Fortunes Obsession (9 page)

     Bey, as usual did most of the talking for their side.  He opened by upping the ante to a half a million.  After much feigning of insult and threats to leave, a caucus was held amongst the three terrorists while Fahd waited in another room.

     " We have good news for you, my good fellow.  Our leader has agreed to increase our offer.  Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand."

      Fahd smiled and shook his head. " Gentlemen, why are you wasting my time?  I have been here for several days after giving you what I consider a serious and sincere price.  One Million Dollars."

     There was much posturing and head shaking from the terrorists.

" I am afraid we have reached our limit, my friend.  We are authorized to go no higher."

    Fahd looked genuinely benign. " I am so sorry, my good friends.

I really wanted you to have it, rather than some of the other organizations that want it but if it cannot be, it cannot be."

     He rose as if to leave the room and extended his hand to each in a goodbye gesture.  He was nearly to the door when he heard Bey.

     " Wait, my friend. Please wait in the other room and we will make some calls.  We will try to do the best we can."

     Fahd walked into the next room and thumbed through a newspaper.

     Bey spoke softly. " Do you think he's bluffing? Ali, you know him better than anyone else here.  What do you think?

     " I don't think he's bluffing.  We have to come to terms with him.  If we let him get away, the Colonel will have us killed. I say come up one more time but save something for us."

     Mahdi spoke next. " You are jeopardizing this whole deal for amounts of money we can make five or ten times over from skimming off the top.  Stop fooling around and give him what he wants."

     " No", Bey said, " It is a matter of principle.  I will offer him nine hundred thousand and let him walk out if he doesn't accept."

     " There must be two other stipulations", Bokaar said, " We must have access to the man who is the source of this information and I want you to ask him to throw in the girl.  I know this man, he gets tired of his women after awhile.  I want this one badly."

     " Okay", Bey said, " The astronaut is part of the deal and I will try to get you the girl but the deal does not sink or swim on

the inclusion of the girl.  Understand?."

     The other two quickly concurred and Bey went to the door to let Fahd in.

     The offer was made to him and he accepted after what seemed to be fifteen minutes of silent meditation.

     " You must give me the option on the girl.  At this point, I am saying yes but you must give me the luxury of changing my mind. At this time, I would like nothing better than to deliver the young lady to Mr. Bokaar for his pleasure.  I am reasonably sure my decision will hold.  If not, I will deliver something equally as delectable.  Please leave me a contact number and I will arrange for the transfer.  My thinking is that I will send the girl and the documents with my driver.  At that point, you will give my driver the money in denominations no larger than hundred dollar bills and he will give you the documents......And gentlemen, in case you might be thinking of any funny business, a helicopter will be flying above Ali's house.  If my driver does not exit and make the proper signal, the house and all in it will be instantly destroyed."

     Bey looked insulted. " Like you, my friend, we are men of honor.  I am appalled that you would ever think of such a possibility."

     Handshakes were exchanged all around and Fahd walked down the hall to his own suite, a new spring in his step.

     He went to the phone and dialed the airline and then Mustafa.

     After making arrangements for his airport pickup, he asked

about the surveillance on the girl.

     " Mr. Fahd, I have checked with my day doormen and have also made friends with the night man.  I gave him fifty dollars and he is ours.  I found out that a good looking, tall young man arrived with Miss Morgan late Monday evening and left in about an hour.

On Tuesday, it would seem the same young man arrived about one in the afternoon and left with Miss Morgan about five.  She returned by herself in a taxi about nine or so and seemed to  be crying when she came in the building.  The night man asked if there was anything he could do and she ignored him."

     A chill went through Fahd's body. " What was she wearing when she left with the young man?  Was she dressed to go out?"

     According to the doorman, she was wearing jeans but seemed to be carrying an overnight bag.  She had the same bag with her when she came back."

     After the initial chill, he found that he was not upset enough to lament her going out of his life but he needed revenge to satisfy something in him.  The thought of handing her over to that filthy animal Bokaar was especially sweet to him.  He would start searching for a new mistress immediately.

              ********************************

     Collins was surprised when his phone rang.  No one ever called him.  He thought it was probably the airline calling about his flight.

     Commander Collins?

     He tried to figure out who this voice with a slightly foreign

accent could be.

     " Now, listen to me carefully Commander Collins.  I am going to offer you the opportunity to make a lot of money.  We are familiar with your, shall we say, exchange in New York City several weeks ago."

     Collins was wary, although the man's accent would connote that he might be speaking to one of, " Them".

     " Listen fella, I really don't know what the hell you're talking about."

     Bey kept calm and continued to speak softly.

     " I do not blame you for maintaining your security.  I am only asking for an opportunity to fly to Orlando and visit with you for an hour or two.  I'm sure you will be very pleased."

     Collins was somewhere between a rock and a hard place.  He had no idea who this man was.  He might be a government agent for all he knew, that could put him behind bars for the rest of his life.

     " Look mister, I still don't know what you're talking about but I might like to meet you anyway, no strings attached."

