The safe house was once more empty by the time Annie opened the door mid-morning the next day. Eyal had left another short note, 'Have business to take care of will check in later.' Annie felt as empty as the safe house, she wanted to talk with Eyal and share her news with him. It would have to wait. Checking her watch, it was a good time to call Auggie.
"Hey Walker, you are sounding first-class this morning."
"Hi Auggie, I have some things I need for you to check on. The name Tamir Sarraf, age to be about early thirties and I think Iranian. Also, I need the background information on Abdoul-Haziz Eman's family, the whole works including brothers and sisters."
"Tall order, will take a while. Any other news?"
"He has a large compound or I should say living quarters about fifty kilometers south to south-west of Marrakech, near the foot hills of the Atlas Mountains. It is a walled compound with one very large building or main house, a good size garage and three other small buildings. There is also a small oasis on the approach road from Marrakech. You should be able to find images on our satellite surveillance."
"Good work Walker. I take it you are in contact with him."
"Yeah, we have a date for tomorrow night, hope to find out more. Do you have anything else on Rita Venegas?"
"You want me to check into her background too?"
"Please, if I'm to get close to Eman I have to know what I'm dealing with. You know the score, two women fighting for the affections of one man."
"No I don't but wished I did. See what I can get. Be careful Walker, touch base with me later."
With a deep exhale of breath, Annie went about packing some other clothes to take back to the hotel. Where in the world could Eyal be and what type of business was he taking care of. She wanted to call him but decided not to. Abdoul had also said he had business to take care of and hopefully it was with Eyal. Abdoul was pushed against the wall to find another arms supplier and fast.
She would spend the next few hours studying about art and especially the pieces that have been reported stolen, the reason Rita Venegas was cozying up to Abdoul. Oh yeah, there it was, an Italian piece that had been stolen back in the late 90's and now hanging on one of the walls in Abdoul's desert home. If Rita had seen the art work she would have known it to be stolen which brings to question, has Rita even been to his desert compound. She was going to have to find out as any move on the part of Interpol could jeopardize their mission.
Later that afternoon, she called Auggie again, "Hello Walker, I have some intel you wanted."
"Great, let's have it."
"First, you description on Eman's compound was right on target, we found images and now searching the area for any other signs of a training camp - so far no luck."
"Great, how about Tamir Sarraf?"
"A real badass, strong ties with al-Qaeda and on the hit list for CIA."
"He is married to Eman's younger sister." Annie giving Auggie added information.
"To bad to hear that, he has two other wives back in Arak, Iran with children. He must be a plant in Eman's household, al-Qaeda keeping check on Eman."
"Why would that be?"
"Your friend Abdoul-Haziz Eman is not in good graces with some of the higher-ups in al-Qaeda. Seems like he is enjoying the western life style a little too much."
"Interesting. What about Eman's family?"
"Father is dead and his step mother is living in Tehran. He has a brother but no intel on him. As for his little sister Alea - she is a half-sister by the third wife of his father. She went to a private school in England for several years. That's all I have."
"Any more on Rita Venegas?" Of course Annie was very interested in her. She knew in her heart there was history with Rita and Eyal.
"Not yet but still looking. Check back with me later. Be safe Walker and watch your step." Auggie always ended his banter with Annie with a warning to be safe as if she was impulsive, well yeah she was known to be at times.
Not feeling very good about being without wheels, Annie decided to rent a car. A Mimi Cooper was the perfect fit, small and agile in the off side streets of Marrakech and inexpensive, what an art researcher could afford. She spent the rest of the day sightseeing and shopping. She found a pretty head scarf in hot pink and silver to go with the outfit she was planning to wear with Abdoul the next evening. A light gray dress with deep pink embroider trim. She was surprised at herself, thinking about what to wear on her date, guess unbeknown to her she was excited about seeing this charming middle-east man again.
Back at the safe house, Annie was stirring around in the kitchen, trying to think of something for her to eat for dinner when the main door opened, it was Eyal.
"Hey, glad you back." Annie with a warm greeting and the smile she knew Eyal love to see on her face.
"Yeah I'm here." It was short and somewhat cool and distant.
"So what have you been up to, I missed you today." Annie was trying to be upbeat and cheerful as she walked into the living room.
Eyal barely looked at her and took his time answering, "Working on our mission." Another short remark, very much unlike the friendly Eyal she knew. This hurt her, made Annie feel uneasy, as if Eyal didn't want to talk or even be near her.
"You want to tell me about it?"
"No." He passing her on his way to the bedroom and closing the door.
What the shit has happened. Did she do something to upset him, say something out of the way. Oh hell this was really bugging her now. Stopping just before knocking on his door, Annie turned and headed back to the kitchen. Let the gloomy combatant cool off from whatever, only if she knew. The other night was so wonderful, so thrilling for both of them and now, well now, she didn't know.
