“Oh, Mom, you sound exhausted. As a matter of fact, I feel that way too. We’ve had a long, stressful time with little sleep and food.” Allie’s voice trailed off, sounding tired and defeated.
“Yes, the light is coming and we need some time. I will sit in silence for a time. You may join me or you may sleep. Our course will be clearer later.” So saying, Hadi took a deep breath and was still.
Maggie and Allie propped themselves together against the wall, their bodies and their spirits sagging. Silence descended over the little cell. The only sounds were the deep breathing of the two exhausted women and that of Hadi who was deep in meditation.
***
Harry Cavanaugh held the receiver away from his face and took a long gulp of the now cold coffee. He sat the cup down as the phone was answered, “Landis here.”
“John, this is Harry. Any news?
“No. Nothing new. How about you?” was the discouraged reply.
“Well, nothing good on this end. The McGill women were abducted, held captive somewhere in Hollywood. They escaped. We were on our way to them when they got them again.” Harry’s voice carried the depth of his disappointment and concern. His voice picked up a little. “We do have an idea of the area they had them in. There’s no way of knowing whether or not they returned there, but we’re doing a house-to-house inquiry. If we’re real lucky we might find them before it’s too late.”
“Yeah. Too late. Do you have any more information about what these guys are planning . . . other than abducting innocent citizens?” Landis asked.
Harry answered, “Not really. Nothing good, we can be sure of that. It’s causing us a great deal of concern that they may be touching in on this college program. Can’t be sure whether their interest is only in Andre Fouchet or if there’s more to it. Makes a person real uneasy.”
“You got that right. Uneasy. Well, keep me posted.” Landis signed off.
“Right.” Cavanaugh put the phone down. In his mind’s ear he still could hear Maggie’s last words calling to him for help. “I’ve got to find her soon,” he muttered to himself, “and her daughter, too, of course.”
Chapter Eight
Maggie woke with a start. Light was entering through the small high window providing limited illumination. Allie still was slumped against her with her head resting on Maggie’s shoulder. Maggie blinked and peered across the room. What she saw did not so much surprise her as command her attention. She always had found it fascinating to match up faces to telephone voices. Now she had the opportunity to match up last night’s voice with the rest of the person. Hadi was sitting in the opposite corner of the room with his eyes closed, his back straight and his legs crossed in the traditional meditative posture. His face, in fact, his whole body seemed to be lit by a shimmering light. Maggie closed her eyes again, thinking they were playing tricks on her. For a few moments she felt very peaceful, as if she had no problems at all. It was a lovely feeling, one she had not experienced for a long time. For some reason, she felt rested and refreshed.
“Good morning, dear lady. Did you rest well?” Hadi’s voice was soft and comforting.
“Well, yes, I think I did, thank you,” Maggie replied. As she spoke Allie stirred, stretched, and opened her eyes.
“Hi, Mom. Hello, Hadi. How are you?” Allie asked sleepily.
“We appear to be in much better condition now,” said Maggie. “I wonder how long we slept? How’re you feeling, honey?”
“I feel amazingly well,” answered Allie.
“There are times when quantity is not as important as quality,” Hadi commented obliquely.
Allie looked at Hadi, ready with a comment about philosophical pontification at this early hour. She saw a small, dark-skinned man, wearing a pale blue turban, still sitting cross-legged in the corner of the room. He appeared to be less than average in height, his wrists, protruding from the sleeves of the loose white shirt he wore, were tanned and bony. His shoulders seemed unusually broad for one so thin. His back was straight and he appeared to be as comfortable as if he were in an easy chair. He returned her look with steady, shining, penetrating deep brown eyes set in a thin bony face. A short goatee-style beard and mustache covered his face. He smiled kindly at her and said, “Truth is true at any hour, dear lady.”
