“Good, can we start now?”
Kristen nodded to the waitress, who was bringing coffee and juice. “We’ll do the buffet.”
Five minutes later they returned to their booth. Kristen had tried to use a little restraint, but Callie’s plate was filled, including a ham and cheese omelet.
As they began to eat, Kristen remarked, “I guess studying makes you pretty hungry.”
Callie nodded. “It sure does. And, like, no time to eat, either.”
“Well dig in. Have all you want.”
Callie cut a slice of fruit. “Thanks. Do you, like, see Dad much?”
“Sure. All the time.” A small frown crossed Callie’s face. “I’ve worked with him for—let’s see—three years now. Your dad really knows real estate, and I like working with him.”
“Why?” She didn’t miss a beat with her fork.
Kristen paused. “Uh—good question. I guess because he’s always struck me as very knowledgeable, professional, and…honest. And I think he cares about people.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You don’t agree?”
“Oh, he probably cares about the people he works with.” Before Kristen could respond, Callie asked, “Why were you in—uh—Singapore?”
She told Callie the story of Trevor Knox’s sudden switch from Hong Kong just before the government there changed its policies—and the resulting scramble for office space. She filled in some of the details on her negotiations, careful not to get too involved in business topics, but Callie seemed to be interested. “So that’s how I wound up here in L.A. on this gorgeous day. Hey, where do you suggest we go after you finish off the buffet table?”
Callie smiled and sat back from her plate. “Just resting. Those sticky buns are awesome. I know some great shops in the South Bay area. They’re in a small shopping area off the beaten path—like, great clothes. Good restaurants nearby, too. What are you looking for?”
They discussed their problems with the latest fashions for the summer. Kristen added. “I might even try to find a swimsuit while I’m out here. You know, California girls and all.”
“Whoa…well, we should, like, be able to find some in these stores. I’m just not sure they’ll be your style.”
“We’ll see. You know, I’m not so old! And I’m still looking for Mr. Right. I gotta look a little enticing, even for a real estate exec.”
“OK. Maybe, then.”
“And if you’ll help me, I’ll buy you a new dress, too.”
Callie smiled. “Really? That’s awfully nice. I’m actually working part-time at my uncle’s real estate office, and I could use a new dress that’s more businesslike. And”—she leaned slightly toward the older woman—“I may have some real estate questions that you can help me with, since my uncle is so busy and you’ve been in it so long.”
“No problem. Ask about anything. I’ll be glad to help. Now, how about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
Callie paused and looked down for a moment. “Uh, well, I’m actually dating a guy I met at college. His name is Alex.”
Kristen inched forward as she cut a biscuit with her fork, “What’s he like?”
Callie looked up and smiled. “Oh, he’s really nice. He cares about me a lot. But he doesn’t say too much.”
“Are you going to do another round?”
“Thanks, but I’m pretty full. It sure was good. Thanks.”
“Glad you liked it. I’ll get the check, and we’ll be off.”
A few minutes later they were standing in the motor lobby. The valet brought Callie’s ten- year-old red European convertible down from the parking deck. “A classic!” Kristen said with genuine admiration.
As she slid past the door held open by the valet and fastened her seatbelt, Callie looked over at her and smiled. “Southern California. Even if it’s old, this is what you drive.”
Callie pulled out of the hotel driveway with a quick squeal. After a few minutes of just driving and taking in the beautiful day, she said, still facing forward, “So, what did Dad tell you about me?”
“I think he said that you’re about to finish the semester and that you’re doing well. He also said you’re going to be in a play. He’s excited for you. So am I.”
“What about movies? Did he, like, mention any movies to you?”
“Are you doing movies?”
“Uh, no, not really. Though I guess it’s a dream I’ve had.”
Kristen looked over. “That would be great!”
“You’re really here just to relax? To shop and have fun?”
“Yes, of course. I’m due some vacation days, I’ve been working my tail off, I thought it would be good to stop here, and I’m just glad that you’re here. I’d love to have a friend in L.A. Especially one with a red convertible who can help me shop.”
Callie looked over at Kristen, then back to the road. “Well, OK. Good. That’s good. I’ll show you some great shops. And this first place we’re going has lots of swimsuits.”
Kristen looked down the road ahead. “I’m with you, girl.”
Friday 18:20
To: David Sawyer
From: Andrei Selivanov
Subj: Lease for Moscow Expansion
Dear David,
The developer has agreed to incorporate your comments in the lease. The space they’ve already fit out appears to work well for you. Pictures are attached. I met with both attorneys this afternoon, and we should have a final lease to execute on Monday. Congratulations! We’ll begin working with the space planners, and you should be in your new office by early to mid July. Call if you have any questions or additional input. Have a great weekend.
Andrei
Late that morning Yusef dropped off his first clients and noted that he was not far from Los Angeles’ huge airport, LAX, one of the nation’s busiest. He could not pass up the opportunity to drive by it. He did this often, though careful never to stop for long or bring any attention to himself. The terminal was like an island between two long parallel runways. But there were plenty of residential roads and stopping places on the north side of the vast complex. And it was through some of those that he now drove, thinking about how glorious it would be during Ramadan, when he would be a hero and a martyr.
