guy himself to make sure nothing happens to you or Worthington. In fact when this is over the president said he would like to meet with the two of you and express his gratitude."

"It's rather comforting to know that. It would still appear that money still buys protection!" The soldier laughed.

"Joseph, don't be so cynical." Barns said. "Richard does not have to do any of this. Remember He is not taking any money for this and that family really cares about you and the country. I want you to be very respectful of them."

"Fuck it Bill, you do not have to lecture me on Worthington or the respect due to him-Fazzi does that all the time. By the way, I'm on my way to spend the weekend with them now. Did he report to you about the meeting Thursday?"

"Yes, early this morning, a full and detailed report including a complete description on the inside of the house. He gave us a list of everyone that was there, along with his or her address and phone number. He even included some descriptive information on some of them. Hell he even included the name of Fazzi's new cook. He said that when this is over that he might like to hire her. I think we have hooked this man and his entire family. He told me that nothing they have ever done before has brought the family so close together. They are having the time of their lives. When I told him that the President sends his regards and wants him to be careful, he just pooh-poohed it off. He also told me that he had received a personal call from his nibs already telling him to be careful. Anyway we took the list of names he gave us and ran them through our computer lists. The President also suggested that we check with the Mossad. You know who they are?"

"Yes I do. Are you sure it's a good idea to work with them?" Joseph asked. "Fazzi is suspicious of Jews or anyone who might even appear to be Israeli. At one time, so he tells me, he thought I might be a Mossad agent and he had his people run a complete check on me back to the day I was born. I am sure he did do that and that if he had found anything there, I would be feeding the fish at the bottom of the Atlantic by now. I just don't want my name to be linked with them. Besides, they have their own agenda and it might not be the same as ours."

"Fazzi is right to fear them. When it comes to Hamas, the Mossad has expert knowledge gained unfortunately through many years of having to deal with them. Also we never know when we might uncover one of their agents or they might have an operator of their own in the mix, so to speak. After all, they have operatives that look and speak Arabic better than some Arabs. They have been known to infiltrate these terrorist cells better than we have been able to do, that is, until now. At times they even share intelligence with us. I never told you before, but it was through them that we learned about that wife bargaining episode at Fazzi's that first Friday. They informed us that a certain American soldier, named Joseph Benson, might be turning into a traitor. Our own paid agent, who was also there, did not