Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
“What news of our business in the Pacific?”
Prince al-Azizi swept his arm toward the pillow-strewn conversation nook in the corner of his office suite. His visitor, just off an executive jet flight from Riyadh, shook his head, pointed at his ear and strode toward the towering glass doors that led out onto a massive marble patio. Even in a royal residence, surrounded by security and swept regularly for clandestine audio or video monitors, it didn’t pay to take chances.
Fresh tea and pastries were in place as they always were any time day or night on the prince’s broad patio overlooking the busy inshore waters of the Red Sea. His visitor nodded toward a glass-topped table shaded by a fringed velvet sun umbrella and waited until his sponsor was seated comfor