And he thought of Salim, his friend, spiritual mentor, and teacher. Four years ago Yusef had joined the Army, like so many young people, to “see the world”. Instead, Salim had helped open the world of his faith, and brought meaning to his life.
After Basic Training, Yusef had been assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, for missile school. And Salim was one of the instructors on the Stinger Missile, a one-man plane killer. While teaching him everything about the missile, Salim also opened his eyes to the Qur’an and the true power of the faith that his parents acknowledged, but did not practice.
The Army officially encouraged Salim to search out and train the young Muslim enlistees in religious studies, in the name of diversity. Out of the hundreds that Salim had taught in this way, he had singled out only a handful, like Yusef, for special time and extra study.
Yusef pulled into a parking lot at a school near the western, or ocean end of the airport. Without getting out, he rolled down the windows and watched the big jets as they climbed up from the runway, full of fuel and people.
He imagined back to his training at Fort Bliss. The missile launcher on his shoulder, tracking the plane as it climbed, waiting to hear the tone in his earpiece signifying that the heat seeker had acquired the infrared signature from the engines. Then fire the missile. So fast. In only a few seconds it would climb to the target and explode, ripping the plane into pieces, killing everyone onboard. And because it was passive infrared, it never alerted the pilot to its presence until the wings were blown off.
Yusef smiled. Just a few more months until Ramadan. He hoped that when he got the signal to proceed, it would be a sunny California day like today. With the wind off the ocean, so that the planes would be headed west. Then the wreckage and bodies would fal
l into the sea, making it that much worse. And a great day to die for his faith.
“Oh that looks good on you,” Callie said, as Kristen emerged from the dressing room at a small boutique specializing in expensive business attire. It was three hours later, and the two women had shopped up and down the streets in Callie’s favorite area of South Bay.
Kristen turned and looked at herself in the mirrors on the wall. “Yeah. It’s kind of tough to mix ‘feminine’ and ‘conservative’ in one business suit, but I’d say this one pulls it off better than most. I’m just not sure I can afford it.”
“It’s classic. It’ll last for years. And if Mr. Right is ever at a business meeting with you, he’ll definitely be interested!”
Kristen smiled. “You’re right. Hey, how often do I shop in southern California, anyway?”
“Good.”
Ten minutes later they were on the sidewalk, each with several shopping bags. “We’ve done well, Callie,” Kristen said, looking down the street. “Thanks for showing me these shops, and for your advice. And I hope that your new dress works well with your uncle and cousin. Want to do a late lunch—maybe call it a ‘tea’?”
“Sure.” Callie looked at her watch. “I’ve got a rehearsal tonight that I need to get ready for. But let’s walk down to Dave’s. Have you ever had fish tacos?”
“I don’t think so.”
Dave’s had high ceilings and a bright, casual, open look with lots of plants, and an outdoor patio, where they were soon seated at a table for four, their bags piled in the adjoining chairs.
“This has been great,” Kristen said, after the waitress took their orders. “Wonderful shops. I can see why you like living here.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty nice.”
“Do you ever miss your family?”
“My friends, yes. But I didn’t have a lot, and two are coming out to visit this summer. My family? Well, my brother and I talk on the phone sometimes. Mom and Dad—I don’t know. I guess.”
“I don’t know your brother or your mom very well, except what your dad has mentioned about them. Of course I know that he loves you and is very proud of you.”
“How do you know that?”
“Well, because he tells me that he is.”
“Have you talked to him recently?”
“Why?”
“Then you’d know that he has cut… Hey, let’s, like, talk about something else, OK?”
Kristen noticed the change in Callie’s expression and smiled again. “Sure. And look, all families go through some tough times. But they’re still families. And if I can ever help you, please call me. I’ve been through some tough times myself, and I know that being alone is no fun, especially when times are rough.”
“You? That seems impossible. What kind of hard times?”
Their lunches arrived. A Caesar salad for Kristen and a beef stir fry for Callie.
“Me? Well, you probably haven’t been following it, but the whole country was recently treated to my past, thanks to some overly zealous press people—and my own stupidity.”
“What happened?”
“Well, several years ago I did a terrible thing and had an affair with a married man—an attorney—a wonderful man with two children.”
“You?”
Kristen nodded and took a bite of salad. A moment later she continued, “Yes, me. We all can do stupid things. I’m not sure why, except that God made us with the ability to choose. The problem is that when we do stupid things, there are always consequences. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. But they always come. And they aren’t pretty. We hurt others and ourselves. And so of course that’s what happened in my case.”
“What happened?”
Kristen told Callie the story of her affair with Richard Sullivan, what had happened then, and what had happened to all of them that spring with the revelations in the national press.
“Wow, that would be awful,” Callie said.