Allie’s mouth opened and then closed. Her first thought had been that she wished Hadi had turned out to be large and muscular. As a rescuer she had thought that he might be in as much need of help as she and her mother. Now, she sat back in silence wondering if he really had known what was in her mind. She was beginning to think that there might be more to him than met the eye.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a scraping noise and the sound of the lock being turned. As she looked around, the door opened and their ferrety captor entered with a tray of three steaming bowls of food and a large plastic bottle of water. He wore a white bandage on the side of his head and he cast a malevolent look at Maggie and Allie. Wordlessly he sat the tray on the floor and backed hastily out of the room, closing and locking the door.
“Ah, Allah once again has provided us with what we need,” Hadi said. He rose and crossed to the tray. Solemnly he handed a bowl to each of them. Then, loudly he said, “Enchallah!”
Maggie asked, “What did you say? What does that mean, Hadi?”
Hadi responded, “I was thanking Allah for his constant care and protection, and especially for this food.”
The aroma was delicious, but it was unfamiliar to Maggie. “What is this?” she asked as she spooned the hot food into her mouth.
“I think it is couscous and vegetables in a meat broth, probably lamb,” said Allie. “Whatever it is, it’s simply heavenly. Thank you, Hadi, for offering our thanks too.”
As the warm food hit her stomach, Maggie could feel it sending strength and warmth all the way to her toes. They ate in blissful silence for a few moments. As she ate, Maggie looked more closely at their prison. It was much as she had suspected. A masonry structure, concrete block walls, concrete floor, a high ceiling, maybe nine or ten feet high with open wooden rafters. In all it was about twelve feet square. The only door stood near the corner of one wall. The small high window was no more than eighteen inches wide by ten inches high. Except for their bodies and the food tray, the room was completely bare.
“Hadi, probably it was a good idea for us to get some rest before we attempt to leave here; however, now that we’ve rested, when do you think we can leave?” Allie spoke softly and respectfully to the little man.
“Miss Allie, thank you for that.” He continued, “It is not yet time for us to leave. When the time is correct, we will have no difficulty at all in leaving this room. But that time is not yet. To act at the incorrect time will bring only difficulty.”
“They’re very angry with Allie and me, Hadi,” Maggie said. “I fear that they may really harm us if we stay around.”
“It is true that they hold anger in their hearts, but they will not harm you yet,” he said. “They, too, are waiting.” Once again Hadi rose, collected the bowls, replaced them on the tray. He then passed the water bottle first to Maggie.
Maggie drank the cool water gratefully. Making conversation, she asked Hadi, “Tell us about your name. I don’t know Arabic. Does your name have a meaning?”
Hadi looked at them with a smile and said, “Ah, dear lady. It is interesting that you ask. I will tell you a story. I am named Hadi. Hadi is a Sufi. It is said that when one is lost in the desert and if one is fortunate, he will meet Hadi. It is necessary that one follow Hadi without question or hesitation. For a long time they may wander through the desert and perhaps the person may spy a shining oasis in a different direction than Hadi is leading him. One then may hesitate and doubt and say to Hadi, ‘Hadi, there is an oasis over there.’ The person may then leave Hadi and head toward the oasis. The doubt causes Hadi to disappear and the person, upon reaching the area where he saw the oasis, finds it was but a mirage. Soon the person perishes. But perhaps if he had follo
wed Hadi over the next sand dune the real oasis would have been there. The lesson is to follow Hadi in perfect faith and without question. It is good to follow the path of Allah the same way.”
Silence followed the story. Each of the three seemed lost in his or her own thoughts. Questions surfaced in Maggie’s mind. Who is this man? How did he come to be here? Is he to be trusted?
Allie’s thoughts were following a similar track. She was torn between trusting him completely and thinking that he was a consummate con artist.
Finally, Maggie said, “A very interesting story, Hadi. You have quite a tradition to live up to.” She didn’t ask the questions that came to mind.
The peace of the little cell was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, a scraping noise, and then the sound of a key in the lock. They watched as the doorknob turned and the door opened. The Ferret stepped just across the threshold. Motioning to Allie and Maggie, he said, “You two. Come.”
Maggie and Allie stood up slowly and awkwardly, their muscles stiff from hours spent on the cold concrete floor. Allie said, “We need to use the bathroom. Please take us there.”
