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immediately respond. “Yes,” he finally replied. “I spoke with leaders in the community and some military personnel.”
    “Taliban or al-Qaeda?”
    Matt could feel Rabin watching him intently as he replied to Harrison’s questions. “Both, but nobody high up.”
    “We’ll need a list of all the people you spoke with.”
    “Not a chance,” Matt snapped back without a pause.
    There was silence from both men.
    “Really,” Harrison finally said, the word dragging out slowly. “And why is that?”
    Matt waited a moment before answering. He had to control the anger rising within him.
    “Journalism 101, gentlemen. If a journalist discloses his sources, nobody will ever talk to him again. Also, telling their names might get those folks in trouble. And they don’t have any information that would be helpful to you guys.”
    “It’s better if we judge what could be helpful and what’s not,” Rabin interrupted smoothly before Harrison could respond.
    “Well, you’re going to have to trust me on this because I’m not disclosing any names.”
    “You should worry more about protecting your own people, Matt,” Harrison spat out. “The animals you’re trying to protect aren’t U.S. citizens. They’re cold-blooded killers.”
    Matt shook his head. “No, Agent Harrison, they’re not. They’re people just trying to survive in a country that’s being torn apart.”
    “Maybe you should explain that to the families of the soldiers that died over there,” Harrison angrily continued. “They probably wouldn’t see it quite that way.”
    Matt paused and considered his response carefully.
    “I don’t have any names that could be helpful to you guys,” Matt finally replied. “And if word got out that I was providing those details, it would ruin my ability to get people to confide in me. I can’t do my job if people don’t trust me.”
    “How well would you be able to do your job if we made sure that every law enforcement officer in the State of Florida knew you weren’t cooperating with us?” Harrison snapped. “Think people would trust you then?”
    Matt felt his temper begin to rise up again, and again he attempted to quell it. With a few well-placed telephone calls, these guys could make sure no government official ever spoke to him again. They could make travel difficult for him. They could tie him up in red tape for years. In terms of his professional career, Matt was already on his seventh or eighth life. Making enemies with powerful men -- with these men -- could be a career-ending move.
    “Listen, I appreciate what you guys do,” Matt finally responded. “I really do. Believe me, if I had information that was important, I would tell you. But I simply don’t know anything, or anyone, that would be helpful.”
    Harrison leaned toward Matt. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but before he could Rabin stopped him with a quick glance.
    “Well, if you don’t mind, Matt, we’ll keep in touch,” Rabin said. “You may think of something later. Something that might be important.”
    Rabin stood and nodded to Harrison. The younger man took his cue and stood up. At the door, Rabin handed over his card and asked Matt to contact him if he thought of something that might be helpful. Harrison didn’t offer his hand or a card. He simply glowered at Matt from the front porch.
    Just as Matt started to shut the door, Rabin turned back toward him. “Hey, Matt, one other thing. Whatever happened to that journalist that worked with you at
The Chronicle
years ago? I think he was also over in the Middle East at the same time you were.”
    When Matt didn’t immediately respond, Rabin continued, “I can’t remember his name, now, but you must know who I’m talking about. He went on to go write for some big paper in New York City.”
    “Stephen Cross?” Matt asked.
    Rabin snapped his fingers. “Yeah, that’s him. I sure liked his stuff. Where is he now?”
    “As far as I know, he’s back in New