  Collins thought that sounded foolish as hell but he had already said it.  If these really were the operations people, he could cancel his flight to New York and deal with them right here.  If they weren't, however and they were government agents, the whole operation would be dead in the water and all of his months of data gathering and hard work would be in vain.  He decided to go through with it.  If this man was an agent, the operation was blown anyway.

     " Well, Commander, can we make an arrangement or not?

     " Okay, mister, you tell me where and when and I'll be there."

     Bey smiled to himself. " You will be in the lobby of the Hyatt Grand Cypress Hotel at eleven o clock Friday morning.  Since I do not know what you look like, you will wear a business suit and on your head you will wear an Orlando Magic cap.  I, in turn will be wearing shorts with one white sock and one blue sock."

     Collins chuckled. " It's up to you but it sounds like a great way to attract attention."

     Bey laughed harder. " Surely, you must be kidding. In Florida we will be two of the most inconspicuous."

     " It's a deal but like I told you before, you must have the wrong guy. I don't know anything about an exchange in New York City."

     Bey played along.  He was happy that Collins was not blurting out everything.  After all, if they were to use this man, he would have to be trusted somewhat.  According to Fahd, this man was a scientific genius.  Bey was happy they had thought of using him. He was going to be extremely useful.

     " Fine, Commander, I understand.  I will look forward to seeing you then.  By the way, my name is Prince, Samuel Prince."

     Collins hung up and was filled with anticipation.  He called Delta and canceled his flight and sat down to get his thoughts together.  If this guy was genuine, was he working for the man on the park bench....or was he with the people that the man sold the information to?  He was sorry now that he hadn't made duplicates of all of the information.  Then again, that would have been an impossibility. The  microfilming process had been long and tedious and had been done in places where speed of operation was at a premium. He had actually used government equipment and was always wary of someone looking over his shoulder.

     For the first time in days, Collins felt relaxed and happy.

          ************************************

     Dara opened her eyes and got her thoughts in order.  She felt as if she had been physically assaulted.  Her head ached and her brain was foggy.  She was reasonably certain the events in the early morning hours were real and not a dream.  She looked at her watch.  It was nine fifteen.  She really couldn't wait for Peter to call her.  At this point in time, she wasn't really quite sure they had made up.  It might have all been a dream.  The thought made her sick to her stomach.  She brushed her teeth and threw cold water on her face.  When she looked in the mirror and saw the puffy eyed creature before her, with hair askew and eye liner streaking her cheekbones, she couldn't believe what she was looking at.

     She sat down in a large, comfortable leather chair in the living room and dialed Peter's number.

     The moment he answered, she knew it wasn't a dream.

     " Oh my God, Dara, I've been sitting here wondering whether it was a good time to wake you.  Can you forgive me?  I was such a jerk.  I don't know what came over me."

     " Darling, don't be silly.  I deceived you. I wasn't honest with you from the beginning. I don't blame you for being angry. I'll never make you angry again.  I promise."

     Peter wanted to start anew desperately and not talk about Fahd or Dara's relationship with him ever again but he knew that there was much to be done to sever the relationship and so it had to be talked about many times.

     " We have to talk about getting you out of there.  I'm really worried about you.  When is he coming back?"             

     Her voice sounded small and frightened. " I don't know when he's coming back but wouldn't it be better to just stay here and take my things out little by little?"

     Peter had a dilemma.  He was infatuated with this girl but he couldn't believe that he was trying to talk her into moving in with him after knowing her just a few days but what else was he to do?

He didn't want her to be in danger and the thought of her ever again sleeping with the Egyptian was abhorrent to him.

     " That's all well and good but how do you keep him out of your bed?  Honey, I just couldn't tolerate that anymore."

     " I'll tell him that I've been to my gynecologist and that I have some woman's problem.  He'll buy it. Leave it to me."

     Peter was confused and somewhat irritated. " Look, I can't get my thoughts together on this right now.  I'll call you back later. Figure on staying with me tonight, though."

     After hanging up, Dara stepped into a hot shower. The hot water was soothing and felt somehow cleansing.  She was wiping herself down with a large bath towel when the phone rang.

     She picked it up happily, expecting to hear Peter's voice again.  Her blood ran cold when she heard the voice of Ibrahim

Fahd.

     "  Good morning my sweet flower," He said cheerily," I'm so glad to find you in. I'm calling from the Detroit Airport.  I'm making a flight in about an hour and Mustafa will pick me up. I need to see you in my office at about four o clock."

     After feigning happiness in  hearing his voice, she told him that she would be there.

     " Good, my love, afterward we will go out and have a sumptuous dinner and after that I have plans for you.  I want you to wear your garter belt and stockings and no panties. Okay?"

     She froze momentarily and stuttered. " I...I...can't...I mean I...I...I went to the doctor while you were gone and he says I have a vaginal infection and have to abstain from sex for several weeks"

     Fahd laughed.  " No matter, my love, your dentist and proctologist gave you a clean bill of health...yes?"

     She thought fast. " Ordinarily, you know I'd be happy to do any of those things but I really don't feel well.  The infection seems to have spread through my entire system."

     " Oh", he said, " That is a pity my darling but be at my office at four anyway.  Wear anything you want."

