couldnât think of anything to say, and she was grateful for the shriek of the kettle covering the silence. She pulled it from the burner, filling the teapot to steep.
As Yassi took a seat at the table, her demeanor shifted. However exhausted she and her daughter were, however drained, Yassi was here to deliver Arashâs messageâand to negotiate for a new life.
âZari will stay with me while we talk,â Yassi said flatly. She patted the chair next to hers, and her daughter sat easily. Vanessa set down two mugs for the still-steeping tea, honey, and a mug with milk for Zari. Then she took her seat at the table with what was left of Arashâs family.
As Vanessa poured steaming tea into their cups, adding honey to one, Yassi turned to her daughter. She hugged her, speaking to her softly, quickly in Farsi. She pressed the mouse into her daughterâs arms, and Zari wrapped her arms around it.
Yassi met Vanessaâs eyes. âI told her she is going to hear some hard truths about her fatherâs death. We can begin.â
Vanessa tried a small sip of tea, but it scalded her tongue. She nudged the cup with her finger and pulled herself up in the chair. âArash told me about the secret facility. He said he had geo-markers, but he didnât get the chance to tell me what they were.â
Yassi nodded. âWhen he came back from his first visit, he was deeply frightened by what he saw. They had many more capabilities than heâd known about.â
âDid he give you specifics, Yassi? Itâs vital that you tell me everything you remember.â
Yassi lifted the mug but held it with pale fingers halfway to her lips. âHe said they had figured out the trigger system for detonationâthey were weaponizing.â
âHe told me that, too. Do you know who helped them?â
âThere were many.â
âWe know your country has worked with Pakistani scientists and with the Russians. There have been meetings with North Korea and the Chinese.â
Yassi set the mug down hard, spilling tea. âThen you know more than I do about those things.â Her delicate features tightened in anger, and she glared at Vanessa. âYou can never understand what it is like living the way we lived. We were never sure if the Sepah were listening to us, we had to assume they were, but, when he could, Arash told me enough.â
Her voice dropped to a harsh whisper. âHe was frightened because he believed there was a new kind of alliance between the most powerful men in Iran, the Guardians, and a man who belongs to
no
country, who has expertise to sell, who can provide whatever you need to create whatever weapons you wantââ Yassi broke off.
Vanessaâs whole body went still. âThis man with no country, do you know his name?â
âNo. But Arash said he is not Iranian.â
âWas he coming to visit the facility?â
âMaybeâArash believed so, but I donât know.â
âYassi, think hardââ
âArash did not tell me any more than that!â
Vanessa sank back in the chair, deflated.
âIâm sorry,â Yassi said, working to regain control as she sipped her tea.
âWhat about the geo-markers?â Vanessa said slowly, almost holding her breath. âDo you know what they are?â
Yassi shook her head.
Vanessaâs skin went cold. Arash had died and sheâd come all this way to end up with nothing? They could not lose this one chance to capture Bhoot. She was so caught up in her churning thoughts, she barely heard Yassi.
âWhat did you say?â Vanessa whispered.
âI might have them.â
She stared at Yassi. âYou might have the markers?â
Yassi reached to her waist, carefully unknotting a bundle of dark blue silk that had been hidden beneath her cotton jacket.
Vanessaâs pulse quickened. Had Yassi managed to smuggle out the location?
As Yassi carefully unrolled the