Chapter 5

This chapter is dedicated to two loyal readers/reviewers (you know who you are), who were excited to have Harm and Clay 'back in action together again.' Because of this, I had to add a little 'action' to the plot I had planned, and that takes time. Sorry for the delay. I like this better, I hope you do too.

Webb Odyssey – Pas Deux

Claire Vincent

Andrew's Airforce Base

0646 Local time

Rabb arrived at Andrew's Airforce Base early, and was directed to the plane that would bring them across the world to Iran. It was a basic military transport, and Harm was not happy at the prospect of being in the small uncomfortable seats for the next 18 hours. But it was his job, or at least the job he had chosen to be part of this time.

He had said good-bye to Sarah at their home this morning. She was on limited bed rest now until the baby was due in the next 3 months. She was handling being at home pretty well so far, but he knew she would get bored quickly, and then cranky after that. But they would put up with it. They would put up with a lot of things to see this pregnancy through all the way safely. He hoped nothing would happen while he was gone. But he expected to be back in a few days, and Sarah had assured him she would be fine. Without her knowing, she was going to have some visitors dropping by, and calling each day, just to be sure. Bud and AJ both had said they would be happy to check up on her while he was gone. He would leave her to their capable hands.

Harm smiled to himself as he walked toward the plane and saw Webb waiting for him on the tarmac beside it. He had a little surprise for Clay too.

Clay saw Harm approach, and waved. Harm walked up beside him and set down his gear. They were both dressed in loose comfortable travel clothes, khakis and vests with pockets. No uniforms were required or wanted on this trip. 'Good Morning.' Clay said.

'Morning' Harm replied. 'All ready?'

'Yes, we will be able to get on board in a few minutes.' Clay told him. He was looking around, watching the crew check over the plane before take off.

Harm on the other hand was watching the comings and goings of jeeps and trucks between them and the base building he had come from.

Clay noticed this and was wondering what Harm was looking for. 'Everything all right?' he asked.

'Yeah, fine.' Harm answered.

'Sarah wasn't coming down here was she?' Clay asked. He hadn't thought about that possibility until now.

'No. She is on bed rest for now, and although she can get up and move around and go out a little, a trip to the airbase and all that walking wouldn't be good for her.' Harm answered.

'I hope everything is ok.' Clay was startled by this information and concerned for both of them. He knew how much this baby meant to both of them.

'Everything is fine. Just be sure to get me home in a few days all right?' Harm insisted with sly smile.

'That's the plan.' Said Clay, hoping for the same thing, but ready for whatever they might run into.

Harm was still looking around, and finally saw what he had been looking for. He smiled, and turned to Clay.

'Good Morning.' Said a bright, cheerful voice.

'Good Morning, Amy,' Harm answered, barely holding on to the mirth as he waited for Clay's reaction to his wife's arrival. He wasn't disappointed.

'What are you doing here?' Clay demanded loudly.

'Hi Harm.' Amy responded to him, then looked at her husband with a wide smile on her face.

Clay continued. 'And why are you dressed like that?' Amy was wearing the same type of dessert clothes, only a little more on the feminine side, with a headscarf tied loosely around her neck and shoulders.

'Because if I came to the base naked, they wouldn't let me inside.' She said with a smirk and laugh.

Harm joined her with a playful snort, then tried to reel it in again, since he saw Clay was so upset.

'This isn't funny.' Clay declared.

Amy was barely able to control her giggles at her own joke, 'No, you are right. But your reaction is pretty funny Clay.' She said.

'Amy,' Clay began.

'I think I will let you two talk alone. See you on board.' And with that, Harm picked up his gear and started toward the aircraft.

'You are not coming along.' Clay stated with a clear note in his voice that the subject was closed.

Amy ignored it. 'I am coming with you and Harm. You need me.'

'I want you at home where you will be safe.' Clay stated.

'You showed me I wasn't safe in Washington.' Amy told him, all trace of laughter gone from her face and voice now.

Clay paused at this and looked her straight in the eye. Ok, point taken he thought.

'Where is Claudia?' he asked.

'She is still with my brother and his family, and having the time of her life and getting spoiled rotten. She is fine.' Amy answered.

'You should be back with her.' Clay said.

