The Libra Affair by Daco Read Free Book Online

she’s on the next leg. I can catch her, Kate. I know it’s asking a lot.”
    â€œHer name didn’t show up in the system.”
    â€œShe’s using another name.”
    â€œI don’t know. It sounds pretty far out. I just don’t know.”
    â€œPlease, Kate. I’ll do whatever I need to do. I mean it.”
    The line went silent.
    â€œPlease,” he begged, which was uncharacteristic for him. He knew Kate would recognize this and this fact alone would convince her to help him.
    After a long pause, she finally said, “There’s no protection in Iran.”
    He knew he had her and that she’d go the extra mile to make this happen for him. “I’m not going to do anything,” he said to reassure her.
    â€œIf anything goes wrong … ” She paused. “You won’t have anyone to turn to.”
    â€œNothing will.”
    â€œYou don’t know that,” she said firmly.
    â€œI’m willing to take the risk.”
    She hesitated as if weighing her final decision. “The only way you can get into Iran is through the Interests Section of Islamic Republic of Iran.”
    â€œCan you work it?”
    â€œI have a good friend who works over there. He owes me a favor.”
    â€œThanks, Kate.”
    â€œLook, Ben, even if you have a visa in hand, they can still refuse you entry into the country. You’ll be fingerprinted without a doubt and they can detain you for any reason. It’s a huge risk.”
    He stared out the front windshield of his vehicle, then put the SUV in reverse, pulled out of his parking spot, and started toward home to pack. “If I don’t find her or know for sure that she’s on the flight, I won’t board. Promise.”
    â€œWhatever you do, when you pass through customs, you can’t let them know you’re a scientist. If they ask what you do, you’ll have to say you own your own bar and grill.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAnd you’re going to have to tell them why you’re there. They’ll be suspicious.”
    â€œWhat about sightseeing?”
    â€œYou’ll tell them you’re interested in seeing the architecture and shopping, maybe for rugs. You better bring plenty of money to back it up because they’ll ask how much you plan on spending. And another thing, you better do a quick study of the country so you sound legit.”
    â€œGot it.”
    â€œStay in touch.”
    Ben called Kara next and left her a voicemail explaining he was going overseas for a little while and asking her to please let the powers that be at NASA know he would be utilizing some of the copious amounts of vacation time he’d accumulated over the years.
    He hung up the phone. With all the loose ends tied up, all that was left to do was find Jordan.
    â€¢ • •
    After a long day and night, Ben found himself inside the Frankfurt airport, hurrying along toward the next gate to catch the flight to Tehran. Just knowing Jordan would be waiting there and that he’d be seeing her shortly was scaring the crap out of him. He had no idea what he was going to say when he saw her or what she would say when she realized that he had just followed her halfway around the world. Nevertheless, it was time for answers even if he didn’t like what he might hear.
    Ben reached inside his pocket and twisted the ring … a princess cut.
    â€¢ • •
    The op was moving along as planned. Few hitches, nothing major. Until a familiar face appeared like a streak of lightning. Jordan had to look twice to be sure the man at the airline counter was actually Ben Johnson.
    What was he doing there?
    How did he find her?
    Impossible.
    Thank God she was still in disguise.
    Ben had no connections she knew of who would have pulled rank to help get him a visa. Moreover, who in his or her right mind would even think about granting a visa to a NASA scientist, a guy with a Ph.D. in physics, and