Case 4: Masada, Part 6
Disclaimer: Same as before. Be aware there is some sexuality/nudity in this chapter.
C.J. Sandiego – Yes, I am a guy. So I don't know much about pregnancies. I had to rely largely on guesswork.
26 May 2000: Aziz Parhouz and several Palestinian men were clustered in a small room. Outside they could hear Israeli bulldozers and tanks tearing down his last hideout. The booby trapped weapons had killed one of his men, the Israelis had killed another, and the third the ACME Detective, Ivy Darren had killed.
"Rahim believed in Allah and the Jihad to expel the Israelis from our land." Aziz began, "My brother was a young man in his prime, only twenty years old was he. The ACME Detective killed him at a young age, but he has gone to Allah for his deeds. But this cannot go unavenged!"
"We must take our vengeance upon her!" A Palestinian declared.
"Yes cousin, we shall indeed take our revenge upon her." Aziz began, "But we must execute this carefully."
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, 1730 Local Time
"Well we got finished with our case approximately four days earlier than we expected." Zack began.
"The mayor of Honolulu was grateful for our work, and Wells gave us four days of paid vacation..." Tatiana continued.
The party at the restaurant was unaware that they were being watched as they listened to Zack and Tatiana's story of their wild Hawaiian weekend two months prior.
Tel Aviv, Israel, 0300 Local Time
May 27, 2000: Hal stole another glance at the other side of the bed as Ivy slept. She looked so peaceful, so calm when she was asleep. In moving out of the bed in order to use the bathroom he'd moved the covers. Putting nature on hold for a moment, Hal gently slid the blanket up to Ivy's chin, tucked her in gently and was rewarded with a sleepy smile.
'That felt right, I can't fathom why, but it just did.' Hal thought, as he answered nature's call and cleaned up. As he walked back in, he smiled as he watched Ivy, curled up on her side of the bed.
'Olden, you'd best get a handle on these wild thoughts you've been having of late.' Hal thought, 'You've got to work with this woman for the next few years, you don't need the complication of being smitten...'
Hal wondered why his heart wasn't obeying the commands of his brain as he slid back into his side of the bed. He regarded his sleeping partner once more, gently inhaled that strawberry scent she used in her hair so as not to wake her and fell asleep to yet another strange dream about Ivy. Strange wasn't the word for the dream, intense would be slightly closer to the truth and erotic would be dead on target.
'Wanker,' Hal thought as he thought of his own version of that case in Isla Nublar, where after John Hammond's gala affair he managed to charm his way into Ivy's room and then...'If that's not erotic I don't know what is.'
Ivy woke briefly and could see that Hal was definitely dreaming of something pleasurable. She didn't want to wake him up, and frankly it wasn't any of her business, but was curious.
'I wonder what he's dreaming about? Diane? It must be her. Poor guy, to lose someone you love that way, then to see them when you sleep and realize you'll never see them again.' Ivy thought, 'Hal needs a friend, not a lover. I must be going crazy, I had better put a lid on these dreams I've been having lately. They're so strange.'
Again, strange would not have been accurate to describe the dreams Ivy was describing. Truthfully she'd had them since their case in Costa Rica. The one she'd had earlier that night took place in Britain, after Holbarth died, and Hal had kissed her. Only this time there was more to the kiss than Hal kissing his deceased sweetheart through her. This time it brought them into her room at the Bed and Breakfast they stayed at and within seconds they were horizontal and...'Darren, stop it, you're getting way too presumptuous here. But a girl can dream can't she?' Ivy thought as she slid back under the covers to get some sleep.
Neither of them noticed an envelope slid underneath the door of their hotel room.
Honolulu, Hawaii, 1400 Local Time
13 February 2000: "So Zack, what do you want to do with those four extra days of vacation we got?" Tatiana asked.
'Hmm, I do have a few ideas.' Zack thought, with a dreamy smile on his face.
"Zack?" Tatiana asked.
