by D. E. Daum
Mariam beamed.
Haman, you sly fox, you are becoming a ladies’ man.
Mariam was charmed. She observed his friendly demeanor and his sleepy eyes, not unlike Sylvester Stallone with a twinkle. He had a patrician nose, which had a slight scar crossways angled from his left eye toward his nostril and it was slightly off center, as if it had been broken. In size, this man is close to two of Saleem, who is, in turn, two of me, yet he is not unattractive or overweight and is very pleasant. He seems to be a gentle giant, but he stopped an assassin from killing my Saleem. Mariam switched to English. “You are most gracious, Haman. It is a pleasure to meet my husband’s savior and new bodyguard. I hope we will be great friends.” I like this man, I think we will be fast friends. “May I be so forward as to ask how much you weigh?” To make sure he understood, she repeated herself in Arabic.
Haman smiled and said in Arabic, “Mistress, my English is very limited, so I will answer in my native tongue. I will guard you and Saleem with my life. It is not my place to be a friend of my masters, but if you wish it, I will try. I have not weighed myself in some time, but when I did, I weighed 375 pounds. I think that I may have lost weight when I was in detention.”
“Mariam, do you have breakfast ready?” I asked, “Haman is going to get the moving boxes and packing paraphernalia for us.”
“Yes, my love. I just hope that I have prepared enough for such huge appetites.”
When they’d moved back from the states, where people ate from tables and chairs, Mariam decided to continue that method rather than the old Bedouin custom of sitting on pillows and eating from a rug or low table on the floor. They bought a dinette set. Since it was almost afternoon, she’d fixed a banquet for brunch, containing a plethora of Arabic and Western cuisine, including Saleem’s favorite Lamb Samboosak, something he’d yet to sample. It was probably comparable in appearance to Beef Wellington that had been fried instead of baked, with lamb instead of beef. There were also fruit and cheeses.
Haman left shortly after they finished eating.
Mariam said, “You must explain more to me about your doings with the Americans and how you came to meet Haman.”
“I will, when we get settled in London. We will have a nice little talk, I promise.”
One more thing to worry about and discuss with Jane when I see her.
Chapter 4
London, England
Kelly’d given Jane the particulars about his new assignment, managing the operation of The Hand of Allah, a Muslim charity fronting for a terrorist control center. It was located in a predominately Muslim neighborhood not far from London’s downtown. The building was an older two-story commercial setup with a storefront on the first floor and several apartments on the second, one of which was open to being their living quarters. The Company bought the adjacent building on the corner, which had been boarded up. Mariam and he would not be comfortable living above such a dangerous and nefarious establishment, even if it was allegedly a charity, so they rented a nearby duplex.
After analyzing the video he’d given Colonel Dickens, the Company realized this was very important. He was their bread and butter, so they rented a flat across the street from their apartment. It was obvious that his stock in the Company was rising faster than a call girl’s prices at a porno convention, and they were going to take good care of their number-one spook.
Mariam chose the decor for their apartment as well as Haman’s. The furniture was scheduled to be delivered the following day or the morning after. Kelly, on a Hand of Allah expense account, rented two hotel rooms for a couple of days, across the hall from each other. Once he contacted Starbird, a meeting was arranged. Jeff, Starbird and Kelly would meet, one flight up in Room 315 in two hours.
At the prescribed time, Kelly slipped out, telling Mariam he needed some fresh air.
Mariam opened the door a crack and watched Saleem ascend the stairs instead of taking the elevator down. More mysterious behavior. Mariam slipped out, leaving the door ajar, since she didn’t have a keycard. She followed Saleem quietly. Peeking around a corner, she saw him enter a room approximately above Haman’s room. Going to the door, she put her ear to it.
When Kelly knocked quietly, the door swung in revealing a smiling Theodore (Ted) Evans from Wyoming. Ted shook his hand effusively and ushered him in where his handler, Starbird, reclined on a couch. Obviously pleased to see him, she cast a large, friendly smile and patted the seat next to her. She kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear that she thought about him at night. Aloud, she said, “OK Saleem, what seems to be the problem?”
Speaking softly so Evans wouldn’t hear, Kelly explained, “Mariam is a wild card. She strongly suspects I’m not her husband. In addition, she suspects that I’m up to something and is suspicious about Haman and what went on in in the detention center. At least she believes I was there. She won’t let it drop. I told her I would explain everything when we were settled in London. What should I do?”
“I take it she’s not buying the amnesia thing?”
“To a point, but she’s very smart and she knows that lost memory does not equal changed behavior. She’s even asked who I am. Two days ago she said it’s possible that I was Kelly, since I announced it in the hospital to everyone with ears.”
Mariam couldn’t hear much through the door, her husband’s name once and a lot of mumbling. She got down on her knees to find out if she could see anything through a crack or under the door. She could see a little but only about ankle high. Saleem’s tennis shoes and some casual women’s shoes next to Saleem’s and a third pair—black dress shoes—near the door.
