Freedom Does Matter (Mercenaries Book 2) (6 page)

On her way, Kevin caught her arm. “You need to talk to Willie. He’s distressed ’cause he’s not doing what you need him to.”

“That’s not… Never mind. Where is he?”

She followed him to a small space near the elevator. As Kevin opened the door, they heard, “Ms Sverdupe, a moment please?”

Ms Al Sahaf, the woman speaking for Al Hosni’s group, stood at the conference room doorway. “May we talk?”

“In a moment, if that’s all right?”

The woman gazed at them before nodding. Beckie dipped her head in thanks.

Inside the room, obviously a staging area for the servers, Willie was looking out the slit window. The door closed; when Beckie looked, Kevin had put himself on the far side.

“Willie…” She caught her breath. “I don’t know… I’m not good at saying… At apologizing. I really thought you being a guy would make up…”

“How, Beckie? We both know this isn’t what I do. Not well, anyway. I feel like I’m throwing all our work in the toilet, and that’s not a good feeling—”

“Hold on, Mr. Llorens. This isn’t your fault, unless you’re acting… And you’re not. This is my mistake, not yours.”

“But I should be able—”

“Why? Your negotiations don’t use words, not like this.” She took him in a loose hug, faintly reminiscent of their dances at The White Egret in Phuket. “I wanted to make it easier for the sheikhs, and for me, too, but it was the wrong decision.” She looked up into his eyes. “Forgive me? And help me?”

He blinked rapidly before brushing his lips across her hair. “Of course. You’re not the only one of us to… Whatever.”

Stepping back, she smiled. “Thanks.” Her hand caught his; she pulled gently toward the door.

Outside, Al Sahaf waited. Behind her, Hassan and one of al-Kassis’ team stood. Nervous twitches gave both men’s feelings away. Beckie gripped Willie’s hand and approached the trio.

“Ms Al Sahaf,” she said with a smile. “How may we help?”

The woman’s expression slipped into surprise. “I… I hoped we might speak…” She glanced at Willie. “… separately?”

Now standing within arm’s reach, Beckie gave her an piercing glare. No, everyone’s got to face up to this. “I doubt it necessary. I will share whatever we discuss with the team, and with Willie, Mr. Llorens, first.”

Al Sahaf twisted on her foot to look at Hassan and the other man. Hassan waved his hand as if to say, go on, go on. She turned back to Beckie. “After yesterday, we expected that you would… lead our discussions. But—”

“I deemed it better for Mr. Llorens to begin our work this morning. He and I have considered how well the session…” Beckie smiled internally at the three, exhibiting various degrees of disbelief. “… met our goals, and yours.” She allowed her smile to show. “When we continue, if the Sheikhs are willing, I will return to the head chair. Willie…” She eased him forward. “… will resume his advisory role with Amun effendi. Please confer. I will expect an answer when we reconvene.”

By late afternoon, Beckie, now buttressed by both Willie and Hassan, had recovered the ground lost during Willie’s tenure; the negotiations stood at the point Ian had reached before being shot. She surveyed the room ready to begin the push into new ground when Ms Al Sahaf, after whispering to Al Hosni, suggested the evening break.

“I will continue,” al-Kassis told her as he stood with his delegation.

Hassan returned to the hotel with Beckie and the others, but shortly the lawyer departed for his home, gratefully, Beckie thought. Before leaving, he told them that by stepping aside in favor of Willie, Beckie had convinced both the sheikhs that her interest was in the success of the negotiations rather than her own perspective. “I do not wish to malign Mr. Llorens, but we agreed that your temperament and… your direct mode of speech are well suited to their problem.”

Willie was the first to laugh at Hassan’s assessment. “I don’t mind, believe me.”

 In the suite, it took several minutes and a glass of wine before Beckie calmed sufficiently to sit on the chair. Kevin and Willie were with her; Derek and Dan were outside, making sure the quiet hotel stayed peaceful. Sue told her she’d need another suit, and had undertaken a shopping trip to acquire one.

“If I was the one shot at Ian,” Willie said, “I’d be pissed that the negotiations are moving again.” He turned to Beckie. “I take it back, what I said before. You’re keeping them talking. Good job.” He made a face at her. “Lots better than me.”

“Don’t worry about my screw-ups.” She paused to consider the afternoon meeting. “Yeah, with you and Hassan feeding me the info I need to catch each of them in their own inconsistencies, I can keep them going!”

Kevin nodded. “But see if you can’t pull Hassan into the discussion with them. Don’t let him hold back. Since he’s, you know, one of them. It’ll make al-Kassis feel better, too.”

Beckie leaned back in her chair and again replayed the meeting, focusing this time on who was participating. In a moment, she nodded. “Okay. I did kind of hog it all today, didn’t I?” She ran her hands down her body. “Maybe compensating for… for something,” she said with a grin.

Kevin goggled at her before collapsing in laughter. “You’ve got nothing needs compensated for,” he finally gasped out. “Though, maybe…” He stopped when her fist struck his arm. “I meant—”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re right.” She covered her head in fake embarrassment. “Hassan would be over the top if he knew. Two mistakes in one day!”

“I’m just happy al-Kassis is with the program,” Willie added. “So far, anyway.”

“Between the suit and scarf Sue bought me and my demeanor, swearing at them like they do, I think they’ve forgotten I’m female.”

Kevin snorted in derision. “Al-Kassis hasn’t,” he told her, “though he’s trying to overlook it. I’m not sure about Al Hosni. We didn’t care much, before, but he seems more… pro-women’s rights.

“In any event, we were all talking. I assume you want Willie to stay right with you at the table?” She nodded. “So, I want Dan and Derek to be in the hallway between the conference room and the elevator. I’ll be back and forth. We’re worried the assassins will try again if their goal is to disrupt the negotiations.”

