With the grace of having refreshments at an upscale tea room in London, Amon handed her a chipped cup of coffee. She held it between her fingers, loving the way the warmth began to spread through her hands. Never sure whether she really liked coffee or the way it made her feel externally, had always been a point to ponder when she’d been in college. Now it had become such a habit that Tessa always held the cup until the brew cooled too much to drink. Staring down into the black liquid she wondered if it was safe to drink.
As if reading her mind, he spoke. “I used bottled water to brew the coffee.” He pulled out a chair to sit across from her. Their knees touched. “It has been cooking for over an hour, maybe longer. I’m afraid it may be too strong. In my part of the world we like our tea and coffee very strong. I find that Americans like their coffee full of sugar and milk. Do you think that also reflects the American lifestyle, Mrs. Scott?” She continued to stare down into the liquid as her shivering stopped.
Amon remained quiet for a few minutes, waiting for Tessa to sip the coffee. When the cup began to tremble, he removed it from her fingers. “I’ll put this over here until you’re ready. Feeling better?”
Seduced by his calm, reassuring voice Tessa lifted her eyes to meet his, but lowered them again to stare at her hands.
“Yes. Thank you.” Her voice sounded small even to her. The storm started slamming against the upper windows, rattling the threat of violence if any attempt at escape occurred.
“Now, Mrs. Scott,” Amon spoke with a voice turned toward seriousness. When Tessa jerked her head up to meet his eyes, he paused before continuing. “Your blue eyes are startling. Has anyone ever told you that, Mrs. Scott?” Silence. He smiled before pulling his chair closer. “They remind me of the desert sky along the Nile River.”
“You’re Egyptian,” she whispered.
“I never said that.” His English accent was perfect. “I merely compared you to a place I’ve been many times. Now we must talk. The one who brought you here is a very bad man.” He pointed to her wrist. “I realize that must sound rather redundant at this point. However, he was sent to finish a job tonight that your uncle failed to complete.”
Tessa squeezed her hands together to keep from gripping the side of the chair in frustration. “Where is he?”
“Not to worry. He is being cared for and you will see him soon. But I need some information first, Mrs. Scott.” Amon eyed her to check the level of cooperation. “Did the president die of his injuries this evening?”
Tessa shook her head. “He was alive when they helicoptered him to the hospital. His wounds were very serious. He lost a lot of blood.”
“I see. And what of the vice president, Mrs. Scott? Is he dead?”
“They kept talking about an explosion on his boat. I wasn’t even supposed to be listening. They treated me like it was my fault the president got shot.” Her eyes watered, but she refused to cry.
“Because of your uncle?”
She nodded as her eyes began that nervous batting that revealed way too much about her temperament. “I tried to stop him. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t go through with the assassination. Please don’t hurt him. He’s a good man, a brave man. All he wants is to get his Liberty friends and be left in peace.”
“Yes, well I’m afraid that is going to be difficult.” He patted her knee with a smooth hand like a patient father only to have her jerk away from his touch. With his hand suspended in midair, he smiled at the response. “I apologize. I should not have touched you. You are lovely and I…” He stood then walked to the coffeemaker before emptying the grounds into the trash that once had been a five-gallon popcorn can. “And what of the Israeli prime minister? Was he injured in the assassination attempt?”
Tessa dropped her eyes to her hands. “I watched him fall as your thug and I escaped. I don’t know if he was hurt. We only had firecrackers.” She tried to look sideways to examine her surroundings.
Amon smiled. “That probably is a good thing. We wouldn’t want Israel to get the wrong idea about all of this.”
“I want to see my uncle.” Tessa raised her head and forced her voice to sound strong.
“Did the prime minister say anything about who might be behind this terrible attempt on your president’s life?”
“I want to see my uncle now,” Tessa’s voice gained more strength.
“Answer my question, Mrs. Scott and then we’ll see about your uncle.”