"How about dinner, say around 1700?" Zack asked, "At the Charthouse."
"Zack, you're really putting on the charm. What's the occasion?" Tatiana smiled slyly.
"It is near Valentine's Day." Zack observed.
"That's right it is." Tatiana said, and then thought, 'I can't wait until you see that big surprise I've packed in the lower part of my suitcase for just such an occasion. Think of it as using that little gift you bought me Valentine's Day, last year from Victoria's Secret.'
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, 1800 Local Time
May 26, 2000: "So after the four days vacation, what happened next?" Tatiana's grandmother asked, with a wide grin on her face.
"Well," Tatiana said, "Zack took me out to dinner, paid for everything and we took a walk along the beach.........
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2000 Local Time
13 February 2000: Zack and Tatiana walked along the beach, the night sky softened by a full moon and the stars gleaming in their glory, though somewhat masked by the lights of the boardwalk. Though the pair were dressed a bit formally for a walk on the beach, they didn't seem to mind.
Tatiana carried her shoes, and wore a white evening dress that terminated just above her knees. Zack had removed his blazer and tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. They just walked along the beach, enjoying the tropical night and the soft ocean breezes. They walked holding hands, talking chatty bits of conversation.
Suddenly Zack stopped, framed by the full moon he drew his fiancée close and pulled her into his arms. He gently brushed a stray strand of blonde hair from her face and kissed her softly, tenderly. It was several seconds before they stopped.
Breathless, Tatiana said, "What was that for?"
"I just felt like it." Zack said.
"A good kiss should have a reason, as my grandmother used to say." Tatiana said as she moved in for another kiss, this one more passionate. Again several seconds passed before they parted.
"What was that for?" Zack asked, "Or did you just feel like it."
"That was my way of thanking you for dinner, the movie, and everything else you did for me." Tatiana said. She was sure it wasn't just the daiquiris she'd had at dinner that were making her lightheaded, it was that kiss she and Zack had shared.
Zack blushed redder than a traffic light and Tatiana thought, wickedly, 'If that made you blush, I'd love to see your reaction to your Valentine's Day surprise.'
Zack gazed lovingly at his bride to be and thought, 'I am definitely the luckiest man on the planet right now.'
"Zack?" Tatiana asked, "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking about how I'm the luckiest man on the planet right now." Zack replied, kissing her again.
Before they knew it they were back in their hotel, barely keeping their hands off each other the way they had on the drive through the Honolulu waterfront. Then when they got into the room and the door closed they cut loose.
Zack began by kissing his fiancée with a mixture of the fierce passion within and the love he felt for her. "You know, honey, if you're not ready........."
"Zack, I love you. I am ready." Tatiana said, "I'm marrying you, remember."
"I remember." Zack smiled, boyishly, and with that, the last inhibition had fallen away and they let themselves be swept up in the moment.
Tatiana traced her hands gently across Zack's torso and stomach before starting to unbutton and slowly remove his shirt. Zack slowly undid the button and then the zipper behind Tatiana's back. He slowly and tenderly slid the dress off her body and she stood there wearing only her bra, panties, stockings, heels and a seductive smile.
"Why Zackary, see something you like?" Tatiana began as she took the two lithe steps between them and undid Zack's trousers.
As they moved towards the bedroom, more and more expanses of bare skin could be seen. And as they hit the bed they were both nude. The night passed with much passion and lovemaking and it was at 0100 when they finally fell asleep, lying in each others arms.
Tel Aviv, Israel, 0500 Local Time
May 27, 2000: Ivy awoke and headed to the refrigerator for a bottle of mineral water. She was grateful Hal had the foresight to buy a pack of them and stick them in the fridge earlier that day. Hal was asleep, still, and dreaming about something. 'Wouldn't it be nice if he was dreaming about me?' Ivy thought to herself.
