The Project 02 - The Lance

dark blue suit, white shirt with no tie, and black shoes. His hair was curly and black with touches of gray. Around five ten and a hundred and seventy, his eyes were dark brown, intense and bloodshot. He looked tired. Lines of stress were grooved into his cheeks and forehead. He was wearing a wedding ring and carried a folder in his left hand.
    The blue l ogo of Shin Bet was prominent on the credentials he held up for Nick to see. Shin Bet's motto translated as "The Invisible Shield." In the covert war zone comprising all of Israel, Shin Bet was the front line.
    Standing next to him was a ranking policeman with silver pips and a leaf on his shoulders. A cop in uniform entered the room, closed the door and stood by it.
    The man put his credentials back in his jacket pocket. "My name is Ari Herzog."
    " Nick Carter." Nick rose and held out his hand, trying not to wince at the pain in his leg. Herzog looked surprised. He hesitated, then shook. His grip was firm.
    " This is Commander Ben Ezra. We'd like to talk with you." He gestured at the chair.
    They sat down. The cop and Ben Ezra remained standing.
    Carter looked at the folder under Herzog's arm. The only way he'd get out of here was cooperation. He decided to play it straight. "Y ou've checked me out by now," he said. "What is it you want to know?"
    Herzog and Ben Ezra looked at one another. Herzog cleared his throat.
    "Many things, Mr. Carter. Beginning with what you were doing at the mall earlier this evening."
    " I was having a cup of coffee."
    " At the exact time and place of a terrorist attack."
    " Wrong time, wrong place. But yes, having a cup of coffee. Do you think this attack had something to do with me?"
    " Not necessarily." Herzog glanced at the folder. "You were sent here as part of an advance detail prior to your president's visit?"
    " Yes."
    " For what purpose? You're not Secret Service."
    " My boss thinks there could be a terrorist attack timed to coincide with Rice's speech. We have a source in the Old City. I was sent to see if I could find specific facts to back up that intelligence. That's why I'm here."
    " Armed."
    " I was, until your people confiscated my weapon. If I'd had it tonight, your terrorist might be sitting here instead of me."
    " Or not. One of the men you fought is dead, the other is badly injured. He's in a coma."
    Nick shrugged. " I didn't have many options."
    " How were you to obtain the facts needed to, as you say, back up your intelligence?"
    " I was going to connect with your organization after I'd scouted around a bit. This isn't the kind of meeting I'd pictured, though." He gestured at the room.
    " What had you planned to do next?"
    "Meet with our source."
    " When was this meeting to take place?"
    "It's today at nine. I'd hoped yesterday, but no luck. My instructions were that if I discovered anything definite to let your people handle it."
    " Mmm." Herzog was non-committal. "You are willing to share this source with us?"
    Carter thought about it. He'd never given up a contact. But Israel was an ally and what counted was the success of the mission.
    " Yes. But I think it's better if he doesn't know you're involved."
    " You're proposing that you and I work together?"
    "W e've got a common interest. Tonight's attack could be part of some bigger terrorist scenario. I'll bet you've already had to divert manpower from Rice's visit to handle it. Put me back out there and I can help."
    Herzog gave him a long look. He turned to Ben Ezra.
    " What do you think?"
    The policeman let out a long breath. Scratched under his arm.
    "It's your call, Ari. We're stretched thin right now. If you trust him, maybe he can help, but we need him on a tight leash."
    " Mmm. Mr. Carter, if we do this you must remain under my operational supervision. No 'cowboy' stuff, yes?"
    " Agreed. One thing, though."
    " Yes?"
    " I'd like my weapon back."
    " You think you need it?"
    " If you trust me, there's no reason not to return it. I'd take it as a sign of good faith on your part."
    " That's a lot of faith."
    " Isn't that what Jerusalem is all about?"
    Herzog smiled.
    "All right, Mr. Carter." Ben Ezra didn't look happy about that.
    " Please. Nick."
    " Nick. Tell me, what is the name of your contact?"
    Now it was his turn to demonstrate faith.
    " Arslanian, Arshak Arslanian. He has a shop in the Armenian Quarter." He gave Herzog the address.
    Herzog took a card from his jacket, wrote on the back of it. "My number. I suggest you return to your hotel and get some