“The prime minister said someone at the Egyptian Embassy was feeding him information.”
“Interesting. Did he say who?”
“No. Just that he thought he’d been lied to and wasn’t very happy about it.” Tessa stood with the grace of a baby learning to stand. Her tail bone hurt where Sam had thrown her to the floor and she still felt weak from giving blood to the president. But she wasn’t going to give that bit of information away.
“I see.” Amon appeared to weigh the information. “Are you working for the government, Mrs. Scott?”
Tessa snorted a hateful reply. “Of course, I am. Between teaching school, three kids and a husband who is rarely home to help out; I do a little undercover work for the president. I get a little bored if I don’t keep busy. The extra money comes in handy for the jacked up gas prices. Oh, by the way, thanks for all the crap going on in Egypt and everywhere else in the Middle East so Americans can just keep paying those high fuel bills. I can’t tell you how that has impacted our way of life. Great move on your part.”
“Did you know that when you are angry your eyes turn a kind of violet color? You are quite enchanting, Mrs. Scott. Most American women I’ve met have not impressed me.” Standing, he took a step toward her. She stepped behind the chair to form a barrier. “Why is it that you are not intimidated by me?”
“I’m a junior high teacher in a public school. Not much scares me.” Her retort sounded flippant and disrespectful considering she was lying. “Take me to my uncle or I’m leaving.”
Amon burst out laughing and motioned for her to follow him. “Since I cannot allow a beautiful and courageous woman to exit into such dangerous weather, I will grant your request.”
Following, she eyed every dim space along the way. Quiet voices of men came from the room where her captor disappeared. Another room held men in western style clothing, but were obviously Middle Eastern by the language they spoke. Deciding she was being led to a more confined space, the thought arose that this new captor had others ideas about how to make her submit. Inwardly, she trembled, and knew that her resurging strength would not last long if he attacked her.
Surprised when he stopped and unlocked a metal door, she watched as he pushed it open for her to enter. “We will talk again later. I will have someone bring a fresh pot of tea since the coffee did not please you.”
Tessa eased by him and backed into the room, never taking her eyes from his. The closing of the door sounded terrifying. She almost called out to him when a voice forced her to whirl around.
“Tessa? Is that you?”
Recognizing the voice, she choked out his name. “Uncle Jake?” The next thing she knew the man of her childhood was holding her in his arms, his tears mixing with her own.
~~~
The storm roared to life again as Enigma agents discussed a rescue of Tessa. The flashlights dimmed and the candles flickered out one by one. The humid heat in the corridor and kitchen formed beads of sweat on brows that dripped into eyes and down necks. Voices were low and intense.
Even Samantha Cordova, usually calm and collected, looked pensive. Zoric listened with bowed head and offered no comment. The veins pulsing on his neck spoke volumes. Although he struggled to concentrate, Carter listened, careful to keep a vigilant eye on Chase. He might need to be the cool head in the storm brewing inside the man he respected.
Unaware that the edge of calmness in his voice mimicked the eye of a hurricane, Chase asked questions about the new information Director Clark obtained from his brother concerning the Egyptians. His body
, stiff and tall, looked to be at attention except for his hand that held a melting ice pack against his nose.
“Zoric did any new information come out of those two Sam and I shot?” Chase switched the ice to the other eye to see his agent better.
The Serbian shook his head as he snarled. “They weren’t giving anything up, and to be honest, I wasn’t allowed to be persuasive. Those FBI guys were in the way.”
The director narrowed his eyes. “I’ll take care of them if you want another crack at them.” Ben was reminded once again when a smile spread across the Serbian’s face, that in another life, blood would be dripping from his agent’s exposed fangs. “Very well. Let’s do it. Any volunteers to assist?”
Sam started for the door. “I will.”