“I have to say I’m not surprised, but I hope we get done before whoever notices.”

Chapter Seven

Day Eight - Cairo

FRIDAY MORNING, THE THIRD MEETING began early. They had agreed to meet before prayers and break off at eleven. During the nine o’clock relief break—no food due to Ramadan—Hassan took Beckie’s arm and pulled her aside. She had found him reasonable to work with since the session with Willie in the head chair, but this was still a surprise. He’d never ever in the four days done anything like this.

“Miss Beckie, the sheikhs agree that, because you have… escorted, I think, escorted them well, they are close to an agreement.”

“That’s a nice sentiment, Amun effendi, but, really, Ian did the heavy lifting. With your help and… everyone’s.”

“Hmm. ‘Heavy lifting?’ I believe that’s a phrase I am—”

“Sorry. Means hard work. All that work he and you did… I only distracted them long enough for them to see they weren’t that far apart.” She watched his pleasure grow as her words registered. Guess he doesn’t expect to be acknowledged.

“Thank you,” he said very quietly. Whoa! He doesn’t want
that
heard across the room. In a more normal voice, he said, “As they believe they are close, they request your indulgence while they have discussions with their individual tribal elders.”

“Oh.” Sure her surprise showed beyond her exclamation, she said, “I thought the elders were part of their negotiating team.” When he shook his head, she continued, “Sure. I have no problem with them getting consensus. Even if it’s just to explain their thinking.”

He smiled and nodded as Kevin approached. “Everything okay?”

“Yes.” Hassan echoed Beckie’s quick answer, then said, “With that agreement, Sheikh Al Hosni has an offer to make you. I believe you should see him…”

The sheikh must have heard his name; he walked up to them. Beckie acknowledged his approach with a smile that turned quizzical as Kevin and Hassan greeted him.

“You and Hassan have talked?” the Sheikh said.

“We have,” she said. “I am pleased to hear that both you and Sheikh al-Kassis wish to… confer with your elders about the state of the negotiations. How long will you require?”

“The meetings will need some travel, so we plan to return following the Revolution Day holiday. I believe this leaves you, how do you say? Loose?”

She nodded with a laugh. “Close enough.” She tipped her head. “When is… Revolution Day?”

The sheikh smiled with a slight tinge of apology. “Of course. July 23, as you say. Next Wednesday. To fill your free time, then, I invite you to an ocean resort.”

“That’s a surprise! Thank you.” She turned toward Kevin. “What do you think? Can we do that?”

“I think Willie, Sue and Dan should—”

“I apologize,” Al Hosni said, wringing his hands and looking from from one to another of them. “I can only provide two rooms. I will have my grandson, Haleef, go with you, and I anticipated either Mr. deVeel or Mr. Llorens would accompany you.” He took a deep breath, as if the next statement would be particularly unwelcome. “The resort is otherwise filled, I am told.”

“No, Sheikh, don’t apologize,” Kevin said. An unfamiliar blush colored his cheeks. “I was about to say that three of us would have to remain here, so two rooms would be fine. We will talk together, but if Beckie wishes…”

“I do, Kev. And I’d be happy with either you or Willie as… chaperone, is it?” Her smile should have felled him before she returned her gaze to Al Hosni. “Haleef? If I recall… He is making a survey of his own across the land under discussion. I know Ian drove over it, with Derek, Mr. Hamilton, and I’d like to see it also. Could he give me a quick tour?” She paused. “Is that the reason he can be available?”

He chortled briefly. “And some people think… Yes, that’s it exactly. He can fill the hours with the results of his—”

“Grandfather, please! She will have no desire to talk with me at all, and I wish…”

“Don’t worry, Haleef Al Hosni. Based on Ian’s notes, there will be several hours of time available. What would—”

Kevin’s arm on hers stopped her. “We should get back, Ms Negotiator.”

As the meeting progressed, Beckie paid more attention to Haleef than she had during the meeting when he’d been introduced. Then, she’d dismissed him as a sheikh-in-training, not present for a specific purpose, rather learning how his grandfather operated in a ‘polite’ negotiation. However, during the break Thursday afternoon, Al Hosni had explained Haleef’s treks over the land the sheikhs were attempting to divide, determining for himself any possible intrinsic value the territory might hold.

The younger Al Hosni was an attractive man, about twenty-one, five-eight or nine with an athletic build. She recalled that he had graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Imperial College in London, where his family lived. I hope Al Hosni isn’t trying to match-make! Not that Haleef would be a bad catch, not at all, it’s just I have so little interest… God, I hope Ian’s okay!

Chapter Eight

Day Nine - Cairo

IN THE MORNING, DAN DELIVERED a rental Jeep. Like most of Cairo’s vehicles, it looked like an angry off-road truck, with the added cachet of dents and scrapes won in local traffic. He gave both Beckie and Kevin the five minute review of its features.

It’s a Jeep, Beckie thought, what can he say? But she kept her heretical thought to herself and listened with about half her attention. She tossed her bag in the back next to Kevin’s and closed the door. “Hey, Dan, what’s that can for?”

He looked where she was pointing. “That one’s water. The one on the other side is gas.” He gave her a look. “Like I just finished saying.”

“Sorry. Thanks.”

After examining their Jeep, Beckie laughed when Haleef drove up in an old Mercedes G500 missing a chunk of its front fender.

As they shared coffee, the younger Al Hosni said, “I’ve driven out there a couple of times. I suggest we drive to Alexandria and stop there for lunch, then follow the coast road toward Mersa Matruh. That’ll take about five hours plus any time we spend sightseeing.”