'I should be with you.' Amy snapped back. She took a breath and started again, a little calmer. 'Clay I am sorry I didn't understand, or support you before. But Harm told me you felt you were really getting close, and I want to help. I can watch your back.'

'That is why Rabb is along.' Clay shot back.

'Then I will watch both your backs. I can also be an interpreter for you.' Amy reasoned.

'I lived over there for four months if you recall. I can speak Farsi too.' Clay claimed.

'You can understand Farsi fine, but you speak it like a five year old.' Amy said. Clay hated to admit it, but she was right. He had not had to speak very much while he had been in Iraq after they were first married. It was more important for him to listen. As such he could follow what people said to him, but to construct sentences on his own was a little harder. He knew he needed more practice.

Amy was right too, about her safety. She may be safer with him than alone right now. He hated the thought of her being in danger anywhere. If she was with him, he could at least keep an eye on her.

And, he had to admit; he had missed her over the past few weeks, while he worked alone in Washington. He was torn between pushing her into the nearest jeep and ordering her back to Wisconsin, and taking her in his arms and showing her just how much he had missed her.

He looked at her sideways, not sure what he should do with her, and she looked back at him with a smile spreading across her face. She knew she had won.

One of the ground crew approached Clay and said, 'Mr. Webb, the plane is ready, you can board now.' Clay looked at him and said 'Thanks.' Then he looked back at his wife.

'Did you bring a Jilbab too?' he asked, referring to the full covering garment worn by women in Muslim countries.

An exasperated look crossed her features. 'No, I plan on traveling to a devout Muslim country, and wear tank tops and mini-skirts.' Then she smiled again. 'Yes, I have a full one in my gear, and plenty of head scarves too.' She replied.

'I want you to wear one all the time, and cover your face too. I don't want to see anything but your eyes for the next four days.' He demanded.

'All right.' She said, holding her hands up in surrender.

He looked at her again. 'I hate having these conversations with you.' He said. 'Why are you so stubborn?' he asked.

'I have to be, I'm married to you.' She smiled, and picked up her gear.

As they headed toward the plane, Clay said. 'One other thing, you aren't my wife. We can't be married on this trip, it could jeopardize both of us if anyone found out you were my wife.'

'Ok. But that means we can't sleep together.' She pointed out, and stepped into the plane.

Clay paused and thought about this. Then he shook his head. He has been apart from his wife for weeks, and he wanted her, and now he has fixed it that they couldn't be together, certainly not with Harm in the same room. What had he done? He thought. 'Nice work, Webb.' He said to himself as he boarded the plane behind her.

Outside of Tabriz

Northern Iran

0755 Local time

They arrived in Syria, and after giving the base commander a story for their purpose in the region, they obtained transportation into Northern Iran, heading for Tabriz in the mountains. Contacts with Mossari were always made from this city or the surrounding area. His actual whereabouts at any given moment were known to only a few his people at a time.

Clay made arrangements for them to stay in a small boarding house, sort of a motel, not very fancy, and they were all in one room. It had been expected the men would sleep on the two small beds, and a low cot was provided for Amy. Harm, and Clay both tried to do the gentlemanly thing, and said one of them would take cot, and Amy enjoyed watching them both as they ruffled their respective feathers at trying to be noble. In the end she made the practical argument that since she was the smallest of their party, and the cot was small, she was going to be far more comfortable in the cot anyway. Not to mention, putting up with either one of them when they haven't gotten enough sleep. After a little more male posturing, it was settled and they all got some sleep.

The next day they reviewed their plan. It was pretty simple. They simply had to pass the word around that they wished to talk to Mossari. Once the word was out, Clay was certain Mossari would find them.

'Tell me again why we don't contact the CIA station office to get a fix on this guy's whereabouts?' Harm asked, as they were getting ready to leave their room and begin inquiries in the city.

'I don't really want the CIA to know I am here.' Clay answered. 'The office thinks I am in Wisconsin visiting my wife and her family, and no one else really needs to know why I am here. I need to keep a low profile. To many people outside CIA know who I am now, and my connections and…it would just get too complicated and dangerous.'

