The Lioness Read online

  “Maybe it means they aren’t organized.

  “Maybe, well anyway listen honey. I talked with the King of Jordan and also earlier with the President of Afghanistan. He said after this is all done and things have settled, he would like you to come visit and be he and his wife’s guest. His wife is so impressed with the work you have done there for the women and children.”

  “That’s nice Da, but what did he say?” Rose could feel her impatience rising.

  “He is going to start the steps to set himself up as a third party for negotiations… the King of Jordan said he would also. Apparently you and his wife have worked together.”

  “Yes, she doesn’t mind getting right in there and becoming involved.”

  “Well what I want you to do today, honey is see if you can find out anything, keep your ears open. We need to find out who took Ty. They should be saying something soon, list of demands, something.”

  “Da, I’m going to get some air time on the local TV station and let the captors know I am willing to talk, set up talks, see what they want. Maybe this will bring them out of hiding.”

  “Both the President and the King said they would be in contact with the right people to set up talks, be the go-between. So let’s see who can get things going.”

  Rose felt overwhelmed. Her father was going the extra mile for her, doing so much. ”Daddy?”

  Rose’s dad was taken back. She had called him Da forever, hadn’t called him Daddy that much unless she was scared.

  “It’s not too many times I hear you calling me Daddy, I like the sound of it. Now listen honey, you don’t worry, you will get sick, and Ty needs you. Take time to rest. We have some help here, people who can take care of things. I’m not asking you to leave, even though I wish you weren’t there, but I know you need to be there and I understand. Be careful though. Keep your eyes and ears open. Okay?”

  Rose felt the tears come and she couldn’t stop them. “Oh Daddy…”

  “It’s okay honey, we’ll get through this with Ty alive. I’m sure of it. Just take a deep breath and be careful for your mother and me.”

  “I will.”

  Chapter 17

  Rose sat across from Andrew Smith and tried to focus. She was so tired and was sure it showed. “What are you saying, Mr. Smith?”

  “Please, call me Andrew.”

  Rose leaned in closer and whispered, “You are trying to tell me they want me out in a week’s time or sooner. If I don’t, what happens?”

  Andrew felt uncomfortable, looking down at the napkin he was twisting. “They will force you.”

  Rose felt herself snap to attention. “That’s a damn threat. I will not be intimidated by the US government. I will go into hiding. I can, you know. They won’t find me. I can very well do that. I will also be making calls and this will be in the papers as soon as the week’s up, if I don’t have Ty back. They will not get away with this.”

  Andrew felt sick, felt his head getting tight. Here was a woman who was desperate to get the man back that she loved, and she wasn’t afraid. He glanced over at her two bodyguards. One of them stood up. The man spoke in Arabic.

  Noori bent down towards Rose. “Is everything okay, Rose?” he asked her in a hushed Arabic.

  Rose spoke in rapid fire Arabic back, knowing this Mr. Smith wouldn’t follow. Noori looked at her and frowned at Andrew.

  Andrew knew this wasn’t going well. Sweat was starting to run down his back, despite the air conditioning in the restaurant. “Let me make this clear, I came here to warn you, Miss O’Malley. I don’t agree with their plan but I thought it would be fair to let you know. Something is of importance and the US government thinks it’s, well let’s just say it’s wiser for all parties concerned if you leave.”

  “Well, of all the balls. That takes the cake. So what of Ty? Let him rot and die? I don’t think so. You can let them know that you talked with me, but I know you won’t let them know we had this talk. But tell them I have made contacts with certain rulers and they are going to work on this. I am going to the TV station this morning to have a news conference, to let the captors know I want to talk. I want to know their demands. I will not, and I repeat, will not leave Iraq till I have Ty, plain and simple.”

  Andrew took a sip of his water and wiped his forehead. “You know, Miss O’Malley, I have the utmost respect for you. You really spoke to me yesterday and you are right in what you are doing. I know I wouldn’t be as brave as you, but who knows what I would do if pushed to the extreme like you have been. I will see what I can do to buy you time and will let you know. I will let you know in time so if you need to, go into hiding.”

