by Dawn Kunda
“Well, my friends, I have other acquaintances to greet. Meet me on the deck at one. I will have Jendayi shown to her wing after our rendezvous.” Chenzira smiled. “Oh, and Re Omar, make sure you are prepared at the tea. I believe in Latin they say ‘quid pro quo.’”
Chapter 3
Cal leaned close to Mary. He breathed in the still-lingering scent of patchouli and whispered, “There are two others, Baier and Ranier, at Chenzira’s estate.” He paused as the whistle of flutes and ring of castanets raised the level of noise around them. “They’ve worked here for about two years in order to prepare for this effort. I need to let them know the change of plans. I don’t like this setup.”
“You knew Chenzira wouldn’t play by the rules. He has no rules.” She sipped her cocktail and smiled, as if the discussion pleased her ear. “I can take care of myself. I always have.”
Cal stiffened at her retort. He needed to get himself into Chenzira’s compound for the night. His assignment included keeping his partner safe. Whatever it takes, he’d make sure she returned to the States on schedule. “I know you’re capable, but this is a team effort. Without that we’ve already failed.”
He peered around the room, took a chance and looked her in the eye. She changed her focus from the guards blatantly armed with machine guns at all exits to his look of concern. He noticed a slight tremble of her hand where her glass canted a bit to the left.
Ducking her head, Mary murmured, “I’ll be careful, and I know I have support from the others. And you.”
He let out an extended breath. “We better mingle. I have to make my way to the third hors d’oeuvres table. I’ll catch up with Ranier there in a few minutes.”
He didn’t want to let her out of sight, yet it became imperative that he update the team of agents as the agenda had changed. “Stay here. Listen to the music, mingle, and I’ll be back.”
She laughed as if a joke had been told and then Cal made his way to the designated table.
* * * *
Cal observed the table laden with what appeared to be a feast from the most fertile area of Egypt, so close to the Nile River. He stared at dishes of creamed lentils, rice, plates piled with spinach-like leaves, peas, and other vegetables set alongside dark pita bread triangles and cubes of rich cheeses. Another table steamed with spiced lamb, poultry, and dishes of fish. Next to the meat stood a table with silver urns, which poured sugarcane juice and multiple fruit mixes. Going against Islamic tradition, an elaborate alcohol bar, where only the waiters attended, sparkled with quickly emptying bottles. He frowned at the extravagance that resulted from the success of greed and politics, more food than the average Egyptian would see in a lifetime.
Passing on the food, Cal lifted a glass of clear juice when he spotted Ranier ambling toward him.
“Have you had a chance to speak with Chenzira?” Ranier patted Cal on the back as if they were the best of friends.
With a false smile, Cal toasted the agent. “I meet Chenzira at one on the deck. Reiss is to be with me, and he wants her to spend the night here.”
Ranier raised his brow. “I don’t think that’s a safe predicament to be in.”
“I don’t like it either, but you and Baier are on the inside.”
“Not enough.”
Cal casually sipped his beverage and held back his surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Reiss can’t stay the night. Once Chenzira picks a woman, whether for his estate or his bed, she doesn’t leave.”
A ripple of trepidation ran through Cal. He squeezed the glass in his hand. “That can’t happen.” A waiter floated by and Cal deposited the glass on the available tray. “Let’s get her out now. I’ll come back and take care of the trade.”
Cal returned to where he’d left Mary. On the outside he appeared calm, in control. He tugged at his suit coat as if the room had become stifling. His gun still hugged his hip. The guards had patted him down upon entry, yet his weapon had been at the back of his calf-high boots. On a trip to the restroom, he had placed it in a better position at his waist.
“Have you seen the lovely lady I came in with?” he asked a passing waiter.
“No, sir.” The waiter continued through the crowd.
“Ah, the woman has found a body of higher status than you.” Chenzira accommodated the question with probing ears as he slipped up beside Cal.
