Page 27 of High Treason
“Smooth. Strong. Less bitter. Balanced taste.”
He nodded. “Thank you for your time. Sleep well.”
Kord took his cue and escorted her to the stairway.
“You made a step forward,” he said. “Nothing can change his mind about women because it’s in his DNA. His asking if you were packing was a positive sign.”
“Interesting. He’s as hard to read as some CIA operatives.” She said good night without another word.
He rejoined the prince, who stared out over the pool.
“Water calms me,” the prince said. “When worries stalk my waking and sleeping hours, the sound of trickling water helps me think more clearly.” Prince Omar stood. “Kord, your assistant is a righteous woman. I believe she has a good heart.”
Kord nodded.
“Have a restful evening, my friend. Morning always brings light to problems.”
MONICA WOKE FOR THE THIRD TIMEsince she’d fallen asleep, a habit when in the middle of an assignment. She listened and heard nothing. Tossing off her blanket, she walked to the common area, where a dim lamp bathed the room in an amber glow. She retrieved a bottle of water from a small fridge masked as a cabinet and took a long drink. A bit of a scratchy throat bothered her, and the cool liquid felt good.
Beside the door rested a tote bag with her first name on it. Jeff’s handwriting. Surely the bodyguards hadn’t allowed him to leave this here? But no other women were in the house. She carried the bag into her room and pulled out a few clothing items that would help in her pursuit of acceptance—two pairs of dress slacks, one black and the other charcoal gray. Two long-sleeved blouses, one in cream and another in navy. All had Dillard’s tags. He’d stuck in additional cover items from a previous job. She laid the clothes aside.
Now to see what went on while the rest of the householdslept. She grabbed her binoculars and crept back to the common area. Snapping off the lamp, she tiptoed to a window facing the side grounds. The beauty soothed her soul. Majestic. Peaceful. Unfortunately looks could be deceiving.
Two men in Saudi dress talked near a rear fountain, but their backs hid their faces. She waited about five minutes until the men walked away in opposite directions. A side view of each man indicated one was Ali, who had lost a cousin and friend in Zain. The second was the press secretary, Malik al-Kazaz.
Loyal members of Prince Omar’s entourage deep in conversation in the dead of night. Or part of a conspiracy to kill him?
Monica woke at 6:00 a.m. As usual, questions fought for space in her mind, and she craved answers. None of the intel analyzed during the night had produced a solid clue.
Before rising, she praised God for His gift of life and asked for wisdom in all she attempted. Her prayer always settled on the same truth. She’d killed a man. Was her deed vengeance or duty? Guilt and shame were cruel partners.
Refusing to think about it any further, she walked to the bathroom for a shower.
Fatima and Yasmine had already prayed theFajr, the predawn first prayer of the day, and would soon be in the midst of the sunrise prayer. TheDhuhrwas the noon prayer, theAsrin late afternoon, theMaghribat sunset, and theIshain the evening. So glad she’d invested in learning about Wahhabism, so different from her own beliefs.
Glancing at the clothes, she questioned again who’d delivered them. Waking for every sound was part of her MO. She texted Jeff.
Were u inside the women’s quarters?
His response flew into her phone as though he’d been waiting for her.I gave them 2 Kord.
OK
She liked the idea of Kord slipping inside the women’s quarters even less. She texted him.
Thanx 4 taking the delivery from Jeff. How did u get inside?
Door unlocked. Problem?
No
Kord gloated over his ability not to wake her, and she refused to respond.
Get over your ruffled feelings, Monica.From now on she’d make sure her door was open at night.
Today began early. She must react efficiently and effectively. The prince’s schedule started at eight, when the consul general arrived for an hour-long meeting. She doubted her attendance would meet the prince’s approval, but Kord might hear the goings-on and relay the conversation. Perhaps the bodyguards would speak to her. Sounded good in theory.
After buttoning the blouse’s high neckline, she opened the door from her bedroom to the common area. She heard Arabic conversation, and then Fatima and Yasmine greeted her. Again they were dressed in runway attire.
