by Mukul Deva
“Yes, Sanjeev?”
“Sir, me … Nanda. How are you?”
“I am well. Tell me.”
“The guy is collecting the items at four tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“The Garden of Five Senses.”
“Damn!” Ravinder grimaced as he pictured the venue; it would be a pain to put down a team discreetly. “Why did you select—?”
“I didn’t. He did.”
Smart guy, Ravinder reflected. A pro. He’d picked a place and time where the crowds would be heavy. “Okay, we’ll be there.”
“Sir,” Nanda asked hesitantly, “you are going to be there … right? Yourself?”
“Of course I will.”
“Thank you, sir.” Nanda sounded relieved. “I was worried. Sometimes your people can get trigger-happy.”
“Don’t worry about it, Sanjeev. I’ll be there.” Ravinder saw Chance and Jennifer coming up to him as he ended the call. “Is everything okay?” From the look on Chance’s face, Ravinder sensed it was not.
“Well, Mr. Gill, I don’t want to seem critical, but we are having a problem with the guards holding on to their posts every time we run an emergency security-breach drill.”
“Really?” Ravinder was perplexed; the drill was simple and clear. He had just been through it with Mohite; the minute an alert was sounded, everyone stuck to their posts and ensured nothing moved in or out. “Why is that? Any specific problem you could identify?”
Chance hesitated, aware he was on shaky ground. However, over the past few days he had established a good rapport with the Indian ATTF chief. Also he knew the issue had to be sorted out; if something happened to the British MP, his arse was grass. “I think it is because Mr. Mohite keeps countermanding orders from the control room and issuing fresh ones based on what he feels the threat is.”
“I see.” Ravinder ensured his curses were not audible. This had to be solved by him ASAP; Mohite had no business doing that. “Let me take care of it.”
Chance saw Ravinder check his watch and realized they should be moving on; he trusted Gill. Jennifer and he exchanged glances and took their leave.
Ravinder wanted to return to the eighth floor and deal with Mohite, but realizing that Ruby was about to arrive, he headed for the Frontier Restaurant.
The maître d’ was escorting him to a table in the center, right below an exquisite glass chandelier, when Ruby entered. Ravinder’s heart skipped a beat as she spotted him, smiled, and began to approach; so striking was the similarity, he could have sworn it was Rehana.
Ruby was wearing a pale pink dress and had a matching leather clutch in her hand. Her high heels gave her a sexy, leggy look, and her black hair framed her face in a perfect oval. Ravinder noticed every male eye in the restaurant swivel toward her. She looked beautiful and poised; his heart swelled. Then he noted the aloof expression on her face, and his heart fell. Somehow she seemed to have moved away … far away from him. As though the closeness they achieved yesterday had been lost during the night. He sensed an awkwardness hanging heavily between them.
Ravinder could not let it pass. He felt a need to reach out to his firstborn. He waited till the maître d’ had seated her.
“What has happened, Ruby? There is something different about you today.”
“No. Nothing in particular.” Ruby shrugged. “Just one of those days, I guess.”
“But you’re okay, otherwise?”
“Don’t worry about it, Dad. I will be fine.”
Ravinder knew it was more than that, but he did not know how to deal with it.
The maître d’ returned. “Here are the menus, sir.”
They were about to pick up the menus when Ravinder, who was facing the door, saw Chance and Jennifer enter.
Maybe some company would do both of us some good. Ravinder seized the opportunity.
Rising, he waved to them. “Come and meet my daughter.” Ravinder gestured proudly toward Ruby as Chance and Jennifer walked up to them.
Chance’s eyes widened. “So you two are related.” He grinned. “Now, isn’t it a small world?”
“You two know each other?” Ravinder was surprised.
Stunned, Ruby struggled to regain her composure.
“I should say we do,” Chance answered before Ruby could. “We work together.”
“Really?” Ravinder gave Ruby a long look. Why did she not mention that she worked with MI6?
