Surrept

by Andrews, Taylor

  Chapter Five

  Across town in the Denver tech center, the parking lot at the popular steak house is full with upscale cars. David is glad he had left his car at the office the day before; he would never have made it if he had had to call a cab.

  As he pulls in, he looks for a valet knowing he is late to dinner with Dana and his future father-in-law. The valet comes back to his post where two other cars are waiting.

  Inside, Dana is sitting in a corner booth alone, sipping a martini with two olives, as she watches the crowd. She smiles as she realizes that she will be seeing a lot more of this lifestyle—if she just keeps doing what she has been working on for the past two years and keeps closing bigger deals like the one today.

  Two men sitting at an adjacent table keep looking her way, and as usual, she dreads what the attention could bring.

  In perfect timing, David arrives and stands at the table and frames her with his thumbs like a film director. "Ladies and gentleman, Miss Dana Underwood, Denver real estate's rising star." David sits down and kisses his girl as she pushes at him for clowning. He tries to take the edge off. "What do we have we here, a very gorgeous lady in waiting?"

  Dana looks at him with her coldest blue-eyed stare, not letting on that she loved his cute approach.

  "Yeah, go figure that the only thing you and my father have in common is that you are never on time."

  David continues, "I beg to differ with you young lady."

  She holds the cold stare. "About what David?"

  "I think it would be fair to say that your father and I both love you madly, and you are our most favorite person on the planet."

  Dana raises her hand. "No, wait. I have to admit I was wrong in my former statement."

  David asks, "About what?"

  Dana keeps up the cold disposition as she answers, "That the only thing you both have in common is that you both are always late."

  "So you agree then?"

  "I was just reminded that you and Daddy are both full of shit when you are in trouble."

  Richard Underwood arrives at the table hearing Dana's comment. "I guess that's my queue for apologies?"

  Dana smiles at her father. "Hi Daddy. No apologies are necessary. I am used to it. Besides, I get to bitch and be right."

  Richard Underwood sits down across from David in the booth and leans over to kiss Dana. She scrunches her shoulders as if to draw his attention all in. She loves her dad.

  "So how does it feel to close your first big deal?"

  "It feels fabulous, but it is kind of like a roller coaster. Now I just want to do it again and again. I hope I have not been bitten by the greed bug."

  He looks at her trying not to put on the father's face. "Honey, success is measured by your deeds before and after you have made accomplishments and how you treat others that cross your various paths in life. It is about your integrity and policy. Not just the monetary gains."

  "Daddy, you always know the right things to say at just the right moment." She pauses in reflection for a moment. "Mom was right about what she said."

  David looks concerned when Dana brings her mother up, and her father is caught completely off guard by her statement.

  He looks into Dana's eyes. "What did she say, honey?"

  Dana looks down as if to control herself. "One night at the hospital after you left, I was upset because you had to go early. She told me that I should not be upset with you, that you had to get up early and be on the property site to keep everyone motivated by your example of having a responsible work ethic. Then she said that even though you were holding the project together by a shoestring. She said that those in doubt, who were sure that you were as shady as an elm tree, would learn that the shade from the sun and cool breeze under that 'tree' was the most secure they all would feel due to your confidence and conviction for success on that project. She told me that she lived in that shade and cool breeze every day of her life."

  The waiter brings cocktails, interrupting her as he places the drinks in front of her father and David.

  "The lady said to bring these when you gentleman arrived. Are we ready for appetizers?"

  Richard Underwood reacts emotionally by his daughter's comments. He dismisses the waiter abruptly, not taking his eyes of his daughter. "Give us a few minutes, please. We are in no rush."

  The waiter silently excuses himself, realizing his bad timing.

  "Why have I never heard this before, honey?"

  Dana frowns at her dad. "Jesus, Daddy, a girl doesn't share every intimate detail with her father."

  David interrupts to change the atmosphere. "Thank God for that. Let's have a toast to your success." He raises his glass as they all laugh. "To Dana's triumph."

