Annie looking up from her magazine at Alea sitting with an open book in her lap slowly turning a page as she glanced out the window at the entranceway to the train station. It had been a little over an hour since Annie saw Eyal take Rita forcibly by the arm and lead her away. Annie speculating where Eyal went and what happened and if he didn't return what she should do. She pulled her cell out to text Auggie to ask for an extraction for two when she received a text from Eyal, 'On my way to you be there in 20'.
Alea closing her book and placing it on the small table next to her chair, she stood and leaned her head to one side, looking to see anything outside. Without showing any urgency she ambled to the low table in front of Annie. With magazines arranged on the table, Alea fumbling thru them and speaking quietly to Annie.
"Two more of Tamir's men have just come in and standing at the door."
"The two in all black?" Annie spotted two men taking up guarded positions at the main entrance.
"Yes."
"Why the train station? You've tried this before haven't you?"
"A month ago I took a day off and went to Casablanca without telling anyone. I had to break the boredom." Alea sitting in a chair next to Annie with a magazine in hand.
"You are all right girl. Like your style Alea." Annie shot a quick smile at her, "But now we have to deal with your husband's henchmen. Keep an eye on them, I going to check for a back way out."
Leisurely moving between row of books working her way to the rear of the store, Annie all the while keeping an eye on the front and Alea. She was in luck, there was a door leading to a storeroom and back entrance. Returning to the front, she saw one of Tamir's men walking into the book store. Alea had also seen him and stood, turning her back toward him in hopes he would not see her.
The only way out for them was through the back but Annie had to get Alea's attention. Alea started to walk toward a row of shelves lined with books, all the time keeping her back to the front and looking for any sign of Annie. After a gaze around the reading section, Tamir's man started walking further into the store and making his way down the center aisle, checks from side to side the rows of book shelves. Alea raised her arm as to pull a book from the top shelf there by hiding the side of her face as he passed. Annie at the back of the aisle started walking directly by him. He took a once over look at Annie and keep moving toward the back. Finding Alea both started out the front door, trying not to be noticed by the other goon standing at the main entrance.
"We have to find a way to the outside. Your strong-arm thug got a real good look at me so I'm no longer invisible." Annie looking for an eatery knowing the kitchen would have a doorway to the back alleyway and some place to get out side.
"There is a fire exit through the ladies restroom. It's about midway down here." Alea taking a look over her shoulder.
"Don't look back." Annie nudging her arm. "Could there be more men we haven't seen."
"I'm sure. Tamir will do anything to keep me at the compound. I haven't been a very good wife to him." Alea for the first time sounding a slight fearful. "If I don't make it out this time I'll never have another opportunity."
"We will get out, I promise." Annie now feeling the pressure of being followed and Eyal still about ten minutes away. They had to get to the parking lot and intersect Eyal.
"It's up there just on the other side of that little French dress shop." Alea was leading the way when she stopped short, "There is another Anna, now what?"
Annie taking her hand and ducking into the 'Lovely Lady Boutique'. Checking the surrounding, Annie quickly guided Alea to the back of the store. A clerk came to ask if she could be of help, "My friend here needs some fresh air." A quick look over her shoulder, "Is there a way to the outside without delay?"
Alea holding her head and starting to sway as if to faint as Annie grabbed her to steady Alea.
"Yes, yes, out the rear door and to your right, there is a side entrance to the loading dock." The clerk showing genuine concern for the young Alea. "Is she pregnant?"
"Yes about three months and smells really get to her now." Good concept Annie hadn't thought about.
The exit was easy to find. Annie and Alea were standing on a busy loading dock with delivery trucks unloading. Annie trying to get her bearings when a young deliver man came up to them.
"You two ladies look lost. Can I help?" The young man was eyeing Alea, oh yeah being pretty is a blessing at the best time.
Alea with a shy adorable smile, "Thank you. We are to meet my father in 10 minutes at Jardin Harti Public Park and we are late. He is going to be so mad at me." Alea has played this game before.
"I have finished my delivery and can take you there, it is on my way to the next stop. Oh, by the way, I'm Quain."
"Hello, and I'm Janie and this is Anna. This is so kind of you."
Annie and Alea climbed into the delivery truck and waited for their new friend and the escape away from the train station.
"You have the touch Alea." Annie was glad to be with her, she was intelligent, resourceful and clever. "We should get out of our Moroccan dress and back to being French tourist."
They pulled off their head scarf, shaking out their hair. Off came the long skirts and Annie's long-sleeve tunic, rolling down the legs of the jeans and bingo, French tourist. Shoving their discarded clothing into shopping bag Annie had lifted from 'Lovely Lady Boutique'. "We may need these later, you never know."
"Well that is a change." Quain sitting in the driver's seat looking at two completely different women.
"We wanted to go unnoticed in the station, you know keep the locals from trying to rip us off." Annie was hoping that was a good answer for changing.
"You sure fooled me. Okay girls, next stop Jardin Harti." He started his truck and pulled out into the busy midday traffic.
Standing at the gateway to the public park, Annie looking around for a place to sit. There, not far for the gateway were several benches along the pathway.
"We'll wait here until I hear from Antonio. He shouldn't be long." Annie holding her cell hoping Eyal would call and not just show up. Good - her phone was buzzing.
"Hello Antonio, we have moved to Jardin Harti Park. Things were getting a little hectic at the station."
"I'm parking the car now and will wait five minutes before coming in. I take it Abdoul's sister is still with you?"
"Yes and look forward to seeing you." Annie disconnected and turned to Alea, "He is on his way, caught him just before he parked at the station."
"Who is this Antonio?"
