by Niv Kaplan
There was a moment of confused silence and Lisa could envisage the two women standing there, unable to decide. She was their responsibility and it wasn't hard to guess they were evaluating the price they could pay for their negligence.
Finally Doris said: "Eve, why don't you go back and check your office again, I'll check these corridors. Maybe she went in another office by mistake. Let's meet back here in five minutes, if we can't find her then, we'll call security.”
Lisa forced herself to wait and let the secretaries move a little ways, praying no one else would appear. When the footsteps dissipated, she unlocked the door pulling out the key and in one swift motion stepped out and shut the door behind her. The outer office was empty. She quickly turned, fussing to get the key in the lock, turned it and ran to put it back in its place.
Doris entered the office a moment later.
"Oh, there you are," she said sounding quite irritated. "We were worried about you. Where did you go?"
"I bumped into someone in the hall and we talked for a while; why, what's wrong?"
Though her voice sounded irritated, Lisa noticed relief in the secretary's expression as she took her position back behind her desk.
"I'm not supposed to let you roam around here without supervision," she lectured. "Who did you meet?"
"Oh, some guy. He was a great help. We talked about a few technical matters I wasn't certain about. I came right back once we were done.”
Eve came in, looking relieved to see Lisa as well. She smiled forgivingly. "Can't leave you alone for a second, child.` You're too quick for us older folks.”
"Sorry I caused a fuss," Lisa said in a juvenile tone.
"Oh, it's no big fuss Lisa," Doris said, dismissing the comment a little too quickly, "just keep with us from now on.”
Lisa nodded apologetically, glancing from the corner of her eye at the light coming through the crack under the door of her father's office, pondering anxiously over the bracelet glued to her mother's photo.
CHAPTER 26
Mikki's connecting flight from St. Louis landed in Washington late Sunday afternoon. It was dark by the time he had checked in at the Crystal City Marriot and had gone up to his room which he found to be large and comfortable. He took a long hot shower then stretched out on the king-size bed and began flipping cable channels.
After an hour of mindless channel hopping he got dressed and went out. His room, as per his request, was on the second floor, so he had no trouble hopping down two flights to the main lobby. He would avoid using the elevator the entire visit, careful not to bump into the man he was following. He strolled through the lobby looking for a place to fill his now famished stomach.
He spotted the local sports bar and cautiously wandered in, quickly surveying the room for a familiar face. He doubted that an unsuspecting person, even one that had met him once, quite a long time ago, would notice him in a semi-darkened bar where most eyes focused on the ongoing ball games occupying the numerous TV screens. Nevertheless, he had to be careful. He chose a corner table away from the entrance and ordered a drink.
Later he ordered a large hamburger with fries and chewed on it while trying to figure out the odd game the Americans called football. In his country, football was played with the feet and a round ball and the only break in the action was half time.
He was half a way through his burger when Paul Glass walked in accompanied by another man. The two looked around hesitantly for a moment, then climbed on tall round stools by the rectangular bar and ordered drinks. Mikki slowly eased himself from under the bulb over his table so as to be more obscured by darkness. He was positioned almost directly behind the two but he could see their profiles clearly as they engaged in earnest conversation.
He was seeing Glass for the first time in more than three years, and even with the limited bar illumination he noticed the drastic change in the man; the wrinkled face, the unsettled look, the frantic gestures; the thirst for alcohol. His looks and demeanor projected distress. He no longer looked the intimidating figure who had once bullied him. He watched the two carefully. The other man seemed to be the one in control, his white hair and hawk-like features giving him an aura of authority over the overly animated Glass.
Sabrina, the wide eyed, long-legged waitress came by to clear away his meal. He ordered a cappuccino and cheesecake for dessert and watched her as she gracefully slid among the now crazed bar crowd who were cheering on their favored teams.
He tried to imagine a cheerful Karen sitting across from him, but his vague image of her kept shifting to her sister Lisa. Lately he has begun to notice that his memory of Karen merged more and more with that of her sister. It annoyed him somewhat, thinking that he needed to maintain a sense of loyalty, but he couldn't help it, having spent so much time with Lisa, whom he’d grown to like and - at moments - even fancy. He could no longer recall how Karen reacted in certain situations and his mind would intuitively wander to envisage Lisa.
He thought back to the astonishing news about the bracelet she had found in her father's office. Lisa was certain Karen had worn it on her trip to Israel. He wondered if that was a sort of memento Glass was keeping as a proof his daughter was alive. It was certainly a vital bit of information that added testimony to their suspicion but provided little comfort to Lisa who had to confront the horrible reality of her father's betrayal. It hurt him to see her suffer so. At those instants he was completely at a loss in her presence, just as he was with Karen, wanting to help, but uncertain of how to go about it. He sometimes felt the urge to hold her but could not bring himself to do it for fear that it would go beyond the harmless and into something more significant and intimate. He did not fully trust himself and was uncertain of how Lisa would react. The last thing in the world he wanted was to have their relationship tainted.
