Tess Awakening

by Andres Mann

  Amir affected an exemplary show of concern. “I am absolutely convinced that my son is in mortal peril because Ms. Turner has trouble controlling her anger. Sooner or later, she will snap and endanger my child.”

  June Winters, one of Tess’s lawyers, firmly held her hand under the table. The last thing they needed was for Tess to explode and go for Amir’s throat.

  Jackson Davis, Tess’s lead attorney, got to cross-examine Amir.

  “Mr. al-Saadi, is it true that you are no longer an Iraqi General? Isn’t it true that you are a fugitive for having attempted to organize a revolt against the legitimate government?”

  “Objection!” Amir’s lawyer stood up in anger. “The question is not only insulting, but irrelevant.”

  The judge saw that this was going to a rough day. “Mr. Davis, I am inclined to sustain the objection. I don’t see your point.”

  “Your Honor,” Davis said, “I am merely trying to establish the plaintiff’s character and ethics. Mr. al-Saadi is no longer a General because he is now considered a criminal in his home country. This bears directly on the case because establishing a parent’s ethical behavior is crucial and directly relevant to determining his suitability of a parent. “

  The Judge seemed to agree. “Objection disallowed.”

  The lawyer resumed his questioning. “Mr. al-Saadi, why should Ms. Turner trust you with the welfare of her child? You are a wanted criminal as far as we can see.”

  Amir affected outrage. “The charges from the Iraqi government are political. It’s a known fact that they have systematically discharged competent Sunni officers and replaced them with unqualified Shiites. The accusations against me are a means to deflect blame from their own incompetence. I tried to build up a modern army but ran into resistance from a corrupt government. There is significant evidence that I was correct in my emphasis on enhancing the capabilities of the armed forces. The government prevented the achievement of this goal by engaging in tribal preferences and nepotism. As a result, the Iraqi army is now fundamentally ineffective. Because of this fact, the army has been repeatedly defeated by a much smaller contingent of insurgents.”

  Amir’s lawyer looked incensed. “You honor, I submit that this line of questioning is still not appropriate to the proceedings.”

  “The judge sighed. “Proceed.”

  Tess’s lawyer continued. “Mr. al-Saadi, you claim that Ms. Turner inflicted grievous bodily harm on you. Isn’t it true that you had taken her son, Morgan Turner and illegally spirited him out of the country, and that your confrontation occurred when she demanded information on where you were keeping the child?”

  “That is an absolute lie,” Amir reacted. “There is no evidence whatsoever that I placed my son in jeopardy at any time.”

  Davis zeroed in. “Are you saying that you did not seize the child and imprisoned him in Italy with the complicity of your sister Fadime?”

  “Objection!”

  “Sustained,” said the judge.

  Davis continued. “You are aware that several employees of Ms. Turner helped her retrieve her son who was being held by your sister in Sorrento, Italy? We can have them testify.”

  “Objection!”

  The judge was losing his patience. “Overruled. Please continue, Mr. Davis.”

  Amir talked without being asked. “The people employed by Tess Turner will say what she wants them to say. If brought in front of the court, all they can do is lie so they can keep their jobs.”

  Tess’s lawyer now objected to the remark.

  The Judge ordered a recess.

  Tess, Jake, and the attorneys went to lunch. Davis tried to understand what information could or could not be revealed. He knew that much occurred at the CIA black site and that the detention of Amir had not been sanctioned by the agency.

  “This is going to be tricky,” Davis said. “Both sides have engaged in illegal actions; al-Saadi kidnapped your son, and in turn you seized him back. In the process, you shot down an Iraqi helicopter and wounded a few Iraqi soldiers. You tortured al-Saadi at a covert base and came very close to killing him. Furthermore, you broke his sister’s arm when you retrieved the child. To complicate things further, Fadime is now in Argentina and refuses to testify, ostensibly because she is concerned about her safety. There isn’t much that we discuss in court without opening a Pandora box of potential charges against you for breaking the laws of at least three nations. There is no way to bring the real truth to bear in this case without unleashing unpleasant consequences.”

  Tess interjected. “When the time comes for me to testify, I will clear things up; everyone will see Amir for what he is — a monster.”

  “If I were in your place Tess, I would be very careful. You could incriminate yourself by having to admit that you beat the living hell of Amir and Fadime. It would confirm their allegations that you are violent, dangerous and unsuitable to raise a child.”

  “There is no way that Amir can survive more scrutiny about his past behavior,” said Jake.”

  “Perhaps,” said Davis, “but the Judge has to decide what’s best for the child. Both Tess and Amir have a lot of baggage, plus neither can reveal what actually happened in Iraq, Turkey, and Italy; both of them could end up in jail. This can quite easily transform into an international criminal case.”

  Tess was clearly frustrated. “Where do we go from here?”

  “At this time, I think that a negotiated joint custody agreement is the safest way to go. I am sure that al-Saadi does not want to disclose his unsavory actions either. It would be preferable to find a way to get along for the sake of the child.”

  “Amir would insist on taking the child with him overseas.”

  “No, joint custody requires both parents to live in the same general area.”

