by Lynda Filler
The child understood. Amira was wise beyond what was normal for her age. Her mother once explained how she had something she called ‘intuition’ about people. Her momma could sense if they were honest or lying. That’s why she always knew when Amira was not telling the truth about schoolwork or candy. Amira thought she too had this same ability. They both knew this man was bad.
Later, once the sun went down, Rasha and Amira boarded the train. They’d come early, hid near the tracks, paid someone to find the man who was in charge and bought tickets. The standard price for their trip would be 150.00 Euros each. Rasha paid 800 Euros. But it was worth it. As the train pulled out of the station, she caught a glimpse of the sandwich man, his brother, and two others rushing, pushing and shoving, searching amongst the people. She was sure they were looking for her.
At least something had finally gone right. Rasha prayed the next border would be as uncomplicated to cross as this one but less expensive. Her money belt was feeling lighter by each grueling hour.
She pulled her daughter close against her, and they both fell into a troubled sleep.
11
Paris, France
A CASUALLY DRESSED middle-aged woman placed dime-store sunglasses on her face and a non-descript scarf over her ash blond hair. She pulled her weatherproof quilted coat closer to her body. The bitterness of the early spring afternoon was uncomfortable for her slim frame, but she’d been determined to make this journey. Two men also dressed in casual workingman clothing, followed the woman through the makeshift camp.
This northern suburb of Paris was the site of a recent purge of refugee tents. Some had sprung right back up and taken their place over heated subway vents staking squatter rights on city property. The police stood in riot gear exhibiting a frightening show of force against a swelling community of thousands of displaced people.
Simone kept her head down and hurried through the crowds listening to the chatter, the concerns of the youth, the elderly and the sick.
She watched children playing soccer with empty tins, kicking them across busy streets running out into traffic to score a goal. She entered a schoolyard where volunteer workers were heating food dropped off from local restaurants and bakeries. People lined up around the blocks for a baguette and some soup.
A fight broke out at the street corner and one group hurled insults at another wearing skullcaps. Two women wearing hijabs hustled their children away from the scene. Suddenly someone threw a Molotov cocktail at a bus waiting on the corner. The driver realized what was happening, immediately closed his doors and headed out into traffic. The bottle fell short, but police had been alerted, and sirens could be heard racing to the scene of a possible riot.
Simone sighed, turned and headed back towards her security team. The last thing the wife of the new President of France needed was to be caught in the middle of a riot in the most dangerous suburb in Paris.
Le Palais de l’Elysée, Paris France
“How was your day my love?” Pablo looked up over his glasses. He had a file marked top-secret open on his presidential desk.
“The usual. I had lunch, answered some emails, and did some shopping. I wish I didn’t always have to travel with security.”
“Well, this is what we wanted. And we worked hard to achieve it. Now we have the power to make a difference. We live in dangerous times. And that means a lack of privacy.”
“Yes, you’re right. How was your day?”
“We have so many serious problems, no? I don’t know where to begin. I am just grateful that we will have the opportunity to make things better for France.”
Simone looked at her very young, handsome husband. He was such an idealist and had an enormous heart. That’s why she’d fallen in love with him. She knew what people were saying behind her back. She’d listened to the gossip for years. And it was true. He was a teenager when they met, and she is much older than him. But love happens and doesn’t always follow society rules, and theirs is a love affair that has gone on for twenty-five years.
“Mon Cher, we have a huge problem with the refugees. Most of these people are simply normal people displaced by the wars of greedy global economies. It’s not their fault. All they want is a chance to live their lives and bring up their families. They don’t have proper food. They sleep in tents on the streets or out in the open. It’s unsafe for the women and children. It’s wrong Pablo. We must do something.”
Pablo sighed.
“Simone. You must not be going into those areas alone.”
Simone looked towards the window.
“I wanted you to win the election, so we can make changes. Now is our time. We must come up with solutions, and quickly.”
“D’accord Simone. I know you are right. We are working on this, are we not? Now, tell me something. Remember Samaar?”
“Yes, of course. Samaar was a student of mine at the Sorbonne. Israeli as I recall, but of mixed descent. I think her grandparents were French Jews who escaped to London during the war. She was stunning, older than the other students. You remember the evenings I used to spend with her. You joined us sometimes. There was something about her. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Well, we have an appointment with her for dinner this evening. She will be here as an emissary for Luke Raven the American Businessman.”
“Yes, I know of him. I believe our sécurité have done highly classified business with him in the past. There should be a file on him.”
“I have it here. Very interesting. Mr. Raven has some intriguing ideas to discuss. And he has sent Samaar with a proposal.”
“I must change and bathe.” She started stripping as she left the room.
President Pablo Matisse smiled rising from his desk. He placed his files in a safe, locked it. Then he loosened his tie. And, as he had for all his adult life, he followed Simone from the room.
