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INTERPOL Intrigue / Spooks Beguiled – Chapter 14

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They entered the posh and opulent hotel together. Emily led Lucas directly to the grand dining room.

He leaned in whispered in her ear, "They're staring at you," he said. She looked up and watched the hotel patrons about; the men were indeed staring appreciatively at her while the women watched her with envy.

"Do you think they thought I'm your escort for the night?" She grinned at him.

"What? Hmm…dressed like that? No way, all the men desired you and those women wished they had a fantastic body like yours."

Emily stopped walking, pulling him to a stop as well, "You really mean it?"

"Well, I can't say for the women but I'm a man and I bloody well desire you like hell." He said to her heatedly.

Emily's cheeks reddened as she reached up and kissed him, "Hot damn Lucas, you say nicest thing."

"I know." He grinned. "Let's go. I want to get this over with so I can ravish you afterwards."

She laughed out loud causing heads to turn their direction, "You know we have to deliver my parents to a safe house and immediately after that, we leave for Damascus."

Lucas sighed dramatically, "All work and no play certainly drives dull Jack away."

"Exactly, Jack was already dull to begin with…and let it be known we are anything but dull." She pointed out as they stood before the restaurant hostess.

"Ah, Prentiss…yes...Sir James Prentiss and Madame Ambassador are waiting for you in the private dining suite. If you'll follow me…" She smiled at Lucas widely as she led them through another door for VIPs.

Emily shook her head as they followed her as they were to the dining suite.

It was half the size of the restaurant's dining area and there was one dining table for the moment. Emily's parents were at the bar that was set up for them at the right corner of the room.

They turned at the same time and smiled at the younger couple.

Emily unhooked her arm from Lucas' and went to her father and gave him a kiss on his cheek as well as a hug, and she did the same for her mother.

Then she introduced Lucas formally to her parents.

"Sir James, Madam Ambassador," he nodded to them.

"Really Lucas, call me James. I think we're going to be quite well acquainted." James shook his hands.

Lucas nodded, "Yes sir."

"And you can call me Elizabeth." She smiled at him.

"Yes ma'am."

"Mother? Are you all right?" Emily frowned at her.

Elizabeth turned to her daughter, "Why yes, Emily. Why?"

"You…don't usually tell people to call you by your first name in the first meeting. Daddy, how many has she had already?"

"Actually your mother is drinking sparkling water, Poppet." James revealed.

"Why?" Emily asked.

"It's a choice, Emily. Come on, let's eat. I see they're ready to serve." Elizabeth nodded to the head waiter who was standing by the far door connected to the kitchen.

The men led their ladies to their dinner seats as they held their chairs out for them.

Before he went to his seat, Lucas leaned down and said to her, "I like your parents very much." Then he sat down on his seat and looked over to see a surprised Emily.

The Maître D'hôtel soon came over to take their food order from James and left.

Talk at the table was mostly politics and questions about Lucas' career with MI-5.

"Mother, you know he can't tell you much about his work at the -5." Emily pointed out over their first course which were hors d'oeuvres consisted of prosciutto and parmesan cheese wrapped around honey dew melon.

Emily stared at her plate of appetizer and leaned over to Lucas and said, "I hope the main course has bigger portion or I'm going to start eating the plate."

Lucas almost choked on his appetizer when he heard her and quickly reached for his glass of water.

"Lucas," Elizabeth looked at him. "Are you okay? Is the food no to your liking?"

Lucas nodded his head, "I'm fine, and the food quite is delicious…so far."

He glared at Emily, "Will you behave yourself?"

She grinned but she did not look at him as she shrugged her shoulders.

Second course was a soup course which they were served, a light consommé of beef. As they spooned the soup quietly, Lucas leaned over to Emily and commented quietly, "I think they had forgotten to put some things in there. Mine is clear, you can see the bottom of the bowl."

Emily chuckled and looked up to see her father staring back at her but he gave her a wink and a smile.

Her mother was luckily oblivious to everything around them.

While the servers cleared the dishes and prepared for the next course, James and Lucas began to talk about their forthcoming assignment.

"It really has been quite some time since I last visited Syria. Not since the regime has changed hands for the third time in the last five years." James shook his head as he leaned back.

"So, you had been there before?" Lucas asked him.

"Oh yes."

"Did you meet with anyone in particular?"

"What do you mean?" James arched his brow.

"The text was directed at you and the topic of the Council meeting involved talks about Syria and the sales of military aircrafts and weapons from Russia."

James assessed Lucas for a moment before he answered, "I see you've been doing your homework." He raised his glass of wine to Lucas who did likewise.

"We don't like to be caught with our pants down, Sir James."

"Daddy, who is your contact in Syria?" Emily asked him.

James shook his head as the servers brought their next course; poached sea Bass with tarragon and crushed white pepper.