Clay was referring to the fact that since he had been working undercover with an insurgent group in Northern Iraq about a year ago, and had been suspected to have 'changed sides' and worked to help these insurgents, but was confirmed to have been working for the CIA all along. It was pretty tough for him to move around 'in country' without drawing the wrong kind of attention. Any insurgent group could recognize him and kill him, and any CIA operative could recognize him and start asking a lot of questions Clay didn't want to answer. They could also get him into a lot of trouble with the Agency. Clay didn't want to tell Amy or Harm, mostly because it was only a vague idea, but Clay was beginning to think whoever was trying to stop his investigation about his father's death were coming from inside the Agency, and from very high up.

Clay was hoping he could discreetly make contact with Mossari and his people, ask his questions, get answers to what had happened to his father, and then get back out again without anyone else being the wiser. Harm and Amy might make the ring a little wider, and catch the wrong kind of attention, but he did need someone watching his back, and maybe with their help they can cast a wider net, and make contact with Mossari that much faster.

Harm nodded his understanding, even if he didn't know all the details. Clay had not been a field agent since coming back from Iraq a year ago. Too many people knew he worked for CIA now. Too many of the wrong people, and he couldn't blame Clay for wanting to keep his head low. For the hundredth time, Harm asked himself if coming along on this trip was such a good idea.

'Where should we begin?' he asked as they left the boarding house.

'When in the states and Europe, for this kind of work you ask around in the bars and clubs at night to try and make contact with the 'kingpin' of the underground. When in the Middle East, you begin with the cafes, in broad daylight.' Clay answered and crossed the street to the first café in sight.

They split up for part of the day, Clay going off on his own, and Harm and Amy staying together, Amy acting as Harm's interpreter. She at least was able to move around easily among the population, fully covered as she was in the Jilbab, where Harm had a harder time trying to fit in with his height and obvious American good looks. They were able to stay out of trouble, discreetly asking about Mossari or his group. They really weren't expecting to make any contact, just wanted the word out that they were looking to discuss a deal with him.

Boarding House

Outside of Tabriz

Northern Iran

1738 local time

Clay had made his inquiries and had seen a couple of faces in one of the cafés he thought he recognized. Before leaving Washington, he had downloaded pictures of men thought to be associated with Mossari from the CIA files, and Clay couldn't keep their faces out of his head. He had to go and check the file saved on his laptop back at the boarding house. If he was right, and these men were connected to Mossari, Clay may have made the contact they needed.

As Clay opened the door to their room, the barrel of a pistol was pointed at his nose, and a voice inside the room said. 'Please join us Mr. Webb.'

Café nearby

Tabriz Northern Iran

1750 local time

The day was fading into dusk, and both Harm and Amy were tired from their wanderings, and the tension of their work. The had made their way back around to a place near their boarding house, and had decided to take a break and get something to eat. They were to meet Clay back at the room before dark. While they were waiting for their food, Harm asked, 'Do you think we made any headway today? It seems a pretty poor way to try and contact someone.'

Amy shrugged her shoulders. 'We will know shortly I suppose. However silly it may seem, it is how things are done here.'

'I didn't really like splitting up this afternoon.' He stated. 'How am I supposed to watch his back if I am not there? But it does seem we can make more inquiries if we go in different directions.' He sighed. So many things on this trip seem contrary to how it should be done. Maybe he was still tired out from the long day wandering around, and the jet lag. 'Do you think Clay has any better luck?'

'I hope so.' Amy replied.

Boarding House

Outside of Tabriz

Northern Iran

1840 local time

CIA Agent Stuart Billings, knew Clayton Webb was lying. He knew Webb had a long, outstanding reputation with the Agency, and Billings wondered how he could have gotten that far, and been such a successful field agent, and be such a bad liar.

Billings also understood, that whatever Webb was leaving out of his story, Billings was going to have to do his own digging to find it. He would not get the information from Webb.

He asked one more time; just to be sure he had all the information straight that Webb was giving him. 'So, you are here gathering information on insurgent groups, and want to talk to Mossari.'

Clay looked him in the eye and said, 'Yes, that's all.' It was all, to a certain extent. Clay knew Billings wasn't buying the story, but he really didn't care. He just wanted the agent out of here. Hopefully Clay had already made contact with Mossari's group, and they could talk and get out of here fast. Faster than Billings could do any back checking.

Billings kept pushing though. 'If you wanted to contact Mossari, why not check in with us when you arrived? We could have maybe set something up. Though we don't really like someone from the outside coming in and contacting our best informant. You might inadvertently mess our agreement up with Mossari.'

