Alia said that the quality difference between dinner that was really good and the mediocre breakfast was something she could not understand and Junaid told her that in the evening the chef did the cooking himself while in the morning one of the waiters was in charge and they were used to having local people who did not usually care about breakfast.
Rahman took off with the car and the chauffer while Junaid did her best to entertain Alia and Nagib with stories about the history of Pakistan and about the political upheaval since terrorist organizations made a point of attacking government institutions and especially targeted hotels, restaurants and bars frequented by foreigners. She said that in the 1971 War with India that ended in a shameful defeat for Pakistani forces, the Americans supported Pakistan with old and outdated weapon systems while India received massive military aid from the Soviet Union. The situation worsened after a shift in the Indian government towards a Western orientation that severed the strong ties with the USSR. The Pakistanis felt as if the West and the US had betrayed them and favored relationship with India that was much larger than Pakistan and therefore presented a potentially larger market for Western goods and was also a source of cheap labor. At present, India was a major source of skilled engineers and scientists that were tempted to leave their homeland and work in the USA. The US selected the best and brightest, promised them citizenship and high salaries, and boosted their economy at the expense of the poor Indian government that educated and trained them. Pakistani scientists were not welcome in the US, mainly because after 9/11 all Muslims were suspected of being terrorists and supporters of Al Qaeda, although some European countries, especially the United Kingdom, did reluctantly accept them. Alia wanted to mention AQ Khan, who managed to copy (not to say steal) the uranium enrichment technology from his employers in Germany and build a similar plant in Pakistan. This made him a national hero but was a case in point that exemplified the risks of employing untrustworthy foreigners in sensitive installations. Then Alia considering what she and Nagib were up to — doing practically the same thing, or even worse — wisely refrained from saying what was on her mind.
When the two women had a moment alone, while Nagib went out for a walk to stretch his legs, Alia asked Junaid if she and Rahman intended to get married. Junaid blushed and said that Rahman already had a wife and a three year old son but according to Islamic customs he could take another wife, or three more for that matter, but she, as a liberated modern woman, could not put up with the idea of being wife number two, so marriage was out of the question although they did enjoy each other's company without any formal commitment. Alia was impressed by that and said that she admired Junaid's levelheaded approach and added that living in America had spared her from going through a similar fate. When Nagib returned he noted that the two women were feeling much more comfortable with each other and wondered what brought this about.
Employees at the American embassy in the Diplomatic Enclave of Islamabad noticed that things were not as usual. The US ambassador to Pakistan was nominated to the office in recognition of his financial contributions to the President's election campaign and knew very little about Pakistan and even less about clandestine operations. When Blakey, the CIA station chief, asked for a meeting the ambassador was flattered because during his whole two year term as ambassador he was treated as a figurehead and practically ignored, even ridiculed behind his back, by the professional diplomats and intelligence agents. Blakey introduced Dr. Eugene Powers as a senior NNSA scientist sent on a secret mission by the President himself. He added that all he was allowed to say about the mission was that it concerned US national security and that Pakistan was the focal point, but he could not reveal any details except to say that it involved recovery of highly classified information that was illicitly stolen from a national laboratory that was overseen by the NNSA. The ambassador was taken aback by this introduction and asked Blakey what he was required to do with this, and Blakey said that he wanted the ambassador to arrange an informal, personal meeting with the Pakistani defense minister without the presence of any member from the Pakistani intelligence agency. The ambassador said that this was not according to protocol but he would try to comply with the request. He added that very little happened in Pakistan that the intelligence agency didn't know about, but he would try to arrange a cocktail party, the Fourth of July was just around the corner, and during the reception try to get a word in private with the defense minister. Blakey was a bit surprised that the ambassador came up with this good idea although he had to wait almost a whole week, but realized that any other arrangement was bound to be intercepted by Pakistani intelligence. Eugene also approved of the plan. The ambassador said that invitations will be sent out to the A list that included some ministers of the Pakistani government, some members of parliament, several other ambassadors as well as some high ranking officers in the air force, army and intelligence service. He promised to have the invitation to the defense minister delivered personally and make sure that he confirmed it. As soon as they left the ambassador's office Blakey said that after knowing the ambassador for two years this was the first time that he was impressed by him and believed that he may have some substance beneath the façade of a rich lightweight friend of the President.