"Welcome aboard, Miss Lynn," Kathryn greeted me.
"Hi, Kathryn. Do you know where I'm going?"
"Dallas, if the pilot can find it."
"Master Lynn. Welcome aboard," a middle-aged man said and nodded from the first seat facing the entrance. He had wavy black hair and a straight nose on a long face. "I'm Mithra."
I had seen that name before, but where? Then it dawned on me. He was listed on the
Assassin Killers
board in the temple-five kills.
"Master Mithra," I acknowledged. "Are we going to the same party?"
"Yes. Come sit and I'll tell you about the idiot we are going to guard."
"He must be important to have two master Kazaks guarding him."
"His name is Lauro. He was second in command to the Fabiano Family. In turn for a free get out of jail card, he's detailed their activities for the past ten years. We're supposed to keep him alive until the Fabianos' trial, which is forty-five days from now. The family thought he had been killed two years ago. They've just found out he's not only alive but singing. It's open season on him."
"Now I see why we're here. Assassins will certainly be involved."
"Undoubtedly. He's currently in the custody of the FBI at some undisclosed location. We'll be briefed when we arrive in Dallas. I heard the Bureau has already protested your involvement on this assignment. It seems they lodged several complaints against you on the last assignment you had involving them. I read them on your legendary board. They obviously didn't like you breaking Antonis's wrist, endangering Gerstel's life by encouraging him to visit his home in Connecticut, and getting in their way when he was attacked by a Runner."
"If I had waited for them, they wouldn't have known he was dead until they read it in the morning newspaper."
He grinned and changed the subject. "Now that the family knows he's alive, how long do you give him to live?" Mithra asked.
"Seven or eight days. The real question is whether it'll be over or around us." The Assassin could choose to challenge us directly or try a more indirect approach.
"I suspect you plan to use
Lynn's Rules
, which means through us. I found them very interesting. Even more interesting is Witton's support and your success. Many of the complaints against you are usually followed by a letter of appreciation. I read the commendation from Gerstel."
"People don't like being followed into the restroom," I said, remembering some of the incidents.
Mithra laughed long and hard. "Especially by a woman. Alright, do you have any ideas or preferences on how we share this assignment? Twelve on and twelve off? Eight on and eight off with an overlapping eight hours? Or we could find out when he showers and I'll take that shift." He seemed amused. I sat back and closed my eyes. This client, like all the others, had to cooperate; otherwise, we risked his life and ours. That was the reason for my rules. Mithra probably thought I was being rude, cutting the conversation short. I didn't mean to be, but sitting in a house waiting for the inevitable attack didn't appear to be a reasonable solution. I opened my eyes to find him frowning at me.
"Sorry, Mithra. What if we parade him in front of everyone?"
"Let him get killed and we can go home?"
"The family undoubtedly has contacts in the FBI and the safe house won't be a safe place for long. We will be sitting ducks. If I pretend to be a dignitary, visiting America and wanting to see some of its attractions, we could pass Lauro off as one of my security guards. You know as well as I do that no one ever looks at servants or security guards. Their attention is on the main attraction." I shrugged.
Now Mithra closed his eyes for several minutes. I knew he was working through my proposed scenario. "Won't someone recognize your face? If they do, it will soon be leaked to the family and then to the Assassins."
"I'll be from Iraq, a key figure supporting democracy and women's rights. For religious and security reasons, I'll choose to wear the
niqab
, although I fight for a woman's right to choose."
He stared at me, while the stewardess brought us the snack and coffee we had requested earlier.
"A very foxy idea, Lynn. It sounds like fun. Let's do it."
***
We spent the rest of our flight working on the details. First, we needed to limit the plan to the people that would be part of the security team and as few of their superiors as possible. Therefore, Witton would have to make most of the arrangements. After an hour on the phone with Witton, we had sketched out the basic plan.
