Fortunes Obsession (15 page)

     He outlined his exact plan to her. " I'm going to take the car at about nine o clock.  I'm leaving plenty of time in case something goes wrong.  I should be there several hours before you.  I'll park a few blocks away until it's almost time for you to get there and then I'll be where I can see you."

     She felt a great burst of love for him. " Peter, you're wonderful.  You're the best thing that ever happened to me.  Tell me what the FBI said."

     Peter gave her a step by step description of his meeting with Millard.  Dara didn't sound as disappointed as he thought she would.

     " I really expected exactly what you got from him.  I figured it out myself.  I've already accepted the fact that we must go through with Sunday.  I hoped against hope that the FBI agent could possibly follow us but I see his point.  It sounds

like we got a good agent, though.  I think that in the long pull, he'll be a big help.  I'm not afraid, Peter.  You give me great strength."

     Peter couldn't believe how strong she had become.  He felt a lot better about things, knowing that she was not in a state of nervous panic.

     He wanted to see her desperately but didn't want to screw up the master plan.   " I know you have to stay at his place tomorrow night, that's the only part that worries me."

     " Don't worry, I'll tell him I'm still sick. We're going to gather some great evidence Sunday and after that I'll never see him again.  Is it alright if I move in with you?"

     " Is it all right?", he said," If you don't, I'll come and kidnap you."

     She laughed, that sexy little laugh that he loved. " Call me tonight and several times tomorrow."

     " That's a deal," He said, and hung up feeling strangely upbeat.

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

     Fahd sat at his office desk.  Mustafa sat across from him, listening intently.

     " After you bring Dara to my apartment on Saturday evening, I have much work for you to do.  First of all, I want you to pick up the Porsche  and bring it here to my garage.  Here is a set of keys.  After you deliver the car, I want you to take two of your strongest friends and rent a truck.  Here is a list

of things I want removed from the apartment.  Leave all of the things in the truck and take it to the address I have written down on the list.  It is a warehouse that I have used before.  There are code numbers on the list that will open the warehouse door.  When you leave, code in the same numbers and the alarm will reset."

     Mustafa looked at the list. "  As you wish, sir.  What time do you want me at your apartment on Sunday morning?"

     Fahd gave his most business like look. " You will be parked in the street at ten minutes to eleven.  I will bring down the package and the girl.  Let's go over this one more time.  The girl will go to the door and hand over the documents.  They will give her the money.  When she gets back to the car, open the passenger side window, reach over and take the envelope with the money.  After you do that, move out fast and leave the girl at the curb.  What happens to her after that is no concern of yours. Is that understood?"

     Mustafa, in his usual robotic obedience, nodded affirmatively.

     " Okay, then, let's go home.  I must prepare for a very important date."

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

     At a quarter to five, Lance's phone rang and he heard the voice of his son, Bruce."

     " Dad, no such company, anywhere in the country.  We have access to a computer that has that information and it's updated

daily."

     " Bruce, thanks a million.  I can't tell you how much you've helped."

     Bruce sounded worried.  " What's happening Dad.  Is this something I can help you on.  Have you been scammed or something?"

     Lance tried to sound non committal. " No, don't worry.  This is just some information I got for a friend in the silk business."

     Now Bruce got a little testy. " Dad...please. I don't know how to say this but I'm really busy.  I don't especially have time to do favors for your friends."

     Corning sounded contrite.  " I'm sorry, son.  You're right. I was way out of line.  I won’t do it again."

     " Okay dad, take care of yourself.  Goodnight."

     Corning dialed Millard's number and was disappointed to find that he had left for the weekend.  He made a note in his calendar book to call him on Monday.  He assumed that on Monday, they would have additional information for him.  Lance had begged Peter to allow him to follow in his car but Peter was afraid it would be too much for him.  He appreciated the younger man's worrying about his health all the time but felt like a million bucks.  He went to Peter's office and found Peter diligently taking care of the business.  They were both weeks behind in their work and desperately needed to play catch up.

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

     When Sarita opened her apartment door, Fahd was once again awed by her beauty.  She wore a black, sleeveless dress, with a simple pin at the top center.  She wore black mesh hose and black patent leather high heels.  Fahd seemed to gravitate to tall girls and he noticed that she was taller than he in her heels.

She smiled as she let him in. " I like a man who's prompt. I'm too impatient a person to be kept waiting."

     He reached for one of her long fingered, sensuous brown hands and lightly brought it to his lips.  In what seemed like one motion, he produced a small black jewelry case and took out a simple strand of white pearls which he slipped around Sarita's neck.  She ran to a nearby mirror and admired herself.

     " Oh, Mr. Fahd.  First all of those lovely roses and then this.  What have I done to deserve such thing.?"

     Fahd thought to himself.  It's not what you've done, my dear, it's what you will do.

     To her, he said. " What you have done my dear, is to be so lovely that I feel compelled to adorn you with these things."

     Her white teeth smiled in delight and Fahd knew, at that moment that he had paid the down payment and she would be his.

     She went to a closet and produced a black knit shawl for warmth in the autumn air.

     " A simple shawl, eh?  We'll have to do something about that.  You are far too beautiful for such simplicity."

     He hoped that when Mustafa emptied Dara' apartment, he would not forget the many fur coats and wraps.  Even though

Sarita was two or three inches shorter than Dara, the furs would fit perfectly.  In his mind he planned the making of Sarita Bonda from an ordinary secretary, into his mistress.  As was his usual  tactic,   he would lavishly take her out three or four times without so much as a mild advance.  He would kiss her on the cheek and on the hand and always act the perfect gentleman. By the time the fourth or fifth date had occurred, she would be wondering why he never tried to touch her and would become mildly aggressive herself.  At that point, he would,

" Reluctantly," take her to bed.  All the while he would be lavishing her with gifts.  Most would come from what was taken from Dara's apartment.  Some of those had also been, " Owned,"

by her predecessors.  After that he would suggest moving her into a better apartment.  That apartment would of course, be the apartment previously occupied by Dara and her predecessors.

