He might believe what he said, but Patti had a sinking feeling those words weren’t true. Someone in his organization had gone behind his back.
“Have you forgotten? The Children’s Fund Benefit is today.” He looked at his watch. “And you are not ready.”
“The Children’s Fund Benefit is today?” She stammered out the words. For all she knew, Jamie could be in charge of the event. “I’d forgotten all about it. What time is it?”
“It’s at noon.” He gave her an odd look.
“
You need to get ready.”
“I know. I know. Couldn’t we skip it?” she asked, hoping to buy time.
He gave her a look of disdain.
“I’m sorry, of course, we can’t miss it. I’m exhausted from the trip. I’m not thinking clearly. I still feel drained. Just give me time to take a shower and get dressed.”
He still looked confused but he nodded, apparently satisfied with her answer. “I can make myself comfortable. I have calls to make, anyway.”
She had to find a way to get him out of the apartment, so she could escape. Going into Jamie mode, Patti smiled coquettishly at him. “A woman needs private time to make herself beautiful for her man.”
It was obvious her words pleased him.
His body language relaxed and he smiled at her. He pointed at his watch. “You do not have much time, but I will give you one hour.”
“Fine,” she managed to choke out. She would leave as soon as he left.
“I have a surprise for you. Rahmed will be at the benefit. You will finally meet him today.” He touched her cheek and gave her a soft kiss before hitting the elevator button.
Patti stared at the closed elevator doors.
The man’s words echoed.
Rahmed would be at this benefit. If she went, she would be able to meet Rahmed and learn his true identity.
Jamie had risked her life to meet this man.
If Patti had the courage, she could help Jamie before it was too late.
The only rational thing to do was to get on that elevator and leave, and then call Carter.
He was the professional.
The FBI could question the guests and discover who Rahmed was and then they could make him tell where Jamie was being held.
But maybe not.
They hadn’t been able to discover who this monster was, even with Jamie being so involved in the situation.
Jamie’s lover had freely used Rahmed’s name several times as they talked.
Patti moved the puzzle pieces around and could only come up with one conclusion.
Whoever this Rahmed was, he had hidden his real identity so well they couldn’t find him.
Patti expelled the breath she’d been holding. Patti could finish the job for Jamie.
She would call Carter and tell him where she was and what was going on. He would help.
She grabbed her cell phone and flipped it open. The message icon flashed, but it was a number she didn’t recognize. No time now to listen. Instead, she scrolled through calls until she found Carter’s number. It was the same as the message number.
Carter had called her.
She heard the elevator moving. Who was it this time? Her purse was still in her hand. She slipped the phone in it, ignoring her racing heart.
The elevator thudded to a stop and her sister’s lover walked out once again.
Her heart sank.
“You’re back.” She made the effort to sound welcoming. “I was afraid you were angry with me.”
“I did not want to leave you alone when you are upset. You do not seem yourself today.”
If he only knew.
She nodded, too terrified to move or speak.
“You haven’t started getting ready yet,
ma cher
. The party starts soon. Today we cannot afford to be late.”
“I don’t know what to wear.”
His eyes became guarded. “I thought that was what you bought the new outfit for. You look terrific in it.”
She wasn’t good at this spy stuff at all. In spite of her insides shaking worse than a senior waiting to hear if he passed his final exam, Patti gave him a bright sunny smile. “I know. I was having second thoughts about the dress, but you’re right, it is the perfect thing to wear. I better go get ready. Make yourself comfortable, I’ll try to hurry.”
She turned and walked through the kitchen and back to Jamie’s room, still clutching her purse. As she walked down the hall, she passed a door she hadn’t checked the previous night.
It was locked, but when she twisted the lock popped up. She opened the door, hoping the man in the living room wouldn’t hear.
More doors. One was marked stairs.
Her muscles relaxed as she read the words. It was her way out. All she had to do was close the door behind her and leave. She could be far from this building before Jamie’s lover knew she’d even left.
