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Chapter Eighteen-Taking Back Control
Alex took a deep breath after stepping into the upstairs office and greeting her old boss. She was back in the clutches of the cartel and that meant she needed to be in control. Fahri would never know what hit him as his world fell apart, until Alex chose to share that information with him. She wanted him to understand exactly who was responsible for his downfall, but only at a time she selected.
A half smile formed on her lips as she stepped further into the room. As expected, Fahri was waiting for her. He was sitting on a leather couch that faced the door, one arm casually draped over the back. Alex raised one eyebrow imperiously at him and chuckled darkly as the smirk fell from his face. It took him a moment to recover, but Alex had seen the shock in his demeanor. Now he was trying desperately to create a neutral expression.
"Hello Alex."
He was already a spider in her web, ready to be cocooned for later use. "Fahri. Not expecting me, I imagine." It wasn't a question, but Alex thought she'd let him talk things through, at least for a while. She was on a timetable after all.
"No. I thought we were helping to get your blonde friend out of Litchfield." Fahri stood up, which almost put him at Alex's height. "If you had wanted us to help you escape, we could have arranged that much sooner. You were always one of my best assets."
Of course he would try to depersonalize her, make her property. She didn't take the bait. "I thought it would be better this way."
Alex spoke calmly as she surveyed the room, walking in a slow pattern to evaluate her situation. One wall held a long table covered with computers and monitors, some displaying camera images of the workers in the room below. There were also cameras on the outside of the building and on them she could see at least two guards near the warehouse. The L-shaped leather couch sat in the middle with a coffee table. A small bar area was on the near wall and the far wall had two more doors, probably a bedroom and bathroom.
Time to find out where she stood. "Is there still a place for me in the operation? At your side?" As she asked, Alex worked her way close to Fahri until he sat back on the arm of the couch with a smile.
"There is always a place for you by my side Alex." Her tone had successfully relaxed him. He crossed his arms over his chest and rubbed two fingers over the goatee on his chin. "Of course, things are different now, and you are a wanted fugitive. We might have to move you out of the country for your own protection."
"What do I care where I am?" Alex waved her hand around the dismal space. "If this is an indication of your current lifestyle, maybe you should consider a change as well."
Fahri hid his annoyance at her comment, but Alex knew it was there. "This is temporary." He slid past Alex and walked toward the bar. "Can I get you a drink? You probably haven't had one in what, two years?"
Alex followed him with her eyes. "Something like that. Vodka martini please."
Fahri sorted through bottles and began mixing. "Those prison clothes need to go immediately as well, they aren't very becoming on you Alex."
"I haven't had time to shop Fahri, would you have me go naked?" Alex kept her tone playful, but she was seething inside. He was probably using the exact techniques on her that he had planned for Piper. Such a lack of originality.
"If I didn't know better I'd think you were flirting with me Alex. Did all those ugly women in prison finally tire you of pussy?" Fahri carried the drink back to Alex and handed her the glass when she failed to respond. "I had planned to have dinner brought here for your friend Piper assuming she has not had a good meal in some time. I'm sure you will enjoy it equally, but your attire is not appropriate for dining. There are some clothes in the bedroom. Door on the right."
Fahri gave a head gesture and Alex nodded as she took the martini and savored a long sip. "Thank you. I'll go change then."
The bedroom was small and functional. A nightstand was next to the double bed and the single drawer was locked. Alex opened the armoire and found several dresses hung to one side with lacy undergarments and high heels in the drawers below. Fahri must have seen photos of Piper because they were clearly sized for her love. Well, that would just cause some of her 'assets' to be even more prominently displayed.
She settled on a black low cut dress that would allow her to keep on her own bra and a pair of black heels. Not exactly fighting gear, but physical violence wasn't what she had planned unless absolutely necessary. There was only one item in the pocket of her prison shirt, and that she tucked down into her bra.
Several minutes went by and Alex finally heard a knock at the outer door. Dinner had arrived. She waited until the set up was complete and exited the bedroom with her best sultry sashay. "That smells delicious. Thank you for the clothes, and for helping me get out." Alex sat down at the table setting and held up an empty wine glass. "Red?"
Fahri nodded and went to retrieve the bottle. For a moment his back was to Alex and she took immediate advantage reaching down the front of her dress for a moment. He returned and poured two glasses and seated himself next to her.
"You look stunning as always." Fahri began to eat and drink. "I was thinking while you were in the bedroom. You know I don't like surprises, but you being here is a good one. "
"Oh?"
"Yes. I was willing to help your friend, but I couldn't really use her in the operation you know. I would have had to find something for her, and I'm not sure she would have been accommodating. In many ways you are much more valuable to me."
Alex had to stop the growl that was rumbling up her throat. "I wasn't expecting to be here either, but I'm glad you are pleased. You think you know someone and then you find out that they were not who you thought they were all at. That happened to me today, and so here I am."
The disguised truth flowed so easily. "I was fully prepared to pay the price you demanded when I got out of prison in order to protect Piper. I understood the terms, Fahri, I still do."
