Blogger’s Note: Sometimes life throws so many curveballs at you that you have to hunker down and wait out the chaos.  The past few weeks have been exactly that, which is why I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks.  I’m back, and I plan to continue to post on a weekly basis.

In this post, find out more about Makmoud Hidari, a man who has more of a hand in Victor’s past than he realizes.

• 1.  What are your basic statistics?

Ah, like what I look like? And why do you need to know?  So readers can visualize me, eh?  Well, then, I stand at 180 centimeters, or, doing the conversion, about six feet in your measurements.  You want my eye color too?  Are you sure you have no greater intention than to show readers what I look like?  I have a hard time believing that.  But if you may, I have dark brown eyes and hair such a dark brown that it is almost black.  It does have a little gray in it, but my beard, as you can see, betrays my age.  I am in my early forties.  I dress how I need to dress, be it nice suits, or if I’m at our compound here in Venezuela, I wear the standard uniform of black T-shirt and jungle fatigue pants.

2.  What are your likes and dislikes?

I like to read. If you visited the book room next door, you would see that I have many, many books, mostly related to psychology and leadership but also some fiction as well.  I also like to stay in shape.  It is a necessary part of my job, no?  So far as foods, I like all sorts of food save for shellfish and pork.  It does not matter if it is halal or not, I like it.  Dislikes, eh?  Try the arrogance of your country.  Overbearing women like the daughter of your president.  Maggie McCall must be silenced, and I intend to be the one to do that, even though I failed once.

3.  What is most precious to you and why?

Material possessions do not mean anything to me, so I have nothing that is precious to me.

4.  Who has impacted you the most and why?

I would have to say my brother, Jibril. Without him, I would not have rediscovered my patriotism for Iran and would not have joined the Quds.  What is Quds?  Think of it as a combination of your CIA and Special Operations soldiers.

5.  If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

Patriot.

6.  What is your greatest strength and weakness?

My biggest strength is my leadership. All of my men say I lead well.  Even when I must discipline them, they say I am a good leader.  You see, a good leader inspires loyalty and improves performance.  So far as a weakness, perhaps it is my inability to let go of old grudges.  My half-brother, Ibrahim, who is twenty years younger than I, betrayed me in the worst way by walking away from the compound in Venezuela and revealing its location to our enemies.  Because of him, we had to move to our current location.  When I find him—it is a matter of when and not if—he will die by my hand alone.  No one else will have that honor.

7.  What’s your biggest regret?

Perhaps it would be the way I initially left things with Rachel so long ago when we were both finishing graduate school. You see, we were supposed to marry.  Then Father died, and I had to return to Iran, since I was the firstborn, to take care of the estate.  I broke our engagement when I joined Quds.  Pity that I had to sacrifice her in our attempt to kidnap Maggie McCall.

8.  What drives you?

The desire to see Iran’s influence spread across the world.

9.  What do you want the most? What do you fear the most?

My greatest desire is what I just mentioned. Your country’s influence must diminish while my country’s must grow.  In terms of my biggest fear?  I dread losing my status as leader.  You see, when Ibrahim was born from a woman other than my mother, I lost my status as the favored, firstborn child.  And when I took the risk in attempting to kidnap Maggie McCall a few months ago, I failed.  But my superiors realized the risk, so my status as leader at our compound in Venezuela remains secure.  I know how easily things could have gone the other way.

10.  What are three things you want people to learn from Operation Shadow Box?

First, I can be kind—when it suits my needs. Second, religion does not drive me.  Patriotism does since I have no religion.  Third, I know that Victor Chavez lived after our attempt to kidnap Maggie McCall.  It will be only a matter of time before Victor discovers the link between Rachel and me in our distant past.  When that happens, he’ll stop at nothing to get answers.  And that’s when I’ll finished what I started a few months ago.

I have not received any compensation for writing this post. The work mentioned in this post is of my own writing. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”