  “Great, so now we have Amir around on a regular basis. Perhaps we should invite him for dinner or organize a picnic,” Tess could not help being sarcastic. “In any case, how can we prevent Amir from kidnapping the baby again?”

  “Obviously, there would have to be safeguards,” said Davis.

  “I don’t see how we can prevent Amir from absconding with the baby if he wants to,” said Tess. “Then we have to start chasing him all over again.”

  Jake finally summarized things. “This is going to get very nasty. Tess, I don’t think that you can avoid working out some sort of mutually acceptable arrangement with Amir.”

  “I need to think about it.”

  Chapter 73

  Negotiation

  The judge ordered both parties to meet and try to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement.

  Amir’s lawyers submitted that an appropriate way to approach the situation was for Amir to have custody of little Morgan every other month.

  Tess’s lawyers refused to agree to that plan because there was an inherent danger of Amir not returning the child to his mother.

  Amir expressed that he was offended by the insinuation that he would consider doing something that illegal. Tess laughed.

  Finally, it was proposed that both Amir and Tess live in New York, thus satisfying the requirement that both parents should have equal access to the child.

  Tess was not convinced. She pointed out that Amir, with his resources and private aircraft, could leave the country with the child anytime he chose to do so. He had done it before, and there was no reason why he would not do it again.

  Amir looked hurt. “Tess, so far, I am the one that suffered grievous bodily harm from your actions. No matter; why would I want to jeopardize the right to see my son Tahir?”

  “His name is Morgan,” Tess snapped.

  “I am sure that we can work through this, Tess. In any case, why would you want to deprive my son of a glorious and prosperous future? He is my heir and the descendant of noble ancestors.”

  “I am not interested in your antiquated notions of progeny, so spare me!”

  “You are talking like an American. You have little history to speak of and even less pride on whom y
ou are.”

  Two lawyers struggled to keep Tess from assaulting Amir.

  The attorneys on both sides called for a truce, demanding restraint from their clients.

  Davis, Tess’s lawyer, tried to focus on the matter of security. “What guarantee do we have that the child would not be taken away to another country?”

  “We are willing to deposit a bond if necessary,” responded Amir’s lawyer.

  “Whatever the amount, it would be a drop in the bucket for Amir,” Tess observed. “It still does not prevent him from stealing my son.”

  “Our son,” Amir pointed out.

  Amir and two of his lawyers asked to leave for consultation. Five minutes later they returned. The lead guy presented the proposal. “The General wishes to prove his sincerity. He proposes marriage to Ms. Turner, thus making the issue of custody irrelevant. She would need to get a divorce from her present husband, of course.”

  “In your dreams,” Tess exploded. “Go to hell, you lunatic!”

  Amir’s lawyers picked up their papers and started to pack up. The lead attorney looked disillusioned. “We have reached an impasse. It is better to stop talking until we find a solution.”

  They all filed out of the conference room.

  Chapter 74

  Intrigue

  Amir was satisfied with his performance under questioning by Tess’s lawyer. In spite of potential legal pitfalls, he was able to avoid the traps laid by her minions. He knew that neither he nor Tess were in a position to disclose the truth about the various illegal actions that both of them had engaged in. He was particularly satisfied with having brought distress to such an extent that her lawyers had to restrain her from erupting in anger. He could feel her frustration and hostility toward him. ‘Back to the old days,’ he thought. How he cherished his dining with her when they first met after her capture. He had come very close to possessing her if it hadn’t been for her penchant to kick him in the head.

  His pathological obsession with her had not abated at all. In spite of the disastrous confrontations where he had been subjected to her vicious attacks, he still wanted her. This time was different, however. He wanted to demoralize and defeat her. He had visions of capturing her once more so he could ravage her, breaking her body and soul, begging for mercy which would not be forthcoming.

  The custody battle in court was just the beginning of his strategy for revenge. By the time he was finished, he would destroy everyone around her. He still held the erotic videos in abeyance, waiting for the best time to use them. His sister Fadime was now safely ensconced in Buenos Aires and Rio, and she liked her new environs; plenty of shopping and an outstanding selection of handsome and virile Hispanic men.

  He knew that he might not be able to gain custody of his son; the legal battle was just a means to the end. He wanted to apply constant pressure to keep Tess off balance until she made a mistake, then he would make his move.

  He called Kemal. “Let’s take a walk in Central Park.”

  The two men looked like respectable, well-dressed New Yorkers enjoying a pleasant lunch hour at the Mall, a delightful path with a tree canopy and benches used by poets and dreamers. The park was a convenient place to talk about things without worrying about accidental eavesdropping by other people.

  “Kemal, I want you to organize an operation that carries significant risks. This time, we can’t afford to mess things up like your people did on the highway; they were outsmarted every inch of the way by Jake Vickers and they paid with their lives. We will not underestimate him again. What we are going to do next is even more ambitious. Preparations must be done in absolute secrecy, and the people that we will hire to do the job must be American mercenaries, not Iraqi bunglers.”

  “The men did their best and died for you, General. They were very loyal.”

  “Granted, but loyalty does not help if it does not produce results. This time, I will personally direct the operation, and I will succeed.”