They had, in his eyes, been quite intimate regardless. In the two weeks they had been knotted together, trying to make sense of the mystery, they had spent hours alone in his room at the inn sorting out the information they had gathered, discussing their prospects, planning ahead, and constantly debating. He was charmed by her wit. She did not take anything at face value and challenged his reasoning again and again. At times he fancied her and, in the intimacy of his room, thought it was mutual but it never materialized physically. Karen was still there, between them.
Sabrina came over with the check.
"When do you get off?" he asked boldly, surprising himself.
As she looked him over, he noticed her breasts heaving at him from under a white tee shirt, cupped in a brassier at least two sizes too small. She had a pretty face with a tiny nose, big dark eyes, short dark hair, and legs to spare.
"Two in the morning," she answered, placing her elbows on his table.
"Can I wait for you?" he asked. It was just past midnight.
"You may but I don't see what you intend to accomplish.”
"I could use a little company. You seem friendly.”
"I am friendly…" she said in a southern accent, "and you seem quite a decent fellow, but I have a policy not to fraternize with any of my customers. I would be asking for trouble if I ever broke this rule.”
His urge was subsiding.
"You're right," he said taking some bills from his pocket, "I probably am not the first to ask you and certainly won't be the last. I would have the same philosophy if I was you. I apologize.”
She smiled and took the bills from him. When she came back with the change she bent over and whispered in his ear. "Thanks for not making a fuss," she said,. "Others have been pretty rude at times.”
She wandered away.
Mikki glanced over at Glass and his companion who were still engrossed in conversation. He noticed they were the only ones oblivious to the football game. The bartender was servicing their empty glasses continually, but they seemed unaffected by the alcohol. His thoughts went back to Lisa and Karen and to the pain this man at the bar had inflicted on them with his betrayal. He thought of his own father and h
is own awkward relationship with him. He had occasionally criticized his parents for what appeared to him to be blatant neglect of him and his brother. But that, as had often been reasoned, could be attributed to the unique way of life on the Kibbutz. Parents were just not expected to tend to their children as much as they would in the city. But whatever impairments he had ever suffered from his parents, intentionally or not, they were a far cry from the damage the two girls were suffering and would forever suffer.
The white haired man suddenly stood. He threw some bills on the bar and the two headed for the exit. Just then came a roar from the bar crowd as one of the teams scored. Mikki slid off his stool and followed the two men. They walked out the bar, oblivious to the excitement, heading to the reception counter. Mikki walked casually behind them, slowing down just enough to hear them order a taxi. He walked to the end of the lobby, stopped and looked back. Glass and his companion were standing by the revolving exit doors. He turned and headed back in their direction, circling slightly around the lobby. He reached a couch on the opposite side of the revolving doors and sat, his back to the two men, straining to hear their conversation.
"… Have your secretary reserve tickets to New York; I'll reserve a room for you at the Summit.”
"I'd hate to lose a day at the factory but I guess it'll have to do," said the other, who Mikki immediately recognized as Glass.
"I'll send a car to pick you up at the Summit at eight thirty," his companion was saying, "that should get you to my office by nine. If all goes well you could be out of New York by mid-afternoon.”
"We may as well go over a few more…" Glass was saying then his voice trailed off as the two men stepped through the revolving doors. Mikki, out of the corner of his eye, caught a glimpse of Glass trailing the white haired man out. He did not dare follow. Remaining seated, he watched the white haired man nod to Glass a few times before disappearing into the waiting taxi. Glass watched the departing taxi for a few seconds, and then slowly turned back to the hotel.
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Afraid to miss Glass, Mikki appeared at the breakfast buffet at six in the morning, filled his plate with an assortment of foods and sat down, enthusiastically digging into his plate. Glass appeared a half hour later dressed in a black suit and red tie. Mikki watched him as he nibbled at his food, periodically staring at a copy of USA TODAY he had brought with him.
The night before he had contacted Lisa in Los Angeles after making sure her father had turned in for the night. He rang the house, let the phone ring twice before disconnecting, then waited for her to call from a pay phone. She was to remain at her parents as much as was reasonably plausible, claiming she wanted to spend some more time with her mother. Her true intentions were to try and nose around her father as much as possible, hoping to further supplement the bracelet discovery and monitor his movements from within.
He filled her in on the night's events and they considered whether Mikki should continue following Glass to New York, agreeing to make the decision based on what would evolve the following day.
Glass was on his feet and ready to go fifteen minutes after having sat down. Mikki scrambled off his seat and rushed out the dining hall through a back exit, having signed for his meal in advance. He almost bumped into Glass in the lobby but managed to avoid him and beat him out the door. He quickly honed in on an attendant who signaled for a taxi, keeping his back to the hotel entrance, afraid to be recognized. He stole a glance over his shoulder once inside the taxi, expecting to see Glass eyeing him, but Glass was not yet out the door. Mikki asked the driver to circle the hotel entrance roundabout and park so he had a clear view of the lobby and exit. He began to worry as Glass was nowhere to be seen inside the lobby or out, but after a few minutes he appeared out the revolving doors carrying a brown briefcase, signaling for a taxi.