Clay decided to be insulted by this, and put Billings in his place. 'I might mess things up? I'll have you know I was working as an agent on Middle East cases while you were worrying about your first pimple.'

Billings looked properly put down by that. He was quite a bit younger than Webb, and maybe had gone a bit too far.

'Besides,' Clay continued, 'I wanted to keep this low key. It is just some quick foot work, and then I will be out of here.' He promised.

Billings still wasn't satisfied. 'Who are the people you are traveling with, and where are they now?'

Billings had been paying attention, Clay thought. Just my luck. 'They are friends of mine.' He answered.

'One is a woman. Your wife know you are traveling and staying with a woman in your room?' Billings asked, indicating the three beds.

'She is an interpreter, and my marriage status really isn't your concern, Billings.' Webb said pointedly.

'Who is the other guy?' he asked Clay.

'A friend.' Clay was getting tired explaining himself and his actions to this kid, whether he was working at the CIA station in this area or not. 'I know better than to come to this part of the world without back up.'

At this very moment, Clay's back up decided to come back to the room. The door opened, and Billings and the other agent with him, both drew their weapons, and trained them on the door.

Harm walked in, surprised at the two men holding revolvers at his head, and Clay at the back of the room, standing causally by the window.

'Put up your weapons, Billings. They are with me.' Clay ordered.

With a nod from Billings, both men put away their weapons. Harm and Amy cautiously entered the room. Amy stayed behind Harm, and kept her scarf over her face. She frantically looked over at Clay to be sure he was all right, and with a short nod to her, he let her know he was ok.

'Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. I believe.' Billings stated once Harm had entered the room.

'Who wants to know?' Harm asked.

'My name is Stuart Billings, and this is my associate.' He said as he indicated the other agent with a nod.

'Our friendly neighborhood CIA agents.' Clay interjected from across the room.

Billings stepped toward Amy and pulled off her face scarf. Amy gave him an angry look, but said nothing.

'I know you…' Billings began. 'You're that Major that was held captive in Iraq. Got beat up pretty bad.' He paused a moment in thought. 'Harold, Harper, Harris…, that's it, Major Amelia Harris. Oh, wait. Not Harris anymore.' He turned and looked at Clay. 'Mrs. Clayton Webb now isn't it?'

'Now you know, you can go home now Billings.' Clay said.

Billings looked back at the two standing by the door. With all these people in the small room, and the three beds, it was getting a bit crowded. And, he had gotten all he needed to know for now. 'Maybe it is time to go.' He said to no one in particular. He turned back once more to Clay. 'If you are not asking for our help, I won't give it, now or later, Webb. I don't have to tell you we will be keeping an eye on you. If you get into anything you are not supposed to, you will hear from us.' He stepped toward the door. The other associate stepped in front of him, and opened the door as Harm and Amy stepped aside to let them out.

As Billings came to the doorway he turned once more and addressed all three of them. 'One more thing, whatever it is you are doing here, wrap it fast.' Then he left the room, and closed the door behind him.

Harm looked over at Clay and asked, 'What is that supposed to mean? "He won't help us, now or later, and we better wrap it up fast?"' Was that a threat?

Clay shrugged his shoulder, 'I guess. I suppose he means that if we find ourselves in trouble we are on our own, the CIA will disavow us, as usual.' Harm nodded at this, he knew that rule well enough. 'And we should finish our work here, because he will begin his own checking to find out why we are here, and it would better for us to finish and leave before he finds out the truth.' Clay shook his head. This was the last thing he wanted, some CIA baby trying to catch him at something, and use it to advance his own career. It would work too, if Billings found out why he was here. It could also tip off whomever it was that was running interference in Washington, and threatening Clay to stop his research. Whoever that was, could try something here too. How did all of this get so complicated?

Amy came over and gave him a hug. He looked like he needed it. When they drew apart, Clay asked them both. 'Were you able to find out anything?'

The three of them sat down, and began reviewing where they had been that day, and what they had found out, which was very little.

Clay told them about the men he thought he had recognized, and they checked his file from CIA on the laptop. Yes, two of the men he had seen today where known associates of Mossari. There were names, but the file assumed these were aliases, and they doubted those names were being used now. Clay had not talked to them, but he did feel they were taking a special interest in what he was asking, and whom he was talking to.

