Page 22 of Elusive Promise

"We have an agent at Westley's apartment and have strongly suggested that he not act on his own if he wants to save Jasmine's life."

"I hope he takes that advice, but we both know what desperation can make people do." She paused, as she looked out the window at the Freedom Tower. "We talked about political motivation last night. Anything new on that angle? Could Jasmine's kidnapping be tied to a rebel group in Bezikstan? Raj is a government official."

"I spoke to Mr. Kumar about that. He hasn't been in touch with anyone tied to a rebel faction. Nor has he received threats. He's been in the US for over a year, and while he does have connections with people in the government back home, he has no direct power to influence anything, so he can't imagine what anyone would want him to do. Or what he even could do. He's, of course, willing to cooperate in any way that will bring his daughter home."

"He must be terrified about Jasmine. The Kumars are a close family. My heart breaks for them."

"It's a tough situation," Damon agreed. "I also have one of our diamond experts tapping into his network of dealers. If someone tries to sell or cut the diamond, hopefully he'll know."

"Good."

"I'm still concerned about your safety, Parisa. Obviously, you weren't expected to survive last night's attack, and when you did, someone tried to shut you up. Have you remembered anything else that might be helpful?"

"No. I'm making a lousy witness."

"You're not just a witness, you're also a victim. And you were still coming down off the toxic fumes in your bloodstream. If anyone should be feeling guilty, it's me. I put you in that safe house. I'm wondering if someone at the bureau leaked the information—maybe Rowland. I saw Vincent this morning in Deputy Director Hunt's office."

"What did he say?"

"He expressed all the right sentiments, including concern for your health. Both Rowland and Hunt want you to come into the office, so we can get you additional protection."

"That's not going to happen, especially not with Vincent hanging around. I need to stay off the bureau's radar. We probably shouldn't use your phone anymore."

"This is a new number since Christmas and is only known by the five people in our group. I don't use the phone for anything else. We're okay."

"All right. Before you go, Damon, I need to talk to you about something else. I don't know if it's connected, but it might be."

"What's that?"

"About three weeks ago, there was a bombing at Café Douceur in Paris. A radical group called Brothers of the Earth, that has ties to Bezikstan, took credit for the attack. Two names have come to my attention: Sara Pillai and Isaac Naru. Sara grew up in Bezikstan and was living in Paris at the time of the attack. Her stepbrother, Isaac, has ties to Brothers of the Earth, and he was also believed to be in Paris when the bomb exploded. Can you find out what the bureau knows about the attack and whether Isaac or Sara have surfaced anywhere since the blast? I'd love to know if they're in New York City."

"I can do that," he said slowly. "But do you want to tell me where you're getting this information?"

"Yes." She took a breath, her grip tightening on the phone. "I didn't escape the safe house attack on my own. The man from the party—the one who pulled me out of Jasmine's bedroom—also found me at the safe house. He followed us there from the hospital. He was going to wait outside until dawn to speak to me, but when he saw the man in uniform go into the building and leave the front door opened, he followed."

"What the hell?" Damon exclaimed. "We were followed from the hospital? I checked for a tail several times."

"I'm pretty sure the guy is in law enforcement; I just don't know which branch. But he definitely has skills to avoid detection. He claims his name is Jared MacIntyre and that he's a freelance journalist chasing down a story on the Paris bombing. He was at the consulate party because the woman I just mentioned, Sara Pillai, is believed to have been dating Benjamin Langdon, while Ben was studying abroad in Paris. The Langdons are very close to the Kumars. I knew the family from my time in Bezikstan and spoke to Ben and his father last night."

"You got all this information from the journalist?"

"Yes. He alleges that he was following me because he saw me talking to the Langdons and figured I might help him get more information on Ben since he saved my life at the consulate."

"And you believe him?"

"I believe some of what he's telling me. Like I said, I think he's working for someone—I just don't know who."

"I'll run him through our databases. Where is he now?"

"I'm not sure," she hedged. "But he'll be back."

"You're playing with fire, Parisa."

"Maybe. But my gut tells me Jared is not a danger to me. He did save me twice."

"Because he wants something from you."

"Yes. But I don't mind helping him get to Ben if it means finding who might have been behind the terrorist attack. And if that event is tied to Jasmine's kidnapping, then he might have given us the best lead we have."

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