  Rose took a deep breath. She was taking out everything on this man. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted, you didn’t deserve it. I apologize.” She looked up at Noori, who was standing, and told him something in Arabic.

  He looked back down at Andrew, making him feel very small. Bowing to Rose, he left.

  Rose sat back and looked over at Andrew Smith. “He is very protective. He almost got killed because of me once in a market in Afghanistan. He will take care of me if I have to go into hiding. I can tell you this. America will not be happy if this leaks. My father’s connections, friends in some circles, will raise hell with it, to say the least.” She leaned in closer. “I appreciate you putting yourself on the line though, and I will make sure your name doesn’t come up.”

  She sat back and saw a gentleman come in. He looked to be an American and really out of place. “I think we have company, so I will leave you… Don’t be surprised at what I do.” She gave him a look that she knew would help him, at least a little bit. She pushed her chair back. In a loud voice that she knew would reach the new gentleman, “What do you take me for? Go get your company elsewhere.” With that she slapped his face. It was loud and brought everyone to attention.

  She saw Noori look at that moment and saw his smile.

  Andrew didn’t know what to expect but a slap on the face wasn’t it. “Jesus. I didn’t mean. Damn!” He stood up, his chair falling over. Turning, he saw the man who Rose was talking about making his way towards his table.

  “We need to talk, Mr. Smith.”

  Andrew tried to act like he didn’t have a clue but he knew he wasn’t too good at it. “I don’t seem to know your name.”

  “Names aren’t important. You made a mistake in warning her. This situation is delicate. She’s going to ignite the whole region with the crew she and her father are grouping together.”

  Andrew was trying to think quickly. He had to get in touch with her. Let her know. He saw Rose talk with her friend and then another two men joined them. One headed to the men’s room. “Listen, let me take a leak, then we can leave and go back to my office.”

  “Okay, hurry though. There is no way to get out of here, so don’t try. We will go back to the Embassy and we’ll have a talk.”

  Andrew felt desperate to get some kind of message to Rose. “Yes, yes, I’ll be right back. I think this has been one big mistake that we will clear up.” He pushed past the nameless man and headed into the bathroom. Seeing one stall occupied he called out in his halting Arabic. “Are you Rose’s friend?”

  “Yes,” came the reply.

  Tell her she must be careful, they are suspicious of our conversation.”

  The voice slid a card out from the stall. It had the name of a shop and a number. Harmless enough looking. “Call this number or leave a message if you have to. It will get it to her.”

  Andrew turned on the water and washed his hands and then splashed his face with water. Grabbing a paper towel, he said his thanks and left. As he came out he saw what looked like an Iraqi talking to Mr. No name. He stepped back into the shadows and watched. The conversation wasn’t going this man’s way. Then he saw him being muscled out of the restaurant. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t turn back.

  “Things happen quickly here. She has more time, as do you. He will be safe till we have what we want.” Then the man
left. Andrew stood there and couldn’t believe what just happened, what he just saw. It was just like a spy novel or movie. He was going to need this vacation.

  Chapter 18

  Rose sat in front of the camera, still unnerved with what had just happened at the restaurant and what Noori and Daoud told her. She never would have taken Daoud for being so bold. She wanted to laugh, but adjusted her head covering instead. She was getting ready to make a statement and then wait.

  “Rose are you ready?”

  Rose looked at her loyal friend. “Yes, Noori, as ready as I will ever be.”

  **********

  Ty sat with his hands in his lap. He was in the very next room from Rose at the TV station. They had a TV in front of him so he could see the broadcast. After she got off and had left he would be ushered in, with his captor, face covered, holding a gun. He had seen these so many times, never thinking it would be him.

