The Paths of Destiny

December 19, 2001 Continued:

The house that Miles took us to wasn’t far from the Jewish district of Stamford Hill. I was surprised at this until Corey explained that since the cultures were very similar, they held many things in common, including food. It was barely five miles away — but it felt like entering another country.

As we approached the area, the atmosphere changed subtly. I began to see more and more men wearing the dark clothes, hats and long hair of the Orthodox Jew. Many of them were walking and reading at the same time, some were engaged in a peculiar rocking motion Corey said was called ‘davening’ and was a type of prayer.

The house, itself, was nothing to look at, which Corey said was a distinct advantage. It was an SPJ Safe House, designed to shelter refugees of Arabic cultures. As we arrived, the front door opened and several men and women issued forth. All of them were wearing full Middle Eastern garb. Before we could get out of the car, they reached into it, laughing and chattering, pulled us out, surrounded us so we couldn’t be seen by outside eyes, and hurried us into the house.

Inside, we were shown into an inner room, where a serious-looking man waited for us.

“How do you do?” Reese said. “I am Corey Lloyd Reese, Senior Director.”

“I know who you are — now. I also know who you were.” To my surprise, he bowed deeply. “It is an honor for me to be of assistance to you, and I am deeply gratified to learn that you have elected to join our Organization. We can only benefit by your hand at the helm.”

“Thank you.” Reese was outwardly calm, but I could see the man’s words pleased her.

“We will dispense with names for now, I think,” the man said. “You wish to return to your role of Fatimah — and your companion will become Ahmed Hassan, is that correct?”

“It is.”

He turned to me.

“What is your experience and familiarity with the Middle Eastern cultures, Colonel?”

“I know enough to get me through this,” I said with a confidence I didn’t feel.

I was hoping my memories from Sir Roger would allow me to pull it off successfully.

“Hmm...” He then subjected me to a barrage of questions, which served to prove to me just how little I did know.

Finally, he shook his head. “I do not see this happening, Colonel. The Wing Commander will be all right — she has lived with us. And you look the part, but Ahmed Hassan has also lived among us, and you have made far too many mistakes in just the last five minutes for me to want to risk your lives. True, this is two women and a child you will be dealing with. As far as we know. Moreover, that is the whole point. We are also very short of intelligence where these people are concerned. Not like you at all, Wing Commander.”

Corey seemed to shrink in on herself.

“It is very important,” she murmured.

“Then I would recommend that someone take my place as Ahmed,” I said briskly. “I’d rather someone who could pull it off with a certainty accompany the Senior Director. I’ll make sure I’m within the area in case Director Reese needs immediate help or if she decides to reveal herself to Maria Tarrant.”

I didn’t like the idea of Corey doing this without me. However, I had enough wisdom to know I couldn’t learn the full nuances necessary in a few moments either.

“Or... we could trade places...” She ran over to a mirror, inspected her face. “I’d need to add some color — I’m not nearly as dark as I was. And my hair is all wrong...”

“Senior Director,” I said. “I don’t think that would work. For one, if Maria has a description of Fatimah — which I am sure she does — she’ll be looking for someone with your height. I’m too short for that. Besides I don’t walk like a woman and that would set her alarms off more than anything else would. As a woman, she’d be able to tell how a woman walks better than I could pull it off.”

“I doubt that she does — one woman in a burka looks a lot like any other woman in a burka. And as Fatimah I slouched to make a difference in height from Ahmed. But you are right about the walk. Jack drilled me for weeks before he allowed me out of the house as Ahmed for the first time,” Reese said. “I also had to learn how to walk as an Arab woman, as well. I had forgotten that... It’s been a while.” She strode freely across in front of me, shoulders high and swaggering, and then returned, small, mincing steps, shoulders and eyes low. There was a noticeable difference — and I had never seen her look so much like a victim.

“Yes. Perhaps we need a different approach.”

I had a feeling Corey was delaying the meeting despite what she said earlier about doing it as soon as possible. I realized she wanted me by her side more as security blanket than anything. Since she wanted to approach Maria as an Arab initially — and it was obvious I wouldn’t be able to pass as a convincing Arab without weeks, possibly months, of training — I turned to the man who had greeted us.

“What would you recommend?” I asked the man.