'We will just have to wait and see if anything comes of it.' He said.

It was late, and they were all tired. The lights went out in the little room, and they all went to sleep quickly.

Outside of Tabriz

Northern Iran

2214 local time

After two more days of making the rounds of cafes in the area, asking questions, and getting more and more dirty looks, Clay, Harm and Amy all felt they were overstaying their welcome.

Nothing had come of the two men who Clay thought he saw on the first day at one of the cafes. He had stopped there several times since, and just took a cup of the cafes finest brew, and sat back to see if those men ever came back. They had not. Clay now was not so sure it had been them. He was getting discouraged. Almost three days now, and they had He had been so sure this was the way to contact Mossari's group. He was beginning to think that getting on the wrong side of the local CIA office had been a bad idea. How could he go back and try to get information from them?

Harm and Amy were sitting across the table from him, both looking tired. They had shared a late supper, and were thinking of heading back to the boarding house. There, Clay would have to come up with some other plan, because this one wasn't working, and they were running out of time.

Clay left money on the table, and he stood up. The other two did the same, and they all headed out the door into the darkened street. They walked up the street toward the boarding house in a staggered line, Clay in the lead, Amy behind him, and Harm a couple steps behind her. They were all watching the street, checking faces, watching doorways and cars. As they passed a walkway between two buildings, a hand came out and grabbed Amy, pulling her into the dark shadows. Clay heard her small gasp, and turned around, Harm came up quickly too, and they both stepped into the dark. Their eyes took time to adjust to the light, and that split second, both men received punches, one to the body and one to head, which didn't do that much damage, but knocked the wind out of them, and momentarily knocking them senseless.

Harm felt himself being dragged along the alleyway by a couple of men and just as he was getting ready to struggle to try and free his hands, he was thrown against the hood of a car, and a gun was shoved into his face. He looked to his left, and saw Clay was getting the same treatment. Another car in front of them had its headlights turned on, and the shadow of man stood in front of the lights. Both men could see the figure there, but his face was in shadow.

Harm looked at Clay out of the corner of his eye. 'I'm getting tired of guns being shoved in my face on this trip.' He said.

'Me too.' Agreed Clay. 'Where is the woman?' he demanded loudly. His blood had turned cold at the thought of not being able to see his wife. 'What have you done…?' Clay started, but the shadowy figure cut him off.

'I am the one asking the questions here.' He said. 'The woman is unharmed, for now.'

Harm and Clay exchanged a look then looked back at the man.

'Why are you asking so many questions about Mossari?' he asked. 'Who are you?'

'I need to talk to him, ask him some questions. We are Americans.' Clay answered.

'I know all this already.' The man replied impatiently. 'What questions do you have for him? You are CIA, yes?'

Clay could barely restrain himself from rolling his eyes. Maybe those letters were tattooed on his forehead like Amy had always said. 'I just want to talk to Mossari and ask him a few questions.'

'What questions! What is this about?' the man insisted.

'It is a personal matter.' Clay said.

The man did not respond right away to this. He stood silently in front of them thinking.

During all of this, Harm was scanning their surroundings, looking for any sign of Amy, counting how many men he could see, how they could possibly get out of here with their lives. He wasn't sure how far Clay was going to get with is conversation, but he hoped they would figure it out soon.

The man finally answered Clay. 'Mossari does not talk to CIA, or any Americans. He works through contacts. Tell me your questions, and I will bring them to Mossari.'

'That's not possible. As I said it is personal. I need to talk to Mossari directly. It is just a few questions. It has nothing to do with any present day government.' Clay was hoping he could tell enough of the truth to get this man to bend, without going into the whole story. Clay really wanted to be the one to talk to Mossari. The less people who knew the whole story the easier it would be to get to the truth and get out of here.

'If Mossari did talk to you, what would you offer in payment for his information?' the man asked.

Clay thought for a moment. He hated playing this card, but didn't see anyway around it. 'I do have connections to CIA.' He confessed. 'It would be in Mossari's best interest to talk to me to keep his, "special status" with them.'

The man almost laughed at this but was interrupted.