Fahri gave a small grin and held out his hand. "Let's move this conversation to the couch."
Alex stood and grabbed the wine glasses and bottle instead, moving them to the coffee table before sitting down.
Fahri paused for a moment. "I'll be right back."
Alex nodded and forced a smile as he headed to the bedroom. As soon as the door closed she reached for the item in her bra for the second time. She had to be quick and careful.
When he returned Fahri sat next to Alex and began to lightly stroke his fingers up and down her arm. "The cartel is doing very well Alex. I have money and property all over the world. People respect me, women love me. I am a powerful person."
To Alex the speech had the air of forced nonchalance. She knew the 'women' who loved Fahri. Young uneducated addicts and climbers like 'Tracy'. What was his point?
"In fact, the only woman who didn't properly respect me, who refused my affection, was you." His voice had gone cold.
So he was going for the direct assault. That was fine with Alex. She just needed a little more time.
"Fahri, I did respect you. You taught me everything about the operation I needed to be successful. But I didn't know about your other feelings; now I do." She forced herself to lean into him ever so slightly as she retrieved both of the wine glasses. "A toast! To the only thing that really matters in this life, love."
Alex drained her glass and watched out of the corner of her eye to make sure Fahri at least took a sizeable drink.
Fahri took her glass and sat forward setting both glasses on the coffee table. When he leaned back he had surreptitiously taken a pair of handcuffs from his jacket pocket and snapped them over Alex's wrists. She jumped to her feet and stumbled behind the couch.
He watched her mockingly. "Where are you going Alex? There is nowhere for you to run."
"Why are you doing this?" Alex held out her restrained hands and tried to sound desperate. She really hoped he would come clean and verify everything that Tracy had told her earlier in the day. It would assuage any residual guilt over her impending retribution.
"Prison has made you soft. You have been under the control of others for so long you don't even think like one of us anymore. There is always a price for your actions Alex. I was the one who brought you into the cartel, made you rich, gave you access to all those pretty young girls. I deserved the same from you, it was my right." His face was contorted in anger now and his voice rose. "Why would you ever think I would help your girlfriend?"
"What were you going to do to Piper?" Alex asked, already knowing the answer. She thought she saw the first glimmer of disorientation in Fahri's eyes. He must have felt something as well and reached into his jacket and pulled out a pistol pointing it at her.
"The same thing I'm going to do to you now Alex. I'm going to tie you up and fuck you until I'm bored and then sell you to some friends of mine in the Middle East for a lot of money. They will probably take extra good care of you when they find out you only had sex with women, they don't think highly of homosexuals."
The last line came out slightly slurred and Alex hoped he didn't accidentally pull the trigger in his impending stupor. She knew she shouldn't bait him, but she wasn't used to alcohol and her unadulterated wine was loosening her tongue.
"Such an enticing offer, but I'm afraid torture and rape are not on the agenda tonight, at least not for me."
He got as far as opening his mouth to speak before his eyes rolled back and he slumped forward onto the couch, the gun dropping safely to the floor.
"You never were as smart as you thought you were Fahri."
Piper stared out the window in Caputo's office towards the delivery gate. Her eyes seemed glued to the place that Alex had exited Litchfield in the back of a truck after knocking her unconscious for reasons unknown. What had transpired to change Alex's plan so drastically? Alex had never shown any interest in escaping and had been so determined to set up the whole plan for her benefit. The whole situation was so frustratingly confusing, and no matter how hard she looked at it, the gate held no answers.
Currently she was waiting, yet again, to verbally reaffirm her lack of knowledge concerning the events of the last 24 hours to yet another official. At least it was Fischer standing guard, although without her usual kind expression. The whole prison was tense.
When the door opened the room got crowded. Caputo came in first, followed by Healy, Figueroa and a man Piper had only met once.
"Inmate Chapman." Of course it had to be Fig. That woman liked to hear herself speak. "You remember District Attorney Watkins. He wanted to evaluate the situation and your injury personally. Please answer his questions."
Piper turned to show the DA the purple swelling of her face and waited for him to say something.
"Ms. Chapman, you are under indictment for the assault on Ms. Doggett. While the current situation is seemingly unrelated, you aren't required to speak to me. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Piper thought it best to keep it simple.
"Do you have any knowledge concerning the whereabouts of Alex Vause?" DA Watkins sat down in the chair next to her as he asked.
"No. I really don't have any idea what Alex has done or where she is now."
The middle aged man in his best suit suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I have been led to believe that you and Ms. Vause had a, um, personal relationship. And yet she apparently assaulted you during her escape?"
Piper wanted to answer this one more carefully. "I am suffering some memory loss from the injury. I don't know what happened and though I find it hard to believe, I have been told Alex hit me."
"I see. You really aren't in any position to protect her with all of your own legal difficulties Ms. Chapman." Watkins gave her what Piper thought must have been his best intimidation stare.
"I'm not. Despite our history, why would I protect someone who hit me and then escaped? It's not like I'll ever see her again." Piper paused to compose herself as the veracity of her statement hit home and tears came to her eyes. "Honestly, if there was something I could tell you that would help me I would."
