Opening her eyes the next morning, Annie found herself in bed alone. The night before was breathtaking, their passion for each other was beyond belief, months or maybe years of bottled up emotion for one another all came to fully fantastic love-making in one exquisite night. Annie had found in Eyal's arms what she had wanted for years, his tender touches and loving kisses and yes she is falling in love with the Israeli, the very man she should not be in love with. She closed her eyes, listening for any sounds of Eyal but all was quiet.
Slipping out of bed, Annie headed to Eyal's bedroom in hopes of finding him asleep but he was gone. The flat had a silent uncanny feeling without Eyal there. Where could he have gone so early in the morning? In the kitchen she found a pot of coffee waiting with a note, 'Having breakfast with Rita. Will catch up with you later. E'.
Crap. Damn it to hell ... After such a wonderful night they had together and now he is off having breakfast with Rita. Oh calm down Annie, he wasn't hiding what he was doing but still breakfast with one of the most beautiful women she had seen in a long time. Question if there is some history with them and to what extent? Sex? Annie was feeling a bit envious. Nothing left to do but fix herself a bite to eat and find out what she could about one Rita Venegas.
The morning went by slowly waiting for the good folks back a Langley to come into work. She decided to take a walk, survey the neighborhood and make her call away from the safe house. She surely didn't want Eyal to discover her checking the background of Rita. The area was the average middle class neighborhood with apartments and single family homes. Several blocks away she found a cozy little café and went in for late-morning tea. Knowing she couldn't blow her cover, she order in French only to find young girl sitting alone was also French. An exchange student and somewhat homesick. They sat together; chatted about Paris and the tiny country town the young girl was from. After that, time started to pass quickly for Annie and she soon had to excuse herself. She needed to call Auggie.
"Hi sunshine, are you up and bright-eyed." Annie was cheerful with her call to Auggie.
"Morning Walker, did you met up with Lamorak?"
"Yeah, piece of cake. A Frenchman so the cover is working well. Also had contact with Abdoul-Haziz Eman and meeting with him again this afternoon."
"Good, things are clipping along. I hear he is somewhat of a player." Auggie had done some research on Eman.
"I got that impression also. He had one exquisite woman on his arm last night. Need for you to check her out. She is going by the name of Kaliyah Antar. Sending you a picture of her but I think she is plant. Try Interpol first." Annie had taken a picture of Rita as she was coming into the restaurant.
"Got it. This may take a while. When is a good time to call back?" Auggie was running facial recognition through the Interpol agents data base for his first search.
"I'll have to call you back, say within an hour."
"Right. Be careful Walker." They both disconnected.
Returning to the flat, Annie found Eyal still gone. She quickly changed into something a little sexier for her meeting with Abdoul-Haziz. Thanks to Auggie's tip about him being a player perhaps that could work to her advantage. Looking at the mirror Annie was double checking her appearance. A little cleavage, damn not as much as the well endowed Rita but still not bad. A mint green dress with a flair skirt and Christian Louboutin heels that accentuated her legs. The flared shirt would give a graceful swing when she walk, also calling attention to her well-shaped legs. Her blond hair hanging softly around her shoulders, the draw would be the blond hair and not the body. That was her asset with middle-east guys, they tend to love blonds. She was ready to meet with Abdoul-Haziz. Annie had brought a tote that she had packed with several personal items, she had a plan.
Standing outside waiting for her cab to arrive, she decided it was a good time to check in with Auggie. "Auggie it's me again. I'm on my way to meet Abdoul-Haziz. You have anything for me?"
"Your Kaliyah Antar is a deep cover for Interpol specializing in white-collar crimes. Her real name is Rita Venegas and is from Barcelona, Spain. Speaks several languages and now assigned to the fine art black market theft and smuggling from Europe. Keep your cover Annie, don't let her know CIA is also onto Eman. Also Annie, he has a reputation for being a womanizer so watch your step."