Emily was enjoying the light dish when her mother asked her about her old job.

"So Emily, do you miss the BAU?" Elizabeth asked her.

"Not really mother. I missed my team but not the politics underneath, all the red tape in the Bureau." She shook her head.

"Your team? Oh, let me see if I remember, it's been so long. They were quite an efficient group." She proceeded to relate to her husband and Lucas about the case the BAU helped with solving the kidnapping of the father of her former housekeeper.

"As it turned out, it was the daughter who had set up the whole elaborate scheme to scam her parents for money just because she wanted to get out of her life."

"But they discovered her scheme?" James inquired.

"Oh yes, at the cost of her father's ear and finger…"

"Mother! I don't think this is a very appropriate topic to converse at the moment." Emily pointed.

Elizabeth nodded, "You're right, Emily. I apologize. How are they? Do you still keep in contact with them?"

Emily nodded, "Yes I do, Mother."

"All of them?"

Emily eyed her mother, "Well, most of them. What are you getting at?"

Elizabeth shrugged elegantly, "Nothing, just asking."

"No, there is something specific you want to ask me."

"Elizabeth, I think you should let it rest. The past is the past." James said sternly.

Lucas looked at Emily and saw that she was getting upset.

"I was referring to Agent Aaron Hotchner, weren't you two close or something?"

Emily stiffened, "No, we were not, mother."

"Oh, I thought you were." Elizabeth pressed on.

"Well, no. You are wrong." She had lost her appetite as she put her fork down.

"Elizabeth, just drop it. Now." James shook his head.

Again, the servers cleared their dishes away and they were alone.

"My only contact in Syria," James continued from the previous conversation. "He was killed in a terrorist bomb blast five years ago. We've known each other for over 10 years."

Lucas nodded slowly, "Do you have his name?"

James nodded, "Raad."

"Luck, kind of ironic." Emily said softly.

James smiled at his daughter, "Raad did have some of the damndest luck when we were running from enemies. He was always so positive and idealistic in his country. When the government of Syria fell, Raad was determined to fight but of course he was only a few against the many. I used to call him David, going against Goliath. I would tease him and ask him where his sling was. He would grin and shrug and tell me that Allah is his sling."

"How old was Raad when he was…?" Lucas asked him."

James looked up and saw Lucas, as if he was surprised to see that he was back in the present, "I'm not sure…he would never tell me truthfully. I estimated him to be about early 20s."

Emily shook her head, "When did it happen?"

"Five years ago before I was made a member of the NSC. Emily, whoever sent me that text has ties with Raad, I just have a gut feeling. He and I converse mainly in Aramaic because we didn't trust anyone else."

"And his hometown is in Nawa." Lucas pointed out.

James shook his head, "No, he was born north of Damascus but not in Nawa. Did you know that the city of Nawa was rumored to be the dwelling place of Noah and his son Sham was buried there? And the tomb of Job was also located in that city. It is a small city but there is so much history."

James looked up and saw the servers were back with their next course; braised leg of lamb with lemon herbed sauce.

Emily leaned to Lucas, "You'd think there's a shortage of sheep around the city. Hey, I think you've got a bigger slice than I do." She jerked her chin at his plate.

Lucas moved his plate slightly away from her, "Kindly remove your eyes and fork from my plate. I think they're promoting healthier lesser proportions for their guests."

Emily snorted, "This sauce itself is loaded with cholesterol and fat, I highly doubt they're concern with our health."

"Did you just… snort?" Lucas eyed at her with amusement.

She grinned, "I might have. Why?"

"I like it, it's cute." He tapped the tip of her nose.

Emily's parents saw Lucas and Emily playful banter and exchanged smiles.

After their fifth course, they continued again.

"The city of Nawa is now more or less Muslim predominant. The Iman Yadha Ign Sharaf al Nawawi about 1277, a prominent Iman who was a very recognized scholar and judge. He wrote quite a few books on Islamic studies and a follower of the Prophet Muhammad."

"You seemed to know quite a bit of this Iman, Daddy."

"That is because Raad became a faithful follower of Nawawi before his untimely death. He believed the Iman should be revered just as high as the Prophet himself."

"Such radical talks could get one killed in small towns." Emily remarked.

"That is what I believed happened to Raad."

All too soon, their sixth course arrived; it was beef fricassée with a side of asparagus and creamy butternut squash.

Emily saw that the beef cutlet hardly needed a knife to cut as it was tender as she used her fork to pull the meat apart.

"Okay, I have to admit, this is quite delicious." Emily said.

"Yes, it is, just don't know why it's called fricassée, why can't they say, veal cutlets?"

Emily shrugged, "Sounds fancier. Maybe it happened by accident when some French chef tasted his creation and said 'Fric! Al see this! It's a superb dish!' " she mimicked a French accent to make it sound more comical than should be.

