by Fiona Quinn
After Kira’s room in the lineup was the Davidsons, and Omar had been the next down. Now, Omar was as far from her as she could make him.
Echo had to get their hands on that guy. Had to take him off the world terror stage. Had to keep him far, far away from Kira.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I was just thinking that this was a really good idea, the photographs.” He passed them back. “But I’d prefer that your picture and mine are not on our doors, for security’s sake.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll leave those off if you think it’s best. Is that true for everyone?”
“Davidson has his own security staff that can make those decisions. Your safety is my responsibility.” Ty watched her put the photos back in their place. “Kira, tell me how you got involved with the Davidsons.” Though White had told him about Kira and London’s history, he wanted to know how Kira would describe their relationship.
Would London help protect Kira if need be?
Kira looked at Ty for a long moment, then angled her head up as if she were pulling up a memory. “London and I were freshman roommates at Duke. We got along because we’re both introverts.” She sent him a distracted smile. “London comes from an upper-middle-class family. She had nice clothes that she got from her aunt, who works in the fashion industry up in NYC, which helped her fit into the more affluent crowds. Her family had nothing like William Davidson's wealth.”
“Or your wealth?” Ty asked.
“I don’t need to work to live comfortably, very comfortably. I live simply. I prefer it. A rather Zen existence, though London calls it bleak.”
“Why are you helping London then if not as a paying job?”
“Old loyalty? When I went to visit my family, London usually went with me. She loved the idea of being jet set, though she couldn’t afford it. My family paid her expenses so that I would not be traveling alone as an unmarried female.” Kira stopped.
White had told Ty that silence was fine for Kira. Let her have her space to gather her ideas. Just sit quietly and wait. White hadn’t been wrong yet. Besides, Ty was completely comfortable not rushing Kira. She could unfold her story the way she liked.
“I’m the one who introduced London to William.” She smoothed her hands down her pants’ legs. “He was visiting my uncle in Qatar when they met.”
“Does she love him?”
“Hard to tell. Probably even hard for her to tell. She was gobsmacked when they met. They married after a very short time together. Is she enamored of the life or the man? It isn’t easy to separate that out. Especially since the financial future for her looked like she’d end up a barista making complex coffee orders for minimum wage and tips.”
“Why’s that?”
“She was a fine art major. London originally went with me to Qatar because I told her there was a VCU art school there. VCU is one of the best schools in the U.S. for fine art.”
“I see. So she decided not to go?”
“She planned to go, yes. She was accepted. We were talking to my Aunt Fatima about suitable housing for London. At the time, London and I had been going back and forth to visit my family for years. We were both on the slow train in college. We both understood that the other side of the diploma looked grim.”
“Why is that true for you?” Ty looked over at the dog crates where Beatrice was chewing on her rubber chicken, making distracting noises.
“As long as I was in school, my uncle would allow me to continue my education. Education is extremely important in Qatar, even for females. We have excellent education systems.”
“And Sharia.”
The airplane bobbled in the turbulence and Kira pulled her belt tighter across her lap.
“Yes, and Sharia. London had no idea what to do after her master’s degree, so we both slow-rolled our classes, taking just enough credits each semester to maintain our full-time status. She had a wedding instead of going to her graduation ceremony. They mailed her master’s diploma to her.”
“And you went on to get your Ph.D.”
“The problem for me concerning William and London…it doesn’t matter. I’m not married to him. Those are London’s choices.”
“But she’s your friend. What worries you about William?”
“My family is part of the royal family. But William thinks he is as well.”
“Interesting. How is that? Not through marriage. So…”
“In America, there is a group called the Assembly.”
“I read about them in the paper. Was it two years ago? A massive computer dump exposed some of their illegal actions. Some were imprisoned, others publicly shamed. A lot of mistresses.”
“The way William explained it to me is along the lines of the historical way that royals were seen as demigods. They think that God put them in a place to rule, and the royals were God’s voice on Earth. By deifying royalty, the royals maintained their power. The heads of state were revered. Laws applied to the serfs. Royals do whatever they want without repercussions.”
“Davidson sees himself as a king?”
“An Assemblyman, so yes. But there was that scandal you mentioned. It messed things up a bit for them. The group took up residences in other countries like London and William do. They’re rarely in the United States now. They fly in and fly right back out again. The Assembly core stayed strong. I think they’re just biding their time to make a comeback, letting memories of bad actions fade. London has tried to find me a husband amongst the Assemblymen—Williams’s friends.”
“As if you’d need help finding someone.”
“London is not the same person that I’ve lived with for almost a decade. I sense that she’s been radicalized since she’s married William. She thinks that the Assembly beliefs are true.” Kira frowned and stared at her hands resting on her lap. “I love her. She’s been a dear friend for all my adult life. This is the last time I will help her like this. I have some major life changes… I just don’t know. Our friendship…”
“Tell me what you mean about her being radicalized,” Ty said.