I also felt, considering her worries of earlier, this would help Corey boost her confidence in herself. My intent was for her to realize she wasn’t being too dependent on me. I wanted to see the Corey of old, the competent, confident, self-assured person I fell in love with.

“Hm. The Wing Commander and her... companion... were in the Middle East together for fifteen years. I do not know what knowledge you have, Colonel...”

Reese turned to face us.

“You may speak freely in front of the Colonel, Effendi,” she said proudly.

The man bowed.

“The Wing Commander ran a network in the Middle East which provided a great deal of intelligence. Unfortunately, that intelligence was ignored, at best. This was not the fault of the Wing Commander.

“Your present quarry is the... sister? ... of the Wing Commander’s long-time companion and partner in this venture. The Wing Commander finds it necessary to approach her in disguise, and has elected to return to one in which she knows intimately, Fatimah or Ahmed Hassan. Why she does not choose to go as herself, I do not know.”

“The... victim does not willingly approach the blackmailer,” Corey murmured.

“She does — if she has nothing to be blackmailed about,” he responded swiftly.

“But...”

“I believe Director Reese,” I said interrupting the man, “intends to put a minor scare into Jack’s sister before revealing her true identity. It would make Maria more susceptible to our ‘suggestions’ of her future endeavors should she decide to try her blackmail schemes with someone else.”

“And since Tarrant’s main theatre of operations was the Middle East, it would make sense for her visitors to be from that area. Yes, I see.”

He nodded his head, index finger slowly tapping lips pursed in thought.

“Four of us should go, then. You, Colonel, in the guise of — ah — minor muscle. You are sufficiently — exotic looking that your true background does not need to be revealed. Besides, you are no more than a thug — but your primary role will be to protect the Wing Commander, should that be necessary.”

The man turned his attention on Corey.

“Wing Commander, you will dress as Ahmed. The woman is blackmailing ‘Corey’, forgive me, so may not know Ahmed. Therefore, ‘Corey’ should not appear, as this will give the woman a lever, an advantage.”

His eyes narrowed in thought as he continued to tap his lips.

“I will accompany you — and, if you permit, will do most of the talking. I will represent ‘Corey’ — but both of you feel free to speak if you need to. And we will take with us another ‘muscle’, a young man I know who will do a good job of looking menacing.”

His eyes gazed at us sharply.

“Does this meet with your approval? Both of you?”

Reese nodded. “Yes, I think that will work. Parker?”

“I’ve no problem with it,” I said. “We should be fine with this plan. Let’s get to it.”

Reese went to the mirror again. “I’ll need some make-up, then. And clothes. Parker will need clothes, too. We also need to know when the child will be home — I don’t want him frightened, he’s not at fault in this. The other sister — I don’t know. If she’s not complicit, there’s no need to involve her. But we’ll have to exonerate her.” Her hand ran briefly down her body. “A double-breasted jacket usually works — slightly full, but not enough to — suggest anything. Well, people, let’s get busy...”

Within an hour, Corey and I had changed into the garb we were to wear for the venture. Before we set out for our subject’s home, we learned that the boy was spending the night with a school friend in preparation for a weekend outing. Miles was told to follow us, but to stay out of sight; in case it was necessary to call for help should any trouble arise.

It was a small house in a quiet suburban neighborhood. I wasn’t familiar with it, but Corey… Ahmed, said it was a good place to raise a child.

We walked up the garden path, and our companion knocked on the door. As prearranged, the three of us held back while he did the talking.

“Madam, I greet you in the name of Jack Tarrant. He was a good friend of mine, and told me to be sure to come and see you if ever I found myself in your country.”

The woman who had come to the door was not Maria, but her sister Dorothy. She looked at us, frowning.

“But I distress you! My name is Rashid al-Haloufi and I was a good friend of Jack Tarrant and his wife Fatimah when they lived in Iraq. Fatimah wishes to be remembered to you and to your sister Maria. She wishes she could be here herself, but...” He shrugged elaborately.

“Enough,” Ahmed said suddenly, his voice rough. “You must allow us to enter — it is dangerous for us to remain here. And we need to impart to you information of great importance.”

