Fortunes Obsession (5 page)

      Peter knew a small french restaurant on forty fourth street that he liked very much and suggested they have dinner there.

     The conversation over dinner was animated and exuberant.

Peter told Dara of his upbringing in a family of means in Westchester county and of his athletic prowess in school. He was a serious young man who yearned for success on his own, rather than taking advantage of the family brokerage business, opting for architecture and shunning varsity athletics in college, in order to excel scholastically.  While at Stanford University, all of the varsity athletic coaches at one time or another, knowing of his reputation as an all around top athlete in New York, tried to recruit him.  Peter, however, was determined to be a success in the business world and would not let the playing of games interfere with his ambition. Upon graduation from architectural school, he was fortunate to be Lance Corning's choice for an open slot in the firm.  That was twelve years ago and he had been there ever since, working his way up the ladder.

     Dara told of her upbringing in a blue collar family and how she too strived for success.  Although she was the most popular girl in school and had an extensive social life, she was an excellent student and went to Penn State on a partial scholarship.  Her father worked hard to pay the rest of her tuition, while she held down a part time job all through college.  She told the truth up until her relationship with Fahd.  What she didn't tell Peter, was that she quit a very fine job to become a full time mistress.  Fahd refused to allow her to work out of both jealousy and the desire to have her at his beck and call twenty four hours a day.  At that point, she colored the story with the lie that she was with

Fahd's silk company because of her great reputation in the business world.  Her intelligence and articulation was such that Peter doubted none of her story.  It would have been impossible to guess that this woman was really a high priced whore.

     Dara couldn't imagine what was coming over her.  She had long ago rationalized her situation and felt no guilt or shame.

All of a sudden she felt dirty and low and wished none of it had ever happened.  She knew that even though she had only known Peter a few hours, something good was brewing and that it was in danger of collapsing at the first slip of her tongue or if Peter found out, as he certainly was bound to.

     Fahd always bought the finest seats in the house and they had an excellent vantage point from which to see the show.  They sat there, holding hands and felt a oneness that was inexplicable. Each love song seemed to be for them and they felt warm and cozy in each other's company.  Dara found herself thinking evil thoughts. She wished Fahd's plane would crash and he would be out of her life forever.  Peter knew that finally, after a long hiatus, there was a woman in his life.  His life had changed in a matter of a few hours.

     This love phenomenon that was occurring between them was a healing feeling.....emotionally, physically and mentally. Neither had realized their need to love someone.  This greatest of human emotions, which had come so mysteriously and suddenly to them was filling this great emotional need and changing forever, the two people it had touched.

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

     Fahd arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport at nine o clock.

He was nervous and tired and did not feel like meeting with the triumvirate that had summoned him.  These were men that could drain you both mentally and physically.  This was business, however, so it would be propitious to check in with  Bey, Mahdi and Bokaar.

     He first checked into his room and took a hot shower. After changing to a white silk shirt and black pleated trousers, he dialed their suite.

     Bey answered.  " Welcome my friend, we are looking forward to meeting you again.  It has been a long time.  Please come up as soon as you can."

     Fahd  walked slowly down the hall to the suite.  He wished he was carrying a gun.  These men were dangerous.  He was glad he hadn't brought the documents themselves.  They would surely kill him once they had them. He knew that after he made a deal with them, his security arrangements must increase measurably.  The moment the documents were in their hands, he was in mortal danger.

     The door was ajar and he walked in, closing it behind him.

The three men sat at a table. There was fresh fruit, coffee and several different bottles of various soft and hard beverages.

     The three men got up and greeted him like a long lost friend.

They each embraced and kissed him in the fashion of their region.

     He could see that Bokaar was drunk, a condition which rendered him extremely dangerous. Fahd made sure that he sat as far from Ali as possible.  After the amenities they sat at the table and studied

Fahd's bill of material.  It seemed that he had possession of complete blueprints, transferred to microfilm, of the entire Cape Canaveral complex, including the most intricate plans and specifications for launching pad hardware, rocketry and tracking mechanisms for space exploration.  There were also samples for the purpose of forgeries of all security papers and badges.  In addition there was a color video tape showing uniforms for security and NASA personnel and film of key personnel along with names and office locations.  It was a complete package, which competent professional terrorists could use for their nefarious work.

     Each man in turn, studied the list and asked pertinent questions.

     Bey looked at Fahd quizzically, " This naval officer.  Is he to be physically a part of this operation?"

     Fahd carefully phrased his answer. " I told him he would not be.  I was afraid he would compromise your operation.  It seems he is a drunk who talks a lot."

     Bokaar looked furious. " And you have not had him eliminated? This is unprofessional my friend....it will not do."

     The two others nodded angrily , " There is still time", said Bey, " After all, nothing has been formulated yet. If we make the contract, we will take care of him.  Do not worry about it. If we close the deal, you will include his name and where we can find him."

     " Of course", Fahd said, " You have had dealings with me before and you know there is nothing I would not do to put a deal

together. Nothing and no one is sacred. The deal comes first."

     Bokaar leered. " Good, we will talk about your woman later."

     " Shut up Ali", Bey raged, " I warned you about this. One more word on the subject and you will not sit in on these negotiations. Is that understood.?"

     Bokaar cowed and took on a sulking countenance and at that moment Fahd knew that Bey was the top man in the group.  In the end, the only one that really counted.  The other two were thugs and Bey's henchmen.

     " Very well then, we will digest the material, make some calls and meet with you tomorrow evening for dinner. It will be served in this suite at eight o clock." Bey stood up and gave Fahd a look of dismissal.  Fahd bowed slightly from the waist and left the room, annoyed that he had to wait around for all of the next day, even though he knew that it was one of their favorite tactics, dragging  out a negotiation until the anxious seller weakened.  He looked at his watch.  It was too early for Dara to be home from the theater. He would call her at eleven thirty or so.