  “As you wish,” General.”

  “The plan will be implemented in stages. First, we will recruit hired killers, the more vicious, the better. There are many mercenaries with military experience that will shoot their own mothers if they are paid enough.

  Next, we will create confusion by various means, diversions to keep Vickers and Tess off balance. Then we will have them where we want them, and I will be directly involved in making sure that things are done correctly.”

  Amir and Kemal kept walking for a couple of hours. Amir went through the elaborate plan in detail. He did not use notes; he had everything in his head. The more Kemal heard what Amir wanted to do, the more concerned he became that his boss was going mad. He had been doing Amir’s dirty work for years, but the scope of what Amir was contemplating now was far beyond anything that had been attempted before.

  Kemal always had a strong instinct for self-preservation, and he didn’t like what his boss was planning to do. He now felt obliged to question the wisdom of the scheme. “General, what you propose is extremely precarious. We are in America now, not Iraq. We lack the flexibility that comes with chaos. Here we are in an environment of clear-cut and effective law enforcement; we are also facing foes like Vickers, who is very skilled and hindered us before. We also need to take into consideration the power and influence wielded by Tess’s father, General Turner. I feel that this time we are biting off more than we can chew.”

  Amir abruptly discarded Kemal’s concerns. “Kemal, once I achieve my goals, I don’t care what happens afterward. We will disappear and assume different identities. In any case, your job is not to question what I want to do. You will do as I ask and you will be rewarded accordingly. Now, stop whining and get to work.”

  Chapter 75

  Regroup

  Jake was not happy. Both he and Tess would be stuck in New York during the custody proceedings. They had to withdraw their SRD people from Iraq due to safety considerations; the country was under increasing pressure from Sunni insurgents that were now working with rabid Islamic fundamentalists to fight the government.

  The Army had reassigned Carmen to Fort Rucker and Nicola was planning to join her in a couple of weeks after he completed training the Iraqis on the new equipment.

  Carmen was now disillusioned with the Army the same way that Tess had been two years before. All of the efforts and sacrifices that the American and Coalition soldiers had made to help Iraq become a democratic nation had come to naught. The country was falling apart, and many of the cities that the American soldiers had taken with flesh and blood now had fallen back in enemy hands. In her mind, it no longer made sense to risk her life if nothing would be accomplished.

  Tess offered Carmen and Nicola positions in SRD, her firm. Carmen resigned her commission from the army and agreed to come on board as a deployment coordinator, supervising the assignments of operatives to various projects around the world. Nicola had not signed on yet. He was not sure that he wanted to move to the U. S., although he really wanted to stay with Carmen. The two were madly in love and Carmen told Tess that she was considering the unthinkable — getting married.

  Tess smiled. “Great move, Carmen. Nicola is a lot better looking than your mythical accountant. Are you going to have kids as well?”

  “Let’s not rush into things, Tess. I want to enjoy being in love for a while. Besides, it looks like you are going to work me to death.”

  “Yes, you now have a challenging position that includes a lot of travel. Try to talk Nicola into coming aboard so you can be together.”

  “Yummy, I can’t wait to get my hands on him.”

  Carmen settled into her new office and called Nicola in Iraq.

  “Hi Nicola, I miss your hands all over me. When are you coming over?”

  “I wish I could take you to bed right now, you vixen. It’s really miserable here. We have made little progress training the locals. There seems to be a culture here that equipment maintenance is optional. At this rate, much of the hardware they are getting will be useless
and rusting away in no time. And don’t ask me what happened to their will to fight the bad guys; mostly, the Iraqis avoid combat if they can get away from it. At this rate, they are going to be in real trouble.”

  “When are you coming, Nicola?”

  “I will fly to London and connect to New York in a couple of days. When I get there, I fully expect to see you naked with a bottle of champagne in your hand.”

  “You are a horny bastard, but you are mine. I surrender, you beast.”

  “I love you, Carmen; I can’t wait to see you.”

  Jake called a meeting of the top members of the team. They needed to coordinate several projects around the world. Carmen realized that now she had a job that carried great responsibility. She needed to understand the capabilities of every individual operative so she could assign people with the most appropriate skills to the client states that hired them. She was amazed that the wars over the last ten years had produced so many freelance ex-soldiers with technical and lethal skills. There was not a shortage of jobs for professional fighters; several military companies were making millions supplying people to the U. S. as well, helping to supplement regular forces.

  Nicola arrived a few days later and Carmen barely fed him before jumping on his bones. They spent the next twelve hours alternately having sex and making love. Their passion was red hot and inextinguishable.

  There was a problem, however. Nicola was reluctant to leave Italy permanently. He had family there plus two residences and business interests. He needed to sort things out. Carmen postponed decision making. Tess had invited both of them to stay at the farmhouse for a long weekend.

  Chapter 76

  You Can’t Tell the Truth

  The custody negotiations between Tess and Amir got nowhere. She did not believe for a minute that Amir would not take off with their child once he got possession of him. Amir was quite comfortable to let her think so because the custody battle now was nothing more than a device to keep her and Jake tied up in New York.