Chapter 9

As usual, thanks for the support. I hope you continue to enjoy what I come up with.

48 hours. That's how long they have had Asim al-Hazred in custody. Lisa watched as Reiss continued to question him but got nowhere. She was getting nervous. They didn't have much more intel other than he was the head of Tahara. No intel if any other attacks were set to happen or if there was anyone else was already stepping up to plate to take over.

"How long have you been the head of Tahara?" Reiss asked as the guy. "What do you have planned next? All this revenge for your father being killed?"

Asim al-Hazred sat there in stone cold silence saying nothing. From what Lisa could see, he didn't even flinch at the mention of his father. Lisa was beginning to think maybe Mandy should take a crack at him. As if Mandy had read her thoughts, she walked into the observation room with Lisa.

"Anything?" Mandy asked.

"Unfortunately, no and we have a briefing with team and higher ups in an hour. They're expecting intel telling us more about Tahara and we've got nothing," Lisa sighed frustrated.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up too much. We still got the bad guy. Did Reiss ask about the money?"

"What money?"

"The other day I was going over trying to trace the money. Recently $10 million was randomly transferred through banks. The money was washed so many times through many shell companies that it's pretty hard to trace. Pretty sophisticated for a new terror group we swept up from a hookah lounge that barely encrypted any of the tech the guys brought back from the raid."

"As far as I know, he hasn't mentioned anything about money," Lisa said as she continued to watch Reiss question Asim. "Listen I wanted to apologize about the other day and the way Reiss dismissed you. We were just-," Lisa started before being cut off.

"No need to apologize Lisa. Like I said, I get where you're coming from. You have a path to follow. In our line of work that path is even harder if we're a woman. One thing I learned, follow your instincts no matter what anyone tells you. Don't worry we're good."

Lisa let out a breath and looked at Mandy wondering how she did it. How did she keep it so together all the time? At the same time, Lisa could see something was plaguing Mandy's mind as she too watched Reiss question Asim.

"Something is bothering you," Lisa said.

"Yeah, I don't know. Maybe it's just years of paranoia plaguing me but something just doesn't quite fit right. Like I said, the cell phones and computers we got were carelessly being used but some of the money is set up in a sophisticated way outside the usual Middle Eastern terrorist way."

"Maybe you should go in there with him," Lisa replied.

"It's his interrogation. He's got to make that call. Maybe he has an angle he's working," Mandy replied. What Mandy hadn't said outline was she thought Reiss' interrogation questions seemed weak. He was asking the same questions over and over. No new intel being used or mind game seemed to be in play. She had watched the videos of Reiss' interrogations of Asim. He didn't seem to be asking any hard questions or touching on any weak spot. She wasn't quite sure what he was doing if she was honest.

About twenty minutes before the briefing, Reiss came out of the interrogation to the observation room.

"That guy is not talking at all," Reiss said shaking his head.

"What are we going to say in the briefing?" Lisa asked.

"We just say we need a little bit of time and we're working on it," Reiss replied.

"Maybe Mandy should take a run with him," Lisa suggested as Mandy watched the two interact.

"My collar. I got this. It'll be fine. Regardless, we got another target and that's a win," Reiss replied. "We should head for the briefing."

Reiss and Lisa walked out of the room and Mandy watched them go. Mandy turned towards the window where Asim al-Hazred was still cuffed to the table and observed him. She felt a chill as he turned towards the window and it felt like he was able to see her through the one way mirror. His eyes were cold and hardened which sent a chill through Mandy's spine. Mandy shook her head and started to leave for the briefing as well.

Just as she was getting to the door to punch in her code a hand came up on her lower back causing her to jump in a scare.

"Just me," Jason said softly. "Everything okay? Seemed a little jumpy there."

Mandy was still shaking off the look Asim had as she replied, "Yeah, just was in my own world and was surprised."

Jason looked at her a little skeptically, "You sure?"

Mandy paused as she took a breath, "Talk later?"

Something in her eyes concerned him. She was rattled and Mandy didn't get rattled easily. Jason nodded his head at her as he opened the door for her.

Mandy walked ahead towards the middle of the table and sat down. Jason decided he would sit in the same chair as her on the other side of the table to keep an eye on her. To everyone else she seemed like her normal self but to him he could tell she was on edge. He wondered if it had something to with the feeling they both had.