Chase stopped her. “My job. This won’t take long. Get what and who we need to head out when the storm lets up.” He locked eyes with her. “This isn’t your fault, Sam. We both know that Tessa attracts trouble like a heat seeking missile.” With a disgusted sigh he continued. “I’m not sure bringing her into Enigma is the right thing. I know we talked about this but…”
“I have a few suggestions as what to do with her.” Sam’s voice edged with hatred as she turned away to follow his orders.
The two FBI agents shifted their weight as the Enigma men approached. They only thing they really knew about Enigma were inflamed descriptions of how they approached interrogations. Both men waited outside the prisoner holding area until Director Clark lured the FBI agents into following him to help with another task. They appeared to be aware of the power the director possessed. It was common knowledge he not only was the brother of the Prime Minister of Israel, but the ear and confidence of the president.
~~~
Chase stared straight ahead, careful not to make eye contact with the FBI. Besides, his thoughts tumbled toward Tessa. The person who took her may have already disposed of her body. A loud swallow, followed by an intake of breath formed when the image of her lying in some rain swollen street, injured or dead, came to his mind eye. A fire of rage flamed deep inside him.
She was an innocent, an example of why he did the job that others could not. He promised her protection and knew he’d failed, just like he’d failed to protect his sister so long ago. Why did the ones that touched him so deeply have to die?
Dear God, if you’re there, let me save her, he prayed for the first time in years.
Chapter 27
A mon joined Speaker Gault and his hired man in what had become the coffee room. Rain dripped in the corner onto an overturned metal bucket. The soft ping was rhythmic and peaceful compared to the howling wind outside. Windows at the top of the room rattled. The Egyptian wondered if they would shatter and rain down upon them. The speaker appeared not to notice. It occurred to him that this politician considered the weather his to control, not fear.
“What did the woman have to say, Amon?” The speaker frowned at the coffee in his Styrofoam cup before sitting it down on the soiled make-shift table.
“The president was barely alive when he was taken to the hospital.” Amon’s eyes fell on a cockroach making its way toward the abandoned coffee cup. He hoped it would seek refuge inside before the speaker lifted it to his narrow lips for a final sip. “Rumors on the radio are that he is already gone.” He shrugged while continuing to lie. “Vice President McCall has been confirmed dead.”
The speaker’s wide smile, followed by a hand through his tinted hair, caused him to square his shoulders. “Excellent.” He faked a pouty frown. “I mean. Dear God in Heaven. What will we do now that our fearless leader is gone?” He eyed Amon’s guarded expression. “Change of heart, Amon? Those old guys in there get to you?” A sneer appeared. “Perhaps you’re feeling a little protective of our new prisoner. My friend here,” he nodded toward the brute who managed to escape with Tessa, “tells me you were quite hospitable when she arrived.”
Amon’s eyebrow arched in contempt.
“You do understand they all have to die?” The speaker’s voice grew slow and deliberate.
“And what of us, Mr. Speaker?” Amon’s snarl of disapproval continued. “Now that you’re down to one man, how are you going to manage to eliminate the rest of us?” The smirk thinned on the speaker’s face. “My seven to your one. Not very good odds.”
The speaker looked over at his thug for reassurance. Satisfied that the mercenary could barely contain his rage, knowing two of his buddies were ordered killed by Amon, the politician continued. “I need you, Amon. Killing you was never part of the plan. Remember you are the one who will rescue and return me to the FBI so I can begin my transition to rule.”
“You mean govern, don’t you, Mr. Speaker?”
A sarcastic chuckle escaped the speaker’s lips along with the rehearsed speech. “You got a tip about my whereabouts. Egypt will be praised for their assistance in saving me. Together we will mourn the deaths of our beloved president and his inept vice president.”
“And you will not forget Egypt when it comes time to continue your financial support?”
“We’ve been over this before.” He waved a dismissive hand as he reached for the cup of coffee. “Jake Wakefield will be blamed for his interference. From what you’ve already told me the Israelis entertained him last night shortly after your men ended up missing. The connection now is solid. They were behind the attack. Since we sent in my people to assist Wakefield in accomplishing this, no Egyptian can be connected. They’re all dead now so the trail is clean.” His eyes darted to the one remaining hired gun standing in the room. “You, of course, will receive the entire fee for your continued silence and cooperation.”