Watkins smiled. "I am counting on the fact that you have history with Alex Vause and her former associates. Your case keeps surprising me Chapman. As it happens, your attorney stopped by my office very early this morning. He is insisting on speaking to you as soon as possible. He indicated you do have information I might find extremely valuable, but that he had forbidden you from making any disclosures without his express approval."
Piper opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her mind was whirling. What the hell was going on? Clearly there were forces at work that she didn't have a handle on right now, and based on experience that meant Alex was involved. She also had nothing to lose. "He is my lawyer. I'm supposed to do what he says."
This time the District Attorney stood up. "Ms. Figueroa? Ms. Chapman's trial is postponed. Please arrange for her to meet with her attorney as soon as possible, preferably today."
Fig had been leaning on Caputo's desk listening intently. She hated being kept in the dark about things and clearly the DA knew more than she did. At Watkins request she jumped to her feet. "Inmate Chapman is to be transferred to the SHU immediately, for protective custody. We don't know if Vause has planned additional escape attempts, or if Chapman was an accessory. She won't be available to meet with an attorney."
Piper's heart stopped at the thought of an endless stay in the SHU until she saw the smirk on Watkins' face.
"The Warden and the Attorney General of the State of New York insist, Ms. Figueroa. This is an important developing investigation and you will not impede it by harassing Ms. Chapman, do you understand?"
Figueroa was shooting fire from her eyes, but swallowed her anger. "If the Warden has ordered this, we will of course cooperate."
"Good." Watkins headed towards the door, which Caputo opened for him and then paused. "Alex Vause is in more trouble than you can imagine. You can't help her now. It's time to think of your own best interests Ms. Chapman."
Piper completely agreed with the sentiment, just not in the way District Attorney Watkins intended.
Alex woke up with a start. She couldn't place the dark dingy room, and it was quiet. She hadn't been asleep in complete silence in so long, since she had first been arrested and jailed. She forced her heart rate to slow. Now she remembered; she was at the warehouse. The clock on the nightstand read 2pm. Shit, she had asked Antonio if he could guard Fahri for a few hours so she could take a nap. She hadn't slept at all the night before and little for several nights before worrying about Piper's escape.
But Antonio was supposed to wake her up at noon and he hadn't. Alex got out of bed quietly and crept to the door, listening for any signs that she would walk into an ambush when she opened it. She had Fahri's gun, but she wasn't a very good shot. It seemed to be quiet in the front room as well.
Alex turned the doorknob and peeked out through the smallest crack she could create. Fahri was there, still bound to a chair with a gag in his mouth. He looked a little more awake than he had last night, but from look of his bruises, probably wished he wasn't. Thank all the deities that Red had given her the residual knockout drug that they had used on Pornstache's sandwich. She had counted on Fahri's arrogance to provide her with an opportunity to slip it in his drink and he had, twice.
Opening the door fully, Alex could see Antonio seated at the table with the computers and monitors, watching the guards patrolling outside. When the young man saw her, he jumped to his feet.
"Ms. Vause."
"Relax Antonio. Why didn't you wake me at noon?"
He looked at his feet almost embarrassed. "I tried, but you were very much asleep."
Alex smiled softly. How fortunate had she been to make this quiet young man an ally? He had been invaluable in making everything go smoothly last night. He had found her cuffed and searching the unconscious Fahri's pockets for the key and pointed to the monitors. 'Tracy' had entered the warehouse and was headed for the stairs. She had convinced Antonio to get the girl to leave which she did after much loud complaining, insisting she would be back the next night to see Fahri. That was fine, since all she would find was a burned out shell. The idiot girl would never know Alex had probably saved her.
By the time he returned Alex had gotten herself free of the restraints and she asked for his assistance in tying Fahri up. Antonio complied, but then asked her to explain the situation, which she had done completely and honestly.
It turned out that Antonio had been sent by the cartel as a 'bodyguard' but was really there to watch Fahri. There had been concerns about Fahri's practices and his sales had been dropping, coinciding with when Alex had been arrested. Fahri had become involved in the sex trade on the side, trying to hide the income from the cartel. Antonio found the selling of the girls distasteful and unnecessarily risky and wanted no part of it. For his part Fahri had been too stupid to recognize that Antonio was a plant.
The two struck up an unlikely agreement. Alex would take over Fahri's position and reclaim her old routes and connections. Antonio would work with her, learn from her, and take over when the time came. Scanning through the computers in the room had revealed Fahri had several large bank accounts and properties in the Caribbean separate from the cartel accounts, and the two new partners split those 50/50 on the spot. Alex had quite enjoyed watching Antonio 'convince' Fahri to give them the account passwords. The young man demonstrated exceptional patience and could be quite creative.
It had been very early in the morning when Alex made one last phone call. Mr. Bartone was used to getting calls at all hours from his cartel clients, and this call definitely couldn't wait. She had saved herself, now she had to save her girl.