At the next rest, Maggie looked back. The glittering Los Angeles basin had returned. They were high on the hill under the HOLLYWOOD sign now. From this vantage it was impossible to discern which of the houses was their former prison. The houses were only tiny dark spaces between the lights. Somewhere a dog was barking. Otherwise the world seemed strangely silent.
“We’re on Mt. Lee,” Allie said in an awed voice. “We’re heading for the bloody sign! There’s a road up there. If we can just make it to the top. I know there’s a road.” She rose and started walking again. The others followed one by one, Brigitte and Andre bringing up the rear. A call from behind. They turned to see Andre holding Brigitte in his arms.
“She is feeling very weak,” he said. “It has been a long time since she has eaten.”
The others rushed back and surrounded the couple. They sat her on the ground. Allie and Maggie chafed her hands, encouraging her, hoping to strengthen her. Hadi arrived and produced the plastic water bottle. It still was nearly full. “Oh, Hadi, how bright of you,” said Allie. He poured a few drops into the bottle cap and put it to Brigitte’s lips.
“Slowly, slowly,” he said.
It was then that Maggie remembered the chocolate bars in her purse. “Here,” she said, offering one to Hadi.
“Thank you, dear lady. We will wait a few moments and then we will offer madam a small piece. In the desert it is important to drink and eat very slowly.” They continued nursing Brigitte, giving her small amounts of water and finally a small square of the chocolate. At last she lifted her head and began to brighten. Slowly they gave her the rest of the chocolate bar.
“Merci,” she said. “Merci.” Brigitte attempted to rise.
Hadi put out a hand to restrain her. “Please, madam. Please sit for a while. Let us consider the situation and our next step.”
It was then that the others noticed the lightening of the eastern sky. Soon it would be light. That would make their traveling much easier. But it also would expose them to every eye.
“Brigitte is exhausted. There are others of us who also could use a rest. Perhaps we should find a safe spot and send someone for help,” Allie suggested.
Hadi smiled at her and agreed, “That is an excellent suggestion.”
Together Hadi and Allie left, looking for a resting place. The other three sat on the ground, grateful for the time out. Maggie lay back on the dry earth and looked up at the sky that was changing from gray to pink-streaked blue. For the first time she noticed the coolness of the air. Her thoughts wandered dreamily and her eyes became heavy. A rustling sound jerked her awake. Hadi and Allie were returning.
“We’ve found a spot, not too far from here. It will give us protection from the sun and seclusion, also,” Allie said. They stood up, Andre supporting Brigitte. They proceeded around the hill, climbing only slightly. The rising sun cast long shadows ahead of them. After about a twenty-minute hike they came to a slight declivity in the side of the hill. The depression apparently had caught more moisture than the hillside and the scrub oaks were larger and denser. Hadi leading the way, they crawled through the heavy growth into a small space enclosed on all sides by vegetation.
“This is perfect,” Maggie said looking around. “One would have to know it is here to find it.”
“Exactly,” said Allie. They sat down gratefully. The floor of their refuge was covered with fallen leaves. After some discussion, it was decided that Hadi and Allie should go for help. They were in better condition physically. They divided two of Maggie’s chocolate bars five ways. Then Allie stood up and said, “Now, you all get some rest. We will be back soon with good news.”
“Honey, I love you. I . . .,” Maggie’s voice trailed off.
“Yeah, Mom, I know. I’ll be back very soon. I love you, too.”
Hadi crawled out through the leaves with Allie close behind. Once out of the copse, Allie and Hadi turned resolutely up hill toward the huge sign. They soon found that the sign was farther away than Allie had thought. They trudged doggedly on.
There was silence in the little copse for a while. Brigitte lay back on the soft leaves and closed her eyes. Andre sat quietly for a while, and then he said to Maggie, “We may as well get some rest. We don’t know what will happen next.” He lay back beside Brigitte and sighed. On the other side of the enclosure Maggie also lay down and closed her eyes. It was good to be horizontal again. It had been an arduous night. She didn’t like to admit how weary she was.
