The Identity Thief by C. Forsyth Page B

older version of Sean Connery in his dubious performance as an Arab desert warrior (Scottish brogue and all) in The Wind and the Lion - appeared on the screen. Beneath his stern visage words crawled, translating his Arabic:
    "America makes no distinction between soldiers and civilians. The only nation to use an atomic bomb was the U.S., which inflicted a holocaust on the innocent people of Hiroshima. They are the true terrorists. So, no, we will not limit our targets. The fatwa includes all those who help the Jewish occupiers of Palestine and the killers of Muslims."
    X shook his head. You belong in a loony bin, old fellow, he thought.
    As the song ended, X turned to watch the red-haired dancer put her top back on, then gingerly walk down from the stage in precariously high heels. As he spun on the barstool, he spotted three agents entering the club. They attempted to look casual, but their stern demeanor and the fact that they were peering into the dark recesses of the bar instead of the stages where half-naked girls were strutting their stuff made it easy for X to peg them as law enforcement.
    And of course he couldn't help noticing that all three were sporting sunglasses - rather peculiar, given the darkness of the establishment. They were oddly thick, like goggles, and it occurred to X that they could be some kind of new streamlined night-vision lenses. He had to hide - fast.
    X reached up and tucked a $5 tip in the passing redhead's G-string. She grinned broadly. "$20 for a table dance, $30 for a lap."
    It sounded a bit steep, but X was inexperienced in such matters, and furthermore didn't really have time to negotiate.
    "A lap."
    "Good choice. We're gonna have some FUN!'
    X watched her flaming hair bounce as she guided him to a purple leather chair and pushed him gently into it.
    The girl unfastened her bra and straddled him, her double D's wobbling impressively in front of him. Her flesh was dotted with freckles, he noted upon closer inspection. Maybe she was a genuine redhead.
    Out of the corner of his eyes X could see the first of the trio approaching and presumed that his own face was just as visible. With infrared night-vision goggles, his features would probably be distinct. He had to get the girl closer to him, to hide completely.
    "What's your name?" he asked, as casually as he could.
    The girl leaned in to whisper into his ear. Her erect nipples grazed his chest and his face vanished into her flowing orange hair.
    "Party. What's yours?" You had to hand it to her: the moniker was something of a novelty.
    "Steve."
    "Where do you hail from, Steve?"
    "South Carolina," he replied, having already adopted the appropriate drawl. "You?"
    "Wisconsin."
    This time, at least, the accent matched the purported place of origin.
    Peeking through the girl's hair, he could see the agents moving through the crowd, discreetly probing the darkened bar with tiny flashlights. Every time Party started to lean away from him, presumably to give him a better view of her silicone-enhanced breasts, X would renew the conversation, luring her in closer.
    "Have you been dancing long?" he asked.
    "Three years. I quit for a few months when I found Jesus and did some waitressing, but this place is in my blood."
    "I'm sure it pays better."
    "So true," she said. "Speaking of a whole lot of loot, did you hear about that huge reward they're offering for that motherfucker?"
    "Beg pardon?"
    "That rag-head terrorist who's loose in Vegas."
    "Oh yeah, saw something about that on TV," he said weakly.
    "With that money, wow - I could like produce a movie and star in it," she said, a dreamy look in her eyes, "You know, like Drew Barrymore."
    He nodded. "Yes, I could see you as maybe one of those teachers who turns an inner-city school around."
    "Wow, you're like reading my mind." Then, growing thoughtful, she added, "But honestly, I would turn that guy in even if there was no reward. My uncle was killed in Afghanistan. We all have to do our part. I would