Clay and Harm both noticed some voices coming behind the man in the dark, and some shuffling. Another man came into the light and whispered into the first one's ear. The two of them conversed a moment, then the first one looked up at Clay and Harm again.

He said, 'As I told you, Mossari does not talk to Americans, but there is someone here who he may talk to.'

Two figures came out of the car in front of Clay and Harm, and moved into the light. The one in the lead, with a man holding her arm was Amy.

'Are you alright?' Clay asked quickly.

Amy nodded. 'Yes, I'm fine.'

The man broke into their exchange. 'She says she is your interpreter.' Clay tried to mask his face and the concern for his wife he was sure was showing. They had to believe she was only their interpreter, for her own safety. 'She has offered to take your request to Mossari.' The man continued, then his voice softened. 'She is beautiful, and a proper, modest Muslim woman.' He said. Both Clay and Harm could hear the smile in his voice, and didn't like it at all.

'No.' Clay said flatly. 'That is out of the question. She is under our protection and I am responsible for her. I can't let her go alone with you.'

'She would be perfectly safe with us.' The voice demanded. 'We have no quarrel with her.' He stated. 'She talks for a living, let her talk for you with Mossari. He respects women, and would extend to her his own protection.'

Amy had kept her head down through all of this, trying to look like the good, modest woman they expected. She finally broke her silence, and asked the man in Farsi. 'May I have a word with these men?'

The man nodded, and turned away, stepping out of the light to let them talk in some privacy.

Amy turned to Clay and Harm. 'What are you doing?' Clay demanded in an angry whisper.

'Trying to get a meeting for at least one of us with Mossari.' She took a quick look over her shoulder then turned back to Clay. 'Do you have any other suggestions? There are a whole group of them Clay, all well armed. I don't think they would kill us, but they won't tell you where Mossari is, and they won't take you to him. They seem to think he will talk to me, let me try.'

'Don't be stupid.' Harm said. 'You're willing to risk your life on their word?'

'There is honor among thieves, and honor is important to these people. Amy told Harm.

'They aren't thieves, Amy, they are terrorists.' Harm answered her. 'You know what I am talking about better than anyone.' He said, referring to her time as a captive at the hands of an insurgent group.

'Yes, I know what I am getting into.' She said. 'Think about it; if Mossari takes me as a guest or a hostage, he risks losing his whole operation if anything happens to me. And it is a big operation, he wouldn't be willing to risk that.'

'That is only if word gets out that he did take you.' Harm shot back at her.

'Yes, that is your and Clay's job, to be sure the world knows who is behind it if something happens.' Amy answered him.

Clay was quiet through their whole exchange. He couldn't believe he was even contemplating her idea; it was crazy, maybe crazy enough to work.

'Amy,' Clay finally said, 'Are you sure about this?'

'Do you have any other ideas?' They could just turn out the lights now, disappear into the night and send word out that we are not to be given any information on Mossari's whereabouts. The whole thing would be shut down to us forever, and then what will you do about finding what happened to your father?'

Clay hated himself right now, but there may be a way to cover everyone in this, and secure both the information and their safety.

'All right.' Was all he said.

Harm looked at him in complete surprise. 'What! You are going to let her do this?'

Clay wouldn't take his eyes off Amy. 'I love you. You will be safe, I will make sure of it.' He promised.

'I know.' She said. She wanted so much to reach out and have him take her in his arms, and kiss her before she set out, but she knew that was impossible if she were to keep her cover. She looked into Clay's eyes, and saw the same need there, but he didn't move.

Amy glanced once more at Harm, then back to Clay. 'I will be all right, but I am counting on you.'

'I won't let you down.' Clay promised again.

Amy turned, and walked back to the car. She got in the back seat, and Clay and Harm were released, as the rest of the men got into the other car and drove off.

Clay and Harm were left alone in the dark alley. Harm looked at Clay, the surprise and now some disgust was there on his face.

'I can't believe you just let her go. Again!' he said. 'Are you crazy?'

Clay looked down the alley in the direction the cars had just taken. 'I just may be.' He said quietly. 'But I have a plan.'

'I sure hope so.' Harm said. 'But I bet I won't like it. I don't like it so far.'

Clay looked back at him. 'Trust me.' He said with a half smile, and started walking back to the road.

Harm said to himself as he started to walk behind him. 'That's what I am afraid of.'