Maybe because I never asked her … but I did. He remembered asking her categorically. Now, when he replayed their conversation in his head, he thought she had been evasive. Oh well, it is not as though MI6 agents would go around advertising the fact. But I am her father and—
Chance’s voice interrupted. “We have been working together for almost three years now.”
“Fantastic.” That was when Ravinder noticed Jennifer’s expression: a polite smile plastered on, which did not conceal the guarded look she was giving Ruby. He sensed something was afoot.
Are they both vying for this fellow? A mischievous impulse ran through him.
“Why don’t the two of you join us for lunch? I would love to hear more about my daughter, since”—he threw Ruby an affectionate look—“she does not talk about herself at all.”
The lack of enthusiasm on Jennifer’s face was clear. And it was mirrored by Ruby.
Chance began, “We would not like to intrude on a family—”
“Nonsense. I absolutely insist. Please—” He rose and pulled up the chair facing him for Jennifer, ensuring that Chance had to sit opposite Ruby. They were all sitting when their similarity struck Ravinder. “My God! You two look so alike.” He gave Jennifer and Ruby a fond smile. The fact that neither smiled in return did not escape his attention. Chance too looked uneasy.
Ruby cursed silently as Chance and Jennifer sat down. She would have to ensure the conversation stayed away from dangerous terrain. All three were already on the lookout for a female British mercenary.
To Ruby’s relief, the maître d’ arrived to take their orders.
“It is as much fun watching the chefs prepare the dishes as it is eating here.” Ravinder gestured toward the men working the barbecue a few meters away. “Would you like me to help you with ordering?” he asked.
All three nodded.
“That would be great.” Chance smiled.
“Easy on the spices for me,” Ruby added.
“That’s funny.” Ravinder bestowed a loving smile on her. “Your mother loved spicy food.”
“But I am not able to handle them.”
“Me neither,” Jennifer chimed in.
Ruby, Jennifer, and Chance watched the chefs working expertly with a multitude of barbecued dishes as Ravinder conferred with the maître d’ and ordered. Reminding him to keep the spices low, he ordered tandoori tiger prawns and a mixed kebab and vegetables platter. For the main course, he ordered Peshawari daal, burrah kebab, murg malai kebab, Peshawari kebabs, karahi gosht, tandoori gobhi, subzi seekh, pulao, and raan.
The service was fast, and soon their table was laden with fragrant dishes.
Luck was still with Ruby. The conversation remained either on the food or on related trivia. Perhaps, she reasoned, they were reluctant to talk about work in front of her, as it would have to be about the peace summit.
It was the murgh malai kebabs that caused a problem; despite Ravinder’s caution, it was too spicy for the two ladies. Jennifer’s hiccups increased as the table was cleared and the phirni arrived. Giving the dessert a pass, she excused herself and made her way to the ladies’ room. Ruby lasted a moment longer and then she too headed there.
“I am really happy that you two managed to get together,” Chance said as Ruby walked away. “Ruby had been apprehensive about calling you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, she was. I met her the other day and she—”
Ravinder could not help interrupting. “You two seem to know each other well.”
“Well…” Chance was un
sure of how to proceed. “Well, we have worked together for three years now.”
Ravinder immediately sensed there was more to it. Unwilling to put his guest on the spot, he was about to change the topic when Chance spoke again.
“I have been worried about Ruby. We all are. You know … considering the horrible way in which her mother was killed. It broke her apart. So much so that the agency psychologists recommended she be sent on extended medical leave.” Chance was feeling awkward about saying all this behind Ruby’s back. But he thought telling her father might help her, so he continued. “There’s no way she’ll be taken back on duty till the shrinks clear her … it was that bad.” Another pause. “I am happy to see her looking so much more relaxed.”
Ravinder could not hide his shock. Chance spotted it. “You know about that, don’t you?”
“I know that my … that Ruby’s mother has passed away, but”—Ravinder shook his head—“but that’s it. Ruby did not say any more. I guess she does not like to talk about it.”
“That’s understandable.”
“What happened to her mother?”