Patti stood between the two doors staring back and forth.
One door led to freedom and her safety.
The other door led back to a terrorist.
26
Carter unbuckled his seatbelt and stood. He needed to convince someone to let him off the plane. His cell phone wasn’t working and he had to get to a land line. Every minute he was stuck here became more dangerous for Patti.
He walked down the aisle to an attendant. He spoke in a calm tone. “I know you’re really busy and things are hectic, but can I talk to you for a minute?” He ended the request with his best smile.
She eyed him with suspicion, but smiled back. “Do you have a problem, sir?”
“Actually, I do.” He pulled his badge out of his hip pocket and showed it to her. “I’m a police officer, and I’m working on an extremely dangerous case. I need to be somewhere else.”
“I know. I know. Everybody needs to be somewhere else. I get it.” Frustration edged into the attendant’s voice. “I’m doing everything I can. We’re going to be cleared for take-off soon, sir.”
“I understand, but if I could get off the plane. I could call some other people who could help this woman. She’s in serious trouble.”
“You can use your cell phone.” The flight attendant pointed out.
“My phone’s not working. I asked a couple other people but theirs aren’t working, either.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” The woman looked past Carter, keeping a close eye on the other passengers. She turned back to Carter. “Nothing I can do about that.”
“I’ve got to get out of here. It’s an emergency.”
The flight attendant listened with a sweet smile pasted on her face, and then said, “I’m really very sorry, but it’s not possible. Federal regulations won’t permit it.”
“But—”
A man dressed in a jogging suit stepped up behind the attendant. “Is there a problem, Marcy?”
The air marshal, no doubt. He looked capable enough.
“No problem.” Marcy gave him a meaningful look.
Carter stepped towards the man, showing him his badge. “Are you the air marshal?”
The man nodded.
Carter went through his spiel again, but with the same results.
Frustrated, Carter marched back to his seat and looked at his phone. No signal.
Lord, protect her.
27
San Francisco, California
Patti stood between the two doors, searching for an answer. A spark of anger ignited inside her.
These terrorists wanted to kill Americans.
Jamie didn’t want that to happen. Her sister may have given the ultimate to prevent it. In spite of the danger to herself, Jamie had worked hard to meet this Rahmed. Jamie was fearless and relentless. If Jamie hadn’t wimped out, then neither would she.
The spark kindled a fire of determination she didn’t know she had. How dare these people hurt her sister? How dare these people want to hurt her country? Patti choked back a sob. She wasn’t going to let them get away with it.
She would go to the party and she would meet Rahmed. Once she learned his alias, she would slip away and find the nearest police station. It was a simple plan, but it would work. She would finish what Jamie started.
One last glance at the exit sign and she stepped back into the apartment. She went to the adjoining bathroom and locked the door. She turned on the shower to muffle what she was doing. Slipping her phone out, she listened to Carter’s messages.
She hit the send button to call Carter. He’d be able to contact Marcus and the FBI to help her. The phone rang, but in the next moment her sister’s lover called to her from the other side of the door. “Jamie?”
“I’m in the shower.” She called back and slipped the phone back in her purse. Taking off her clothes, she jumped into the shower. She let the hot water pour over her.
Things like this didn’t happen to people like her. Feeling overwhelmed, she prayed. A sense of peace descended over her.
Patti would finish this. If she could, she thought with trepidation. She shook her head. No negative thoughts.
She stepped out of the shower, dried her hair, and wrapped herself in a towel. Taking a deep breath, she opened the bathroom door. He sat on the bed waiting for her. Her heart thudded. She couldn’t let him see her naked. Jamie had a birthmark, she didn’t. He might not notice, but she couldn’t take the chance.
“That was just what the doctor ordered. I feel much better.” She pointed at him and giggled. “And you need to go. The next time you see me, I will be beeeutiful. Now, out-out-out.”
