BACK AT THE HOUSE THAT evening, Alex makes Paul drill him on his Farsi, handing him a stack of handmade flashcards. They lie at opposite ends of the couch, legs tangled, as they chat about Fourth and the language and Zach, and what the hell the character is thinking in the material on the other side of D.C.
“No prison,” Alex says.
“What?”
“I don’t care if he gets captured or tied up and held for ransom or whatever, but don’t put Zach in prison.”
“Okayyy,” Paul says cautiously. “You know that’s not up to me, right?”
“Victor knows,” Alex adds, trying to warn Paul off with a look. “At least, I told him.”
To Alex’s relief Paul nods and changes the subject to why Zach thinks he’ll be able to pass anywhere in Iran undetected.
“Not like he’s inconspicuous,” Alex agrees, gesturing to his fa