Yelling down the hallway so Eyal could hear, "I'm fixing me a sandwich would you like one?"
His bedroom open and he had changed clothes. Black slacks and open neck dress shirt, "No, I'm going out for the night." With that he was gone, leaving Annie puzzled and lonely. Watching him walk out the door she felt dejected as a tiny tear glided down her cheek. Eyal wasn't Eyal. He wasn't invading her space, making sexy remarks or calling her Neshama. Hell, he was barely even speaking to her must less look at her. Crap, what has happened, Annie was so confused and downhearted.
Quickly grabbing her keys and leaving a half made sandwich she set out to follow him but by the time she reached her car, he was gone. Now what!
Returning to the flat, she finished making her sandwich but didn't feel much like eating it and after a couple bites she tossed it in the trash bin and went for wine and a call to Auggie.
"Auggie I'm going to need some equipment. At least two GPS tracking devices, a phone bug or tracking device and a camera with long-range lenses."
"Sounds like you are on to something. You will also need to download a receiver program and I can have them for you inside an hour. Can you call me back for the pickup location."
"Sure and thanks Auggie." She was about ready to disconnect when, "Oh hey Auggie, have you found out any more on Rita Venegas?"
"Not yet, do you think she will be a problem?"
"Don't know but I don't really trust her. You know her assignment will take priority over us finding the training camp."
"You think you can get close to get a plant on her?"
"Doubt it but can try. Maybe add another GPS tracker to my order."
"Okay, call me back within an hour." Auggie disconnected leaving Annie to contemplate her next move. She wanted to know what Eyal was up to and did it have anything to do with their mission. This was so unlike Eyal.
She tried to convince herself that tracking Eyal was for the good of the mission, that she was in full partnership with him on this mission and needed to know what was happening, what he was up to. No matter how hard she tried, she knew in her heart she wanted for find out what had happen to make Eyal act distance, like a thousand miles away. Could it be Rita?
The small café where Auggie had directed her was on the other side of the city. It was crowded as she entered she felt uneasy, a little fearful and it looked like a gathering of thugs looking for a rumble. A middle-aged man with thinning hair showed her a table out of the way, in a dark corner with her back against the wall, she waited. "Madame Walker." came the a young American neatly dress and clean-shaven.
"Yes."
"Anderson has sent me. I don't like this place let's get out of here."
Annie followed as he lead her to the front, looking both ways before exiting, he motioned for her to follow. Outside to his jeep, he had a briefcase he handed her. "Everything you order is in here. I need to show how it all works." The lesson was quick and thorough, she was well equipped and with a bonus, a tiny listening device for a short distance range.
Handing her a burn cell phone, "This is a throw away with your same number already programmed, the only difference we can track your movements and my speed dial is #9 - like the 9th Calvary, and I'll be there if you need help."
"Sure hope it's more than just you." Annie inspecting the phone.
"Quite a few more, we are special ops and have your back. Good night."
"Good night." Annie was feeling better about being on her own, she was now well supplied and time to head back to the safe house, but first a stop by the hotel to leave the briefcase. She didn't want to run the risk of Eyal finding it but why was she hiding it from him, it was all part of the mission, because she was going to use a tracking GPS on his car. Damn Annie, you should be ashamed of yourself, as long as you have known Eyal why the miss trust now. Could it have something to do with their making spectacular love two days ago? Yep, that's the reason alright she was falling hard for the man.
The clock read two in the morning when she heard Eyal return to the safe house. Her bedroom door was partly open and she watched the hall light come on. The door softly creaked as Eyal pushed a little further open and said softly, "Annie are you awake?"
She remained very still as if asleep; Annie wasn't up to talking to Eyal at two in the morning. Hearing Eyal stirring around in the kitchen, she question where he had been for so long and only now returning at this hour. Then she heard his cell phone buzz.
"I had a grand time too, glad you called to say good night...sweet dreams." Eyal's voice came floating down the hallway.
Oh crap, he was talking to a woman, now Annie was mad. She wanted to jump out of bed and confront him but her better judgment told her not too. Wait and find out more, they hadn't made any exclusive commitment. The rest of the night was restless for her, visions of Eyal with someone else were agonizing and was he really a player like his flirtatious ways painted him.
Eyal: Slowly pushing the somewhat open door to Annie bedroom wider, "Annie are you awake?" No answer, he heads to the kitchen for something to eat. Eyal thinking to himself, 'Crap, what a hell of a day and me acting like a complete asshole. Annie didn't deserve to be treated that way'. It was his jealousy overtaking his retort to her. He has been able to control his inward feelings for years until Annie walked into his life and changed everything. 'From now on I'm going to control my actions toward Annie even if I can't control my feelings. Guess my apology will have to wait until morning'. His phone buzzed and looking at the caller, 'This is not good - she is getting clingy'. He reluctantly answered.