***
The Ferret shifted from one foot to the other while the cook filled five bowls with hot food. He wondered why they bothered to feed these infidels if they were to die anyway. The tray was heavy already and he motioned for Bruno to bring the water jug. Together they walked out of the kitchen, down the stairs, into the sunny courtyard in front of the garden shed. The Ferret sat the tray on the balustrade while he hunted for the key. It was not there! Muttering he expanded his search. Still no key. Taking out his gun, he tested the door to the shed. It opened without a sound. Cautiously he stepped inside. They were gone! Muttering curses, he ran up the steps into the kitchen and grabbed the telephone. Then he stopped. Ahmed would be furious. This would be the second time those women had escaped them. The cook’s look contained a question. Bruno stared at him without a word. He had no choice. They would talk if he didn’t. Drawing a deep breath, he punched in the numbers.
“Ahmed? They are gone.”
Sounds of vituperation came through the phone and filled the kitchen. The cook turned his back and busied himself with the washing up.
“No. No. I don’t know. The door was unlocked. They just aren’t there.” He listened a while longer. Then he replaced the telephone. He turned to Bruno, “Come on. We must search for them. We must find out what happened, how they escaped.”
Together he and Bruno checked the inside of the little room. They discovered the open window. The Ferret shook his head, wondering how they had managed. Then they checked the garage. Nothing. The cars stood silent. The Ferret replaced his gun and they walked out and down the street. Nothing. Finally, they returned to the garden shed and walked around its perimeter, scrambling up and down the uneven ground. They discovered footprints leading up the spine of the ridge. Cursing to himself, The Ferret returned to the kitchen and reported what he had discovered.
“They won’t have gone far,” Ahmed said. “Those women will slow them down. Go after them. Bring them back. We will deal with them!” The Ferret listened for a while longer, then, motioning to Bruno to follow, he ran down the steps, into the courtyard, around the shed and started up the ridge toward open country.
Chapter Ten
Allie stopped to catch her breath. Her mouth was cottony dry. She thought longingly of the water jug they had left in the copse. She swayed, her knees feeling shaky. “Ah, dear lady. You are tired, no?” Hadi asked.
“I am tired, yes,” said Allie. “And thirsty, and hungry. Hadi, I had no idea this mountain was so big!” She looked at Hadi. He was standing a few feet above her, his feet planted firmly on the hillside, his breathing smooth and even. Didn’t he ever get tired?
“Wait. Shhh! I think I hear . . . Yes I do. I heard a car up there!” Allie’s spirits picked up. She started the scramble toward the sound she had heard.
“Slowly. Slowly, please. We must proceed carefully,” Hadi warned.
Allie checked her pace and climbed more slowly, but steadily. Ahead of them was what appeared to be a wall of huge boulders, some of them garage size or larger. The two picked their way around and over these rocks, scrambling, holding on to one another. At last they found their way through a saddle formed by two huge boulders and just above them they saw a road guardrail. Allie was about to scramble up when she felt Hadi’s hand on her shoulder. She turned. He put his finger to his lips.
She looked up. What she saw made her heart sink. A long black automobile was moving slowly along the road. Its windows were down and through the passenger side window she could see a turbaned head.
“Damnation!” she muttered. Allie and Hadi sat in the heavy shadows, peeking through the rocks for a while. Every few minutes another black car would pass, its occupants peering out over the landscape, sometimes with binoculars.
While they watched, two bicyclists stopped, wheeled their bikes off the road and parked them behind a boulder only feet from where Allie and Hadi lay. Then the cyclists walked across the road to admire the view. Before she could say anything, Hadi had scrambled down to the bikes, rifled their knapsacks and returned with a treasure of fruit, trail mix, a small thermos and two large canteens of water. He opened a small nylon bag to disclose sandwiches, six beautiful, thick sandwiches! A bonanza!
Silently, Hadi motioned their retreat. Quickly they scrambled down, away from the dangerous road. They sat down in comparative safety behind another huge boulder. They divided the food between them, stuffing fruit into pockets, strapping the canteens and the nylon bag to their bodies. Wordlessly, they moved fast, crouching low, running, sliding down the mountain they had worked so hard to climb.