“I have plans for her tonight.” Playing the leader, Cal added, “Her eyes don’t travel far.” His heart began to race. He felt stickiness underneath his cotton shirt. Not again. He couldn’t be too late again. Things were out of whack from the get-go on this mission. It was all in the timing, whether an agent saved his partner or not.
His watch read twelve thirty. Speaking to Chenzira, he said, “I’m going to get some fresh air. I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”
“Do not worry, Re Omar.” Chenzira carefully pronounced Guevin’s stage name. “Nothing happens to Jendayi with me in charge.”
Cal didn’t know if his stomach hurt from not eating, or whether the pains were a signal that something would go wrong.
Chapter 4
“You are a pretty one, Jendayi.” Roman Chenzira whispered into Mary’s ear. He had crept up to her behind the granite column she had decided to use as a temporary respite from the stares of the dark men milling about the tables set for convenience and business. She smelled the alcohol, a slight amount, as his tainted breath coated her ear and neck. She wanted to pull the scarf away and wipe it from her skin. His hand rested on her lower back as he guided her to the back of the establishment.
The rules had changed, but she’d still play the game. “Thank you, Mr. Chenzira.” She kept her manners, not looking him in the eye. “I thought we were to meet you at one this morning?”
“Call me Roman, silly girl. I have a better idea for you. I’m sure your escort won’t mind. It will keep him honest.” He guided her past another guard, complete with dark clothes and an AK-47.
* * * *
“I don’t see her.” Cal wiped his forehead as he surreptitiously glanced around the spacious room. He kept his eyes focused on the room as Agent Ranier stood next to him once again.
With an air of false disinterest, Ranier responded, “I’ll alert Baier. Keep the meeting. Chenzira might just have her with him.”
“If…when I find her, we’re aborting the mission.”
“Too late.”
“Too late? I call the shots and Chenzira and his goons have sidestepped the agreement. I’m sure he planned it before we walked in the door.”
“He didn’t know you’d have another guest with you.” Ranier sipped his cider. “You’re not thinking with your pecker, are you? We knew something like this could happen.”
Cal stiffened and knew Ranier told the truth. “Okay, we’ll stick with the plan. Chenzira won’t do anything to her before he gets his information.”
Ranier disappeared into the crowd as Cal finally meandered over to the open glass-paneled doors to the deck. He had difficulty socializing with other guests as he spotted Chenzira boasting his superiority to those of high status. Their status deflated to nothing in Cal’s eyes. There wouldn’t be any more elite galas like this, if he had anything to do with it. Nip it in the bud and take out the leader. Chenzira.
The thought energized and fueled his ambition. Find Mary, then get the location of the arms and his supplier. At least in his mind Mary came first.
“I see, Re Omar, you have decided to keep your appointment with me.” Chenzira did his typical pat on the back when he appeared from nowhere, apparently his trademark.
Cal acknowledged him as the appointed time approached. “Of course. I appreciate the lavish party, but I’m here more for the business we’ll do together.” Cal casually glanced behind the man’s girth. Mary didn’t follow. “Where’s my companion? You wanted her with us.”
The answer began with a hearty, yet sarcastic laugh. “Jendayi? She is busy. I’ve decided that my information for you is more valuable,
more delicate, than what you’re offering. I’m claiming a bonus for myself.”
Smoothing his hair back, the other hand on his hip, Cal gritted his teeth. “I want to see her. She’s not part of the deal.”
“I’ve decided she is. I may exchange her for the formula you have, as long as it works.”
The code would take weeks to test and the final result wouldn’t end with the expected blast Chenzira wanted to send to his enemies. Cal kept his cool. He had to. “The deal is for you to obtain my formula in exchange for the coordinates for the target. My men must know that their calculations worked as prescribed. Without the result, they will not improve or duplicate this missile program. It’ll be a one-time shot, virtually useless to anyone.”