  Then he saw her. She looked straight into the camera. She spoke in clear Arabic, not making a mistake. She was making it clear she was here to work with his captors, to get this resolved. Then it showed the president of Afghanistan and then the King of Jordan pledging help to resolve this and act as third parties for the negotiations, whatever they may be.

  That part of the broadcast ended and he knew it was his turn. He wanted to get it over with. He was getting up and heard Rose. She was talking to Noori.

  “Wait until they leave.” his captor said.

  **********

  Ty sat with his head bowed. He knew it would come to this eventually. Except for the time he was taken and saw his driver, Noori’s cousin, killed he hadn’t seen a gun. He hadn’t really been mistreated. He only saw who he knew as Abdul, never the older one until now. He was the one that worried Ty. Now though, Abdul had a mask on and a scarf around his neck and was holding an AK47. He knew it was for show but it still unnerved him to have a gun around him and knew it would be pointed at him during the broadcast.

  “Okay, you there….” Ty looked up to look into the face of what looked like a university student. “Sit straight, look like you are well. You are to make sure you don’t try to send any messages because we will kill you and then we will kidnap your girlfriend. Do you understand?”

  Ty was mad. He had dealt with Abdul, they had already gone over this. This fresh faced militant was new to him but he didn’t scare him.

  “Listen, I have already talked with Abdul and we have everything settled. I also said no harm was to come to Rose….”

  “Dead men can’t help their loved ones,” the young man said harshly.

  Ty got up and at the same moment Abdul came in and someone else. From his build he guessed it to be his older brother, both with masks on, both holding guns.

  “They spoke in Arabic, the older taking the lead. The younger was trying to take some control, but Ty knew he was a subordinate and wasn’t happy about it.

  Abdul came up. “What happened?”

  Ty looked into the eyes that couldn’t be hidden behind the mask. “He threatened Rose.”

  Abdul knew family was strong. They had to be but his nephew wanted to be in charge and was like a powder keg ready to go off. His brother Omar had to deal with it later, but he was going to deal out a little right now. Turning, he caught him just as he was walking past. He let the back of his hand make contact. He heard the breath go out of his nephew and heard the exclamation from his brother.

  “What are you doing? This man is our hostage, not a friend!”

  Abdul knew his brother wouldn’t see it now, maybe never, but his son wanted his father’s spot. “You better deal with the problem soon or the whelp will have your position, he wants it so badly. Then, cocking his head towards Ty, he continued; “He may not be our friend, but he is what we need and I made a promise. This young one needs to shut up or I will shut him up, family or no family.”

  **********

  Guns on each side of his head, he had the paper in his hand but he didn’t need it. He knew the whole paper by heart, inside and out.

  “I am Ty Madison, American journalist with the New York Times. I was taken by a group that calls themselves The Liberation Front for Iraq. I am being treated well. My captors ask only a few things. If these demands are met I will be set free. If not I will remain in captivity until they get what they want.”

  Ty took a breath and wiped his forehead. Sweat dripped down and hit the paper. His hands shook. He felt the gun barrel point harder into his temple. He looked up again and saw the younger one sneer. He sat up straighter.

  “My captors ask for more involvement by the Sunnis in the new government. They want it not so one sided. They want these men released immediately.” He listed off the ten men. “They would like to have talks with the foreign fighters that are coming in from other countries. The freedom of Iraq is the responsibility of its own people, not other countries. Gradual troop pull-out of the US troops. Leave advisors to train our army.

  “We ask our brothers to stop the senseless killing with suicide bombs. We are free of tyranny. Now let us get back on our feet and be part of the world. I Ask that you take these demands seriously. The safety of my loved one is in jeopardy. My life is on the line.”

  Chapter 19

  Fatima went to Abdul’s office. She hadn’t gone in there in a very long time. She needed batteries and knew he kept them in there. No one would know… he had so many. She would be in and out of there before he was back. She went in, opened the drawer. Grabbing the batteries and closing the drawer, she was about to leave when she heard a noise in the storage room. Another room that she hadn’t been in for a long time.