“So I was studying this.”
“Why?” Ty asked.
“I had some decisions to make about me—my life. I was watching London and was confused by the changes in her ethics and beliefs. If only life came with an instruction manual. I wish I believed in palm reading and astrology—that someone could look in their crystal ball and tell me.”
Ty rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “You’re making my hair stand on end. I’m a soldier, that usually only happens when I’m in someone’s rifle sights.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It only happens when there’s mortal danger.”
She looked down. And thought for a moment. “Danger for you?” she asked.
“Or my team.”
“Do you think of me that way? As a teammate?”
“You?” He laughed. “Hardly.”
When she pouted, Ty reached over and covered her hand with his, squeezed, and waited for her to look up. “It’s crazy that we’ve only known each other for a few days. You have become precious to me, my pearl. I’m here to keep you safe. And when we’re back on American soil, we need to have a very serious talk about us.” Ty was sorry the moment he said that. Grief filled her eyes. So he changed the subject back again to London.
“At work, we take classes on radicalization,” Ty said. “It’s hard to unwrap once it’s in place. How do you think London came to be radicalized toward her husband’s beliefs? Do you think they’re dangerous beliefs?”
“If someone is convinced that they’re above the rules, above the law, above ethics or scrutiny, then they can’t help but be dangerous.”
“Do you think she was radicalized on her own, or do you think William has threatened her in some way?”
“London is sequestered by William. He keeps her moving from one place to another. He’s had numerous other wives, and I think he’s figured out how to keep a wife from up and
leaving him.”
“Destabilized from lack of roots and strong support system.”
“Right. Keep the people she comes into contact with all telling her the same thing. She has no outlet, no other perspective to balance.”
“What about you? You’re a counterweight.”
“Me, no. I have no sway. London sees me as Qatari. In Qatar is Sharia. The Assembly and Sharia are very much the same things.”
“Are you considering subjecting yourself to Sharia law?” Ty had to tread softly here. “You would have to if you were moving to Qatar, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s right… It’s complex. There are ramifications for my actions and my inactions.”
“I don’t understand. You’re American through and through—”
Kira interrupted him. “You don’t have the same penalties to pay.”
“What exactly are we talking about here?” Ty leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, bringing his eyes down level with Kira’s.
She scratched her brow. “Well, it depends. On the family. On the individuals. I don’t know how to answer you.” She stilled. “I showed you the novels that my Aunt Fatima’s friend sent me to preserve.”
“Yes, beautiful. You said you were enjoying it though you haven’t made much headway.”
“In the first novel, the woman followed her family's wishes, and it’s going very badly for her. The husband was vicious.”
“The character told the authorities?”
“Men can do as they wish to their wives.”
“No,” Ty said insistently. “They can’t.”
Kira lifted her brows with incredulity. “No?”
“Well, in America—”
“Women in the U.S. are brutalized and murdered by their husbands all the time. When a woman comes forward and says she’s being abused, people don’t protect her. They ask what she did to deserve his anger. Or they ask her, well then why didn’t you leave? Or they say, well, if you had just done this or that, he wouldn’t have hit you. Or they think she’s lying or being hyperbolic. Or any other reason to blame the victim instead of the perpetrator. It really takes a great deal of effort and sheer luck to get a man to have repercussions for their behaviors.”
“That shouldn’t be,” Ty said softly.
“No. It shouldn’t be—not anywhere in the world. But, frankly, some places are more dangerous for women than others. In some countries, women who are victims of rape, for example, are stoned to death. In other countries, the rapist can evade prison by marrying his victim.”
“Surely, the victim would say no.”
“Surely, it doesn’t matter what she says. In India just this morning, the news said a father beheaded his daughter in an honor killing.”
“I was in Iraq,” he pointed to Rory, “with the dogs. I didn’t like how widows were begging in the streets, trying to get food for themselves and their children. We were told not to approach them, lest we bring anger toward them for talking to men, especially American men. The Taliban would kill them. Yeah,” he looked out the window, “I hated that.”
“You have to be careful to honor the community that you’re in and not step on their social norms unless you know you will truly be helping. Sometimes thinking you’re doing good and actually making a positive difference aren’t the same. Qatar isn’t like the Iraq that you knew. It’s very metropolitan. Very International. I can speak to men. I can wear what I want—as long as it’s modest. But there are rules. And the rules must be followed lest you disgrace the family. And that,” she whispered, “would never be allowed by my uncle. He’s too worried about anything happening that would disrupt his plans.”
“Which are?”
“World domination,” she said it sarcastically, but there was a bright note of truth to her quip.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ty
“Kira.” Ty gently swept a hand over her hair until she roused. “We’re landing.”
She pulled in a deep breath then looked out the window.
“See the giraffe herd?” He pointed at a distance.
Kira thrust her head forward, squinting at the landscape. “Oh!” She gasped. “Look at them running, so graceful.” She turned to him with a little frown. “Our plane probably frightened them.” She reached down and tightened her belt, yawning to help her ears equalize the pressure.