The Ferret looked annoyed, but nodded his head. Maggie and Allie glanced at Hadi, who gave them an encouraging smile and then they walked through the door into the sunlit courtyard. Squinting in the brightness, Maggie noticed, across the small enclosure, steps leading down to yet another level. They were joined by the burly man who had taken them from the car last night, Maggie’s Bruno. They were led single file by The Ferret and followed by Bruno, up white steps to the level of the garage and then up another level and into the kitchen. No one spoke.
The Ferret led them to a room off the kitchen, probably a maid’s room, and indicated a bathroom. Maggie and Allie started to enter the bathroom together, but he caught roughly at Allie’s shoulder and held her back while Maggie entered. “Be good, or else,” he said and waved an ugly little gun at Allie. Maggie nodded. In the bathroom she washed her hands and splashed water on her face. She smoothed her unruly hair as best she could and wondered where her purse might be. She looked longingly at the shower but her fear for Allie caused her to hurry out. The Ferret nodded to Allie and waved the gun at Maggie. Allie entered the bathroom, was gone only a few minutes and emerged looking a bit more refreshed.
The Ferret motioned them into the elevator. The elevator ascended and they exited on the level of the living room. The living room had been furnished in the last few hours with a folding table and four folding chairs. Sitting behind the table with his back to the glass wall was Ahmed, the man from the airplane.
He indicated two chairs placed across from him, facing the glass, and said in accented English, “Please, sit down, ladies. I apologize for your accommodations last night. However, your lack of cooperation made it necessary. I hope you were not too uncomfortable.”
His voice was cold and flat, negating any courtesy the words might have carried. As she and Allie took their seats, Maggie squinted her eyes against the glare behind him in order to see Ahmed more clearly. He appeared older, or was it more stressed, than she remembered. His face was puffy, with loose skin under his eyes that Maggie had not noticed before. However, the air of menace was more evident than ever.
Maggie gasped as she noticed her own and Allie’s purses opened with their contents spilled out on the folding table in front of him. Oh, what she would give for her comb and lipstick right now! There they were, only a few feet away.
Allie asked, “Who are you? Why have you brought us here? What do you want from us?”
Ahmed fastened his cold black eyes on her and said, “You ask too many questions, young woman. You will be silent until I give you permission to speak.”
Allie started to reply, but looking at his face, she decided to stay quiet.
Ahmed shifted his gaze to Maggie. His eyes had a flat quality that was disconcerting. It seemed as if his eyes were dead, as if there was nothing at all behind them. Maggie repressed a little shiver and stared back at him. It was difficult to maintain eye contact, but it seemed important not to let him know how frightened she was.
After what seemed a long time, he spoke, “Mrs. McGill, you have given us a great amount of trouble. It has been very annoying. Who are you? Who are you working for? It will do you no good to deny the truth because we will discover what is so. It would be much better for you to be honest with us now.”
Maggie looked back at him in bewilderment. Then she sat up straight in her chair and said with dignity, “My name, as you know, is Margaret McGill. I live in Costa Mira, Florida. I am self-employed, a psychotherapist. I’m on vacation, a visit with my daughter. I have no idea what you’re talking about and I’m outraged by what’s happened since I have been here. I want an explanation from you. More than that, I want an apology and I demand that you release us and return us to our home at once!” Maggie said with more bravado than she felt. She was grateful that her voice held steady and that she was sitting down because she felt quite trembly inside.
Ahmed continued his gaze without blinking. He sighed and said, “So that is how it is. You persist in defying us. That is an unwise choice, madam. We know you have the picture, that is, unless you already have passed it on to your employers. We know you are acquainted with the French couple. We know your daughter is involved with the FLO people. We know you called someone named Harry from the automobile. Who is he? Come now. You cannot expect us to believe that you are only an innocent tourist.”
