“We’re pleased to hear that, Colonel,” Nour said.
“Now, Mr. Garnett said the embassy was interested in the details of our investigation. What exactly do you want to know?”
“We would like an update. Suspects arrested, interrogated, progress made. Given that our head of state is the target of the terrorists.”
The colonel made a quick dismissive gesture with his right hand. “Oh, you are talking about the dead prisoner and his claims? These terrorists have always threatened our leaders and foreign officials visiting our country. But we will not be scared by a group of cowards that blow up innocent people.”
The colonel took a brief pause. He licked his lips, waiting for Nour’s and Justin’s reactions. They nodded in agreement.
“We’ll increase security at the airport and of the convoy as your President comes to the city. I will personally make sure that my men are everywhere. Your President will have the same security, if not greater, than even my Prime Minister,” the colonel said and nodded toward the portrait of the Libya’s Prime Minister, as if he were truly present in the room.
“We appreciate that,” Nour said. “We are taking these threats very seriously and we need to take all measures to eliminate any danger.”
“Well, of course, of course. We’re searching for members of the Alliance in Benghazi and al-Akhdar, two of their main bases. Several arrests have been made already. People are being interrogated and, like you Americans say, we’ll leave no stone unturned until we learn everything.”
Nour nodded. “We’re here to help. Anything you need, simply let us know.”
“We have everything under control. My men can and will handle this operation. If we need assistance from your embassy, which I don’t believe will be necessary, I know who to call.”
“OK,” Nour said.
The colonel shuffled through the papers on his desk. He picked up a black folder, about half an inch thick. He reached forward and handed it to Nour.
“Now, out of respect for Mr. Garnett, I’ve put together some reports from operatives who interrogated one of the men responsible for these car bombings, Satam al-Raziq. Since he was only a low-ranking member of the Alliance, he knew only crumbs of information. He had heard they were planning an attack against the American President, but he gave us no helpful details. Then he hung himself.”
Nour began flipping through the pages of the folder. Most of them were photocopied in a poor quality. Some were handwritten. Everything was in Arabic.
“It’s all in there, but I don’t think there’s much else that’s crucial. In any case, we’re going after the Alliance with all we’ve got. It’s time to wipe out this evil from our land, once for all.”
“Has any other witness given any useful information?” Nour closed the folder and passed it to Justin, who began to review it.
“No, otherwise it would be in the reports.” The colonel pointed at the folder. A frown began to form in his thick brow.
Nour understood the clue. “Thank you, Colonel. We’ll review the reports and if we have any questions or if we need any clarifications—”
“You can call me at any time,” the colonel interrupted him. “It’s my pleasure to offer you my complete cooperation. Now, what exactly are your plans?”
Nour leaned back in his chair. “We’ll examine the valuable information you’ve given us. We’ll assess the situation and strengthen our security measures regarding our President’s visit. On the other hand, we’ll continue to work with our partners, to ensure we react strongly to the Alliance.”
The colonel raised a cautionary finger. “Not in Libya, I assume,” he said in a nervous tone.
“Of course, not.” Nour was quick to reply, spreading his palms. His face feigned surprise the colonel was bringing up this issue.
“What are you thinking, Mr. Schmitt?” the colonel asked Justin, still skimming through the folder.
Justin looked up, first at Nour, and then at the colonel, who waved his hand in the air, indicating his impatience. Nour nodded for Justin to answer the question.
“Hmm… nothing really,” Justin replied.
“No, please, if you have a concern, I’d like to hear it.”
If you are being sarcastic, you’re a very good actor, Justin thought.
“All right,” he said, “since you’re insisting. I couldn’t help but notice the absence of any findings about the undetonated explosives.” He flipped through the pages of one of the reports. “After Mr. al-Raziq was detained, I’m sure his vehicle was searched and his car bomb was deactivated and taken apart.”
The colonel replied with a startled face. “Mr. Schmitt, you… you can read Arabic?” The colonel’s enthusiasm was clear, although he was slurring his words. “I’m… I’m so surprised.”
Justin’s eyes dropped from the colonel’s grin to the folder on his lap. He was still expecting an answer.
“Yes, the findings that you can’t find…” The colonel’s face turned serious, and an aura of mistrust seemed to loom over his head. “Al-Raziq’s truck was ripped apart, meticulously and thoroughly.” The colonel had overcome the first moments of surprise and the hammering of words had returned. “We dusted for fingerprints and our experts did all the cute tricks you Americans promote so fancily on your CSI shows. I tell you, there’s nothing that deserved further attention. Nothing.”
The colonel paused for a second to swallow and to catch his breath.
“You don’t mind if we have a look at the truck bomb?” Justin asked quickly before the colonel resumed his tirade.
Nour opened his mouth, but the colonel silenced him with a quick hand gesture.
“You doubt my word?” he asked in an accusatory tone.
“Absolutely not, sir.” Justin closed the folder and placed his hand over it. “I simply suggested that, instead of wasting your valuable time, we go ahead with our own due diligence. The families of these innocent victims, Libyans, Americans and others who lost their lives in this massacre, as you called it, would want us to find out everything we can. In this way, we can work together to prevent future attacks like this.”
“There will be no other attacks like this. We’ll make sure this will never happen again. Ever!” the colonel exclaimed. “But, you don’t trust me, and you want to check for yourself; well, go ahead.”
Justin wanted to jump in and sugar-coat his position, but the colonel was right. Justin did not trust him.
“I’ll have one of my best operatives take you to the evidence lab, where you can examine the explosives for yourself. I assume you have sufficient forensic expertise to analyze this car bomb?”
Justin nodded with a slight hesitation. “Yes, I’ve seen more than my fair share in the field,” he said slowly.
“Eh, I knew it,” the colonel snapped back. “There’s much more to you, Mr. Schmitt than one’s made to believe. And nothing surprises me anymore about you.”
Justin remained silent. It was not a compliment; it sounded more like a threat.
The colonel reached for his phone at the edge of his desk. He barked a few orders then slammed the handset back in place.
“Everything’s ready.” He took a deep breath. “Abdul will be here right away.”
Abdul? My Abdul? Justin stayed calm and did not betray his stomach-twirling feeling. The colonel was eyeing him like a viper ready to swallow a rabbit, which had just happened to fall inside his cage.
A few second later, there was a knock on the door.
“Oh, here he is,” the colonel said. “Abdul, come in,” he added in a strong voice.
“You asked to see me, sir?”
Justin did not have to turn his head. He recognized Abdul’s voice.
“Yes, I’d like you to meet Mr. Nour Milad, chief of security, and Mr. Jack Schmitt, senior security advisor at the American Embassy.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Abdul shook Nour’s hand and, after a split second of hesitation, reached for Justin’s limb frozen in mid-air. Their eyes did not meet, even though they saw face to face.
“They’re here to provide their assistance with our car bombings investigation. I’m assigning you to take these two men to our warehouse, I mean the evidence lab, where they are to inspect the vehicle of the failed suicide bomber. You’ll also take them to the hotels where these bombings took place, so they can poke around. I’m sure that’s what you were planning on doing. Correct me if I’m wrong,” the colonel said, looking more at Justin than at Nour.
Nour and Justin exchanged a quick undecided glance.
“We accept your offer to work together,” Nour said slowly. “In no way do we intend to put down the efforts of your team, only to build on their results.”
The colonel stared at Nour and Justin over his glasses. “I expect nothing less, Chief. Keep me informed.”
“By all means, sir,” Nour replied.
“Well, then, I’ll let you go. You’ve lots on your plate and so do I.” The colonel pointed at his desk.