Chapter 35

The problem that Clay had was that he was still in love with Diane, even the thought of seeing her, especially since he'd learned of her pregnancy, was very painful. No matter, it had to be done! He placed the call, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, he came to the point. "Diane, I have to see you. Do you want to meet somewhere or should I come to your office?"

"Clay, I don't think that's a good idea," she told him.

"It involves our last mission together and your twin!"

There was a moment of shocked silence before she whispered, "Oh god. I'll meet you at the Starbucks in the Mall in twenty minutes."

Both of them hung up without saying good-bye.

As Clay approached the table where she sat, her first words were not that of greeting, but instead a demand of, "What does Sadik have to do with Sarah?!"

With a sigh, he took a seat and told her, "I believe he has mistaken her for you. Remember there was never any official information that you two are twins. If he saw her somewhere and thinks she is you…"

"Then she's in danger…"

"He might also be after her kids. Our tail on him saw him taking pictures of Sarah and AJ dropping the kids at day care this morning," Clay admitted reluctantly, knowing how she would react to that.

"Oh God! We can't allow that!" she gasped with her hand going to her own child.

Clay's eyes dwelt on her tummy for just a moment, wishing that the child she was carrying was his, before he said, "Chegwidden called me right before I called you, he was asking about a secret meeting that Mac had tonight. We have agents on Fahd and I thought you might want to be with me when I tail Mac to the meeting."

"You thought right! Just let me tell Harm I will be home late and that he will need to watch Carrey."

"Rabb as a father…I just have a hard time picturing him in that role."

"Harm has been a wonderful father to Carrey. It took him some time to warm up to her, but once he did they became very close. I know that he is looking forward to this new baby as much as I am."

He looked away. It was so hard to see the happiness on her face when she talked of another man and their coming child, even if the other man was her husband. The only thing he could do was to focus on business. "Chegwidden said the meeting was for tonight, but he didn't know where or when."

"So, since she doesn't want AJ involved, I take it that she has no idea you are?"

"None," he confirmed. "She seems to think she can deal with Fahd on her own."

"Sarah is very capable, but I don't know why she is trying this alone since she's pregnant too."

"Good God! What is it with you and your sister?! Breeding like rabbits!"

Diane glared at him for a moment and then said, "Our choices are none of your business, Clay! But, for your information, Sarah and AJ are expecting twins and plan to not have any more. As for me, Carey is almost seven now, and since I lost our other child, this will only be two for Harm and I!"

"I'm sorry, Diane. I was aware you'd lost a baby…and I should have been more sensitive to that."

Clay knew when it was time to shut up and this was definitely it. Instead, he began to discuss their arrangements. By the time they had finished their coffee, they had a plan laid out and he had arranged to pick her up from work.

Sarah had changed out of her uniform and into the dress she had in her bag. A white dress was wrong for this time of year, and the straight skirt was not her first choice of attire to meet a man she fully expected a physical confrontation with. Also because of the skirts cut it was impossible to hide the fact that she was pregnant.

Calling a cab, she left through a side door so as to draw as little attention to herself as possible.

That was how AJ missed her.

To be continued….