12
Somewhere in Syria
ZACH HATED THIS COUNTRY. Their civil war sickened him. He thought after he cleaned up the Osama bin Laden problem, then retired from SEAL team six, he could forget about the Middle Eastern conflicts. But he could see now that he would be dead long before these wars were resolved.
He was a highly educated undocumented hero. Both his parents were Israeli Messianic Jews who worked as University professors in Beirut—and spied for the CIA. At a very young age, he’d witnessed their murders and been left an orphan with no family. The CIA shipped him to the US, and he was adopted by a Military man and brought up in Coronado. He’d put in his time and sacrificed a personal life to serve the United States of America. And after the bin Laden affair and the man who blew the whistle on the team, he had no choice but to retire.
He was wallowing in self-pity and feeling useless when Luke Raven rescued him. He searched him out and saved him from himself and gave him a purpose in life.
But this war-torn country and the administration that slaughtered its own people and robbed millions of their homeland had to be stopped. The current political climate in first world countries collectively discriminated against and ignored the plight of the millions of displaced people in the world. This fight was personal.
He’d spent many days with Luke Raven before he joined his organization. They shared similar values and were both patriots. But Luke had the fortune to follow his beliefs and work without oversight. Zach wanted to put his skills to good use in a project he believed in. The Raven Group gave him the focus he needed.
Lately, RB had been hearing noise about ISIL working directly with the Syrian government against its own people. There was also the question of stockpiled bioweapons that should have been destroyed. Zach was in-country to find out if the rumors were true. The situation wasn’t right.
Zach's phone vibrated in his shirt pocket.
At that moment a convoy of improvised fighting vehicles drove into the center of the rubble-strewn Syrian city and stopped. Zach pulled back out of sight, grabbed his small high-resolution binoculars and zoomed in on faces.
/> Then some crazy jihadist opened fire on a group of rebels across the town square. Zach watched as ten men and two young boys were mowed down. Screams were heard as the convoy started up and took off out of the square.
He was shaking and felt helpless. He looked down to read the message on his phone. It was from his SEAL brother Israel, another Raven operative. He shook his head at the news in front of him.
“Eyewitness. 98% certain.”
Damn. Luke was going to be pissed.
13
AMIRA WOKE FROM a restless sleep. She looked around her, confused. Her mother slept beside her, so she knew she was safe. The train rumbled through mountainous terrain and at this moment, they were in a long scary tunnel. The only light shone from security lights mounted on the roof reflected against pitch-black granite walls.
Rasha murmured in her sleep. The child reached over with tiny hands and wiped tears from her mother’s face. She snuggled closer and whispered to her mother that everything would be okay.
Her mother opened her eyes, confused. Then she remembered where she was.
“Amira, you are such a good girl. Soon we will get to France.”
Half an hour later the brakes screeched, and the train slowly slid to a stop. The weary passengers in the dank train began to disembark. They’d finally made it to the Hungarian Border. It was midnight, and there wouldn’t be any crossing until morning.
Rasha gasped. Military men in riot gear surrounded the station. A message was announced in multiple languages.
“This border is closed. If you are a refugee, you must go to the Serbian camps set up in town and tomorrow you will register for asylum.”
Rasha shivered. She stepped down to the frozen terrain then grasped her child in her arms to help her off the train. She slipped on the ice, and they both tumbled. Amira cried out. Rasha could feel the bitter bile rising up in her throat, the pain in her arm was excruciating.
“It’s okay baby. We will be fine.”
Two migrant youths came to her aid and helped mother and daughter get up. They pointed in the direction of the waiting buses.
Rasha was so tired, so sad. But what could she do? Who would help them now? The Kalebija border crossing was their last hope to enter the European Union. They must not fail.
She listened as others talked of police raids on the squalid shelters along the Serbian-Hungarian Border. The camps were ill-equipped to handle the thousands of refugees camped out. She could hear someone whispering that over six thousand people are stuck along this route. All unable to cross with Hungary’s decision to close their borders.
No. This cannot be happening!
Rasha was becoming desperate. She must find someone. She had a phone number. But she no longer had the phone her husband gave her; it had been stolen. She’s a refugee with family in Paris who will take her in. If only she can reach them. Maybe they can come for her. She remembered Nizar’s warning.
“No matter what, you must not get on a commercial airline! It’s too dangerous.”
Those who killed her husband and brother would now know she was gone, but the where and how would be a mystery. Was she relevant enough to send secret security forces after her? If they knew she carried a document from her husband, that answer would be yes.
She tripped over old cans, abandoned luggage and other garbage strewn amongst the bushes along the border wall. She needed medical care for her arm and food for her child.
When would this nightmare end?
14
Anacortes, WA
“HEY LUCI, good to see you again.”
Luci smiled at RB and wondered what he was really thinking. Would he be upset to have her back in Raven’s life? Is he worried she’s going to break Luke’s heart all over again?
He joined Luci in the elevator that led to the communications hub on below ground lower level. Raven built this facility on a similar model to his other compounds. What appeared above ground was a typical rich man’s enclave. Beneath the surface, his properties rivaled any secure facility the military or US Intelligence agencies had anywhere in the world.