***
Harry Cavanaugh picked up the telephone. “Yes.”
“Harry? Joe. We’ve found a house that might be it. Up near Griffith Park. Big. White. Looks like it’s still under construction. Neighbors say there’ve been lights at night. Cars coming and going. What do you want us to do?”
Harry thought for a moment, “Sounds like it could be it. Good work. Can you get around it? Surround it?”
“Don’t know how, Harry. It’s perched on the edge and it’s straight down from there. I’d have to have wings to get on that side. It’s surrounded on the street side by walls. No way really to get close without knocking on the door.”
“Okay, then. Let’s do it. You say it looks like it’s under construction? Get someone up there in a utility truck or something. Building inspector. That’s it. Send a building inspector in to take a look,” Harry said. “Let’s see what we can find.”
“Gotcha, Harry.
Harry replaced the receiver and sighed. Waiting and not knowing was hell. What would they find in the house, if it was the house? Once again, he remembered the airplane, the tousled blonde head; he remembered the light in her eyes and the warmth of her smile as she thanked him. He remembered Maggie and Allie tugging the luggage off the conveyor. He remembered them on the loggia at the beach club. Initially fierce and suspicious. Then bright, quick, intelligent. He remembered how a shaft of sunlight had touched the top of her head, creating a golden halo around it. Harry sighed. This case was getting to him!
***
Maggie stirred and sat up, and glanced at her watch. It was after two. She had slept for hours. Then she remembered Allie and Hadi. Where could they be? Concern and panic begin to build. This won’t do! Maggie took deep breaths and told herself that those two would be protected and soon would arrive back with good news.
Brigitte was sleeping peacefully, but Andre stretched and opened his eyes. “Hello,” he said quietly. “You are awake?”
Maggie nodded and smiled. She and Andre talked, speaking softly, speculating on what might be happening outside of their haven. “Andre, do you have any idea why these people have done this to us? You’re the expert on Middle Eastern affairs. Do you know who they are? What they want?” Maggie asked.
Andre was thoughtful. “I have been puzzling about that. I was approached by the Foreign Learning people to be on their staff. Brigitte and I haven’t been married very long. She’d never been outside of France. I thought it’d be a restful trip for us, an adventure, a sort of honeymoon.”
Andre continued, “Some honeymoon! Poor Brigitte. I’ve been very worried about her. Her exhaustion is as much emotional as it is physical. She’s been very frightened.” He looked tenderly at her, then continued, “Apparently it’s a terrorist organization. The ultimate goal of terrorism, of course, is to create so much chaos and violence that the government cannot protect its citizens. Then the populace loses faith in their government and there’s anarchy. Out of the turmoil the people will embrace any form of government that can restore order. The terrorists believe that then their side will prevail. It’s a dreadful thing, terrorism. Its targets are the innocents who are unable to protect themselves. It’s a cowardly sort of warfare.”
Maggie was thoughtful, “If these people are terrorists, why target us? We’re only individuals. I’d think they’d do something spectacular, like blowing up a bridge or something.”
“Exactly,” Andre replied. “I assume that we’re seen as a threat to some plot they’ve concocted. I don’t for a moment think that we’re the primary targets. I believe that we’ve gotten in their way in some manner we don’t know.”
Maggie mused, “What could that possibly be?”
“Did you say they were asking you about a picture? What sort of picture do you think they meant? A photo? A painting?” Andre asked.
“Oh, I think they meant a photo. Ahmed mentioned a negative so it must be a photo. But I can’t image what photo,” Maggie answered.
“Did you say your daughter is a photographer? Could it be something she has that she doesn’t realize she has?”
“Well, you know, they did break into her house and search everywhere. Apparently they didn’t find what they were looking for. Of course, her professional negatives are stored at the lab. But they didn’t ask her about the picture. They asked me! As if they thought I knew what they were talking about,” Maggie explained.
“You say that nothing out of the ordinary happened until you reached California?” Andre asked.
