HARD CASE (A John Harding Novel - Special Ops, Cage Fighter, CIA Agent) Read Online Free Page B

people in this room to keep you safe even if I was of a mind to try and stop him, which I’m not. You wanted this meeting. I told you we could obtain John’s help through Ms. Connagher’s firm without direct contact.”
    “I…I presented John’s manager with the body-guarding details,” Tess adds hesitantly. “The figure Mr. Sands gave me was within the range you were willing to pay, although it was very close to the maximum figure you gave me.”
    Ben sat with his fists clenched on the table. I could tell he was grinding his teeth to keep from shooting his mouth off. He wanted a go at me but I think reality was sinking in. Ben gestured at Dennis before leaning back in his chair. Dennis went on for him.
    “Can you think of why Ms. Karim would single you out to look after her in the states, John? Apparently, the Saudi’s are on edge with her Father. He’s still speaking out against the Taliban and Islamic extremists.”
    “Her Father was a stand up guy,” I told him, thinking back to when I last saw Badee Karim. “The Taliban wiped out his entire family. He escaped with his wife, two sons, and Samira to the Northern Alliance. Badee Karim helped us gain a foothold amongst the tribes at the beginning. There were so many attempts on his life the US decided to move him once we were established. We escorted him to Saudi Arabia where he was supposed to wait until the political turmoil cooled off to the point he could return home. I take it that won’t be happening?”
    “So you were pretty close with the family then?” Dennis pressed on.
    “Me and three other company recruits had to spend a month in not much more than a cave with three families from the tribal area. Badee Karim’s family was one of the three. My Pashtu was pretty good by then. I filled in a lot as an interpreter between our forces and the Northern Alliance.”
    “Jesus…” Tess muttered, blushing when Ben gave her an irritated look.
    “I see you’ve kept up on your language skills,” Dennis noted, looking over a folder he took out of his briefcase. “Do you think Ms. Karim may have had a crush on you?”
    “It’s possible. She was just a kid. What the hell is the State Department’s interest in this and why did you involve Tess’s firm in… oh… wait a minute. I get it. If something happens to Samira while I’m watching her then she asked for me so your hands are clean. If the State Department insists on Badee allowing them to supply protection it’s on them if anything happens to Samira.”
    “I guess you haven’t had all your brains beat out yet.” Dennis nodded, confirming my scenario. “Mr. Karim continues to speak out. If he were living anywhere but on our base in Saudi Arabia, he’d be dead. Ms. Karim has become very popular abroad speaking up for democracy in the Middle East and the evolving place of women in Islamic society.”
    “She’s a money maker for the cause.” I’m getting the drift now. “We have a huge Afghan population here in Northern California and Samira is raising money for the homeland?”
    “I believe you have the basics, John. There are over 40,000 Afghani’s living in the San Francisco Bay area. It’s not about the money though. She’d be touring all over America if this was about money. Ms. Karim is passionate about her cause. Being young, vibrant, and fluent in English, she shows the side of Islam we need people to see. Her Father agreed with us about California being the ideal place for Ms. Karim’s first public appearance in the United States. Mr. Karim also okayed his daughter’s choice in enlisting your services as an escort.”
    “I take it I won’t be alone on this then. The last thing you guys need is a dead young Afghani woman sympathetic to America. You just need a scapegoat in case tragedy strikes.”
    Ben begins an angry retort only to be hushed by a quick hand motion from Dennis.
    “Exactly,” Dennis confirmed. “There is one more thing. We’ve had reports from inside