     She hoped he didn't hear her sigh of relief. " I'll look forward to seeing you", she said, and gently hung up the telephone.

     She dialed Peter immediately. She was almost hysterical as she related the conversation with Fahd.

     " Don't be frightened", he said," I'll be close by in the hall when you're in the office and after that, I'll follow you wherever

you go..........and don't worry, I can take care of myself. I have a black belt in Karate.....and by the way, see if you can nose around and find anything out about that briefcase transfer.  If this guy is really up to no good, we can have him put away and he'll be out of your life forever."

     Dara perked up. " Peter, what a great idea.  Let's make a real effort to get to the bottom of this.  I have a key to his office.  I'll get it to you when I see you.  There's no alarm. I know that already."

     " Okay.  My mind is working at warp speed.  Don't figure on staying with me tonight.  I've changed my mind.  First things first. I'm sure the guy is into drugs or espionage of some sort. I've already gone to the police and they laughed at me.  We'll have to do the detective bit ourselves.  My boss knows all about the exchange and wants to help.  The three of us ought to be able to do something."

     " Peter, I'll do all I can but you've got to know it will involve going to his apartment and you can't follow me inside."

     Peter felt confused.  He didn't want her alone with Fahd but he knew the only way out was to nail the bastard.

     " Just take care of yourself and stay out of his bed. Meanwhile, I'll be close by for most of the evening."

     After the call was ended, Dara thought carefully.  Had she ever seen any indication of wrong doing?  She thought of all the times she had been around during business transactions.  The episode at Bokaar's house in New Jersey came to her mind instantly.

The filthy swine didn't look like her idea of someone who would be buying or selling silk.  She thought back to the other business deals at which she was present.  There was perfunctory talk of silk and then she was always asked to leave the room or return to her home.  She had long suspected that Fahd had some other way of accumulating his great wealth but had to admit that as long as she was getting hers, she turned her head.  Now the whole thing was crashing down on her head and threatening to ruin her life.  Whenever she had a problem, she always sat down with a yellow legal size pad and formulated a plan.  She sat down at her desk and jotted down thoughts. 

l.  Where does he keep his most valued papers?

Answer:  In a safe in his bedroom closet. ( She had spotted it many times, while dressing at the full length mirror on the closet door.)

2.  Who else would know the real secrets of his comings and goings?

Answer: Mustafa. ( She knew better than to ask him but he might be a good one for Peter or Corning to follow.)

3.  Whom did he meet in Detroit?

Answer: The hotel guest register might tell but how to get it?

4.  Who was the other man in the picture?

Answer: Since they met in Central Park, he must live in New York. It would be propitious for them to keep their eyes peeled for his presence around Fahd.

5.  What else could they do?

Answer:  Since the visit to Bokaar's house occurred so close to

the exchange of the documents, it was reasonable to assume that Bokaar had something to do with it.

6.  What could be done immediately?

Answer: She would go to Fahd's office earlier than four o clock and if his secretary was off today, could nose around to her heart's content.  Fahd would not be at the office until four o clock, so she and Peter could be certain they would not be discovered.  She would even have time to have a key made for Peter.

     She called Peter and arranged to meet him in his office at eleven o clock.  She would first stop and have duplicate keys made for Peter and Corning.  They had agreed that she should wear no makeup and no flashy clothes, so that she could actually look sick to Fahd when he saw her.

     She dressed in a plain brown dress that she had always hated. It was not her best color and she felt shabby in it and often considered throwing it out.  She wore flat shoes and took no pains with her hair.  She wore panty hose that were the furthest from sheer she could find.  She always thought this pair resembled surgical stockings and wondered why she had ever purchased them. She stood in her steam shower and let the steam frizz her hair before dressing.  When she looked at herself in the mirror, she looked as plain and as wan as could be.  Her only regret was in meeting Peter's boss looking like this but Peter promised to explain.

     At ten thirty she was in a cab heading for the office

building where Peter and Fahd worked.  She did not notice the doorman leaning close as she told the cab driver her destination.

              ************************************

     Fahd sat in the airport lounge, waiting patiently for his flight to depart. He wrote down the numbers on a piece of paper and subtracted his expenses.  This would be one of his most profitable ventures.  He was ready to embark on his next scheme as soon as he returned.  Some middle eastern hashish dealers had asked him to find the most profitable channel for their product.

His mind was already working furiously putting together mutually interested parties.  First things first, though.  He had to consumate this deal and get the money before he was capable of efficiently performing  his next deal.  He hoped that he had not been wrong in giving the terrorists Collin's whereabouts. He was certain that Collins had no duplicates but there was a remote chance that he was lying.  If that were so, he would never hear from them again and they would deal directly with Collins.  He cleansed his mind of this unpleasant thought and formulated his next move.  When he received the information that the money was ready, he would send Mustafa and Dara to Bokaar's house in New Jersey.  He would hire a helicopter to hover in the vicinity of the house.  The terrorists would have no way of knowing that it was merely a helicopter rented for the day. They would think it was ready to blow them to bits if they reneged after receiving