Timothy Jay Smith: Istanbul Crossing

Leyla’s Café, a gathering place for tea and conversation, watching the televised newscasts, and where Ahdaf spends his time waiting for clients.

A Syrian refugee himself, Ahdaf escaped from the ISIS threat after watching his gay cousin thrown from a roof for his “crimes.” He could only assume they knew about his crimes as well.

Ahdaf smuggles people. For those who’ve made it as far as Turkey, he arranges their passage from Istanbul into Greece. He’s honest and reliable, and now he’s a spy.

He’s approached by two different entities, Selim Wilson of the CIA , and Malik the headmaster of the mosque’s religious school, an ISIS devotee. Ahdaf is stressed and fearful. He agrees to be a double-agent for Wilson, but is deeply uncertain of how all this will end.