“No. Nothing. Nothing at all. Of course, Ahmed was on the flight from Florida. I thought I noticed a lot of turbans around, but nothing happened until after we arrived in San Francisco,” Maggie said thoughtfully.
Andre said, “Could you innocently have snapped a photo on this trip that might have something in it that you don’t know is in it, but which is threatening to them?”
“Well, yes, I suppose I could have. I do take a lot of snapshots,” Maggie answered. “But I’ve no idea what it may have been. Mostly I take pictures of Allie and of scenery,” she added. “But what about you, Andre? Why should you present a threat to them?” Maggie asked.
“I am not sure, of course. But, I think that’s a little less of a mystery than your case. I do know a lot about terrorism, you know. Apparently, my presence here in this country is somehow a threat to them. What it is that I might know, or what I might discover by being here that frightens them I have no idea.” Andre shook his head in puzzlement. “It’s clear that they wish me to leave the country.”
Maggie nodded sympathetically. They sat quietly for a few moments, and then Maggie spoke again, “Andre, when you met Hadi you responded as if you knew something about him. Had you met him or heard about him before?”
Andre smiled, “Hadi is very interesting, isn’t he? I haven’t quite figured him out. But to answer your question, no, I had not met him before yesterday. But heard about him . . . now that’s something else. I really don’t know how to answer that. You see, Hadi is the name of the trickster, the Sufi equivalent to the Native American ‘Coyote’ or the Norse God, Loki, or the Native American heyeohkah. Many spiritual traditions have a trickster God whose job it is to trick or jolt a person out of their ordinary reality into an awareness of the presence of God. Now, our Hadi seems . . .”
Andre broke off as a rustling in the foliage caused them to quiet their conversation. The rustling became louder and Allie’s head appeared, followed by the rest of her and then Hadi. Maggie breathed a huge sigh of relief and a tear sprang to her eye. Allie looked whole, real and vibrant to Maggie. “Oh, you’re back. I’m so glad to see you,” she said, her voice tremulous with relief and gratitude. Whatever else might happen Maggie felt very happy. Thank you.
Allie put her arms around her mother in a big hug. “Hi, Mom. Back from the wars!” she said with a little laugh. “We have good news and bad news!”
Andre and Maggie looked at them questioningly. At the so
und of voices, Brigitte stretched, opened her eyes and sat up.
“Tell us the bad news first,” Maggie said soberly.
Hadi spoke, “The bad news, dear lady, is that Ahmed’s people are patrolling the road. We cannot get close to the road without being seen. We were not able to find help.”
“Dear me!” Maggie said. “What is the good news?”
In response, the two scouts unloaded their treasure-trove of food. “I am afraid that there are two bicyclists who will have a hungry ride down the mountain. However, I think their souls will forgive us. I asked Allah to give them a special blessing,” Hadi said.
As he spoke Hadi divided the food. He gave each person half a sandwich and a handful of grapes. He said, “We will conserve our food. Even though we have been exerting much, it is good to eat small amounts. When each finishes his food, we will each have three swallows of water. Allah has been good to grant us a bountiful supply. Enchallah!”
Allie and Maggie echoed, “Enchallah!” They ate in respectful silence and then solemnly passed the water bottle around.
“Except for Allie coming through those bushes this is the best thing I have seen in a long while,” Maggie said. “But what are we to do? We can’t go back. Now we can’t go forward. Any ideas?”
“Well, yes. We do have a plan of sorts,” Allie said. “You’re correct. We can’t go back. If Ahmed’s people are on that road, they must’ve discovered that we came this way. I’d be surprised if they weren’t searching the mountain for us on foot. That road’s not a safe place for us either. It’d be foolhardy for us to follow it for help. However, if we could cross it tonight and walk to the north all night we should come to some sort of civilization soon. They wouldn’t imagine that we’d be so foolish as to keep going on foot. That, I think, is our ace in the hole. This is a well-hidden spot right here. We have some supplies. If any of us does not want to risk the overland trek, then they might be quite safe here with some food and water. Hopefully those of us who go can get help and come back soon.”
Maggie's Image (Maggie McGill Mysteries Book 1) Page 11