“No one knows for sure. Just after the recent terror strikes on Jerusalem, she went to Palestine and was taking part in a peace march. The Israelis say that Qassam Brigade terrorists bombed the march. The Palestinians say that the IDF carried out an artillery attack, and shells landed on the marchers.”
Ravinder felt a faint alarm begin to hiss in his head. Something was amiss; Ruby should have told him about this, even if she did not want to talk about her job as an MI6 agent. There had to be a reason. He began to ponder that.
The more Chance told him, the louder the alarm in his cop’s head became. Even the father was unable to wish it away. A part of his brain had already begun to relive everything that had transpired since Ruby moved in. He realized that Ruby had been evasive about her life; she had not avoided any questions, but her answers had always been vague and sketchy. Though hating himself for the thought, Ravinder sensed that Ruby was not just physically similar to Rehana; she possibly had the same hard streak too.
Could Rehana have passed on her obsession for the Palestinian cause to her? The thought dropped into Ravinder’s head. Could she be the woman Nanda had mentioned … the one he thought he had seen with Mark? Ravinder couldn’t push it away.
Could she be the thirteenth woman that the man from Mossad had talked about? Could she be the woman from England Anwar had mentioned … who is expected to meet the LeT financier? And could the man sitting opposite him have some of the answers?
“What do you—?” Ravinder leaned forward to question Chance when he spotted the two girls returning. He pulled back, breaking off in midsentence.
Chance sensed the sudden shift, looked around and saw Ruby and Jennifer threading their way back. Jennifer looked pale and washed out; the spices had hit her hard.
Ruby noticed Ravinder pull away from Chance. She also noted the sudden shift in conversation. She sensed they had been talking about her. Instantly she went on red alert. Chance had said something, which had put her father on guard.
So much for all the I-want-to-make-up-for-it bullshit he was giving me. Ruby felt a stab of anger. She had to stay focused on her mission. This father stuff was too much for her to handle.
The rest of the lunch passed with only sporadic attempts at polite conversation.
* * *
The troubleshooter from Aligarh watched as the shift changed; a new set of cops came by, in ones and twos, and relieved the old set. He did nothing while they settled down.
Then, when he felt things appeared as normal as they could get, he rechecked his weapons and got ready.
Everything was in place for him to set the example Pasha had ordered. The jihad allowed for no mistakes.
* * *
Ravinder had signed the charge slip and was returning his credit card to his wallet when his mobile rang. He grimaced when he saw the number.
“Good afternoon, sir. How are you?”
“I am fine, Mr. Gill.” Thakur’s unmistakable nasal tone came through loud and clear. “Where are you?”
“I am at the Ashoka Hotel, sir.”
“Good. I am reaching there in a few minutes. I would like to review the security arrangements.”
“There is no need for you to bother, sir. I have just finished doing that.”
“It is no bother, Mr Gill. This is my duty. I am here in the neighborhood, so why waste the opportunity.”
“Right, sir.” Ravinder sighed. It was going to be a sheer waste of time, but he was the Home Minister and had to be pandered to. “I will meet you in the lobby.” Ending the call, he turned to the others. “Duty calls. I have to go.”
Chance and Jennifer thanked him for the lunch and left.
“Come, Ruby, let me walk you to the car.” Ravinder wanted to restart the conversation they had started before lunch, but now suspicion had joined with the anger he felt between them.
They were halfway through the lobby, when Ravinder heard Thakur’s voice. “Ah! There you are, Gill?”
He turned to see Thakur saunter up to them, with his complement of Black Cat commandos around him. Thakur’s Gandhian white kurta and pajamas contrasted sharply with the black combat dress of his PSOs. The thick gold chain around his neck and the gold-plated Rolex on his wrist were not Gandhian, though. And Ravinder was not surprised to see a nattily dressed Mohite walking beside him. What he had been planning to say to Ruby went unsaid.
Then Thakur spotted Ruby, and his politician’s smile switched on. “And who is this lovely young lady with you? Is she the one from the CIA?”