  After dinner, Dana and David watch her father pull away from the valet and wave as he drives off in his Chevy Suburban.

  David pulls Dana to him as the valets retrieve their cars. "Thanks for dinner, I feel like a kept man."

  Dana looks at him sensuously as she puts her arms around his neck. "I do believe that you, sir, are a keeper." She kisses him softly

  David stares at his beautiful girl. "You are gorgeous, I was thinking the moment I saw you tonight and all through dinner that you should be on the menu. You look good enough to eat."

  Dana smiles seductively. "I'll hold you to that when we get home. Remember, I'm the dessert."

  The valet pulls up with their cars, and Dana breaks away from him and moves quickly to her car. "Race you."

  David tips the valets and jumps into his car to give chase.

  ***

  The next morning, Ahmed has just finished his shower after morning prayers and is staring into the mirror remembering his deed the night before. He is thinking of the Iraqi proprietor at the phone store, wondering if he had fire insurance.

  He brushes his hair and begins to feel sick with guilt, thinking of the photo of the man's family he was so proud of on the wall behind his counter at the store.

  Ahmed finishes dressing, throws on his jacket, and gathers his books and places them in his backpack. He straightens his bed in the basement and makes his way upstairs into the kitchen where Kari is preparing something fresh for the deli counter.

  Kari smiles as he looks at the concoction she is preparing. "Good morning, Ahmed. Are you going to school today?"

  "Yes, I have to see my counselor and get my final classes straightened out before the semester starts. Where's Omar?"

  "He had to get produce and rice. We are running low. He told me to schedule the deliveries for late this afternoon. Is that all right?"

  Ahmed wondered why she had stopped covering her head. "I should be back before twelve-thirty."

  Kari hands him a plastic bag used for customers. "I made you breakfast. I will see you this afternoon. Good luck on your classes, Ahmed."

  Ahmed thanks her as he leaves with his food and backpack.

  He exits the rear door and the morning cold bites through him as he unlocks the van, jumps in and starts the engine. He looks at the gas gauge while rubbing his hands together to warm them. It is just above empty, and he pulls away.

  ***

  Matt is in his office sitting at his desk drinking hot chocolate while reading local news on his computer. The article is about an arson fire near Federal and Alameda last night at a retail store, which caused two other stores to burn down as well.

  The buzzer sounds on his desk phone, and the receptionist's voice comes over his speaker. "Matt, David Bloomfield on line two."

  Matt responds as he hits the speaker button. "Thanks, Nancy."

  David's voice barrels out of the phone. "How is the joker doing today?"

  Matt smiles. "That's Private Joker to you, Private Pyle."

  "Okay, Private Joker. I got something for you."

  "What's that, your sister's phone number or a jelly doughnut?"

  David laughs at his best friend's remark, "No, not a jelly doughnut. I just got four VIP box seats to Denver's one-and-only football team for the
last Sunday of this month as a perk from one of the media reps I buy from."

  Matt never misses a home game. "Great, so that means I have to find a date?"

  "First of all, Cohen, you don't find dates, you buy them. And second of all, these tickets are all yours, Private Joker. I can't go; I'll be in Seoul, Korea that week on a major presentation."

  Matt responds loudly, "Out fucking standing, Private Pyle. You handle the Korean crisis, and I'll be at the game eating shrimp and brats, while you are enhancing the profitability of South Korea's economy and securing our foreign policy. I wonder if I can get a deal on three escorts."

  "Private Joker, you are a section eight, I'm sending the tickets over. I have to go." Matt smiles. "Thanks, David."

  David laughs. "No worries, Matt. I hope it keeps you out of trouble. Have fun at the game." Matt hangs up thinking of the great friendship he has with David Bloomfield.

  ***

  Ahmed arrives at the university lot and parks as close to the building he will be going into.

