The Red Cell. André Le Gallo

decided if El Khoury had wanted her dead he would have killed her already.

      They were met at the front of the house by two armed guards. Um walked to the front door by herself. El Khoury’s female assistant let her in with a slight gleam in her eye, and El Khoury again sat in his easy chair, flanked by a new younger man in a black suit and a collarless shirt. His short, severely trimmed black beard and glasses projected intensity and fervor.

      “Ahmed’s execution has changed things. Mr. Khazaee has come from his embassy in Nicosia to talk with you.”

      The three of them sat around a coffee table, while El Khoury’s assistant continued to stand silently behind him. Um wondered what role she served. Except for the bedroom scene, she had not said a word. Her loose clothing could well hide a weapon. Um turned her gaze toward the new player, pegging him as Iranian intelligence.

      “Ahmed did many things for us in the United States and, until he is replaced, you will have to take on some of his tasks,” Khazaee said, following preliminary and traditional polite exchanges. After obtaining Um’s silent assent, he continued.

      “We can no longer communicate with our helpers in America through the usual means. We have been warned by reports in the American media that the National Security Agency, the CIA, and other arms of the U.S. intelligence apparatus are spying against their own people,” he said without irony. Therefore, we cannot use telephone or email.”

      His eyes fixed on Um just as El Khoury’s had, and she felt as if she could not move. She felt relieved when he lit a cigarette and took a puff while looking at the ceiling. El Khoury took a sip of water.

      “Do you think you will be able to make an occasional trip to the rendezvous point without alerting your CIA employers?”

      “I do have a full time job and, as I said yesterday, I am beginning to have better access to secret information. My new office will be in the CIA headquarters building. I could certainly make contacts in the evening after work.”

      “I have reviewed the communications plan Ahmed gave you yesterday, and I will not change it,” Khazaee said.

      He paused for a moment. “Your new access to information and to the CIA headquarters building will be useful for both us and for our Iranian friends. You will be able to give into the house of the apostates.”