Mikki took out a fifty dollar bill and handed the taxi driver.
"Follow that cab and you'll get its twin brother," he said.
The taxi driver proceeded as requested without uttering a word. It was a slow ride and Mikki was able to follow the path on a map of Washington DC he had purchased at the reception. They maneuvered out of Crystal City crossing the Potomac at the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The tip of the Washington Monument looked to be at the center of the rising sun as the rush hour traffic sluggishly crossed the river. He watched the driver maneuver his taxi in and out of traffic, keeping some distance behind the vehicle he was following. It was the first time Mikki had ever attempted to tail another car but the taxi driver seemed to handle the task quite skillfully as if he had done before.
Mikki was charmed by the well-groomed city with its gardens and parks well dispersed among its cosmopolitan structures. Unlike Los Angeles or New York, the roads blended well within the natural vegetation, the changing colors of autumn adding to the refreshing ambience. Driving along the Potomac made him feel as though they were somewhere out in the country, far and away from a cluttered metropolis.
They reached New Hampshire then veered to the left to Swann Street and stopped in front of a large office complex. Mikki handed the driver the other fifty but remained in the vehicle until Glass left his taxi and disappeared in one of the entrances.
The complex was a five-storey glass structure with three entrances facing the street. Glass had entered through the far entrance and Mikki had to hurry to catch up. He reached the entrance and was about to charge in but stopped short, eyeing the security people behind the glass doors and continued walking down the street. Half a block away he stopped, then walked back, passing the entrance once again, this time paying attention to the name on the its doors. Inscribed in red was 'Matlock Defense Company, Inc.' with 'Corporate Offices' underneath.
He continued walking past the entrance.
The middle entrance had the name 'Synergy Computer Systems' inscribed in blue, and there was no security activity there. The third entrance was a restaurant. Mikki entered Synergy Computer Systems. An elderly woman sat behind the reception counter answering phones.
"I may have the wrong address but is this company associated with the one over there?" he asked, pointing at the Matlock entrance.
"None whatsoever," the receptionist smiled, "we're in computers.”
"Do you occupy this entire section?" he asked, pointing up. "We sure do," she answered with obvious pride, "we have five floors of computer equipment in this facility.”
"And they occupy that section?" he asked, pointing toward Matlock again.
"I guess they do," she answered, and quickly answered an incoming call.
"What about that section?" he asked and pointed toward the third entrance, when she was done directing the call.
"Oh, that's a restaurant. It occupies two floors. The rest is rent space I believe, if that's what you're looking for." Her tone was becoming less patient and she began fussing with items on her desk, signaling that he had taken up enough of her time.
"Thanks," he said and inched his way backward, out the door. The receptionist was already occupied with another call.
He turned and crossed the street, approaching a small coffee shop in the middle of a block of smaller and less impressive office buildings, opposite the Matlock building. He ordered an espresso and sat staring across the street at the Matlock entrance. After an hour he decided to call Lisa. He found a telephone booth at the corner of Swann and New Hampshire.
Keeping the building within his sights, he rang her home, ignoring the agreed code, praying she will be the one to pick up.
She did pick up and he quickly gave her the public phone booth number to call. The phone rang five minutes later.
"He went into an office building about an hour ago," Mikki said. "The name on its doors reads Matlock Defense Company. I couldn't follow him in.”
There was silence on the other side for a moment.
"Anything else?” Lisa asked, sounding distant.
"No. Had a pretty dull night, a great breakfast, and it looks like I'll have to spend some time out here o
n the street.”
"I'll check out Matlock," she said.
"Shouldn't be a problem, they seem to have quite a presence."
"Yeah, I've heard of them," she remarked, then added: "I think you should go to New York.”
He did not respond immediately so she continued. "I reserved tickets for you at the Delta shuttle counter for a seven thirty flight. I also booked you at the Summit for one night.”
Mikki smiled to himself at her astuteness. His own mother couldn't have been more assertive.
"Mikki," Lisa continued in a softer tone, "I'd also like you to meet my boss, George Eckert.”
He was suddenly alert again. "What does he know?" he asked, alarmed.
"I told him the truth when I asked for a month off. I had to. He was very supportive.”
"How much does he know?"
"He knows my sister had been missing for the last three years and that I suspect my own father of kidnapping her. He knows who you are but he does not know what you guys have been doing. He offered his help and now he's got some information he won't talk about over the phone, so he asked to meet you.”
Mikki was about to protest. The Mustafa execution was a noose around their necks and he knew his accomplices were at least as sensitive as he was, if not more. Despite him trusting her judgment and needing additional help, it annoyed him that she did not consult him on this matter. Involving other people was not something to be taken lightly though he was convinced that to get to the bottom of the affair, more people were certain to become involved. But he saw no point elaborating on a done deed so he held his tongue. They may as well use any help her boss could provide.
"It's your call," he said. "Where should I meet him?"
She gave him a phone number and told him to use it whenever he was ready. "He'll have someone pick you up from where ever you'll be," she instructed.
"Call me in New York tonight if there are any developments," he said.
"You know I will, dear," she joked.