The technology used by the Raven Group had been designed by Luke and RB and other strategically placed partners or employees worldwide. Everything was top-secret, privately funded and maintained. Occasionally, various government branches would approach Raven for assistance on issues of national security. And he would help only if he saw a benefit to man or the planet.
When she walked into the war room, Luci was intensely aware of the heat of Luke Raven. She was surprised at how much she wanted to hold him in her arms. She thought she’d buried her feelings, but they were right there, near the surface, screaming for attention. She was certain Luke could feel her heat from across the room. But Luke had learned from the best how to hide what he was honestly feeling and gave nothing away. He smiled and nodded to her. He’d saved her again, and Luci hated being saved.
She sat down at the conference table with RB on her right and Maggs on her left. Lorena was not interested in going operational, and Luke hadn’t encouraged her. She stayed with Alice upstairs. Luci had never met Jack but recognized him from his public profiles.
“Welcome back Samaar.” When Luke spoke her name out loud, all the memories of the last time they’d made love came rushing back. For a short time, Luke had believed he might be able to put his past behind and love again. And then Samaar ran. But no matter how much she’d hurt him, he still wanted her.
Everyone nodded a welcome to Luci and shook hands with Jack.
“Excuse me a moment. I need to check in on Alice.”
The group understood. Luci pulled out her iPad. There she was explaining to Maggs’ assistant what Dolly wanted for brunch. The words “pan dulce and ice cream” caused everyone in the room to smile.
“Sorry about that. My girl already has your team wrapped around her finger.” Luci turned up her sound. She connected to the screen in the kitchen.
“Alice.”
“Yeth Momma?” Mini Luci looked up with serious attitude.
“Yogurt and fruit.” Alice nodded sweetly. She could hear Lorena speaking rapidly in Spanish. Alice was too much like her mother. She’d find a way to get what she wanted. She closed her iPad.
“Samaar, we’re testing a new jet prototype that will get you to Paris in time for a very late dinner. I will brief you on something the Foundation has been working on for some time. Also, I’m not sure how aware you are of what’s been going on in France. I’ve prepared a dossier for you to read during the flight.” Luke stopped. Luci raised her eyebrows but said nothing.
“The recent French elections have put someone into power which a year ago wasn’t even in the running. Perhaps you remember his wife, Simone Dubois.”
“Simone? And Pablo? Pablo is the new President of France?” Luci was in shock. She and Lorena had a made a conscious decision to keep their communications with the outside world limited. It was safer to stay off-line in a highly social and interconnected world.
“Yes, that’s correct. France has major challenges in Paris and all along the coast with the refugee crisis. Terrorist acts in the last couple of years have been on the increase. Financial disagreements with Britain and their exit from the European Union have made France vulnerable. The small country has a lot of debt and is bursting at the seams with an untenable situation. Jack, myself, and our partners have a presentation we would like to make. And because of your prior friendship with Mme Dubois, we felt you would be the right person.”
Luci was surprised and pleased. She could enjoy Paris for a few days, come back to Alice, and figure out the next part of their lives.
“Of course, Luke. I owe you so much. We will talk about what happened in Yelapa later, yes?”
“Yes. I already have a solution I think Lorena will like. Now here’s the reason I called the rest of you into the war room. We have a severe problem. Jack, would you give the team a brief explanation?”
“Yes.” He looked at the assembled group a
nd was embarrassed and unnerved at what he had to tell them. “I’m afraid one of my scientists and his wife are missing.”
RB looked over at Luke. They’d certainly done their share of people finding but usually Zach and Israel, both ex-SEALs, led that team.
Luke raised his eyebrows and nodded, then spoke. “The scientist was responsible for developing a super virus as a bioweapon on behalf of the US Military—or so he thought. Jack was unaware this was going on under his own roof.”
“Oh my God!” Maggs looked at Jack like she wanted to strangle him. “How could you?”
Jack looked away from the group. “I had no idea. It was a secret project aligned with the research we were doing on vaccines. My facility has over a thousand people working on diseases. I know that’s not an excuse.” He shook his head and continued. “I found out from the Dr.’s assistant this morning. She got in touch with me an hour ago when she lost contact with her boss.” Jack continued. “I sent her to a location in West Seattle where Sandy and I keep a small getaway. No one knows about it.” He hesitated.
“Now Dr. Sahar Faisal doesn’t answer her phone. I’m worried she’s disappeared as well.”
You could feel the tension and the disgust amongst the team. But you could also see the transformation as the group put aside emotion and went into combat mode.
“Where do we start?” Luci looked around the room. As much as she wanted to be out of the game, a crisis of this magnitude could not be ignored. “What do we know?”
“I still need you to leave for Paris right away. We’ll clean this situation up here. Everything you require will be waiting for you when you arrive in France. We should have something on the scientist by the time you’ve finished dinner with the President and First Lady of France. I’ll keep you posted.”