  He reaches down for his backpack and empties it on the floor next to his seat. Ahmed puts just one book back in, he zips it up and leaves the van, sliding the pack over his shoulder as he locks the door. He walks into the building. He surveys the grounds and glances behind him as he enters. He needs to be careful now more than ever.

  He walks past an administration office to the end of the hall at the rear of the building and makes his way up the stairs. He looks back verifying no one is following and that all is clear.

  As he reaches the second floor, Ahmed listens to the quiet of the hallway. Most students are out on spring break. He walks halfway down the hall to an unmarked door and enters quickly.

  The room is almost bare; just a table with four chairs where a chunky Middle Eastern man with a broad mustache rises from the table smiling at him and extending his arms.

  The man approaches him with a hug and kisses both sides of his face "A Salaam a Legum."

  Ahmed responds to his greeting "A Legum a Salaam."

  The man motions for Ahmed to sit down at the table. He speaks in their tongue. "You look well, Ahmed. The time off has done you well. Praise is to Allah you have arrived. What happened yesterday?"

  Ahmed answers in his tongue. "I did not get the message that you had returned until late in the afternoon, and please forgive me"

  He looks at him. "Ahmed, the call has come and we are now many. Are you ready to keep your promise?"

  Ahmed speaks as if offended. "Of course, that is why I am here."

  "You shall be a part of history that has never before been considered by this world, give praise to Allah. We all shall live the rest of our lives by his favor. Does anyone other than you know about this?" Ahmed looks at the man with conviction, "No, no one, I would never share this with anyone."

  The man stares deep into Ahmed's eyes as if to read his heart. Ahmed feels fear come over him as the man reaches down next to the table and picks up a large briefcase. He sets it on the table between them and opens it, blocking Ahmed's view. Ahmed moves his hand against the briefcase just in case this goes wrong.

  The man sets a new Macintosh laptop along with cords, a charger, a broadband module, and a flash drive on the table. He closes the case and returns it to the floor. Ahmed looks at him curiously and waits.

  "Ahmed, this is a Mac not a PC. Do you know this system?"

  "Yes, it is popular with many students here in the U.S."

  He pushes it all toward Ahmed, "This is a gift to you, there is only one copy of the flash drive, don't lose it."

  "You need to review these files and memorize them, then destroy the laptop and the flash drive after you receive your first and only message. It will come online and tell you when to proceed. Then destroy everything as soon as possible."

  Ahmed nods to him as he gathers the equipment.

  The man speaks while Ahmed places the items in his backpack. "It is brand new and has only been used by me to prepare you and the others, who have all received the same gift. Ahmed, this is for you to gain the information you need, no one is to get this. Do you understand?"

  Ahmed nods as he maintains eye contact.

  "You are reviewing the flash drive, memorize it and then destroy it all, only by fire, do you understand?"

  Ahmed's mind is filled with the images of his family as he answers him. "I understand: review, memorize, and destroy by fire only, as soon as possible."

  "Good, now is the time for clear minds and focus." Ahmed puts his backpack over his shoulder, looks at him confidently, and replies, "Is there anything else I need to know?"

  The round man smiles as he answers. "Just one thing Ahmed. You remind me so much of your father. He would be proud to see the man you have become."

  They both stand. "You think so?"

  He grabs Ahmed's shoulder. "I know so." He smiles and slaps Ahmed on the shoulder.

  The man walks out of the office, turns the light off, exits the room and shuts the door. Ahmed waits a few minutes before he leaves the building and then walks quickly back to the van.

  Ahmed arrives back at the market and goes inside with his backpack. Omar, in the storage area preparing his deliveries, meets him. Omar smiles at him and waves him over.

  "How did it go with your class schedules?"

  "It went good; I got all of the classes I wanted."

  "I am sure that you will do as well in your studies as you did last term. I have already prepared most of the deliveries for you except for the perishable items. You will have to pull those, but everything else is ready. Have you had lunch?"

  "I will put my things away, eat, and then load the van."

  Omar sets down a box on the delivery table. "I will prepare lunch. What would you like today?"