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

     Peter and Dara sat in the back seat of the cab, kissing hungrily like two teenagers on a date.  When they reached her apartment, she asked him up for a nightcap.  He happily accepted and she was happy when she saw a strange relief doorman who did not yet know Mustafa and would not report to him.  On the other hand, it didn't matter.  She was in a screw you, Ibrahim Fahd, mood and couldn't care less who saw her.  She knew she had to get Fahd out

of her life as soon as possible.  It was how to do it that bothered her.

     They sat on the couch, sipping cognac.  The music on the stereo was perfect.  Peter vowed that he would not have sex with Dara tonight.  He didn't want to rush things .  He knew that this would be a long and loving relationship and he wanted to move slowly.

     Dara wanted him desperately. The thought of having sex with a man she really wanted was one she hadn't felt in a long time. The aphrodisiac of performing for money and material goods was replaced with that of wanting someone as much as her need to breathe. She also, however, had decided they wouldn't have sex tonight.  She didn't want him to think she was fast and easy and she too, knew this would last a long time.

     At eleven thirty the phone rang. Dara's first impulse was not to answer it but she knew who it was and she didn't want Peter to hear Fahd's message on the speaker of her answering machine.

     Instead of picking up the phone which was close to the couch they sat on, she ran to the bedroom phone.  Peter sat there, sipping his drink, thinking nothing strange.

    " Hello", she said warily and his voice, as expected came through the receiver.

     " Hello, my precious, I miss you.  I'm thinking right now of running my hands, coated with oil, all over your naked body."

     She answered tentatively. " That would be very nice".

     " That would be very nice? That's it? Tell me what you want to

do to me.  Tell me how you want to suck me and sit on it and ride me.  I am holding it in my hand now and I want you tell me these things."

     She was both revolted and frightened by him.  In the lowest of voices she recited the litany he wanted to hear.

      " Why are you speaking so low? Is someone there with you? If you have someone else, I will find out.  Do you understand that? If you have someone else I will kill you both."

     She started to cry.  She was frightened and filled with despair. There's no one darling, I just got my period tonight and I'm feeling lousy.  That's all it is, honestly."

     " Well, why didn't you say so.  I'm glad I'm away at this time then.  How was the theater?

      " The show was great. My friend Emily loved it too and thanks you for the ticket."

     " No problem, feel better, goodnight."

     She hung up and walked back into the living room, trembling.

     " What's the matter", Peter said, " What happened?"

     " Oh, it was my mother. She's mad at me because I haven't called her in a while. She gets upset and upsets me."

     " I guess we all have that problem", he said, " Look, I've got to get in early tomorrow to do some important work. I want to see you again as soon as possible."

     She put her arms around him and lay her head on his shoulder.

" I have the day off tomorrow. My boss is out of town.  Can you get over here about one o clock? I'll fix us a nice lunch."

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

     Peter awoke at six o clock and the first thought in his mind was Dara.  It's funny, he thought. When it hits you, you know it immediately.  He remembered all of the women he had met recently and how cold they left him.  This girl though.........how sweet, how pretty, how intelligent.  He was smitten beyond his imagination and his happiness exuded from every pore.  He wanted to call her but was afraid of waking her on her day off.  The automatic coffee maker had activated at five thirty and he could smell the fresh brew.  After a hot shower, in which he was conscious of his own body, knowing that soon he would be naked with her,he ran his hands over his waist and was grateful that he had continued to jog and exercise.  There was not an ounce of fat on his body and his muscle tone was good.  He stayed in the hot shower for a long time, luxuriating in it's flow and thinking of nothing but her.  For the first time in weeks, he did not think of the exchange in Central Park.  There was a new obsession in his life now.  He was looking forward to lunch with great anticipation.  His lunch hours were ordinarily spent at an athletic club.  He would either swim or jog on the indoor track and work out on the various types of equipment available.  After this, he would eat a fat free granola bar and a glass of fruit juice.  Today, he would happily divert from his regimen.  He would eat or drink whatever she put out for him.  Peter was a strong minded individual but at this point in time, he would gladly be her slave.  He had all the symptoms.  When he listened to music, he searched out the love songs and listened to the words intently.  On his way to work, he walked the streets of Manhattan, singing out loud.  Other pedestrians gave him a wide berth, even in a town where crazy people seemed to be the norm.

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

     Fahd was restless.  He had a whole day to kill in Detroit and didn't know what to do with himself.  He lay in bed, thinking of last night's conversation with Dara.  He had accepted the story that she was having her period unequivocally last night, when he had spoken to her but was having his doubts now.  He tried to remember the last time she had her period.  It seemed to him that it was a very short time ago.  He lay there steaming.  There was something wrong with her story last night.  He had never heard of a girl friend called Emily but then again, she never spoke of her friends since he came along two years ago.  He tried to calm himself down, blaming his agitation on the pressure of dealing with these cutthroats.  He got out of bed and paced the room, momentarily contemplating calling Dara.  He decided not to.  He had to keep his head clear and playing the jealous lover would only clutter up his thought process.  Instead, he bathed, dressed and departed for the hotel restaurant for breakfast.  He left a few traps, such as hairs in drawer openings and flecks of dust in propitious places to show him if his room had been searched.  He purposely left his attache case in the room.  There was at this time, nothing in it but the duplicate of what he had already given the terrorists. On page nine of the dossier, however, he had placed a minuscule grain of salt from a pretzel packet given him on the plane.