“Not completely useless. One time is better than none.” Chenzira’s lips expanded. A gleam of moisture appeared at the shaven mustache line. “What makes you think I trust you? Because you’re here at my gathering? I don’t trust most of the attendants, least of all you. Do I believe your name is Re Omar? Probably not, yet it would be ignorant of you to use your real name even if your intentions are good.
“Why don’t you pass your formula to me and I will decide which part of the deal, the woman or the coordinates, I will give at the tea tomorrow.”
“Not a chance.”
“Really? I did think you were smarter than that.” Chenzira turned and signaled two of his men. “My men will show you to your room for the evening.”
Both men surrounded Cal. He couldn’t pull his gun. No telling if anyone other than his outnumbered team could help him. He doubted it.
Chapter 5
“You must put this on.” Another woman who kept her stare lowered handed Mary a flimsy blouse with matching bottoms, almost like pajamas, along with footwear of glittering straps and bangles. Mary didn’t feel threatened by her, yet she held her guard. “You will be marked in ten minutes.” The woman left the room without further explanation, locking the door behind her.
Marked? Mary contemplated the parting comment as she unfolded the outfit. Considering her current gown limited her movement, Mary gladly changed outfits. She felt like an extra for a harem squad as she slipped into the offered sandals. The satin and sheer materials of the pantaloons and blouse, which tied at the waist, left plenty of room to hide her gun. Suspiciously, it hadn’t been found and absconded.
None too early, the lock on the door clicked and a man of sizeable girth strode in. He was dark, as was his hair, his skin, and his clothes. The range of tattoos snaking up his wrists were the only distinguishable trait she identified to separate him from the rest of the guests this evening. “Chenzira has requested you to be marked.”
Mary slowly shook her head as her eyes squinted in question.
“Come with me.” The dark man didn’t wait, but rather his actions demanded she step in front of him.
At least she wouldn’t remain behind a locked door. She didn’t want to pull her gun. No one had threatened her, yet.
He led her through a series of corridors, all of which echoed the soft tap of her sandals. Opening a seemingly random door, the dark man waited for her to enter first. She glanced around the sterile room and noticed posters of what appeared to be artist renditions of hieroglyphics. Two stools, a doctor or massage table, and a stainless-steel desk filled the first half. A row of computers lined the ten-foot-long desk.
Behind the table and desk it looked like a chemistry lab. Glass beakers, microscopes, and stainless utensils made a line of precision on a ledge against the far wall.
The door shut behind her.
* * * *
Chenzira pulled Cal away from a group of Chenzira’s men and headed for the balcony. The men stayed close behind. Too close. This wasn’t a friendly gathering anymore.
“Why do you think I need to stay the night? I don’t have the formula with me. Jendayi is not aware of why we came to this party, so you won’t find it on her either.” He needed information. Where had they taken Mary and what was in store for him?
His new friend steered him away from the din of the party. Apprehension filled his gut. The other agents should’ve filled him in on an alternate plan. He’d have to make his own.
He barely had time to think about making a plan, let alone coming up with one, when a heavy metal, weighted object crashed to his skull.
The evening meeting was adjourned.
* * * *
Mary’s nerves ticked. She folded her arms across her chest and paced the floor. She doubted this was where she’d be sleeping tonight. Stopping in front of the desk, she viewed the drawers complete with locks. She bent and yanked on one. It didn’t budge.
She pulled on the next one without a hope of it opening. It didn’t.
The next drawer protruded from the frame a fraction of a centimeter. Her interest heightened, yet she pulled on the handle halfheartedly. The handle remained firm, locked, yet the latch wasn’t in place. It quietly slid open.
She looked behind her toward the door half expecting it to swing open. The cool room became hot as moisture surfaced on her forehead.
She turned back to the door, bent down, and jammed her shaking hands into a stack of manila envelopes, thick with sheets of paper and what felt like a small, hard object.
The envelopes had labels such as health, addresses, countries, formulas, and one with the word team. Others remained stacked beneath the ones she glanced at.