Lucas began to laugh as his face turned red, his eyes crinkled in the corners, Emily soon joined him. "That is a horrible description."

"I dare you come up with a better one," Emily said.

Lucas thought for a while before he leaned over to her, "Okay, what about his one; Where's the bloody cutlets? Fric! Ah see it! Stop fondling the damn meat Francois!"

They began to laugh quietly when they saw Elizabeth giving them weird stares.

Emily nodded, "I like it but fondling?"

Lucas nodded, "Well, it was either that or massage the meat, fondling sound more comical." He held his hands up as he squeezed his hand together for emphasis.

Emily giggled more as they made fun of their food.

"Poppet," her dad called out when the servers left with the dishes. "When you get to Damascus, you two will make sure you are in keeping with the culture of the region. Nawa is an ancient city, and culture is very important to them. They will not take kindly to you walking beside Lucas, always remember to walk behind him."

Lucas grinned at Emily who glared at him. "We shall see. Maybe you should be wearing the woman's traditional dress, and I'll wear the man's outfit. That'll freak them out." she laughed.

"Emily!" James called out sternly. "This is serious."

"Sorry Daddy." Emily looked down.

James shook his head as their final course came, "I'm still not comfortable with this assignment. If Syria finds out who you really are, there's not a lot we can do, you can forget about a rescue party coming down to get you two."

"Sir, we'll do our best to avoid exposure, and as I'd said before, I'll take care of your daughter and ensure her safety and quick return." Lucas looked deep in her eyes as he spoke.

James saw his sincerity and nodded, "Very well, Lucas, I'll hold you to it. Emily is my only daughter."

"And mine as well." Elizabeth said.

Lucas nodded, "She will be treated as a precious cargo."

Emily leaned forward, "Hello all, I'm still here."

"I'm well aware of that, Poppet. I have all the faith in you but, this is no walk in the park." He spooned his raspberry sorbet into his mouth.

"We'll be careful, Daddy." Emily assured him. She reached over and 'took' a spoonful of sorbet from Lucas' bowl.

"Hey…hey…hey…you sorbet burglar!" Lucas moved his bowl from her again.

She laughed, "They are not generous with their portions! I swear they're trying to starve us here."

"Would you like to split a pizza after we deliver your parents to the safe house?"

She hesitated a moment, "Um, Lucas…I'm delivering them myself. It's not that I don't trust you but this is INTERPOL rules. I'm sorry."

He shrugged, "It's okay. I'll pick you up at your apartment at…?"

"You're not angry?"

"Not at all, MI-5 has safe houses too that I'm not at liberty to divulge to you." He shook his head.

"Thanks Lucky Charms."

He turned to grin at her. "So… pizza? Time?"

She named the time to meet him at her apartment. "Oh, and a side of anchovies, please."

He stared at her in disbelief, "Don't tell me Serge likes pizza too?"

She grinned, "He loves pizza but the anchovies are not for him, nope, it's for me. I love that stuff but I'll share it with him."

"Yuck!" You'll remember to brush your teeth at least five times before we kiss?" Lucas said.

"I'll even gargle with mouth wash, just for you." They stood up from the dining table and walked out of the room.

"Please do," he shook his head.

Lucas and Emily stayed at the lobby while her parents went to their rooms to fetch their luggage.

As soon as they reappeared, the Prentiss climbed into James' vehicle. Lucas left on his own. They were to meet in a few hours at her apartment.

Emily hopped into the driver's seat and drove out of the hotel.

"Well," James began as he looked out the window. "That was a very interesting dinner tonight."

Emily nodded.

"I like this Lucas North." Elizabeth commented.

James looked at his wife, "Oh? You do?"

"He seemed very smart and very protective of Emily."

"How do you know? I don't see that yet."

Elizabeth patted his hand, "It's okay, James. A mother knows."

James arched his brow at his wife but he didn't say anything. Privately he agreed with her.

In the short time he spent with him, he sensed Lucas' sincerity and his feelings for his daughter.

And she returned his feelings, he saw.

Emily was particular with whom she chose for her…partner which meant there weren't many, thank goodness!

Oh yes, despite their distance and separate career, James managed to keep tabs of his only daughter.

The real her whom not many people knew.

He knew about her work with the CIA, the INTERPOL, the FBI, and subsequently back with the INTERPOL. Although there were certain details he was not familiar with but he was an intelligent man and he could figure out what happened to her when she was captured in Boston by that Irish mercenary Doyle, among other tortures and sufferings she had endured through the years, since her kidnapping in Hague, twenty years ago.

He wished she had chosen a safer career like his, as a National Security Council member. But he knew she would not like it. She liked excitement and action. Just like him, when he was much younger.