“No, sir. This is my daughter, Ruby.” Ravinder introduced them. “Ruby, this is Mr. Thakur, our Home Minister.”
Thakur was beaming as he shook Ruby’s hand. “You are beautiful, my dear. How come I have not seen you before?”
“She has just returned from London, sir.” Ravinder kept the explanation brief. “We were having lunch. I was just dropping her off to the car.”
“What is this, Mr. Gill?” Thakur’s smile was now in full flow. “If you had told me you were busy with your family, I would never have bothered you. Anyway, don’t let me disrupt anything. Just show me the security arrangements, and then you two can go ahead.” He turned to Ruby. “Come, my dear, stay with us. I shall only take a few minutes of your father’s time.”
“I don’t think that is a good idea, sir,” Ravinder protested. “That is a restricted area.”
“Come, come, Mr. Gill. You must stop being a policeman all the time.… She is family, after all. Isn’t that right, Govind?”
“Of course, sir.” Govind did his Yes-Minister bit.
Ravinder had to struggle to keep his exasperation in check. Before he could respond, Thakur had taken Ruby’s arm and was heading for the elevator, talking to her about London. Mohite, fawning over them, led the way.
Ravinder had to follow. They were getting into the elevator when an idea struck him. He chewed on it. Why not? If I can’t avoid it … and if Ruby is somehow involved with disrupting the summit … I can use this opportunity to pass on some disinformation. That will …
Mohite’s voice intruded. “Let me explain the security plan to you, sir.” Ravinder’s heart sank; Govind, in an attempt to impress Thakur, was going to spill the entire plan to him, right in front of Ruby.
He was right. Mohite was leaving no stone unturned. “Every entry point to the secure floors is manned by ATTF personnel, two per post. Similarly, we have a section-sized picket on both the hotel gates and another section at the two roadblocks set up on both sides of the road leading up to the hotel.”
The elevator doors now opened on the seventh floor. Leading the way out, Mohite continued. “We have two men securing the staircases on either end of the floor. Likewise, two men at either end of the elevators, so no unauthorized person can enter. This seventh floor will be totally occupied by security and admin staff, and the eighth one is for the delegates … and, of course, m
eetings.”
Turning left from the elevators, Mohite led the way to the first room on the outer side of the corridor.
“This room and the adjacent two have been converted into our security control room. We will be monitoring and supervising the complete operation from here.”
He held open the door for Thakur. The minister sauntered in with his entire party in tow. Men were busy setting up a bank of monitors, with wires and cables strewn all over.
“They are setting up the closed-circuit television network.” Mohite explained, “Both gates, the hotel lobby, the elevators, staircases, and all entries and exits to the seventh and eighth floors will be monitored twenty-four/seven from here. The camera feed is also to be piped into Mr. Gill’s room, which is just down the corridor on the other side.”
“What are these?” Thakur pointed at an open cardboard carton containing neatly tied bundles of colored plastic cards.
“Security access cards, sir, for issue to all authorized personnel. No one can enter without these cards. The blue cards are for the seventh floor only, and the red for access to the entire secure zone.” He eased a red card out and handed it to Thakur. “This one is for you, sir. It allows you complete freedom of movement over the secure zone.”
Thakur idly flipped the card around in his hand. He knew he would not need it, but the card had a nice, important feel. He pocketed it with a smile.
Mohite threw the bundle back in the cardboard box and led them out, again holding the door for Thakur.
With one card taken out, the bundle had become loose. When the bundle got tossed into the box, some cards slipped out and scattered, a few falling out of the box. The PSO standing closest to the box bent down to pick them up. Ruby, next to him, stepped forward and helped him before joining the others in the corridor. No one noticed her palm a red card and slip it into her handbag. Ravinder, on the other side of the minister, saw her bend, but was more focused on what Mohite was saying, trying to spot a way to stem his blabbering.
When Ruby joined them all out in the corridor, Mohite was saying, “Also on the other side of the elevators are the rooms for the MI6 and CIA agents.” He pointed them out. “Directly opposite is the room we have kept for you, in case you want to rest.”