  "Anything that is easy. I want to get all of the deliveries done. I have some school work to do as soon as I get back."

  Omar smiles and shakes his head as he turns to go prepare lunch.

  Ahmed heads down to the basement to hide his backpack. He stashes it in some boxes that are never gone into.

  He sets two boxes on top of it. He goes into the bathroom to wash his hands and face and catches himself looking into the mirror again. He grabs the towel, wipes his face, and returns upstairs for lunch. He did not eat what Kari had prepared that morning; he was too nervous before his meeting at the university.

  Ahmed sits down at the table in the back. He watches Kari and Omar through the door laugh as they work together. There are no customers in the store, as lunch has ended.

  Omar and Kari come in carrying lunch, and Omar sets a huge sandwich in front of Ahmed. "Here is one of my famous sandwiches, the Omar special."

  "Thank you, Omar. This looks great—you read my mind."

  Omar and Kari sit down. "We have gotten used to you being part of our family. You work hard at everything you do, and we appreciate that."

  Kari says, "We have had an increase in all things since you came to stay with us. We give praise each day for you being in our life."

  Ahmed is overwhelmed by their hospitality, and love; he does not really know how to handle it. "And I you for being in my life, thank you." Ahmed attacks the Omar special.

  ***

  At the ad agency, Adriana Pucci is working at her desk putting together a large file for David Bloomfield. Her printer stops and she reviews the pages, arranging them in proper order.

  She places other documents stacked neatly on her desk and adds them to the file, then reviews the entire file once again.

  Satisfied with her work, she gets up from her desk and checks herself in the mirror on the wall. She raps on David's office door as she enters. David is standing at the window with his back to her, his shoulders are broad and his butt fits nicely in his slacks as he turns toward her.

  "Hey, there she is. What have you got for me there?"

  She approaches him. "David, here is your travel file for the Kiatsu account; I believe everything is complete and in order. Do you have a few minutes
to go over it?"

  She hands him a large file; he sits down, offers her a chair by gesture, and opens the file on his desk to review.

  "Let's see what we have here."

  She seizes the opportunity to impress. "In the first clip you have your itinerary for travel; round trip e-tickets confirmed first class, hotel accommodations, and private airport transportation at both ends."

  David flips through.

  "The second clip has a cheat sheet in the phonics of Korean greetings, customs, and short phrases you may need during your trip, so I would suggest you could study them on the plane."

  David turns the pages as she recites.

  "The third clip is a schedule of your meetings and presentation. I got the information from the vice president's assistant at Kiatsu, and she pumped me for your likes and dislikes such as food preferences, room view, beverage preferences, and so forth. The fourth clip is an overview of all the names and titles of those who will be present during the presentation, including their assistants, also in phonics translation. Clip five has copies of your company American Express and Visa cards. They're both unlimited, and the cards themselves are attached in the small manila file with two flash drives, one each of the presentation in English and Korean. The other drive contains your PowerPoint presentation which I reviewed, and I must say, David, it is brilliant. You do great work."

  She went on, "In addition, I have already sent via Fed-Ex fifty copies of the presentation, and copies of the two flash drives to Kiatsu in your name this morning. Finally, I have arranged a car to pick you up at home three hours before your departure and the driver will call you one hour prior to arrival to validate. All you need is your luggage, and don't forget your passport."

  David looks through the file and identifies the manila envelope with cards and flash drives, and he nods his head in approval. "Well, Miss Pucci, you certainly keep my act here together and make my life easy; thanks Adriana, great job. Shit, maybe you should be the one going to Seoul."

  Adriana looking sharp, professional, but seductive, as she holds a pen to her lips, looks at him. "Is that an invitation, Mr. Bloomfield?"

  David realizes he just trapped himself with the wrong comment in trying to give her praise. He looks right at her dark-brown eyes and delivers his recovery, "As much as I would feel more comfortable with you there to translate and keep me ahead of the language and cultural obstacles, I don't think the brass would pop for it."