I would fly in and be met by the security team. We would down play my visit but inform the officials in each state that I would be visiting. They would come out for political reasons, the pretext of supporting my efforts in Iraq. We would tour the U.S. but with the intention of going to Washington, D.C., to meet with various congressional representatives and senators. Our planned arrival would coincide with the Fabiano trial's scheduled start date, ensuring Lauro would be available to testify. We were an hour late disembarking from the plane, which didn't endear us to the FBI agent waiting our arrival. I expected that would get me another complaint for my board.
Telling the security people that Witton had called me back to Richmond, I caught a flight to France. I was beginning to feel like the Flying Dutchman. Although I had first-class seating, it felt like third class after all my recent experience in private planes. Witton and Gendel had spoiled me. I found myself tired and slept most of the way. When I disembarked the plane at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I was surprised to find Witton waiting.
"Welcome to Paris. I have a room where you can change, and we can discuss the arrangements that I've made and any concerns or suggestions you may have." I followed Witton to the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel, where he retrieved a room key. It turned out to be a suite. It was elegant, modern, and equipped with the latest technologies. Witton sat and waved me to a chair.
"I knew when the Committee insisted I take this assignment that the Kazak assigned to protect Lauro couldn't keep him alive under the existing conditions. Although the FBI had him sequestered in a safe house, the
family
would know its location within the week. They would hire one or more Assassins, and it would be like hunting game in a zoo. I had hoped to counterbalance the threat by assigning two master Kazaks, people who knew how to fight Assassins. Even so, the Assassins would still have an overwhelming advantage. I didn't know what else to do."
I agreed. They could just blow up the house, building, or other facility he was being stashed in. Or set it on fire and shoot us as we came out. Poison the food we would have to order from some place
...
It would save time and effort just to hand Lauro over to them.
"Since you speak Arabic, your plan to play the part of an ambassador for Muslim women and hide Lauro as a security guard may work. If it does, it could avoid a confrontation altogether. If not, it'll somewhat negate the advantage the Assassins would otherwise have if you were stationary. It also makes me feel less guilty."
He closed his eyes for a moment. I knew the Committee paid our bills and were the reason for our diplomat-like status. Consequently, Witton had no choice but to accept the assignment and do his best to minimize the risk. "I've only managed to find three outfits on such short notice. I'll have more made and delivered to you within the week. There are also new harnesses for your weapons. At my request, the Committee has arranged for Ann Woehl to be the security team leader. Her bosses only know that she was selected by
someone
to escort a foreign guest on a tour of the States. She has selected four men, but will not brief them until Mithra shows up with Lauro. That will be the day you arrive. Two days from now. Mithra will inform the FBI men guarding Lauro now that he has been ordered to move him to another location. I think we have reduced the potential for a leak to the minimum possible."
"What arrangements have been made for my return?" I asked. My plan had gotten out of control. The concept had seemed simple when I proposed it. The implementation was extraordinarily complex.
"I'm leaving in a couple of hours, back to Richmond. You are leaving on a private Gulfstream tomorrow night. The crew members are our people, although the plane isn't. It will land in Richmond to pick up Ann and her team, Mithra, and Lauro. From there you will fly to your first stop on the agenda-Orlando, Florida. You want to see Disney World." He smiled.
Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing Disney World. One of the many things I'd missed while growing up and becoming a Kazak. He handed me an itinerary. "Ann Marie will be accompanying you and making all the necessary arrangements as you travel. She deserves to get out of the office and this will be a luxury USA tour. It'll be a trip of a lifetime, worth over a hundred thousand dollars. She's worth every penny of it, so treat her nicely and return her to me in good condition. I'll make all the necessary diplomatic arrangements and coordinate with her. She'll be listed as your private secretary."
Witton ordered in room service, and we sat around reminiscing about various events in our lives. It was the first time I got a good look at the man, not just my boss.
***
Late the next evening, I entered the plane and was greeted by Kathryn, who I was beginning to consider an old friend.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Layyah
...
al-Najjar," she said, although I wasn't wearing my new Arabic clothing. She gave me a small bow. "What may I get for you?"
"I hope this will be a vacation for you, in between flights, Kathryn."
