The Trusted Page 6

  Aswa-da twirled his finger and the Observation Room melted away. Around him was a park in early summer. A lake with water fowl was to the right and a wide and rolling expanse of grass with slightly burnt patches was to his left. Treeborne strolled with his friends down the tarmac path. Aswa-da watched intently as Treeborne took control.

  “Dave, you need to get it tonight,” said Treeborne with force, snatching hold of the boy alongside of him. “You know we can’t wait any longer.”

  The teenager, who was a bit on the pudgy side with a stubby nose and doleful, expressive blue eyes, winced, feeling Treeborne’s fingers dig in.

  “I can’t. My pa would kill me if he found out.”

  “Your pa won’t ever find out. Come on. I gotta get into Washington and Lee College. Mom really wants me to get there. I gotta have those exam papers.”

  The pudgy boy, Dave, stared at Treeborne, clearly worried.

  “JD, I really can’t. Pa will lose his job as principal if it got out. You know that!”

  Treeborne slipped his hand into his pocket. Aswa-da detected a faint outline of the tablet in the folds of his trousers. Aswa-da knew Treeborne was holding the tablet close to his body. He also knew it was now an intrinsic and irremovable part of Treeborne’s existence.

  “Dave, you need those papers too. Remember your last scores? They’re not going to get you into a top college. You won’t succeed unless you know what’s coming up.”

  Treeborne glared at Dave, his eyes drilling into his friend, penetrating and flipping Dave’s psyche to his bidding. The other boys drifted back a little. By their regard of Treeborne and Dave, Aswa-da recognized that they wanted to stay out of the discussion, which was quickly turning into a heated argument.

  “I can’t, JD. It’s too risky. Don’t ask me anymore!” snapped Dave.

  Treeborne grabbed Dave brutally by his rounded shoulders.

  “It’s more risky to leave it to chance. You know that!” hissed Treeborne. “You could lose everything, including the chance to get in with Rachel.”

  Treeborne stared at Dave as he spoke and raised his eyebrow in a knowing manner. Dave flushed pink as his crush was revealed with blatant enthusiasm. He did a small nod, and then looked down. He seemed scared of the reality of the decision he was about to make. Dave’s face rippled through different states, one minute agreeing to Treeborne’s demands, the next, back-tracking and refusing.

  Treeborne waited. He appeared patient but Aswa-da observed Treeborne’s lips flat line and his jaw hardened as his teeth locked tight in his mouth. His eyes took on a sinister glare.

  “I can’t, JD,” said Dave, eventually settling on a final decision. He breathed out and appeared exhausted.

  Aswa-da watched, intrigued as to how his subject was going to handle this intransigent attitude from Dave. The teenage boy removed his hand from his pocket and dropped down onto the park bench. Treeborne sat holding his head in his hands.

  “It’s over for both of us. We may as well just put our names down at K-Mart as checkout boys. Don’t think you’re ever going to get a shot at Rachel now. You know she’s turned on by brainy guys. If you fail, that’s it. Bye, bye, Rachel.”

  Dave stared out across the park. Aswa-da stepped forward to look into Dave’s eyes. He was definitely considering Treeborne’s last address. He bit his lower lip and carried on chewing it as he sat down slowly, joining Treeborne on the bench.

  “You really think so?” Dave asked with a heightened level of caution.

  “Yeah. I do,” said Treeborne without hesitation. His hand slipped back into his pocket to caress the tablet. “You gotta get the papers tonight. Before you know it, we’ll be heading to Wash and Lee College, and you’ll have your chance with Rachel. A big chance, Dave. A real big chance. You want that, don’t you?”

  Dave, still looking across the park, replied in a dreamy voice, “Yeah, JD. I want that. I think I love her. You know that? I really get that feeling.”

  Aswa-da could see Treeborne holding down a snigger. But Dave was caught up in his emotions.

  “Yeah, Dave. I get it. And believe me, you’ll get it too. Rachel will bone you like there’s no tomorrow. If she hears you’re going to Wash and Lee, hell, she’ll be onto you like bees around a honey pot. She’s yours, buddy. She’s yours.”

  The light of lust shone in Dave’s eyes. Aswa-da was impressed. Treeborne knew what to say to manipulate his friend.

  “She’s mine. Oh, JD. She really could be, couldn’t she? She’s so beautiful. You think she’ll really be mine? I really have a chance?”

  Dave’s confidence was waning. He slouched his shoulders down, doubting his ability to get the girl of his dreams.

  “Dave, get a fucking grip!” said Treeborne severely. “You just need to get the papers, nail the exam, and get your acceptance to Wash and Lee. She’s as good as in your bed. And if she isn’t by then, I’ll make sure she is.”

  Dave snapped his head up with concern. His expressive eyes widened with horror at what he thought Treeborne was implying.

  “JD, I ain’t going to be forcing her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. And neither are you.”

  “I’m not talking about forcing her or nothing. I mean, I have ways, Dave, to persuade her. She won’t get hurt and she’ll be willing. But I promise you, if you get those papers tonight, I’ll get Rachel in your bed before this week is out.”

  Dave picked up on the assured statement from Treeborne. Aswa-da notice again the pure lust in his eyes. He licked his lips and rubbed his thighs, getting worked up on Treeborne’s last words.

  “In my bed. Oh, God, JD. Could you do that?”

  “Yep, Dave. But you gotta get those papers from your pa’s desk first. After that, you can rock and roll with Rachel.”

  Dave stared out, his mind floating off as he listened to Treeborne. Then he tilted his head to the side to look at his friend.

  “If you promise on your life that you’ll get me Rachel, I’ll get you the papers.” Dave’s voice had dropped to a hushed whisper.

  “Tonight?” questioned Treeborne, pressing for what he wanted out of the deal.

