He closed his eyes and started the slow, diaphragmatic breathing his counselor had taught him. With one hand on his belly, and the other on his chest, he took a deep breath in through his nose, then exhaled more slowly through his mouth. He focused on the rise and fall of his abdomen. In the middle of breath seven, he fell asleep.
7
Interpol headquarters’ glass walls caught the morning light and reflected the Rhône. Marielle stood on the riverwalk and studied the path between the building and the entrance to Parc de la Tête d’Or, the large park where they’d arranged to meet Anissa Sabban.
To anyone watching, she was admiring the view.
Olivia stood beside her, also scanning for threats. “You see anything?”
“Tourists. Joggers. A few locals walking their dogs. Nothing unusual,” Marielle said.
Did you hear that, nervous system?
Judging by her racing pulse, it had not.
Interpol Criminal Intelligence Officer Anissa Sabban had agreed to meet them at nine a.m. at the park’s rose garden gates. They’d taken the early train from Paris and arrived in Lyon twenty-five minutes early, leaving plenty of time to shake any tails they might have picked up along the way and to scout out the meeting spot.
They walked the short distance to the entrance to the rose garden to wait for Sabban. It was not a long wait.
Unsurprisingly, Anissa Sabban arrived early to the meeting as well. At eight forty a.m., she emerged from the building and took the riverwalk to the park.
At eight forty-seven she reached the stairs at Porte de la Roseraie.
“Officer Sabban,” Olivia greeted her as they fell into step beside her.
“Ms. Santos. Ms. Moreau.”
“Thank you for meeting us,” Marielle said.
They walked briskly, like three professional women getting some fresh air in the lush urban park before beginning their workday.
“I understand you want to discuss security protocols before I bring you to Ms. Ayari,” Sabban said in a low voice.
“Yes,” Marielle confirmed. “We need to speak to Hanna but we’re concerned because Idris Mahmoud has disappeared from view along with three of his bodyguards. If he’s looking for her, we don’t want to lead him straight to her.”
“Of course.” Sabban’s expression didn’t change, but she clenched and released her fists. “Why is it necessary to meet with her, if I may ask?”
It was a fair question. They’d approached Interpol and asked the agency to protect Hanna, and it had. Under ordinary circumstances, Marielle and Olivia would stay as far away from her as possible—for her safety and theirs.
“Hanna may have information that could help stop a possible terrorist attack.”
Sabban’s dark eyes went wide.
Marielle hurried to add, “We don’t believe she knows anything about the attack itself or is in any way involved. There’s a chance she learned something in passing without realizing its significance.”
“I really must pull in colleagues in other divisions—” Sabban began.
“No. Please,” Olivia said firmly. “Not yet.”
“That’s the protocol.”
“We understand we’re asking for a favor,” Marielle said. “But once we meet with Hanna, we’ll know if this is something or nothing. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“And if it’s something?”
“Then we’ll connect you with our contact at CSIS,” Marielle promised.
Sabban frowned. “Canadian Intelligence? This potential attack involves Canada?”