"Yes, Miss Layyah. The pilots and I are looking forward to it. Would you like your usual coffee or something else?"
"Coffee." I sat back and reviewed my itinerary for the third or fourth time. Witton was right. This trip would be worth over a hundred thousand. Unfortunately, our eyes would be on other things, and hopefully our security team's eyes too. I hoped our month's tour would be easy but suspected it wouldn't. I did seem to attract trouble.
***
When I departed the plane at Richmond, Ann and two men I didn't recognize were there to meet me.
"Welcome, Layyah Al-Najjar," Ann said in good Arabic with a small bow of her head. She switched to English. "I'm Ann Woehl, the head of your security team. Welcome to America."
"Peace be upon you and God's blessings," I replied in Arabic. I extended my hand and switched to English. "I am pleased to meet you and to have the opportunity to visit your great country." I was pleased it was Ann. She was a good team leader and an easy person to work with.
"It's good you've changed your name. Your other name is on the FBI's black list. I suspect it'll be interesting working with you again."
"Hopefully it will be boring. If not, maybe we can get you another promotion."
"I'd prefer boring. We'll rest here tonight. The pilots are required eight hours' rest before they can legally fly again. You have reservations at the Hyatt, only a few miles from here. Tomorrow we'll leave for Orlando."
***
Ann Marie had booked four rooms. Mithra would share a room with Lauro. Ann, Ann Marie, and I would be in one. The other four would share the two remaining rooms. A suite had been reserved for me in order to maintain my new status. When we arrived, we all crowded into my suite.
"First, my name. You should all call me Miss Layyah, since I'm not officially a visiting dignitary. I'm more like an informal ambassador, so we can drop the formalities without causing any suspicion. I'll probably be repeating things you already know, but it won't hurt to hear it again. Consider this as an opportunity to clear up any questions you might have." I paused to look aground the room. Mithra, Lauro, and the other four were dressed in dark suits, white shirts, and similar ties. If you didn't look closely, they looked like clones. Just the image I wanted-civilian employees to be ignored. Ann was also in a gray suit with slacks and a white blouse open at the neck. "The security team should be concentrating on protecting me at all times-"
The tallest man in the group interrupted. I had to look hard at his face to attach a name to him, since they were all clean-shaven with brown hair and standard haircuts. Only their facial features varied.
"Robert," he said with a grin. "I thought we're supposed to be protecting Lauro, not you. After all, I suspect you can protect yourself."
"Me too," Lauro added.
"First, let's begin calling Lauro Larry. He is just one of the security team. If you're not focused on me, it's going to look suspicious and someone is going to start wondering why. Mithra, who we'll call Ian, will be guarding Lauro. We'll turn our attention on
...
Larry, only if the attack is focused on him. We are trying to put the total focus on me, so that the security team, and therefore Larry, is ignored. Ann can keep an eye on Larry; since she's the team supervisor it won't seem unusual. Ian will be responsible for watching Larry." I pointed to each of the other three in turn to give me their names.
"Sammie."
"Frank."
"Gordon."
"Thank you. At least in public, I will pretty much ignore you, as you would expect any dignitary to do. You can expect most of my questions and requests to be directed to Ann. The majority of the time, I expect two men and Ann with me. That will give you some time to enjoy the sights, because when you are on duty your total attention will be on me."
"What about me?" Ann grinned.
"Supervisors are paid the big bucks, so they aren't entitled to time off. Larry and Ian will also do very little if any sightseeing."
"Isn't it possible that someone will recognize Lauro, Mithra, or you?" Gordon asked.
"The idea is that people don't pay attention to the help, which would include the security men guarding someone. As for me, I'll be wearing a
hijab
or scarf with a
niqab
or face veil when in public-to protect me from the state security in the country I come from." I grinned. "I'll make sure that I only uncover my face when there are no cameras. You'll have to help ensure it's safe before I do. My excuse will be that I don't want to be identified and risk danger to my family and friends. And, although I fight for a woman's right to choose, I choose to wear the
hijab
for my own personal reasons."