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“Can’t you tell me here?” Turkekul asked
Stone sat back “You trust Marisa And Marisa trusts ht you here”
“I do trust her”
“Then what is the problem?”
“You obviously have never lived in the Middle East”
“On the contrary, I have”
When Stone next spoke it was in Pashto Then he switched to Farsi The effect on Turkekul was immediate
“How do you know these languages?”
“My hair is white I’ve been in this business a long ti anyone because your friend is only a friend until he is your enemy?”
“Precisely”
“Then I will chance being overheard and tell you why you need to be involved”
“Yes?”
“A fatwa has been issued A private one”
“A fatwa? Against whom?”
“Against you”
Turkekul looked stricken “Against me? I do not understand”
“So the Americans, Fuat They want to eliminate that assistance”
Turkekul’s gaze swung between Stone and Friedman “A fatwa? But I am an academic I am no threat to anyone”
“So That is clear The et, it seems, was you They know of your treachery”
“This is… preposterous”
“No, our information is rock solid As you knoe’ve vastly ience resources in that part of the world”
“Who issued the fatwa?”
Stone said a naray
“They are…”
“Yes And the group they have assigned to execute the fatwa have the reputation of neverI won’t nize it”
Turkekul looked shrunken now as he fidgeted with his hands
Stone studied hi of alcohol, but perhaps an exception in this case? Then we can talk about ould like for you to do”
“Yes, I think Perhaps some wine,” he said quickly
Friedman motioned for a waiter
Ten one, Stone and Chapman departed by a rear exit and climbed into a black Yukon with bulletproof s and ar
“Well done, Oliver,” said a boo voice from the backseat
Ja there “The audio feed was loud and clear I heard everything”
Stone sat back against the leather seat “Well, let’s see if the man takes the bait”
CHAPTER 76
“HE’S ON THE MOVE,” Agent Ashburn said She was sitting in the front seat of the SUV wearing a headset She turned to look at Stone and Chapman “I hope this works”
“If it doesn’t, we’ll know soon enough,” said Stone