I nearly jumped when Ahmed spoke. Rashid didn’t. Instead, he gave Ahmed a reproving look and turned back to Dorothy, who had jumped as she noticed Ahmed for the first time. Inwardly, I held my breath as we waited for her reaction.

“I... I don’t know... Maria isn’t here, she ...”

“Move aside, woman.” Ahmed moved forward, menacingly. With a squeak of alarm, Dorothy stepped aside, and Ahmed swept past her. With a shrug, Rashid nodded to us to accompany them and entered as well, carefully closing the door behind us.

“Where is he? Where is the son of Maria?” Ahmed asked.

“Oh, dear...” Dorothy burst into tears. “I told her it wasn’t...”

“It wasn’t what?” Ahmed’s voice was low, menacing.

I took a step forward, but Rashid motioned me to remain back.

“Fatimah is my sister,” Ahmed said. “I have heard that by living with Jack Tarrant for so many years she can be considered wife to him. If that is so, you have stolen from her by taking the benefits that were hers. You and Maria, and Maria’s child, Jacky.”

“He...” she looked up. “Jacky is my child, not Maria’s.”

“Then Maria does not have the child of Jack Tarrant? When were they married?”

“Maria... and I... are Jack’s sisters,” she said, her voice low. “Maria... concocted the plan to... to claim that she was Jack’s wife...”

“Yes?”

“Dorothy, don’t say anything more!” Maria had evidently come in by the back door.

Ahmed Hassan looked up.

“Maria. We have met before, I think.”

“Yes. Jack introduced us,” she said.

“He did not tell me you were his sister.”

“Would it have changed anything?” She darted forward, took Ahmed Hassan by the hand. “I didn’t want to hurt you — or your sister.”

Ahmed Hassan reclaimed his hand. He folded his arms across his chest, and stared down his nose at her.

“It was Corey I wanted to hurt,” Maria said desperately. “Not you!”

“Corey?”

“Jack’s superior. Corey Lloyd Reese. A stuck-up bitch — she got him killed, Ahmed. You loved him — I know you did. So did Fatimah. I never met her, but Jack spoke highly of her. I would like to meet your sister, Ahmed. You — and she — are always welcome here. But Corey Lloyd Reese put Jack in danger, and ultimately got him killed. That’s why I devised the scheme that I was Jack’s wife, and Jacky was his son.”

Maria took a step toward Ahmed and reached out to him.

“I’ve taken a lot of money from her, Ahmed. And with your help, we’ll take a lot more!”

With the speed of a striking snake, Ahmed Hassan’s hand flashed out. Furious, he struck Maria across the face, knocking her to the ground.

Then he stepped forward, fists clenched.

I stepped in front of Corey, not Ahmed, but Corey and spoke to her in perfect English.

“I think we’ve heard enough, Director Reese,” I said as I pulled Corey away from Maria Tarrant and faced the woman who admitted her guilt.

Keeping a firm hold of Corey, I began removing our outer disguises as I spoke.

“It would seem, Maria Tarrant,” I said, “that you have admitted to fraud and blackmail in front of witnesses. One of whom is, in fact, the Corey you’ve been defrauding continuously for close to ten years.”

Maria, hand on the spot where Ahmed had struck her, slowly stood up with shocked, wide eyes.

“There is an old saying that says, ‘You reap what you have sown’,” I said as Corey removed the last of her disguise and I pulled out my SPJ ID. “Maria Tarrant, it is time for you to harvest the fruits of your shameful labors. You can start by telling us what makes you believe Director Reese killed your brother.”

I had hoped that Dorothy had no knowledge of Maria’s plan. However, based on her statements, she was now considered an accessory. I had no need to motion for Rashid and our other companion to prevent the two women from running. They had each placed themselves at the side of the women and laid a firm hand on a shoulder.

“I would suggest you speak, quickly, Miss Tarrant,” I said emotionlessly. “Or else I will let Director Reese loose and not be held responsible for any actions she may take.”

I felt Corey shiver in my grip. I knew that she was right on the edge of an extreme reaction — one I didn’t particularly want to see. And one I knew she’d regret for the rest of her life, if I allowed her to continue.

“Director!” I said firmly.

Her eyes turned to me. For a moment, it seemed as if she didn’t recognize me. Then she took a deep breath.

“Parker.”

“Are you calm enough now to listen to what Miss Tarrant has to say, Director?” I asked.

