Ten years ago, Eli David had been the father of three children. A son that resent him, and two daughters, one of which was trying so hard to gain his attention and pride and another that loved her family and friends more than was good for her. Now he had only one child left. Ziva, his eldest daughter, middle child, eternal referee. Stuck in the middle. When Ari had showed very little emotion and Tali had had too many, Ziva was smack in the middle. She could be so loving at times, and then all of a sudden ice cold. Calm and the next minute raging with anger and fury. The one that was most like him, and so different at the same time. They did what they thought was best, and sometimes regretted their actions.
Now his daughter hated him for what he had done with Ari. She resent him for using her. And he was afraid that she was going to die.
He had never regarded Kadira Haswari as part of his family, and never really been able to understand the deep affection that Ari as well as his two daughters had for the girl, especially since Ziva and Tali were not related to her in any way. She had been a nuisance, and he had been glad when her father had not wanted her to stay with her brother but wanted her back in Gaza. In secret, he had been hoping that maybe, she would be killed. Teach Tali and Ziva a lesson more, not to care too much for people when it was not necessary. But in the chaos that was Gaza City, Kadira had survived, when his own daughter had died in what should have been the safety of Tel Aviv.
When Ari died, he had wanted Kadira to stay and join Mossad. He had an eerie feeling about the girl, the young woman. He had seen something in her eyes when he had thrown out old pictures and belongings of his son, something that caused him goosebumps. The way she had refused to take of her hijab at the cemetery, the way she had stood in front of him, her chin raised proudly, always meeting his eyes, and the way she had answered only in Arabic, at least to him, had made him see the fire in the young woman, a passion in her eyes that rivaled Ziva's. He had seen a determination in her eyes that made him realize she would be a great agent for Mossad. And the danger it would pose if she decided to join the other side. He should have had her monitored more closely. He should have had her taken in custody. He should have offered to pay for her education in Israel. Anything she could have possibly wanted, he should have done it. Maybe if he had, Kadira would not be going after his only remaining child now.
With a sigh, he dialed a familiar number.
*All Mossad agents currently in the US. Mark is a Palestine woman named Kadira Esfiri. There are two other Hamas terrorists with her, a wounded girl and Esfiri's husband, Farook Esfiri. They are wanted for attempted murder of a Mossad agent. Capture them, no matter what.* he said into the receiver before hesitating shortly. Ziva would probably never forgive him if he did this. But what other choice did he have?
*If Esfiri resists, kill her.*
TBC