Out Of The Night (17 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Cairo

Abby removed her clothes and jumped into bed. Footsteps drew closer. Tony gritted his teeth, put his knee on the edge of the bed then straddled her.

She held her hands against his bare stomach. “What are you doing?”

“Improvising.” He grabbed the blanket, tossed it over his back, and stared down at her. A smile curved his lips. “Now, this is definitely familiar.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Tony put his finger to his lips. “Let this play out.” He draped the blanket over his head, so that from the door he wouldn’t be recognized.

Abby couldn’t take this. Her naked body next to his brought back familiar feelings. She wanted him desperately. Even though his hips held her in place, he sat right on her crotch.

A bang sounded and the door flew open.

In Arabic, Tony shouted
, “Do you mind? We’re busy here.”

“Who are you?”
a voice with a deep Russian accent asked. “Stand up before I shoot you.”

“We are trying to enjoy our afternoon here. Go away.”
Tony pumped up and down, panting.

“Let’s go. The man in the blast was hurt too badly
. He won’t be fucking anytime soon. This is the wrong room.”

Another voice in Russian, “Maybe the bitch lied to us.”

Footsteps retreated and Abby nearly fainted.

Tony slumped down on her with his full body weight. “Did they leave?”

“Yes, but the door is wide open.”

“Leave it, let me just lie here for a minute.”

“Your head must be killing you.”

“Actually, I hurt everywhere. Who stitched me up?”

“The local man who offered to help us.”

“He knows we’re here?”

“Yes.”

Tony snuggled his face in between her neck and shoulder. She couldn’t afford for him to fall asleep. “Tony
, how can I get help?”

He rattled off a number
, and Abby repeated it mentally until it became tattooed on her brain. When Tony passed out, Abby crawled from beneath him.

She dove for her clothes then ran to close the door. As quick as possible, she dressed
and checked out the window to see the Russian men had returned to the bomb area. Then she slipped out of the room.

She went to the desk and asked to use the phone. While the clerk eyed her suspiciously, she continued to keep her eyes downcast.

After a few seconds, he lifted the phone from the desk to the counter. That meant she’d be making the call in front of the clerk. She suspected if he knew she was an American, he’d run to get the Russians.

Quickly
, she dialed the number and Frank answered. Abby prayed he understood Arabic. “Hello, my brother. How are you and your family?”

Frank replied fine
, which told her he understood. She continued, “No, we are fine, but my husband and I are staying at a hotel in Cairo.”

She asked the clerk,
“What is the address?”

When he
replied, she thanked him.

After
relaying the information to Frank, she asked, “Can you meet us here?”

“Are you in danger?”

“Oh, very much so.”

“Are you or Tony hurt?”

“Yes, my husband looks forward to seeing you.”

“Tony hurt?”

“Yes, yes, that is correct.”

“Get back to your room, lock the door. Help is on the way.”

“Very quickly, please.”

She hung up and thanked the clerk before returning to the room where Tony lay sprawled naked on the bed. She covered him then went back to the window.

The Russians paced tenaciously and continued to scan the area hoping to find them. She’d done all she could to keep them safe. Now she hoped Frank could get to them before the Russians decided to give their room another look.

Washington, DC

Bea took her cell phone out of her purse, clicked on the record button
, and set it on the table next to her folded napkin.

Karla walked toward her smiling.
“Thanks for meeting me for lunch, Bea. We so seldom get to do this.”

Bea matched her smile. “I was a little surprised by the invitation since we’ve never been lunch buddies before.”

“Well, we need to change that.”

“That would be nice. I like to get out of the office in the middle of the day. The building gets so stuffy.”

“I agree.” Karla picked up her menu then looked at Bea’s phone.

“
My neighbor is checking on my dog. She hasn’t been feeling well. I can’t hear the phone ring in my purse.”

“Oh, I’m glad you have a companion.”

“She’s a rescue dog. Been with me two years now.”

Since they didn’t have a lot of time, the waitress took their food and drink order.

“So, have you talked to Zoe?”

“Zoe at Falcon?”

Karla stirred her iced tea and nodded.

“I speak to her several times a day.”

“I was curious about Tony.” Karla grinned and batted her eyelashes. “I have a big crush on the guy.”

Bea practically had to bite her own tongue off to keep from calling her a liar. She knew
Karla and Nick Parker were in on something involving Tony and Joe Mitchell. Now she just had to get Karla to fess up.

Bea faked a laugh. “Oh my, are you ever barking up the wrong tree. I pity the woman who lusts after Archuletta. She’s in for a big heartbreak.”

Karla didn’t see the humor in that. No doubt she thought herself a pretty good catch. Well, not this time.

“Oh well, a girl can dream, I guess.”

Bea smiled. “Karla, I’ve always wanted to ask you. Where do you get your hair done?” She fluffed her graying locks. “I’d love a new look. Something younger and more professional.”

“I go to Style in Motion near Georgetown.”

“Which hairdresser do you use?”

“Ah, Carman.”

“You don’t have a card, do you?”

“No, no, I don’t, but I have the number back at work.”

“I’ll check with you this afternoon.”

The waitress put their plates down in front of them and asked if they needed anything else. Since they didn’t, they both ate their salads.

“So, has Zoe said where Tony is?”

“Oh, we’re back to Tony.” Bea cocked her head. “Why do you want to know so much about him?”