“You are always beautiful,
ma cher.”
She batted her eyelashes. “So sweet of you to say. In that case, I guess I’m going to be stupendous.” Putting a hand on her hip, she tilted her head.
“OK, OK. I’m leaving.” He laughed.
When he shut the door, she sank to the bed. Her knees shook. Taking a deep breath, she stood. No time to relax.
Jamie’s closet was the size of a small room. Unlike the one back in Florida, this closet was filled with clothes of every sort. Casual, dress, or sporty and shoes to match.
A testament to the differences in her sister’s two lifestyles.
She searched through the clothes until she found an outfit with the tags still on. It better be the right one, or Mr. Hamed might think she’d lost her mind—again.
It was a simple a-line dress but the silkiness of the blue flowered material flowed over her curves, giving an elegance that belied the casual style. The soft halter top fit like a second skin and exposed more cleavage than Patti had ever shown.
The dress fell to the mid calf area of her leg but made up for the modesty with a slit up the side. She went back to the closet and found a pair of matching blue stilettos. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself.
She blinked with amazement. Gone was the school marm. Instead, an elegant partygoer stared back. Clothes did make the person. Stumbling, she walked back in the bathroom. No way could she wear those stilettos. She’d make a fool of herself.
Searching the closet once again, she found a pair of white sandals-no heels. Not the pizzazz of the stilettos but she could walk in them. They would have to do.
As she rooted through the make-up drawer in the bathroom, she gasped. A small gun lay at the back of the drawer. Her stomach turned. Why did her sister need a gun?
After she’d put on make-up, she fluffed her new hairstyle with her fingers and looked in the mirror. The transformation was complete. She no longer looked or felt like Patti, the school teacher, but like Jamie, a woman who lived on the edge. She hoped she could keep up the facade well enough to not get herself killed.
She opened up the make-up drawer once again. She hated guns. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and picked it up. Stuffing it in her purse, she prayed she wouldn’t have to use it.
Footsteps warned her he was on his way back to the bedroom.
He opened the door without knocking. His eyes widened in appreciation. As she stood there, feeling vulnerable, he came to her. His huge arms enfolded her. “You look beautiful.” His voice trembled.
She didn’t understand.
He seemed to love Jamie.
She took a step back and smiled up at him. “How am I supposed to meet Rahmed at the party?”
“It is simple. We will go to the party, and you will be introduced to Rahmed. You must act respectful of him at all times. Rahmed is traditional and believes women should always be respectful of men.”
“How will I know it’s him?” If she could get him to tell her Rahmed’s current alias, there would be no need to go to the party.
“You will know him. I have no doubt about that.”
“Maybe, you should tell me his name, now. I want to make sure I don’t act disrespectful in any way.”
“No reason to know now. You will meet him soon enough. He may want to talk to you in private for a few moments. That will be your opportunity to convince him you are loyal to the movement.”
“Will it be dangerous?”
“Not if you convince him of your true feelings.”
That was the problem, wasn’t it?
She wasn’t the born actress Jamie was.
Patti prayed. She didn’t know how, but God would give her the words she needed.
He brushed her hair away from her face. “You will do fine. Just be yourself. He will love you as I do.” He waited a moment and looked at her. “After all, Rahmed is my brother.”
“Your brother?” Her shock as the words sank in was real.
He nodded. His face was solemn. “Yes, I tell you this because I want you to know I do trust you. I trust you with all my secrets.”
Patti put her head down, and then looked back up at him. “Thank you.”
He patted her shoulder. “Soon, none of this will matter to us. This is my last assignment and Rahmed knows this. The movement will continue without me. I am one small piece. It will not stop our ultimate goal.” His eyes glowed with fanaticism. “We will succeed.”
She forced a smile, but his words chilled her heart and soul.
****
As they rode down the elevator, Patti was too terrified to speak for fear of saying the wrong thing. She had a feeling the man with her didn’t speak unless he had something to say.