She noticed an envelope underneath the door of the room. She opened it up and then turned pale. Enclosed inside was a photograph of her family and Tatiana's family at the Italian place on Fisherman's Wharf. Enclosed was a note saying something on the lines of, "I have operatives shadowing them every minute. You risk their safety by your continued investigation. If you wish to discuss the matter, meet in Ramala."
Ivy quietly dressed and headed out the door, leaving Hal a brief note.........
Tel Aviv, Israel, 0630 Local Time
Hal awoke feeling something was amiss in the room. Ivy wasn't on the other side of the bed, nor was she anywhere in the hotel room. He noticed a note pinned to the fridge and began to feel alarmed.
Hal,
I can't say how urgent a matter this is, but my family's been threatened by Parhouz. I've headed to Ramala, and that's all I can say.
Ivy
As soon as Hal read the note he felt an acid dread. He grabbed the phone and called the number that Demerest had given them. "Demerest, when can you get over here?" Hal asked, after Demerest responded Hal said, "Then get over here pronto!"
Ramala, Palestinian Territory, 0800 Local Time
"Detective Darren, so nice to finally see you in person." An Arab voice sounded.
Ivy turned to see a bearded man with facial scars facing her. He was flanked by two masked gunmen and Ivy knew that the gig was up. She could draw fast enough to shoot the two gunmen and Parhouz.
Aziz Parhouz didn't react with the fear one would expect of someone expecting their life to suddenly end. "I know what you're thinking, Detective Darren, and I know just how good you are armed or unarmed in a fight. My brother knew it as well, as you killed him. Don't think I didn't plan for this."
Ivy heard three more pairs of boots behind her and felt a gun poked into her backside. She raised her hands, palms open as one of the gunmen frisked her, with a yellow toothed leer, he was obviously enjoying the job. He dug out her Beretta pistol and two clips.
"The same weapon, no doubt, that killed my brother." Aziz said, as one of the gunmen tied Ivy's hands behind her back. He backhanded her and said, "You are lucky Maelstrom wants you alive for now. For I shall enjoy making you suffer for what you did to my brother."
TBC (Up next, Hal goes to rescue Ivy.)
Disclaimer: Same as before. Be aware there is some sexuality/nudity in this chapter.
C.J. Sandiego – Yes, I am a guy. So I don't know much about pregnancies. I had to rely largely on guesswork.
26 May 2000: Aziz Parhouz and several Palestinian men were clustered in a small room. Outside they could hear Israeli bulldozers and tanks tearing down his last hideout. The booby trapped weapons had killed one of his men, the Israelis had killed another, and the third the ACME Detective, Ivy Darren had killed.
"Rahim believed in Allah and the Jihad to expel the Israelis from our land." Aziz began, "My brother was a young man in his prime, only twenty years old was he. The ACME Detective killed him at a young age, but he has gone to Allah for his deeds. But this cannot go unavenged!"
"We must take our vengeance upon her!" A Palestinian declared.
"Yes cousin, we shall indeed take our revenge upon her." Aziz began, "But we must execute this carefully."
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, 1730 Local Time
"Well we got finished with our case approximately four days earlier than we expected." Zack began.
"The mayor of Honolulu was grateful for our work, and Wells gave us four days of paid vacation..." Tatiana continued.
The party at the restaurant was unaware that they were being watched as they listened to Zack and Tatiana's story of their wild Hawaiian weekend two months prior.
Tel Aviv, Israel, 0300 Local Time
May 27, 2000: Hal stole another glance at the other side of the bed as Ivy slept. She looked so peaceful, so calm when she was asleep. In moving out of the bed in order to use the bathroom he'd moved the covers. Putting nature on hold for a moment, Hal gently slid the blanket up to Ivy's chin, tucked her in gently and was rewarded with a sleepy smile.
'That felt right, I can't fathom why, but it just did.' Hal thought, as he answered nature's call and cleaned up. As he walked back in, he smiled as he watched Ivy, curled up on her side of the bed.
'Olden, you'd best get a handle on these wild thoughts you've been having of late.' Hal thought, 'You've got to work with this woman for the next few years, you don't need the complication of being smitten...'