Little by little, he would give her all of the gifts, all the while training her sexually, to be his love slave.  He all but salivated at the thought as they entered the limousine and drove to the restaurant.

     When they were seated at the table and drinks were served, Fahd took her hand in his and said, " Now, I want to hear all about Sarita Bonda.  I want to know who this lovely creature is and how she got to where I could find her."

     " Well, where shall I start?  I'm thirty years old and I was born in Bombay.  My father was, and is, a very successful business person there. I was educated in England and

returned to India after college.  My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps and go into banking but I found it boring.  I took a job he considered too menial for a woman of my station.  I was a secretary in a government office.  I was posted to New Delhi and spent several years in our foreign ministry.  When the United Nations job came up, I grabbed it and I've been in America several years.  My father refuses to give me any money unless I come back to India.  He is a bit appalled that I have been able to make it on my own.  About three years ago, I met an American boy and we were very much in love.  We moved in together and were going to get married.  When his parents saw my brown skin, they worked very hard to break us up.  I guess they were successful, because we drifted apart little by little and eventually he moved out.  It took me a while to get over him and I'm just really coming out of it now.  So there you have it.  Now let's hear about Mr. Fahd."

     He gave a pleading gesture with his hands. " Please, no more Mr. Fahd.  From now on it's Ibrahim.  I don't want to feel like your father.  I want to feel like your suitor."

     She giggled. " How old are you, anyway? Are you old enough to be my father?"

     Fahd frowned. " My age has no bearing on this situation, it is unimportant.  The important thing is are you attracted to me and can I make you happy.  The latter I am sure of. Whether you are attracted, I do not know."

     She gave him a seductive glance. " Of course I'm attracted

to you.  I wouldn't be here if I weren't. Now, tell me all about you."

    Fahd constructed an heroic story about a poor upbringing in Egypt and of how he pulled himself up by the bootstraps by doing odd jobs.  He told of how he saved his money and was able to pay for his schooling, eventually studying at the American University in Beirut.  He told of his emigration to America as a young man and of how he had built his silk importing business, block by block until he had become a rich man.  The reality of the situation was quite different.  He had grown up as a petty thief, eventually graduating into grand theft.  He was extremely intelligent and was able to educate himself through books and through observing those of a higher station than himself.  He had married a plain, hard working Egyptian girl of his acquaintance. She had borne him five children, who for a short time he supported through his criminal activities.  He had worked himself up alright.  He had worked himself into the hierarchy of local crime in Cairo.  The authorities, who had suspected him for years, finally jailed him for the theft of a great deal of valuable jewelry.  Although convicted of his crime, he had managed to hide the jewels.  He and three others had escaped the Egyptian jail and found their way out of Egypt and fled south to darkest Africa.  He had taken the jewels with him and managed to elude his fellow escapees, eventually getting a false passport and making his way to Canada and then the United States.  The money from the jewels was more than enough to support him in

a grand style.  It was then he formed the front of Trans-Orient Silks and became a broker for a variety of criminal clients.

     Sarita looked at him with an adoring look. " I'm so impressed with stories like yours.  You're a man who has pulled himself up from the depths and made something of himself.  Oh, I admire you so much."

     Fahd tried to look humble. " Oh, my sweet, it is nothing more than many men before me have done.  How you flatter me."

     She took his hand in hers and looked at him.  She thought that he was kind of sexy.  He was on the short side but stocky and muscular.  He was bald on top but his remaining hair, fusing into a black beard flecked with just a bit of grey, was luxurious.  She couldn't imagine ever marrying him but a love affair was not out of the question.  He was also very rich.  Sarita didn't want to admit it but she missed her wealthy upbringing.  She yearned for some of the things that were once given to her as a matter of course but now had to be scraped for and earned.  Yes, the thought of a relationship with this man was very interesting.

     She looked at him with those sensuous dark eyes.  " Ibrahim, I don't know the last time I enjoyed myself so much.  Thank you for this marvelous evening.  The food and drinks are wonderful and the company is exhilarating."

     He ran his hand up her bare arm and a thrill went through him.  " Well my dear, I want you to think of this as only the beginning.  I am going to make you happy beyond your dreams.

I have a special feeling for you. It is something I have never felt before.  I have been without a woman for a long time.  I think it is because I have been waiting for the right one to come along."

     She smiled. " You know, I was thinking the same thing.  Since my fiance and I split up, I haven't really dated.  I thought that no man could ever enthuse me again.  Most of my social life revolved around my female friends.  I am so glad I went to that restaurant today.  I feel that I am finally going to be happy again."

     Fahd kissed her hand again. " My beautiful Sarita, you will be happier than you have ever been."

     After dinner, Fahd took her home and in accordance with his plan, gently kissed her on the mouth at her door and then, bowing slightly from the waist, blew her a kiss.  She smiled with those wonderful white teeth and closed the door behind her.

     Leaning back in the limousine, Fahd was immensely pleased with himself.  He would soon have this exquisite creature for his own.  He thought, too, of Saturday night with Dara.  He would give her a farewell present she would never forget.  As romantic as Fahd could be with his women, he had a certain fondness for cruel sex which he always accomplished either with his call girls or with women who were out of his favor.  He leaned back, relishing his plans for her and was aroused by his sadistic  thoughts.  Yes, Saturday night would be quite pleasurable.