At her nod, I turned back to Maria Tarrant.

“Miss Tarrant, I believe you were going to explain to us why you feel the Director killed your brother.”

I waited for Maria to speak and kept a firm hold on Corey when I felt her tense up again.

“She was there. She did nothing to prevent his death,” Maria hissed.

“We were both captured,” Reese said tonelessly. “Jack died protecting me. Afterwards... I was beaten and left for dead in the desert. Not a day goes by that I... do not remember him, regret his death, wonder what I could have... should have done to prevent it. I loved him...” Her voice broke, and she turned her face into my shoulder.

“Miss Tarrant,” I said as I ran a comforting hand down Corey’s hair. “Did your brother explain to you what his mission was and what it might entail?”

“He always said it was Top Secret. I raised him, you know. Him and Dorry. After Mum and Dad died, I was the eldest,” she said. “Then he joined the RAF. And met that bitch...”

Ignoring Maria’s comment, I motioned for her to continue.

“Dorry was fine. She married Dr. Evans. They had a child, Jacky. John Michael Evans, named after Jack.”

Reese had pulled away from me, and stood, watching, her face impassive.

“Jack had Fatimah. She loved him, would do anything for him, he said. But... Reese... kept pulling him away from her to go on her stupid missions.”

“You recognized me as Ahmed Hassan,” Reese said quietly.

“I loved you as Ahmed Hassan!” Maria spat.

“I see.”

Both women glared at each other in silence, before Corey spoke.

“Maria — I mean you no harm. I will not press charges — although I am sure that I can. Take what you already have. Remember Jack — as I always will. But... I do not — ever! — want to hear from you again.”

“Maria,” I said calmly. “Have you ever met Fatimah?”

“No. She remains in Iraq.”

“How do you feel about Fatimah?” I asked carefully.

“She’s my sister. She, also, was wronged by Corey.”

My next comment was interrupted by near-hysterical laughter — from Corey.

“I see,” I said ignoring Corey’s laughter. “What would you say if I told you Fatimah and Ahmed are one and the same?”

“No — it’s not possible! Ahmed is Corey... Fatimah cannot also be Corey!!”

“Yes, it is possible,” I said. “Corey was playing a dual role as Fatimah and Ahmed. The assignment was to infiltrate the terrorist group known as Al-Qaeda, by any means necessary. From the information I gathered from an acquaintance of mine — who had his own people on the inside — it was Jack’s idea to have Corey become both people. They had a good reason for this.”

Everyone was still. Their attention on me.

“They needed to obtain as much information about this group’s activities. They were sometimes reluctant to say things in front of Ahmed. Therefore, Corey dressed up as Fatimah. A woman wouldn’t be easily noticed and the members would be able to speak with Jack freely. They knew that a woman who was married to one of their members wouldn’t do anything to incur the wrath of her spouse. This gave Corey the chance to observe something that Jack might miss on two fronts with her dual roles. If you’re willing to listen, Miss Tarrant,” I concluded, “Corey can explain to you — in more detail — what happened the day Jack died. Will you do that?”

I was bluffing slightly in regards to the situation about the nature of Corey’s dual role. However, I was counting on Corey to back up my statement and explain exactly what happened the day Jack died.

“We were... together that day,” Corey said tonelessly, realizing the necessity of sharing her most intimate memories of Jack. “I was Ahmed. We... made a mistake — I still don’t know what. We were taken. Jack... died, denying he knew I was female. He... protected me to that extent. Afterward, they beat me, and threw me out in the desert to die. I wish I had...”

I could hear all the bleak despair in her voice.

“From the reports I received,” I said to both Corey and Maria, “someone within the group had gotten suspicious. At first, they took for granted the appearance of Jack with only Fatimah or Ahmed. However, the night before Jack was killed, one of them happened to see Jack and Ahmed go into Jack’s home. They saw Jack come out almost an hour later with Fatimah. After making sure Jack and Fatimah were gone, they — after receiving no answer to knocks on the door — picked the lock and discovered there was no Ahmed present inside. Making sure there were no signs of intrusion, they waited two hours in the shadows across the street before Jack and Fatimah came home. They waited the entire night until Jack and Ahmed came out the next day for their meeting with the group. The is person rushed back to and reported their findings moments before Jack and Ahmed arrived.”

