Free Blowback by Valerie Plame Page B

couldn’t 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 Arash’s message—and to negotiate for a new life.
    â€œZari will stay with me while we talk,” 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 Arash’s 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 daughter’s arms, and Zari wrapped her arms around it.
    Yassi met Vanessa’s eyes. “I told her she is going to hear some hard truths about her father’s death. We can begin.”
    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. “Arash told me about the secret facility. He said he had geo-markers, but he didn’t get the chance to tell me what they were.”
    Yassi nodded. “When he came back from his first visit, he was deeply frightened by what he saw. They had many more capabilities than he’d known about.”
    â€œDid he give you specifics, Yassi? It’s vital that you tell me everything you remember.”
    Yassi lifted the mug but held it with pale fingers halfway to her lips. “He said they had figured out the trigger system for detonation—they were weaponizing.”
    â€œHe told me that, too. Do you know who helped them?”
    â€œThere were many.”
    â€œWe know your country has worked with Pakistani scientists and with the Russians. There have been meetings with North Korea and the Chinese.”
    Yassi set the mug down hard, spilling tea. “Then you know more than I do about those things.” Her delicate features tightened in anger, and she glared at Vanessa. “You 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.”
    Her voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “He 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 want—” Yassi broke off.
    Vanessa’s whole body went still. “This man with no country, do you know his name?”
    â€œNo. But Arash said he is not Iranian.”
    â€œWas he coming to visit the facility?”
    â€œMaybe—Arash believed so, but I don’t know.”
    â€œYassi, think hard—”
    â€œArash did not tell me any more than that!”
    Vanessa sank back in the chair, deflated.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Yassi said, working to regain control as she sipped her tea.
    â€œWhat about the geo-markers?” Vanessa said slowly, almost holding her breath. “Do you know what they are?”
    Yassi shook her head.
    Vanessa’s skin went cold. Arash had died and she’d 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.
    â€œWhat did you say?” Vanessa whispered.
    â€œI might have them.”
    She stared at Yassi. “You might have the markers?”
    Yassi reached to her waist, carefully unknotting a bundle of dark blue silk that had been hidden beneath her cotton jacket.
    Vanessa’s pulse quickened. Had Yassi managed to smuggle out the location?
    As Yassi carefully unrolled the