"Right and thanks. Please keep checking on both, I need all the intel I can get. Have to go my cab is here." With a little more knowledge about Rita, Annie was now ready for her meeting with Abdoul-Haziz but first a side trip to the train station and the endless selection of shops. There she bought an overnight bag, some makeup, a lovely peach color negligée and a few other items to add to what few things she had brought with her. Next she checked into the hotel near both the train station and Theatre Royal, all part of her cover, just in case Abdoul-Haziz wants to come back to her room, after all both Eyal and Auggie had said he was a player.
Standing under the columns of the theater front, Annie was in awe of the beautiful building, a stunning modern structure in the Gueliz quarter.
Glancing at her watch when she heard, "Scenic building isn't it?" Abdoul-Haziz was walking towards her, looking even more handsome than the night before.
"Yes, gorgeous." Annie with her friendly smile. "How are you doing this evening Abdoul-Haziz?"
"Call me Abdoul, my parents hung a twenty mile long name on me at birth, something to do with my ancestors. There are a few local art galleries in the area we should take a look at. After that, how would you like having dinner with me?"
"Sounds wonderful, please lead the way." Annie slipping her arm around his arm, knowing he had western manners as they walk down the street to a charming little art gallery. Their visits were enjoyable, both appreciating the work of artisans from around Morocco and neighboring countries. There was one small piece that Annie liked, it had strong European influence it depicting a garden and lonely woman sitting on a beach. At her suggestion, he purchased the piece for his art collection.
"Well now Anna Marie, I guess you are my European art agent for real."
"Call me Anna, my parents also like triple names." She was feeling comfortable with him, Abdoul had an easy manner about him, a warm and jovial personality.
"My car is down the street a ways and getting time of the evening meal, should we put art aside and have dinner?" He was guiding her out the door.
A black Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, sleek, fast and sexy. Abdoul had class in picking his car, eye-catching and expense highly desirable European car. It was easy to tell he enjoyed the finer things in life and had the resources to indulge. Traveling out-of-town, Abdoul was telling about his recent trip to Belgium and amazed at the antiquity of northern Europe.
Turning onto a long stretch of desert road Abdoul was mindful about asking Annie, "We are going to my compound near a small oasis in the desert. Are you comfortable with my choice or had you rather have dinner in the city? I can turn the car around."
"No I'm good and would love to see your art collection. You do have some pieces at the compound?"
"Some Spanish and Italian art work, I think you will enjoy. My sister and her husband will be there for dinner."
"Wonderful." Annie being mindful of the direction in which they were traveling.
Their destination, a walled compound with tight security, cameras - guards and dogs. Within the walls were three small buildings, a large garage and the main dwelling with a courtyard appealingly planted with palm trees and flowering container pots. A male servant dressed all in white met the car as it pulled in front of the main house. Opening the door for Annie, he bowed slightly and in French, "Welcom à notre maison Gamila."
Stepping next to Annie, "Gamila is Arabic woman's name for beautiful. I think it fits this place, peaceful beauty like a woman."
"Some women are not so peaceful."
"So true Anna, so very true. Come, let me introduce you to my sister."
Entering the main vestibule Annie saw a young woman maybe in her late teens or early twenties standing with a man ten to fifteen years her senior that reminded Annie of Khalid Ansari but a tad taller. The young girl was dressed more of a western style with white slacks and a colorful Moroccan tunic, her long black hair falling gracefully down her back, pulled away from her face with an intricate filigree clip.
"My little sister, Alea and this is her husband, Tamir Sarraf." Abdoul making the introductions, "And this is Anna Marie Jaquelin Rousseau from Paris, France. She is with The Louvre Museum and a researcher in European art."
"How wonderful to meet you. We have a nice collection here at Gamila I am sure my brother would like to show you." Alea with a sweet expression on her face, that of a naive teenager.
"Of course, shall we." Extending his arm to Annie, "Come with us Alea, you know a little more about these paintings, I'm sure you and Anna will find a lot to talk about."