Jane frowned. “This could get serious. Do you think she might tell anyone?”
“No, that’s not the problem. The problem is what and how much to tell her. She can’t stand my brother, and Suhar scares her. He scares me, too. The man is a psychopath! Anyway, she’s not threatening to tell anyone, and she was genuinely thrilled to leave Saudi Arabia. In fact, when I first got back, she gave me an ultimatum, to take her out of the country or she was going without me. She wanted to go to Malaysia, Australia or America. Any suggestions?”
“So she wanted to go to America? What does she think of America?”
“Mariam thinks America, despite its blemishes, is the greatest, most dynamic country in the world. She spent eight years absorbing American culture, and she’s a believer. She knows America has a downside. There are aspects of American society she doesn’t like—drugs, gangs, poverty, pollution, crime, guns, bigotry. But what upright American wouldn’t disdain these things? What Mariam is attracted to is the almost total freedom. Coming from a repressed society, especially for women, America was like getting out of prison.”
“Yes, I remember telling you that and a lot more about your new wife. I’m thinking we should try to bring her in, but I have to get permission. In the meantime, I think you should throw her a bone.” She looked at Evans, who appeared to not be listening, but lowered her voice anyway. “Tell her you have no idea how it happened, but since Kelly Rogers died, you have some of Kelly’s memories imbued in your mind and you get confused sometimes about whom you really are. That should keep her off balance until I can get word on whether we should bring her in.”
“That’s great, Jane, enough truth to be believable. I’d better get back. I told Mariam I was going out for some fresh air. When are we going to go over my assignment and the transcript from the video?”
“We’ll need more time for that. I’ll contact you for another meeting when we get our operation center set up.” Kelly got up and so did Jane. They embraced, and Kelly kissed her lightly on the lips.
Mariam heard the elevator moving. She needed to leave before she got caught. She was walking toward the stairs when someone got off the elevator and walked toward her. He looked very familiar. Then he said, “Hello, Mariam.”
Jeff knocked on the door to Room 315 and Evans opened it. He stepped in, nodded hello to everyone, then asked, “What did I m
iss? Sorry, my flight was late. Saleem, I just saw your wife. Gorgeous woman, you lucky dog. I don’t think she recognized me, though. I must have made a big impression on her.”
“Don’t feel slighted, she only met you once for a couple of minutes. She was supposed to stay in our room. Maybe she got restless.”
Jane glanced at Ted and cut in, “Ted, we’re almost done here. Would you please go down and get the car ready.”
He nodded, opened the door, stepped through the doorway and pulled the door shut.
Looking at Jeff. “We’ve pretty much wrapped up our doings here. Kelly is concerned about his wife. She’s suspicious because Saleem is acting more like Kelly than Saleem, which is understandable. I’m going to request that we bring her in. In the meantime, Saleem is going to admit that after his death, immediately following Kelly’s, somehow some of Kelly’s memories have invaded his mind. That explains his behavior in the hospital and will buy us time to get approval to bring her in.”
“That’s great, but can she be trusted?” asked Jeff.
“We think so. She despises the way women are treated in Islamic countries, even the more progressive ones, and she developed a real affinity for America when she lived there.”
“Yeah, I remember, but wouldn’t that be the first choice of a spy as well?” asked Jeff.
Kelly answered, “I don’t think so. I’ve gotten to know her, plus I have many of Saleem’s memories and there’s nothing to indicate anything like that. Another thing, when I first arrived back from stateside, she slapped and scolded me for being involved in my murder.”
“How ironic. It may have been the perpetrator she slapped, but it was the victim that felt the sting and got chastised to boot,” laughed Jeff. “I guess she’s all right, after all. Man, it’s your neck in the noose.”
Jeff always did have a morbid sense of humor.
Jeff continued, “What about the planning for countering the terrorist threats that were on the video? Are we going to get into that here?”
Jane shook her head. “No time now. That’s going to take some serious preparations. We want to address each and every attack, but we can’t endanger Saleem’s cover. That’s actually more important than stopping the attacks. We could never get a plant so valuable again, unless we happened to turn Osama. We will be going over this thoroughly in a few days when our field op-center is operational.”
When Kelly got back to the hotel room, Mariam was not there. He couldn’t figure out where she went until he looked over at the bed and noticed a note on the nightstand.
“Dearest One,
I was beginning to get hungry so I went out to get something to eat. I will bring something for you. Do not worry, I will return soon.
Love, Mare.”
He did worry. Mariam shouldn’t have gone out without him or at least Haman. He went back in the hallway and knocked on Haman’s door but there was no answer. Hearing approaching footsteps, he was relieved to see Mariam with Haman coming up the hallway. Haman was carrying a large bag, emitting the wonderful odor of Chinese take-out. Kelly hadn’t realized how famished he was.
Mariam said, “I’m not familiar with English cuisine, so I found a Chinese restaurant. We haven’t had Chinese in years.”
“I was worried about you. At least you took Haman with you. I’m famished, let’s eat.”