Repeating her look behind her, she had to think fast. She opened the folder with countries written across it. The papers had details laid out in paragraphs of its contents. She didn’t have time to read them, whether the information was top secret or not.
She tipped the envelope upside down. A flash drive fell to the floor.
She stopped for a second, which seemed too long, and grabbed it.
Hearing no sound from the other side of the door, she decided she’d have time for one more to be opened, maybe two. She reached into the envelope of formulas and retrieved another memory device. How about the team folder?
She stuffed the first two envelopes with their papers and took the team folder out. She dug for the device in this folder, then put the papers back in the drawer. Quickly closing the envelopes back in their hiding place, she got up from her kneeling position.
Her hands trembled as she stuffed the three flash drives in her bra. Lifting her breasts, she stowed them beneath. They wouldn’t be seen there. She hoped whoever came for her wasn’t planning on giving her a physical.
It’s probably worth the chance since she didn’t doubt Chenzira questioned her authenticity. Why else would he treat her as a captive?
She hastened to the other side of the room
The door flew open and she straightened up as she swung around to face the next person she didn’t recognize. He wore gray cargo pants along with a gray cotton short-sleeved shirt. A sleeve of tattoos ran up each of his arms, matching the decorations on the walls.
She kept her arms at her side, closer to her gun.
“Sit.”
“I’m not here to take orders from you or anyone else.” Her blood began to boil.
The former tour guide with the tattooed wrists entered, gun drawn. She sat on the nearest stool. Her hands instinctively clasped between her thighs to hide her weapon.
“Chenzira picked another beauty.” The first man smiled, his teeth yellowed and spaced unevenly.
She jerked her face away as he reached for her chin. “Don’t touch me.” She felt her blood create waves under her skin. She didn’t know if Cal or the other agents had a clue as to her whereabouts.
The second man remained with his gun only two feet away, the barrel aimed at her vitals. The first man spoke. “I know you have your gun. It makes this more fun. But I’m sure it’s uncomfortable with it rubbing your thigh while on the stool. It won’t do you any good right now. Keep your hands at your sides.” A laugh of steamy breath irritated her cheek as he leaned in to her neck.
Mary sat up straighter, not moving
her hands.
“Please, make this easy on us. You don’t want this forced on you.” He offered another dirty smile.
She shivered and dropped her hands to her sides.
The first man turned to the desk and retrieved an apparatus with a large needle on the end attached to a cord. She stifled a gasp. “Don’t be scared, beautiful one. You will get the highest of marks.” What was all this talk about a mark? “You won’t be able to leave the country, let alone the premises.”
“I’m only visiting. I can leave whenever I want.” Mary jumped off the stool and reached for her gun.
Too many moves, too slow. Dark man number two grabbed her wrist and twisted as she cried out. The man with the needle reached between her legs and snagged her gun with one swift tug. He laughed as he laid it on the desk in plain sight, but out of reach. “Sit. It is in your best interest to avoid unnecessary conflict.”
She grudgingly obeyed. Where was Cal? She had been hard on him. Maybe he’d meant to pay her back for the aloof treatment. Just maybe he didn’t care what happened to her. “I have nothing that you want.” Her words came out in a hiss.
“We want nothing. Chenzira will get what he wants.” The first man plugged the tool into an outlet. He swung her stool around. She involuntarily arched her back as he tugged her hair away from her neck. “Hold still or it will hurt more.”
She closed her eyes as the buzz of the needle dug into her skin.
Chapter 6
Cal rubbed the back of his head, feeling a newly formed lump. Sunlight streamed into the window of the sparsely furnished room. He wore the same clothes from the previous evening. Except for his gun.
He startled himself awake at this discovery. Reaching under the cot, he glanced around the room. He wouldn’t have set his gun away from him, and there wasn’t a place to hide it. How did he get to this room? Someone must’ve knocked him out and stripped his protection.
