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Uzi?”
     
     
    “He and Bella are going to get married.”
     
     
    “Is it serious or just idle talk?”
     
     
    “You should see the eyeglasses she has him wearing.”
     
     
    “When a man lets a woman choose his eyeglasses, it’s only a matter of time before he’s standing under a chuppah with his foot on a glass.” She looked up and scrutinized him carefully. “Maybe it’s time you had your eyes checked, Gabriel. You were squinting last night when you were watching television.”
     
     
    “I was squinting because my eyes were fatigued from working all day.”
     
     
    “You never used to squint. You know, Gabriel, you’ve reached an age when most men—”
     
     
    “I don’t need glasses, Chiara. And, when I do, I’ll be sure to consult you before choosing the frames.”
     
     
    “You look very distinguished when you wear false eyeglasses for cover.” She closed her magazine and lowered the volume on the clock radio. “So is that why Uzi came all the way to Italy to see you? To tell you he was getting married?”
     
     
    “The Sword of Allah has hung a contract around my neck. Shamron is concerned about our security.”
     
     
    “That sounds like something that could have been handled with a phone call, darling. Surely Uzi had more to say than that.”
     
     
    “He wants me to run an errand for him in Rome.”
     
     
    “Really? What sort of errand?”
     
     
    “It’s need-to-know, Chiara.”
     
     
    “Good, Gabriel, because I need to know why you would interrupt our honeymoon to run off on an assignment.”
     
     
    “It’s not an assignment. I’ll be back tomorrow night.”
     
     
    “What’s the job, Gabriel? And don’t hide behind silly Office rules and regulations. We’ve always told each other everything.” She paused. “Haven’t we?”
     
     
    Gabriel sat down on the edge of the bed and told her about Boris Ostrovsky and his unorthodox request for an audience.
     
     
    “And you agreed to this?” She gathered her hair into a bun and patted the bed distractedly for a clasp. “Am I the only one who’s considered the possibility that you’re walking straight into a trap?”
     
     
    “It may have crossed my mind.”
     
     
    “Why didn’t you just tell them to send a stand-in? Surely Uzi can find someone from Special Ops who looks enough like you to fool a Russian journalist who’s never seen you in person before.” Greeted by Gabriel’s silence, Chiara supplied her own answer. “Because you’re curious what this Russian has to say.”
     
     
    “Aren’t you?”
     
     
    “Not enough to interrupt my honeymoon.” Chiara gave up trying to find the clasp and allowed her hair to tumble about her shoulders once more. “Uzi and Shamron will always dream up something to keep pulling you back into the Office, Gabriel, but you only get one honeymoon.”
     
     
    Gabriel walked over to the closet and took down a small leather overnight bag from the top shelf. Chiara watched him silently as he filled it with a change of clothing. She could see that further debate was futile.
     
     
    “Did Uzi have a bat leveyha ?”
     
     
    “A very pretty one, actually.”
     
     
    “We’re all pretty, Gabriel. You middle-aged Office hacks love to go into the field with a pretty girl on your arm.”
     
     
    “Especially when she has a big gun in her handbag.”
     
     
    “Who was it?”
     
     
    “He said her name was Tamara.”
     
     
    “She is pretty. She’s also trouble. Bella better keep an eye on her.” Chiara looked at Gabriel packing his bag. “Will you really be back tomorrow night?”
     
     
    “If everything goes according to plan.”
     
     
    “When was the last time one of your assignments went according to plan?” She took hold of the Beretta and held it out toward him. “Do you need this?”
     
     
    “I have one in the car.”
     
     
    “Who’s going to be watching your back? Not those idiots from Rome Station.”
     
     
    “Eli’s flying to