The four strolling through several rooms all beautifully decorated in furnishing from all over Europe with a strong influence of French elegance and Spanish classic. Persian rugs covered the decorative tile floors and magnificent works of art graced the walls.
Alea did most of the talking which was a relief to Annie as the sister was clearly the art expert. Annie knew a lot about art but it was clear if questioned, her cover would be blown. Alea was taking great delight in showing off their collection, something she didn't get much of a chance to do. Annie noticed that the husband, Tamir didn't have much to say, he being more like a tag along and totally uninterested in the art work.
Dinner was enjoyable with light conversation, superb wine and Moroccan lamb with honey and almonds served with Harira soup, salad and Bisteeya all delicately prepared for their guest. During dinner, Alea was again very talkative, as if Annie was the first female she had seen in a long time.
"Abdoul tells me you are from Paris, did you grow up there?"
"No, Paris is my home now but I was born in Ottawa, Canada where I spent the first twelve years of my life. My father was attached to the French Diplomatic Corps based at the French embassy." Annie was covering for any hit of an accent with her French and also giving her a wider exposure for a little intrigue.
"You speak English?" Abdoul was fast to ask.
"Yes."
"That is grand, Abdoul is trying to learn English." Alea seems eager to engage in English, "Let's change our conversation over to English, we need the practice."
"I may be a little rusty but okay, we can switch." Annie was happy to move to English as she felt she had the upper hand and took into account Tamir didn't join in the discussion. Possibly he didn't speak English and his French had a lot to be desired.
After dinner, they retired to an enclosed veranda where soft music was playing. The four drink more wine and dance. Annie found both Abdoul and Tamir to be light on their feet and moved with great rhythm to the tempo of the music. Casual conversation and Abdoul being kind and attentive, he fascinated Annie with his knowledge of Western Europe. A delightful lovely relaxed evening and soon it came to an end.
"Time I should be taking you back." Abdoul holding her close and softy whispered in Annie ear as they dance to the last song. She was sorry it was ending as she truly enjoyed being with him.
On the drive back to Marrakech, Annie wanted to ask about Rita or aka Kaliyah Antar but couldn't find the right opportunity. She didn't want to run the risk of sounding too inquisitive into his affairs, the evening had gone too perfectly.
"I have some business affairs to tend to tomorrow but how about having dinner with me the next day and take in the theater?"
"Are you asking for a date?"
"I am. I like being in your company. So is it a date?" Abdoul had parked the car in front of Annie's hotel.
"It's a date, and thank you for a lovely dinner and evening. Your sister is very sweet." Annie figuring now was not a good time to ask him to her hotel room. All the sexual overtones were the night before and this evening was amiable and wholesome, an especially respectable night which confused her and threw Annie a curve. Was he a Casanova or someone very sincere?
"And very lonely, she got married way to young. Happy you two got along so well, thank you Anna."
Abdoul walked Annie into the hotel lobby and they chatted a while longer before he gently kissed her, pushed the elevator button and said good night. Annie returning to her room, decided to spend the night at the hotel and return to the safe house the next day, incredibly happy with how things were progressing with Abdoul and the mission. Annie found Abdoul-Haziz Eman to be a charming gentleman, hard to fathom he is the leader of a major terrorist group.
Eyal: He parked his car across the roadway from the hotel and watched as Abdoul was the perfect gentleman to Annie, opening the doors and allowing her to enter the hotel lobby first. Sitting there for a few minutes before Eyal started his car and called it a night. Yes, Annie was on a mission and yes he was keeping watch on her safety but still knowing what would happen next, he couldn't stomach the mere thought of her in someone's arms and it was driving him mad. A stabbing pain wrench at his gut thinking she would be sleeping with Abdoul Eman that night. Nothing left to do but go back to the safe house, have a few drinks and sleep alone. He started having second thoughts about being in a committed love affair with Annie, a spy that a times sex would be required for a successful mission and something that would might nag him relentless.