Hal wondered why his heart wasn't obeying the commands of his brain as he slid back into his side of the bed. He regarded his sleeping partner once more, gently inhaled that strawberry scent she used in her hair so as not to wake her and fell asleep to yet another strange dream about Ivy. Strange wasn't the word for the dream, intense would be slightly closer to the truth and erotic would be dead on target.
'Wanker,' Hal thought as he thought of his own version of that case in Isla Nublar, where after John Hammond's gala affair he managed to charm his way into Ivy's room and then...'If that's not erotic I don't know what is.'
Ivy woke briefly and could see that Hal was definitely dreaming of something pleasurable. She didn't want to wake him up, and frankly it wasn't any of her business, but was curious.
'I wonder what he's dreaming about? Diane? It must be her. Poor guy, to lose someone you love that way, then to see them when you sleep and realize you'll never see them again.' Ivy thought, 'Hal needs a friend, not a lover. I must be going crazy, I had better put a lid on these dreams I've been having lately. They're so strange.'
Again, strange would not have been accurate to describe the dreams Ivy was describing. Truthfully she'd had them since their case in Costa Rica. The one she'd had earlier that night took place in Britain, after Holbarth died, and Hal had kissed her. Only this time there was more to the kiss than Hal kissing his deceased sweetheart through her. This time it brought them into her room at the Bed and Breakfast they stayed at and within seconds they were horizontal and...'Darren, stop it, you're getting way too presumptuous here. But a girl can dream can't she?' Ivy thought as she slid back under the covers to get some sleep.
Neither of them noticed an envelope slid underneath the door of their hotel room.
Honolulu, Hawaii, 1400 Local Time
13 February 2000: "So Zack, what do you want to do with those four extra days of vacation we got?" Tatiana asked.
'Hmm, I do have a few ideas.' Zack thought, with a dreamy smile on his face.
"Zack?" Tatiana asked.
"How about dinner, say around 1700?" Zack asked, "At the Charthouse."
"Zack, you're really putting on the charm. What's the occasion?" Tatiana smiled slyly.
"It is near Valentine's Day." Zack observed.
"That's right it is." Tatiana said, and then thought, 'I can't wait until you see that big surprise I've packed in the lower part of my suitcase for just such an occasion. Think of it as using that little gift you bought me Valentine's Day, last year from Victoria's Secret.'
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, 1800 Local Time
May 26, 2000: "So after the four days vacation, what happened next?" Tatiana's grandmother asked, with a wide grin on her face.
"Well," Tatiana said, "Zack took me out to dinner, paid for everything and we took a walk along the beach.........
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2000 Local Time
13 February 2000: Zack and Tatiana walked along the beach, the night sky softened by a full moon and the stars gleaming in their glory, though somewhat masked by the lights of the boardwalk. Though the pair were dressed a bit formally for a walk on the beach, they didn't seem to mind.
Tatiana carried her shoes, and wore a white evening dress that terminated just above her knees. Zack had removed his blazer and tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. They just walked along the beach, enjoying the tropical night and the soft ocean breezes. They walked holding hands, talking chatty bits of conversation.
Suddenly Zack stopped, framed by the full moon he drew his fiancée close and pulled her into his arms. He gently brushed a stray strand of blonde hair from her face and kissed her softly, tenderly. It was several seconds before they stopped.
Breathless, Tatiana said, "What was that for?"
"I just felt like it." Zack said.
"A good kiss should have a reason, as my grandmother used to say." Tatiana said as she moved in for another kiss, this one more passionate. Again several seconds passed before they parted.
"What was that for?" Zack asked, "Or did you just feel like it."
"That was my way of thanking you for dinner, the movie, and everything else you did for me." Tatiana said. She was sure it wasn't just the daiquiris she'd had at dinner that were making her lightheaded, it was that kiss she and Zack had shared.