Some of Maria’s fury was gone, but not all of it.

“When Jack and Ahmed arrived... well I won’t go into details. Suffice it to say, Jack died trying to protect Corey. Corey would’ve died in that desert if one of my acquaintance’s people hadn’t been the one to beat and leave her in the desert. He did his best to make it look convincing without doing permanent damage to Corey. Once he could do so, this operative called up Miles O’Halloran and told him Corey’s exact location.”

There were tears in Maria’s and Dorothy’s eyes by the time I finished.

“You can thank William later,” I said to Corey, who looked at me with wide eyes. “It was in an envelope he sent to me at HQ this morning.”

She nodded, “I will.”

Corey turned to Maria.

“Maria,” she said earnestly. “Jack and I were on a dangerous mission. We both knew the risks; they had been explained to us before we left. We both knew that we might die. We were together for fifteen years. I never had his child, because I knew that... that one of us could go at any time. I wish Jacky was Jack’s child. Supporting Jacky was something I could do that would bring me closer to Jack.”

She turned to me.

“Parker. I won’t prosecute. I want to set up a trust fund for Jacky — I want it designed so that neither Maria nor his parents can get anything from it. I think we’re finished here.”

“I’ll have William set up Jacky’s fund in your name for you,” I said to Corey. “Miss Tarrant, the fund will be for Jacky’s use only. I’ll be personally setting up a fund for you and Dorothy to supplement your current income. I hope, based on the neighborhood, you had the smarts to at least make some long-term investments with the money you received from Corey over the years.”

“Personally, I think you are being too generous,” Corey said coldly. “However, it’s your money — I won’t tell you what to do with it.

“I think we need to leave.”

“Agreed,” I motioned for our companions to let the women go and gave the two women a last look before we left.

I’d already decided that the two women would receive a small amount monthly. It would be enough for them to live on, barely.

I didn’t intend to allow them to go unwatched, though. I’d have William keep very close tabs on the women’s accounts for quite some time, once their fund was set up. If there was an unusual amount of activity in their accounts, their funds would stop immediately, no questions asked. Jacky’s fund would remain intact and would continue through his heirs.

I explained this to Corey as we went back to our waiting transportation.

“Dorothy is married, Parker. Her husband is a physicist. She probably doesn’t need the money,” Corey said.

“Then, as I see it, Dorothy’s fund will be separate from Maria’s and not monitored as closely,” I replied. “I made up my mind to extend my fund to your victims of duty, and since William has been adding generously to the fund, I can afford to do that now. Is that acceptable to you?”

She hesitated, and then nodded.

“I hate to see her profit from her crime — and blackmail is a crime, Parker. And this was pure emotional blackmail. And she profited from Jack’s death — she and Dorothy shared his benefits.”

I waited.

Then she nodded again, decisively.

“Let’s do it... for Jack.”

By this time, we were back in the car.

“Besides,” I said with an impish grin, “I have a back-up plan in play.”

I pulled out my cell phone.

“Drayton,” I said as I put it on speaker, “it’s Parker. Did you get all that?”

“Yessir, I did. I have it all. I’ll make a few copies for you to place where you need them.”

“Good work, I’ll see you shortly.”

“I had Doc get a message out to Drayton,” I said to Corey after I hung up the phone. “I had him following us, too; listening in and recording everything that went on in the home. This way, if Miss Tarrant continued to be obstinate and we did have to prosecute, we’d have verbal proof of her actions.”

I pulled off the bug I had on me and handed it to Corey with a smile.

I could see her mentally reviewing the conversation. Then she shrugged. If she’d said anything compromising, it was only in front of Drayton, whom we both considered a friend.

“Smooth move, Parker,” she said, smiling.

I nodded with a smile of my own and called up William to set up the funds.

“What do you want to do about Miles?” I asked after I hung up with my cousin.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you want to send him back to HQ without us,” I asked. “Or should we go back to HQ with him? He’s still following us, you know.”

She smiled.

“Dear Miles. If he hadn’t pulled me out of the desert, I’d be dead now...

“Let’s ride back with him from the safe house, after we’ve changed clothes.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I replied

I called up Miles and told him to meet us at the safe house.