Yes, not many people knew but he was an undercover operative for the U.S. government many years ago. Although the agency no longer existed and his files were now non-existent, the spy business was the same back over twenty years ago as it was now. Apparently his daughter had this gene.

He was more than proud of her achievements so far but at the same time the danger she placed herself in was far more precarious now than it was before. INTERPOL dealt with terrorists from everywhere while the FBI was a domestic agency.

Why couldn't his daughter chose a safer career like a medical field? Or a lawyer?

James sighed inwardly as he looked at her profile as she drove on; she was beautiful, yes a father's biased opinion but he loved her as would an indulgent father would his only child.

As she drove into a long drive way, James frowned; the drive way looked familiar…

He leaned forward, "Poppet, is this where I think this is?" He looked about him but it was hard to see out as it was quite dark.

Elizabeth was also looking out the window, "But this is impossible! Emily, you said a safe house…this? A safe house?"

Emily grinned as she pulled up near the front of a large country farm house, the lights inside were lit.

James and Elizabeth climbed out of the car and looked about them and smiled in amazement.

Emily looked over the top of the car as she watched their reaction.

They turned around as one and looked at her again, "How is this possible?"

"Remember Godfather was indicted for tax evasion earlier this year?"

They nodded.

"Well, he had to sacrifice one of his properties to avoid charges and I offered to buy it from him."

"How much did you have to pay for this? Poppet, this is not a cheap property!" James was stunned.

"To spite the government's face, he sold it pretty cheap…" she named the price which was much less than half the cost of its worth.

James laughed, "Well, then I should say, you were being pretty shrewd in your investment. Congratulations Poppet!"

"Thanks Daddy."

"But Emily," her mother stopped as she stared at the house. "You said you turned it into a safe house?"

"That's right, no one will even suspect it."

"I think it's perfect. Is your team in there?"

"Yes. They better be." She said as she opened the door. "Honey! I'm home!" She greeted to her team who were standing in the lobby waiting to receive the Prentiss family.

When they saw Emily in her dress, Sam and Bob wolf whistled. Frankie and Walt blushed deeply as he couldn't keep his eyes off her legs!

Fanta was blushing as well as he tried not to stare at her.

"Well look at you, Snow, playing dress up and looking pretty as can be!" Sam teased her.

"Gee Emily, I didn't know you had legs!" Walt finally blurted out. "And those things up there too. Very nice." He was pointing at her breasts!

"They're call boobies, Walt." Bob said as he shook his head.

"Hey, what's that ugly scar on your …near your boobies?" Sam indicated her right scar.

She shook her head, "I don't have time for a bedtime story for you boys tonight."

"AW!" They all sounded disappointed.

"Maybe Grandma will." Fanta grinned.

"My mother does not know about it, neither does my dad, kid."

They laughed but their laughter died off instantly when James and Elizabeth stepped inside with their luggage.

Emily introduces her team to her parents. They shook hands and greeted them cordially.

"Sam is in charge here, Daddy, so if you have any questions, you can direct them to him." Emily nodded to her second in command who waved his hand.

"Oh, mother, and Daddy…we will need to take your cell phones and laptops. Sorry you can't use them while you're here. It's just for a few days until we take care of this."

James and Elizabeth grudgingly took their electronic devices and gave them to Fanta who assure them that no one would have access to them as they would be locked up in a safe.

"So, I can't access the internet or call my members…what can I do? I'm not use to sitting idle." James looked around the house and its familiar pictures.

"We have plenty of board games…but Emily said this used to be a Summer home you and your family came over to spend when she was young." Bob pointed out.

James nodded, "It most certainly was, we have spent many memories here, allow me to show you the den…unless you have something else to do?"

Bob shook his head, "No at the moment, sir." James and Bob left the main room as they talked on.

"Would like a drink? Or a snack? We just stocked the pantry and 'fridge, Madame Ambassador." Frankie asked Elizabeth.

"I'd like a drink but I'll accompany you to the kitchen, it's been a long time since I've been in there and it's the warmest place in the whole house. Emily used to beg for cookies and milk from Cook after dinner…" Her voice trailed off as they disappeared into the kitchen.

Emily smiled, glad that her parents were not feeling ill at ease in here; she was glad she had decided to use her godfather's house as a safe house, somewhere her parents had spent so many happy years before she was born, and before they had separated all those years ago. She hoped that they might reconnect themselves while they're here, either that or they would kill each other as well as her team!

Getting into the car, she drove back into the city and back into her apartment…and Lucas.

She smiled as she recalled him in his tux, he looked really good in it tonight!

Then, she thought that tomorrow about this time, she and Lucas would be in Syria…land of danger. She hoped their assignment was an easy one. She had a pretty good idea where to begin, the only obstacle was her getting in where not many would admit a female.

…..

End of Chapter 14