“Yep. It was pretty awful. But I have to tell you. The peace that settled on me, on all of us, when Janet Sullivan forgave me—it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It was like a chain had been wrapped around me and was choking me, but it was suddenly broken. A great freeing. Genuine forgiveness is about the most potent force on earth.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t believe it’s human. There’s nothing in human experience that explains forgiveness. Just the opposite. We’re all wired to want personal revenge, justice, our way. So forgiveness must come from the one who made us—from outside us. And when it suddenly happens, it just changes everything. Regular human experience stops in its tracks when faced with true grace and forgiveness. I know. I’ve experienced it.”
“Mm.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get into all of that.”
“No, I asked. What a story. I would never have known.” Callie smiled. “I just thought you were a boring real estate executive, like my dad.”
Kristen returned her smile. “Your dad isn’t boring! He’s terrific.” Kristen held up a hand. “But I’m not here to defend him. I do know that he loves you very much, however he may have expressed it. It may have come across as telling you what to do, but in his mind I suspect that he thinks he’s helping you.”
Callie frowned and looked at her watch. “We’ve got to go in a minute. I have to get ready for tonight, and the traffic will be getting rough soon.”
“OK, I’m almost finished. Listen, Callie, I’ve enjoyed today. Thank you for showing me around. We did pretty well.”
Callie looked at the packages and brightened. “Yes. I’ve had a good time, too. I’m really glad you came. If you’re ever coming through again, please call me.”
“I certainly will. Listen, tomorrow is Saturday. Any chance we could spend a little time at the beach? I ought to try out this new swimsuit.”
“I’m not sure. It depends on how late tonight goes. But Santa Monica would be good. How about if I call you around eleven tomorrow?”
“That’ll be great. I hope I’ll see you.”
19
MONDAY, MAY 23RD
David was seated at his desk early the next Monday morning, trying to concentrate on managing their projects but wondering as well what Kristen had found out about Callie.
That morning the news was all about the latest demonstrations and near-riots in Tehran. He was worried about Omid and Goli because there were rumors that the opposition had looted an armory, meaning that the Basiji’s violent tactics might be met by equal violence in the coming days.
He took out his cell phone and dialed the number in Estonia; a moment later Omid answered in Tehran, but the loud noise made David move the phone away.
“Hello,” Omid yelled.
“Omid, it’s your cousin. Are you OK?”
“Cousin? Yes. I thought you were Morad.” A siren sounded nearby. “I’ve been looking for Morad and Ramin all day.” There was a loud explosion, and his phone clearly fell to the ground.
“Omid? Omid?”
A scraping noise and heavy breathing. “Yes. I have to get across this square. They’re charging us. I’ll call you later.” And the phone went dead.
David turned and looked out the window. He called Elizabeth and told her what he had just heard.
“That’s terrible. I hope they’re safe. I’ll ask Sally if we can pray for Omid and Goli this morning at Bible study,” she volunteered.
“Yes. Thanks. When I hear more, I’ll let you know.”
He thought for a minute about praying. Allah, or God, please protect our family in Tehran. He did not know what else to say, so he was silent, thinking about what Omid must be going through.
Then he turned back to his desk and ran down his master list of the group’s work in progress. All of them were in the office that morning except Cheryl, who had flown out to Kansas City to survey additional telecom sites with a local broker. Todd would be flying to Minneapolis that afternoon to deliver their executed lease for office space and to meet with
architects to move forward on the design and pricing of their fit-out.
We actually seem to have our major issues fairly well contained for the moment. At least until Capital Tower gets going again, if it does.
Kristen stopped by his door at 8:30, her large purse over her shoulder. “Hey.” She smiled.
David stood up. “Hey. Glad you’re back. How are you? Sorry I missed your call yesterday.”
“No problem. I’m fine. Let me put this stuff down and check my emails. Ten minutes?”
“Sure.”
She returned with a coffee mug and a writing pad. They moved to his small table by the window.
“You look good,” he commented. “Did you get some sun?”
She smiled. “Yes. Saturday. With Callie at the beach.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Tell me about it.”
“In a minute. First, we’re finally all set in Singapore. The space looks great, and we got a decent deal, given that the whole world is moving there from Hong Kong. Here’s a short summary. I signed this letter of intent. The attorneys are working on the lease now.”
“Kristen, you’ve done a great job on our new Far Eastern offices. Twice. Thank you for both times.”
She leaned back and took a sip of coffee. “Let’s just hope Knox doesn’t change his mind again.”
“I don’t think he will this time.”
“Hm. Well, now about Callie. We had a great time.”
He inched forward. “That’s wonderful. What did you do?”
“Just girl stuff. Lunch, shopping, the beach. She’s a complex person. Obviously she has some real problems. And she’s struggling. A lot of anger towards you right now.” She took a long sip and set the mug on her lap in front of her. “But we had a good time. I can’t wait to go back. Do we have any assignments out there that don’t involve porn movie facilities?”
“No assignments at all right now. But tell me about Callie—the movie stuff. What did she say about that?”
Enemy In the Room Page 20