"Your free pass to England. But he is going to be full of questions and at times a little insufferable but he is very good at what he does. What you have to do now is trust him."
"What about you?"
"Antonio is your best bet, my connects will not get you to England. Believe me Alea, this is the best."
"There is no turning back now - I have placed my life in your hands, please, please don't let me down." Alea to some extent begging Annie.
"Hello ladies." Eyal had walked up on them without either one noticing him.
"You are doing it again."
"What." Eyal answered back.
"You are supposed to disappear in the wind not appear without a sound." Annie was delight to see him recognizing they were immediately in safe hands.
Sitting down by Alea, "You must be the lady wanting passage to England. Please call me Antonio and I may call you?"
"My name is a long one but I answer to Alea."
"Beautiful name, meaning to ascend up or heavenly." Eyal studying her face trying to read her mood. "Anna Marie called me to help so how may I be of service?"
Annie was going to give Eyal some key notes before they started any in-depth conversation. "Alea here is married to Tamir Sarraf, a well-known member of al-Qaeda and also part of Groupe Islamique. She knows details about their Moroccan actives and is willing to tell in exchange for passage to England."
"Why England?"
"I have British family there." Alea answered.
"Where in England?"
"The county of Kent, on the east coast in the southern part of England."
"Your British's family surname?" Eyal had pulled out his phone to verify Alea's answers before continuing.
"My grandmother is Emily Blackwell of Gillingham and also an Aunt, Mary Elizabeth Haynsworth and her husband is Farley, also living in Gillingham."
"And you would go to live with..."
"My grandmother."
In no time Eyal had check out the information Alea had given him. Now looking at Annie, "Why did you leave the train station?"
"Tami's goons were all over the place, seems like Alea has tried this escape thing before."
"Nice. Well we need to get out of Marrakech and the best way is by car. Come on ladies, my chariot waits." Eyal standing to lead the way to his car.
"New set of wheels?" Annie seeing a different car.
"Had to ditch the others. We're good for the time being." Eyal opening the door for Alea to ride in the front with Eyal and as Annie climbed into the back seat, Eyal handed her a gun.
"Where are we headed." Annie asks once they were out of the city and driving north.
"Out to the desert so I can make a few calls and we can have another chat. I need more information before I can help, you do understand my side."
"Yeah, I do." Annie was fully aware of Eyal's position, before he would risk anything he had to make sure the intel Alea had was good and not some wild story she was making up to get to England.
"I notice a few markings on you Alea, by your husband or brother." He had also noticed the bruises on her and was sympathetic to her being an abused wife.
"Husband." She wasn't hiding them any longer. "How did you know I have a brother?"
"You're Abdoul-Haziz Eman's younger sister. I know many things."
Once arriving to a deserted part of the highway, Eyal pulled the car to the side of the road, "I've got to check in and made a few calls - you ladies take a break, I shouldn't be long."
Annie and Alea getting out of the car and walking back down the road away from Eyal, "What is he doing?" Alea asked.
"He is placing some ground work. Like I told you before, trust him. He can do more for you than I can."
"If you say so. He's not too friendly is he."
"Not when he working." Annie remember how charming Eyal can be but right now, he was all business and she could tell something also eating at him, maybe it was what he had done with Rita, oh she had a huge amount of questions but all had to wait.
"I'm not going to give up all the information until I'm on my way to England." Alea was going to use leverage to make sure she was going to England.
"That would be a mistake Alea. If you don't answerer truthfully his questions you will never leave Morocco. I will guarantee you that."
"My knowledge is my only ticket out of here Anna."
"Your choice Alea but you will be playing with a man who has a very short fuse. He is not in the business to save pretty girls. If you only understand what this man is capable of you would sing a different tune."
"He doesn't frighten me."
"I'm not talking about hurting you, I'm talking about saving you. Alea don't be stupid."
"Okay ladies, time for us to talk." Eyal was waving the women to return to the car.
As they walk to the back of the car, Eyal stopped, "We'll talk out here. Alea tell me this much, what is your brother, Abdoul-Haziz Eman involved and to what extent."
"No, he is not involved any thing - just my husband and he is one of the leaders."
"Back in the car." Eyal was heading for the driver's side.
Annie grabbing Alea's arm, "I told you so. You have one chance to fix it."
"Where are we going?" Alea pulling away from Annie and calling out to Eyal.
"Back to Marrakech. I know most of the answers and you are not being truthful. I don't have time to waste on you. You are just not worth it. Get in." Eyal opening the car door and watching Annie. Somewhat tipping his head, like a private signal between them for her to pick up the ball.
"Antonio wait a minute." Annie taking the hint. "Let me talk with Alea, it will only take a second."
"Don't take too much time but okay - two minutes." There was harshness to his voice but not anger.
Annie taking Alea by the arm and leading away from the car, "You are about to sign your own death warrant, you do know that?"
"He wouldn't take me back."
"The hell he won't. I know this man inside-out and he means exactly what he says. You need to come clean about Abdoul. We know who he is and what he does, please no more protecting him, it is too late for that. The only person you need to think about is you. Give him the details he is asking for and you will live to see your grandmother again in England."
Alea stood there looking off in the bare distance of sand and sky, having to make that choice between her life and that of her terrorist's brother's. Carefully looking at Eyal, she nodded her heard in agreement and slowly walk to where he was sitting in the car. "I'm ready to talk."
"Okay, now tell me about you brother." Eyal had power the window down, she was going to answer the question about Abdoul before he would take any further actions.
"He is the head of Groupe Islamique a splinter group of al-Qaeda."
"Alright. You and Anna get in the car, we'll talk and drive. We have a long trip ahead of us."