  “What could that noise be?” She walked up to the door and grabbing the door knob, she gave the door a shove because it always stuck. She thought she was seeing things but after her eyes adjusted to the gloom she knew she wasn’t daydreaming. She was looking into the eyes of her new friend Rose’s boyfriend, who had been kidnapped. Hand flying to her mouth, she felt the blood drain from her brain.

  Ty was as shocked as the woman who stood in front of him. He knew she couldn’t think, let alone speak. “It’s okay. You are Abdul’s sister?”

  Fatima sank to her knees. “How long have you been here? Did they bring you here right away?”

  Ty sat up. “No, they moved me around for a couple of days…I think. Then they brought me here, just before Rose arrived in the country. You’ve seen her, how is she?”

  Fatima couldn’t believe it. If her brothers knew she knew that they had the hostage, well…. She buried her face in her hands. Her dear husband never would have done this. This made her brothers like the rest.

  Looking up, she saw how he hoped to hear something, anything about Rose. “She is fine, but tired. She, she. Did you hum or sing last night?”

  Ty couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, I couldn’t help it. That was how I would relax her. I would sing or hum while she fell asleep. When she was hurt and when she was so sick I would hold her and sing.”

  “You know she loves you so much. She went to the TV station today.”

  “I know. I was there too. We did a spot after.”

  Fatima knew now why Abdul had acted so strangely this morning. He had been so short and snapped. He was never like that, well except for the day they took Ty. Now she knew, now she understood. He had said it was the stress of making ends meet but it was his secret life. She got up quickly. “They, my brothers, can’t know I have been here, that I know. I will come, bring you extra food. We will talk, but please don’t let them know I have been here.” She glanced over her shoulder. She heard the front door. “I must go….”

  She closed the door and ran out of the office. She put the batteries back and ran out through the courtyard door. So that’s how her brother kept things so secret. She heard Abdul call for her. She tried to catch her breath. Grabbing wash off the line that he had set up for her, she yelled back. “Out here.”

  Abdul met his sister as she was coming in with clothes. She bumped into him an
d scurried past. “Sorry Abdul, I am busy, must go to the market, I forgot something.”

  “I will bring you, you shouldn’t go without me.”

  “NO! I mean no Abdul it’s okay, I won’t be long. I have to do some sewing and I need a certain color of thread, and I want some beads and buttons. I would rather go myself to relax. I have supper cooking. We will have a nice meal, just you and me.” She gave him a look from above the laundry she had piled up in front of her face. Now she knew why more of the food was missing. He was feeding Ty. At least she knew he was eating well.

  er brother was more sensitive than Omar. If only she were a man, what she would do to her brothers, especially Omar. She was older but since he was just a year younger and he was a man, he treated her as such. Abdul always treated her well. Omar was just indifferent. He wasn’t mean. He must have been the one to plan this. Abdul would never do this on his own.

  “Omar may come over.”

  “Without Layla and the children? He never brings them anymore.” She knew why, though.

  “He’s been busy, the children have been sick.”

  Fatima knew her younger sister-in-law was overwhelmed with all the little ones, Omar’s second wife. He kept her pregnant. His first wife had been her best friend. She had died giving birth to Hamid. Omar had waited a while and then married a cousin of his first wife.

  “Well if he is coming over here, I will go see his wife and the children. See if I can help.”

  **********

  Abdul thought how Fatima always seemed to know, without knowing. She would leave and go see their sister-in-law and he and Omar could talk without her being here.

  “I will bring you and pick you up.”

  Fatima put the wash down. “Maybe Hamid can bring me back.”

  Abdul thought of this morning, “I don’t think he will be home. He hasn’t been very happy lately. Omar says he doesn’t stay at home much. I will pick you up.”

  “Okay, that is settled. I will go to the market now,” Fatima said quickly.