"Alright, looks like everyone is here," Blackburn said. On screen they had some higher ups of the Navy and CIA teleconferencing in to congratulate everyone on capturing Asim al-Hazred.

"First off, I just wanted to congratulate everyone on their hard work in capturing Asim al-Hazred," Director Thomson said. He was one of the many directors of the CIA.

"Just doing our jobs sir in taking out another terrorist," Jason replied.

"As good of a job you guys have done, what progress have we made in questioning him?" the director asked.

Reiss stepped up to answer, "So far we haven't been able to get much intel out of him."

Director Thomson paused before responding, "What do you mean you haven't gotten anything?"

"We're working on it as we speak sir," Reiss replied.

"Asim isn't talking," Lisa spoke up.

"Let me get my facts straight here. In 48 hours we have had no progress on getting any new intel?" Director Thomson asked.

"No sir," Lisa said feeling her heart beat out of her chest.

"Ensign Davis correct? You're the one who has been working the intel on Tahara?"

"Yes, sir."

The room was silent. On one hand the rest of the team were watching things transpire and didn't take well to the director questioning one of their own. Especially when it came to people outside the Navy.

"Her intel was good and spot on," Mandy spoke up. She knew what was unfolding before her. The director wasn't happy with the lack of progress. "I can assure you we are working every avenue in getting the intel out of Asim al-Hazred."

"Is that so," Director Thomson questioned. "From what I heard about your reputation Agent Ellis, you certainly wouldn't need 48 hours to crack Asim al-Hazred. Care to explain how you've failed to produce any results?"

If the room was tense before, it just got a whole lot more. Jason sat up straight watching the director and Mandy. He knew she wasn't the one doing the interrogating and he was not going to stand for Mandy being put down like that. Another part of him was pretty proud of her. He figured she had a reputation but actually hearing about it was different. He wondered how many at the agency were filled with fear just hearing her name.

Meanwhile the rest of the team didn't know what to think about what was going down. They knew how the higher ups of any agency were. They expected results and when you didn't give it to them they could make your life hell. They knew Mandy already took a hit before for them and if it was about to happen again they'd stand up in her defense this time.

Before anyone could say anything Mandy spoke up, "Agent Julian is leading the questioning and has it under control sir."

Director Thomson paused and looked towards Mandy. To anyone else it would seem like the director was considering what to say but Jason saw some sort of unspoken communication through the eyes and tightening of jaws go down.

"Very well, Agent Julian, I expect to hear something in the next 24 hours."

"Yes sir," Reiss replied.

"Also, good call on freezing the bank accounts with large transfers you found."

"Thank you sir," Reiss replied.

The meeting was over and a tense silence was briefly there.

"You froze bank accounts?" Reiss turned to Mandy.

"If you mean I froze $10 million dollars from funding the next 9/11, then yes I did," Mandy replied evenly.

Reiss paused before replying, "Why don't you take a run at Asim?"

"Sure," Mandy replied before asking someone to bring up the interrogation room feed. "I'll see what I can do."

Reiss nodded his head and quickly left the room. Everyone else watched him leave and then turned to look at Mandy as she got up and studied the feed.

"Listen, I know most of you think I'm pretty and all but the staring and silence is beginning to get uncomfortable."

"You're just going to let him take credit for something you did?" Jason said hotly.

"Yes," Mandy said simply.

"You did all the work!" Jason defended.

"Seriously it's fine. It's what happens in my line of work," Mandy replied like it was nothing.

"Doesn't make it right," Sonny spoke.

Mandy finally turned around to look at everyone, "You guys, its fine. Let it go. Like I said, it's nothing new that happens."

The team looked at her still not satisfied with her nonchalant attitude over it.

"Yeah well the next time that happens I'm punching the guy," Full Metal replied as the team got up to leave.

Jason stayed behind and went to stand by Lisa.

"Something is up with her," Lisa lowly said to Jason.

Jason looked at Mandy and knew she was right. "You going to make him talk?"

"He's cool, collected, and calm. Almost like he knows he'll walk out here," Mandy replied as Asim looked directly into the camera. "I'm going to figure it out as I talk to him."

Asim al-Hazred continued to stare intensely into the camera to the point even Lisa and Jason could feel the chills down their spines.