“Fine with me,” the thug added. “Give me my money and I’m headed for Mexico.”
The speaker had already informed his last man of the account in Mexico City. It would be a simple procedure to access the money. Mexico was full of independent contractors if his mercenary turned into a liability later on.
“And, yes,” the speaker looked smugly at the Egyptian. “Your country will receive the grateful financial support of the United States. Take the money and continue killing each other for all I care.”
“My country is in transition. Do not mock us.”
“I wouldn’t think of it, Amon. With a little prodding from me you’ll also get the Israeli money. Americans will turn on them once their involvement is established. It’s good for you and good for me.” The speaker took a deep breath as if he tired of the whole topic.
Amon nodded, still skeptical of the speaker’s trustworthiness. “Would you like to return to the Liberty crew to fill their heads with more of your dribble?”
“I suppose. Maybe Mrs. Scott will be more forthcoming with me than you. Don’t wait too long. It’s getting a little crowded in there. Do you think you could bring in a few more chairs? Someone is always standing. Now that the woman is there, I’ll be expected to surrender any chance at resting. Those old goats are probably tripping over themselves for her.”
“As you wish, Mr. Speaker.” He took his foot and shoved a chair at him. “Carry this one. We wouldn’t want them to know your true colors are far from red, white and blue.”
~~~
Tessa felt warm in spite of the damp clothes. Seeing her uncle safe and sound went a long way at raising her spirits. The men who served on the USS Liberty in 1967 now stood before her with concern etched on their lined faces. Each introduced himself as if in roll call before an admiral. She shook each extended hand and let her uncle explain where he was on the ship the day it was attacked by Israel. Two of the men cracked a joke about her uncle being just a pretty Marine stuck on board to be the eye candy.
Tessa knew better. Her uncle had been on board because he spoke Russian, Hebrew and a little Arabic. He had been slotted to return to Germany after serving at a listening post in Iceland for six months. To make sure the Russians weren’t getting involved in the Middle East, Jake ended up in the thick of it. All the other interpreters were unavailable or alre
ady on their way home.
“It is such an honor to finally meet all of you.” Her hand unconsciously lay across her heart.
She asked about their well-being and was assured the Egyptian took good care of them. Although they didn’t trust him, his concern for them appeared to be genuine. He’d even secured their luggage so any medication schedule could be easily maintained. The food had been greasy and cold but palatable. Several cots were set up for the men to take turns using as beds while the rest sat at the table. Mostly they were bored.
They caught her up to speed about the Speaker of the House being held prisoner and appeared to have been roughed up.
Tessa saw the look of skepticism cross her uncle’s face. “What are you thinking?”
“Why rough up your most valuable hostage? How did he know who I was? I never told him and no one sure as hell told him in this room. The speaker said he heard those Egyptians say the president wasn’t going to make it too.”
“He might not.” She looked bewildered.
“Those Egyptians can understand English better than they speak it. When they talk to each other you can bet it’s not in any language the speaker can understand. Somebody is talking to him. My bet is on our smooth talker who made you coffee.” Jake pulled out a chair for his niece and tucked the towel tightly around her shoulders. “We can’t trust the speaker.”
“We’ve got to protect him, Uncle Jake. If the VP is dead and the president dies he’s the next president. No one knows where the speaker is. They already think the worst. Someone took out one of his bodyguards.”
“We’ve got to get out of here,” Jake tried to sound confident. “We’ll take him with us.”
Just then the door opened and the speaker was shoved in so violently he stumbled across the floor, only to fall against the table. A chair was tossed in after him before the door slammed shut with the sound of a bolt being thrown.
The Enigma Series Boxed Set Page 64