Maggie looked at him in dismay. How could he know about that phone call? Finally, she said, “Harry’s an old friend. He knows all about the things that have been happening to us in the past few days. If anything happens to us, you may be sure he’ll go to the proper authorities.” She hoped this would satisfy Ahmed and perhaps give them some amount of protection.
Ahmed glared at Maggie with an unblinking flat stare, his face expressionless. After a short silence he turned to Allie. “Now, Miss McGill. I want to know your part in this. Have you recruited your mother to work for these people, or did she recruit you? It would be to your advantage to cooperate with us. Just tell us what we want to know, give us the picture and its negative, and we will let you return to your home.” He continued staring without blinking and made a small grimace with his mouth that was intended to be a smile.
Allie gave him a disdainful look and said, “Surely you can not believe that my mother and I have anything or know anything that could be of value to you. She told you the truth. My mother is here for a visit. She and I have no idea what you’re talking about. I repeat her request, that you release us and permit us to return to our home, and, by the way, that you return our property to us.” Allie indicated the purses and their contents. “Or do you and your men wish to wear our lipstick?” she said with a sneer.
Ahmed snorted. He glared at her angrily and banged his closed fist on the folding table that jumped, rattling the objects on it. “You . . . you!” He collected himself with effort and then said coldly, “You will regret your decisions to defy us.” Then to the Ferret and the other man, “Take them back and lock them in.” As they were rising from their chairs, he swept the contents of the purses into one and shoved both purses into Maggie’s arms. “Take these. We have no use for them.” He turned his back to them and stared out the window.
Maggie clutched the purses gratefully as she left the room, walking behind Allie, with Bruno following her. Down in the elevator, through the kitchen, down the steps. Ferret unlocked the door and pushed the two of them into their prison. This time, Maggie and Allie stumbled but were able to remain upright. They stood awkwardly for a moment allowing their eyes to adjust to the dim light.
Hadi was sitting cross-legged in the corner, as if he had not moved since they left. “Ah, dear ladies, it is, indeed, good to see you once again. Please to sit and make yourselves comfortable. Then, if you wish, tell me of the events of your absence.”
They slumped down in unison, grateful to be enveloped in his peaceful presence. Th
ey looked first at Hadi, then at each other and back to Hadi. Maggie began, “Oh, Hadi. It’s awful. That nasty man, I think his name is Ahmed, that nasty man thinks we’re working for his enemies. He thinks we have a picture that we don’t have and that we know something we don’t. He wouldn’t believe anything we told him. He was furious. I’m afraid of what he might do.” For the first time, tears sprang from her eyes. She wiped them away quickly with the back of her hand.
Allie continued, “Hadi, it doesn’t look good for us. That is an evil man and he’s very angry with us. I’m afraid I made him even madder, but he annoyed me so. Oh, Hadi, we must find a way out of here!”
Hadi looked at each of them and said, “It was a distressing interview, was it not? It would seem that it would be good to leave here. We will do so at the proper time.”
Maggie and Allie looked at one another with a sigh. Then Maggie realized she still was clutching the two purses. “Well, at least we got these back. That was the one good thing about the interview.” She dumped the purses and their contents on the floor as she and Allie sat down and began to sort them. Combs, lipsticks, keys, a couple of emery boards, a few chocolate bars, their wrappers frayed, wallets—money and credit cards untouched.
Suddenly, Maggie asked, “Where’s my camera? I usually carry it in my purse. Did they take it? Could they be looking for one of my pictures?”
Allie shrugged, “Who knows? Did you have the camera with you in the condo? Remember. You dropped the film at the drug store. Maybe you put the camera in the glove box. But, wait, where is my cell phone? Didn’t I have it with me?”
Maggie went back in her mind to that morning at the shopping mall. Could it only have been yesterday? She was retracing their actions. She said, “You’re right. I must have put the camera, the fresh film and the receipt for the processing in the glove box. I was intending to reload the camera when we were out of the sunshine. But I forgot about it. About your phone, you used it to call Ed, remember? I think we left it in the car, too.”
Maggie's Image (Maggie McGill Mysteries Book 1) Page 9