Zack blushed redder than a traffic light and Tatiana thought, wickedly, 'If that made you blush, I'd love to see your reaction to your Valentine's Day surprise.'
Zack gazed lovingly at his bride to be and thought, 'I am definitely the luckiest man on the planet right now.'
"Zack?" Tatiana asked, "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking about how I'm the luckiest man on the planet right now." Zack replied, kissing her again.
Before they knew it they were back in their hotel, barely keeping their hands off each other the way they had on the drive through the Honolulu waterfront. Then when they got into the room and the door closed they cut loose.
Zack began by kissing his fiancée with a mixture of the fierce passion within and the love he felt for her. "You know, honey, if you're not ready........."
"Zack, I love you. I am ready." Tatiana said, "I'm marrying you, remember."
"I remember." Zack smiled, boyishly, and with that, the last inhibition had fallen away and they let themselves be swept up in the moment.
Tatiana traced her hands gently across Zack's torso and stomach before starting to unbutton and slowly remove his shirt. Zack slowly undid the button and then the zipper behind Tatiana's back. He slowly and tenderly slid the dress off her body and she stood there wearing only her bra, panties, stockings, heels and a seductive smile.
"Why Zackary, see something you like?" Tatiana began as she took the two lithe steps between them and undid Zack's trousers.
As they moved towards the bedroom, more and more expanses of bare skin could be seen. And as they hit the bed they were both nude. The night passed with much passion and lovemaking and it was at 0100 when they finally fell asleep, lying in each others arms.
Tel Aviv, Israel, 0500 Local Time
May 27, 2000: Ivy awoke and headed to the refrigerator for a bottle of mineral water. She was grateful Hal had the foresight to buy a pack of them and stick them in the fridge earlier that day. Hal was asleep, still, and dreaming about something. 'Wouldn't it be nice if he was dreaming about me?' Ivy thought to herself.
She noticed an envelope underneath the door of the room. She opened it up and then turned pale. Enclosed inside was a photograph of her family and Tatiana's family at the Italian place on Fisherman's Wharf. Enclosed was a note saying something on the lines of, "I have operatives shadowing them every minute. You risk their safety by your continued investigation. If you wish to discuss the matter, meet in Ramala."
Ivy quietly dressed and headed out the door, leaving Hal a brief note.........
Tel Aviv, Israel, 0630 Local Time
Hal awoke feeling something was amiss in the room. Ivy wasn't on the other side of the bed, nor was she anywhere in the hotel room. He noticed a note pinned to the fridge and began to feel alarmed.
Hal,
I can't say how urgent a matter this is, but my family's been threatened by Parhouz. I've headed to Ramala, and that's all I can say.
Ivy
As soon as Hal read the note he felt an acid dread. He grabbed the phone and called the number that Demerest had given them. "Demerest, when can you get over here?" Hal asked, after Demerest responded Hal said, "Then get over here pronto!"
Ramala, Palestinian Territory, 0800 Local Time
"Detective Darren, so nice to finally see you in person." An Arab voice sounded.
Ivy turned to see a bearded man with facial scars facing her. He was flanked by two masked gunmen and Ivy knew that the gig was up. She could draw fast enough to shoot the two gunmen and Parhouz.
Aziz Parhouz didn't react with the fear one would expect of someone expecting their life to suddenly end. "I know what you're thinking, Detective Darren, and I know just how good you are armed or unarmed in a fight. My brother knew it as well, as you killed him. Don't think I didn't plan for this."
Ivy heard three more pairs of boots behind her and felt a gun poked into her backside. She raised her hands, palms open as one of the gunmen frisked her, with a yellow toothed leer, he was obviously enjoying the job. He dug out her Beretta pistol and two clips.
"The same weapon, no doubt, that killed my brother." Aziz said, as one of the gunmen tied Ivy's hands behind her back. He backhanded her and said, "You are lucky Maelstrom wants you alive for now. For I shall enjoy making you suffer for what you did to my brother."
TBC (Up next, Hal goes to rescue Ivy.)