“I told you I had a crush on him.”

“Well
, his whereabouts are top secret. I’m not saying a word.”

Karla chuckled and leaned back in her chair. “Surely you know you can trust me, Bea. I have a top security clearance.”

Bea picked a crouton out of her salad and munched on it. This had to work, and that meant she had to be a better actor. She wrinkled her brow. “Well, I guess you’re right.” She leaned across the table. “Zoe told me he’s held up in Damascus with a man named Hal Miller. He’s an American contractor and on very good terms with the Syrian government. Tony’s safe.”

Karla blotted her lips and let out a sigh. “Thank God, he’s still alive.”

“Oh, he’s alive and well.” Bea lowered her voice. “Don’t repeat that. I’m one of the few people Zoe confides in.”

“I’d never betray you.” Karla smiled. “I just want
ed to know Tony is safe.”

“He’s fine the last Zoe heard. He’s due back stateside in a couple of days.”

“Good.”

Bea put her phone in her purse. “Shall we get back to work?”

“Yes, and Bea, it’s been a delightful lunch. I’m glad we had this little chat.”

Bea reached in her purse, found her phone
, and stopped the recorder. “So am I.”

Cairo

Abby had nearly fallen asleep in the chair when a quiet knock sounded at the door. She picked up the gun and pointed it at the door. Silently
, she walked closer. “Who is it?”

“It’s Arman, open the door.”

Relief washed over her like a busted dam. They were safe now. A Falcon agent would find a secure place and maybe they’d get out of here.

She opened the door and Arman introduced himself and entered with his long, confident stride. He went directly to the bed and checked Tony. “He needs to be in a hospital.”

“I agree, but I’m lost. I don’t know where to go.”

“A.J. will be here soon. Together
, we can get him to safety and medical treatment.” He looked at her. “Are you okay?”

Her hands trembled as
she clutched the front of her shirt. “Nervous as hell.”

“I can imagine. It’s been a very rough road you’ve traveled lately.”

“I’d say.” She pointed to the window. “There are three Russians down near the bomb site looking for us. They came to the room, but Tony convinced them we were just a couple in the hotel having sex.”

Arman went to the window to confirm her story, she guessed. Maybe he would recognize them. Whatever he did, he had to get them out of this hotel and Tony to a medical facility.

A tap sounded and A.J. entered the room. He locked it behind him and joined Arman at the window. “I saw those goons on the way in. They’re sure looking for someone.”

Arman pointed to the unconscious Tony. “From what I can see
, he needs a doctor. Preferably a good hospital.”

“It’s going to be hard to get him past those guys.”

Abby didn’t know what to do. “While I was out of the room to call Frank, I checked and didn’t see a back exit.”

Arman shook his head. “I had to come through the front of the building.”

“We need a plan.”

They looked at her
, and Abby held up her hands. “I can’t be of much help.”

“What did you say on the phone?”

“I called Frank and told him I was at the hotel with my husband and for him to come and get us.”

A.J. shrugged. “We can work with that.”

“Since there is only one way out, we have to make it work.”

“How?”

“We’ll get Tony dressed. You keep your hair covered, and we’ll walk right out the front door.”

“But the Russians
?” Abby asked.

“They will see an Arabic man and his wife with her two brothers, who picked them up from the hotel.”

Arman dressed Tony in the same clothes he’d had on when the bomb exploded. She put the sandals on his feet and prayed they’d get away from the hotel without the Russians catching them.

“Where will we go?”

“There is a small military base close by. He can get checked there.”

Tony mumbled when Arman sat him up in the bed. “Tony.” A.J. slapped him gently on the cheek. “Wake up. We have to get out of here.”

Tony hung his head and mumbled.

“I need you alert and walking, man.”

“Abby?”

Arman looked at her. “She’s fine. And we need to get her out of danger.”

Tony struggled to stand, and with the help of his fellow agents on each side, he managed to straighten. He looked horrible even with the prayer cap hiding the gash on his head.

She walked over and took Tony’s hand. “We’re going to get you medical help, okay?”

He nodded.

“We just have to walk outside.”

“The car is near the exit”

Arman ran and opened the door then rushed to the counter to pay the bill. When she and A.J. managed to get Tony to the
hall, he staggered and almost fell.

With Arman’s help
, they left the hotel and moved swiftly to the car. Arman, A.J. and Abby placed Tony on the seat. She scooted in beside him.

Arman slid behind the wheel while A.J. rode shotgun. Abby looked out the back window and saw they had caught the interest of the Russians. A.J. bent down and
looked in the side mirror.

Arman turned off the car, stepped out
, and jammed a gun in his waistband. The two Falcon agents met at the rear of the car and moved fearlessly toward the three men determined to kill Tony.

She bit her lip and clutched Tony’s hand to keep from shaking. Tears stung the back of her eyes. Their lives hung on the heroism of A.J. and Arman. They knew the Russians had to be eliminated
, so they could get her and Tony to safety.

The Russians noticed the two tall men walking toward them unflinchingly. The Falcon agents walked at a clipped pace,
before standing with only the Russian’s vehicle separating them.

Then everything happened so swiftly, Abby wasn’t sure exactly what went down. She heard shots but never saw the Falcon agents draw. People shouted and ran as the three foreigners crumbled to the ground.