Later that night, after Haman had gone back to his room, Mariam, with a smirk on her face, asked, “So, my husband, now that we are here in London, when are you going to explain to me why you act so different from the man I married?”
“I will say this, Mare. You are not entirely mistaken. Something crazy has happened, so crazy I’m afraid to tell anyone for fear they will believe I’ve lost my mind.”
Kelly hesitated a few seconds, contemplating the best way to explain the uncanny events that had happened. Mariam must have thought he was fearful of continuing for she said, “Go on, my stallion, I shall not doubt you.”
Kelly didn’t doubt she would believe him, since she already suspected what he was about to tell her, so he continued, “When I died the first time, Kelly had just expired a few seconds before me. Apparently, when I died many of Kelly’s memories transferred over to my mind as I was being revived. I don’t know how it happened, but I have some of Kelly’s memories as well as my own. When I first awoke in the hospital, Kelly’s memories were more vivid than mine, I thought I was Kelly. When I started to regain some of my own memories, I wondered if I were insane. I began to think I might be schizophrenic, housing two distinct personalities. However, eventually I came to realize that I was only Saleem, and some of Kelly’s memories had instilled themselves in my brain.”
Mariam said, “Well, that is something like I suspected, but you seem to be more like someone else, probably Kelly, than yourself. Is it possible you share more than memories with him? Why did the Americans take you? Why did Suhar send you here, and why did someone try to kill you? I’m afraid I have many, many questions, my hus—.”
Kelly interrupted, “I will answer them in good time, but I’m tired now so I‘m going to bed.” After standing he kissed Marian goodnight, changed into his bedclothes and got under the covers.
“Oh, I heard you ran into Jeff Wiggins, but didn’t recognize him,” he said.
“That’s who that was—Kelly’s friend. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. Did he tell you we passed each other upstairs, where I had followed you, my love?”
Kelly was flabbergasted. “You followed me upstairs?”
“Yes, I did, to Room 315 where you met with a man and woman, and I suppose Mr. Wiggins went there, too. Aren’t the Americans finished with you yet?”
“How do you know they were Americans?”
“Honestly dear, do you think I’m obtuse? Mr. Wiggins works for the U.S. State Department, and though I really couldn’t understand what was said, I could tell it was in English.”
Groping, he asked. “Yes and we are in England. The last time I heard, they speak English in jolly ole England. What makes you think they were Americans?”
Mariam smirked and shook her head. “Really sweetheart, American, English what difference does it make? The fact is you are sneaking around and meeting what you have yourself termed, the infidels. The woman had an American accent, and Wiggins is an American for sure.”
“And you, my lovely, are sneaking around, following your husband. In Saudi Arabia I could have you flogged if I didn’t personally strangle you,” I joked. “Believe this. There is more to tell you, and I will tell you as much as I am able as soon as I‘m able, I swear.”
Mariam smiled and watched Saleem seductively as she got in bed, turned her back, and said, “Believe this, my stallion, our newly found, fantastic sex life will resume when you have told me everything, including what you are now not able.”
I can wait a couple days but what if Jane doesn’t get permission to bring Mare in? Oh well, at least I can defer her questions for a while. He reached over and turned off the light.
Book III
The Hand of Allah
Chapter 1
The next morning, while Mariam was still sleeping, Kelly told Haman to keep tabs on her, while he went to the office the first day. They needed a second bodyguard, but in the meantime, he was at least packing. He had to leave his 9mm Glock, in Arabia, but Jane had rearmed him with her Sig Sauer. 45 caliber P220 automatic and a Beretta Model 70, 32 caliber spare in an ankle holster.
The charity staff consisted of nine people in all. He was both shocked and pleased to find their very own Rayya busy at work as a clerk/typist. How the company’d managed to get her placed there, he hadn’t a clue, but noting the opportunity for backup, he took her as his personal secretary. How much she’d been updated, he would have to find out. He suspected she knew everything except his peculiar circumstance.
The former manager was now his second-in-command. Ali Kaba was a diminutive thirty-something individual, who did not appreciate his recent demotion. He was perhaps f
ive-seven, one hundred forty sinewy pounds, with a tree-sized chip on his shoulder. He had a thin face with rodent-like features. Surprisingly, his eyes were blue. Nevertheless, they were piercing, somewhat like the crazy fanatic, Suhar. Kelly had a strong instinct that this individual meant to kill him. He would keep a close eye on Ali Kaba and have him checked out thoroughly.
The remaining employees were clerk-types with the exception of Eldon Peabody, a distinguished, fortyish, English gentleman who was an all-purpose man. Eldon, a portly man, approximately two hundred fifty pounds and about six-one, had converted to Islam four years earlier and had offered his services for charity. He had a ruddy, rotund but pleasant face and a cheerful disposition. He lobbied at Parliament, collected donations, acted as a public relations man and general factotum. Kelly could see why Eldon would be effective in his job. He would get the scoop on Eldon as well.