The tires bounced down. She turned to Ty with a forced smile. “This is it.”
“Are you okay?”
“Stresses. I told you how bad things got the last time they had this meeting. Karl getting accidentally shot by his sister…”
“Fresh start.”
When the pilot lowered the stairs, Ty and Kira descended to find the staff lined up to greet them.
“This is Tumo. He manages the property,” Kira said. She placed her hand over her heart and gave him an ever so slight bow. “Jumbo! Tumo.”
“Miss Kira, welcome back to Davidson Range. We have all prepared for your welcome.”
“Thank you.” She turned to Ty. “This is my head of security, Ty Newcomb and his security K9 Rory.” Kira juggled Bea in her hands. “And this is London’s pet Princess Beatrice.”
Tumo gestured to a man in a ranger-like uniform, who advanced to stand side by side with his colleague. “Mr. Newcomb. Please meet the Range Head Security Officer Moses.”
“Jumbo!” Ty said, shaking the men’s hands.
Rory sat at attention, letting nothing miss his observation.
“Tumo, there are fresh flowers on the plane. Each arrangement has a flower pick in the vase, indicating which room it should be placed in. We kept the air conditioning cool on the plane, so they are crisp. Have your staff look them over. Anything that’s drooping should be removed.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“In the plane’s hold, you’ll find the food, as we discussed. Ty has translated the instructions for the kitchen staff. The chef should read them over and ask any questions he has about them today. Ty and I will only be here until Monday morning. Once I leave, everything is to run smoothly without any mistakes.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Once everything is unloaded, please come find me so we can go over the plans.”
“Of course, Miss.”
“Our pilots are exhausted. If you could please show them to their rooms and ask if they would benefit from a massage. Make sure they are well cared for as our guests. They need to be ready to go pick up Mr. and Mrs. Davidson and their party in the morning.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Moses.” Kira turned.
Ty was seeing Kira in her element. She was obviously well respected. She was clear and authoritative, gentle and detail oriented. This was the kind of life Kira led.
Ty thought of his own life on base. It wasn’t like tier-one operators made any kind of money. Even with imminent danger pay, they made enough to meet bills, but not much beyond. And to think that in some dark recesses of his brain, he had imagined Kira coming home to his house at the fort, sharing his bed every night he wasn’t out on a mission.
“Miss.” Moses repeated the gesture Kira had made earlier, placing his hand on his heart and offering her a slight bow which she returned in kind, treating the men as professionals.
“I would like you to take Ty on a thorough tour of the Range. You are to apprise him of how everything works security-wise. What your concerns are, especially about groups in the area and any troubles you’ve noticed, even if they haven’t risen in your estimation as a concern. He is to know everything about everything. He’s here to determine risk management.” She skated her hand out. “Which is a task I’m performing for Mr. and Mrs. Davidson to see if you need anything else to keep the Range safe. His being here doesn’t reflect in any way on you or your job performance. Ty has techniques and systems that might make your job an easier one.”
“Thank you, Miss.” Moses turned to Ty. “Sir.”
“Ty’s fine. No need for sir.”
M
oses bladed his hand to indicate they should head through the gate.
“Just one second,” Ty said in Swahili. “I want to grab my bag.”
***
Moses showed Ty to his room and pointed out the window at another building. “This is where my office is. Once you’re settled, if you will join me there, I will show you our operation.” Moses flipped back and forth from English to Swahili.
Ty continued to use the native language, hoping that Moses would see him as less than a good idea fairy that fluttered in to make his life more difficult or worse to make him feel like his job was endangered. It was all about posture and tone.
Now that Ty was alone, he opened his equipment bag. Ty attached microphones and pulled on the baseball cap with the integrated camera system. The camera would pick up a one-hundred-degree wedge in the direction he was looking. Recording everything for his team to see and hear was the simplest way to share the information without it coming from his sole perspective of what was important.
Delta Force was a unique group because they drew their operators from all branches of the military. Though Ty came up through the Army Rangers, T-Rex had been a SEAL, Nitro had been a Marine Raider. There was a lot of expertise that sat around the table when they reviewed a mission. Different eyes, different perspectives, all coming together to develop the plans with the highest opportunity for success.
Getting his connection in place, he looked around the room. “Testing. Testing. Testing. Echo-zero-two to Echo-Zero-one.”
A soft voice in his ear said, “Receiving clear audiovisual. Over.”
Ty let his eye sweep over his room. Under his breath, he oriented the team to where he was and what he would be doing as he jogged toward the security office.
“Moses,” Ty said as the man, wiry and lithe, opened the door to him. “I watched some of your men walking perimeter with two rifles slung over their backs while we were still in the air.
“Yes, one rifle, one BB gun. The rifles are for large predators. There have been some cats in our area because of the big migration. It’s the time of year when we must be more vigilant.”