  “Yeah. Tonight,” repeated Dave, a little reluctantly. “But you promise to get me Rachel.”

  “Yeah. I do.”

  “On your life.”

  “On my life. Just get me the papers,” said Treeborne a little wearily.

  Dave nodded. “I will.”

  Aswa-da performed his shallow elliptical motion. The events around him sped up and scenes changed rapidly. Aswa-da watched Treeborne waiting in his Toyota Camry in a shopping mall car park. The Earth time was 10 p.m. Another car, a Chevy, drew up and flashed its lights twice. Treeborne smiled. What a dick! He thinks he’s in a movie.

  Treeborne opened his car door slowly, got out, and walked over to the Chevy. At the driver’s side, the window wound down and an envelope was thrust through the gap. Snatching it, Treeborne muttered a hurried, “Thanks.” Then he tried to depart with haste, but a hand grabbed hold of his.

  “Rachel. Remember!” said Dave from the darkness of his car. His voice had a tinge of desperation.

  “No sweat,” responded Treeborne, pulling his hand away. “Friday. I promise.”

  Aswa-da ran his shallow elliptical motion with his hand again. Scenes whizzed past as Earth time progressed through seconds, minutes and hours. The Observation Screen targeted Treeborne and Aswa-da watched the scene settle on him in a diner. He sat on his own eating blueberry pancakes and drinking coffee. In Earth time, it was a Thursday, mid-morning.

  Treeborne stared through the oblong window as he heard tires on the gravel. An engine switched off outside. A mass of brunette hair emerged from the car. Then long, supple legs inched into tiny khaki shorts stretched out, followed by the young woman’s trim waist, toned body and pert, peachy ass. As she turned toward the diner, Treeborne was hit with the full beauty of Rachel Travers. Her body was slender and the white tee she wore showed her full, firm breasts had just the right amount
of bounce to insinuate playfulness.

  She stepped up, opened the door to the diner and approached Treeborne’s table. He took in her face and swallowed. Her graceful neck, high cheekbones, full lips, delicately appointed nose and startling, pale olive eyes promised the delivery of every teenage boy’s fantasy. She was a visual incarnation of a siren, and he couldn’t wait to dash himself upon her rocks.

  “Hi, JD,” said Rachel, chewing gum and looking irked. “What’s so important you drag me over here?”

  Her voice was soft and inquiring with just a flicker of toughness. Her shoulders were pushed back and her deportment was self-assured, and a touch dominant. Treeborne smirked. He liked the balance of soft and hard. It made for a more stimulating experience.

  A tingle stirred in his groin. Aswa-da detected this and raised an eyebrow at the new dynamic in play. Treeborne’s hand grazed across the sandstone tablet in his pocket and Treeborne concentrated, in the way Aswa-da had taught him.

  Persuasion. Manipulation. Trust. His trinity of ability.

  “Take a seat, Rachel,” stated Treeborne in a strong, confident voice. He stretched out his hand out to welcome Rachel to join him.

  Rachel hesitated.

  “What do you want?”

  The soft lilt had left her voice and Rachel’s tone had become quite brittle.

  “Sit down and I’ll tell you.”

  His air of mystery piqued Rachel’s interest, and she sat down.

  “That’s better. Would you like some coffee? A donut? Some pancakes? I recommend the pancakes. They’re really rather good.”

  Treeborne signaled to the waitress for another coffee.

  “Shut up about the pancakes, JD. I want to know what this is about. You said on the phone that there’s an opportunity for me to make some cash.”

  Treeborne eyed her mischievously, his glance taking in her luscious figure, and then he straightened, and pushed a serious face.

  “You know Dave Bateman?”

  “Yeah. Principal Bateman’s son. So what?”

  “He’s a traitor. He’s working for the other side.” Treeborne hung his head and edged toward Rachel’s face.

  Her beautiful eyes widened. “No way. What? You mean he’s a Commie!”

  “Yeah. So is the principal. They’re both Commie bastards infiltrating our society.”

  Rachel drew back and stared at Treeborne, her mouth upturned, suspicion in her eyes.

  “How do you know this?”

  Treeborne moved in closer, reaching across the table, and whispered in Rachel’s ear.

  “It’s a secret operation. My dad’s really CIA. He’s been watching the Batemans for months. But something’s happening. I need your help.”

  Rachel shook her head. With a grin on her face, she exclaimed loudly, “Your dad? He does that stuff with rocks. No way is he in the C-”

  Treeborne gripped hold of Rachel’s hand, squeezing it so her finger tips turned a rosy flush.

  “Don’t say it, Rachel. This is the truth.”

  Whilst Treeborne spoke, he held onto the tablet with his other hand. He fixed Rachel with a cold, hard stare. Aswa-da could sense that Treeborne was now able to channel the energies within the tablet. The trinity of his powers were coming to the fore. Treeborne’s abilities were intensifying.

  Rachel stared into Treeborne’s eyes and swallowed deeply.

  “God. You really…Oh my God, JD. Is this an operation? Are you…” Rachel lowered her voice, reaching across the table, her lips brushing against Treeborne’s ear. “A spy?”

  The tingle in his groin increased.

  Treeborne, still holding her hand, did a perfunctory nod, and swept a glance around the diner to see if anyone had heard.

  Rachel looked around with him, and then giggled.

  “Oh my God, JD. This is so cool. Are you like James Bond? Do you have spy stuff?”

  Treeborne didn’t enter into the humor. His eyes, steely and cold, regarded her with contempt. Rachel sat back, realizing her foolishness.

  “This isn’t a joke,” snapped Treeborne. “We aren’t in a movie. Do you want to help your country or not?”

  His words were as far removed from teenage japes and jests as they possibly could be. Treeborne watched as Rachel acknowledged his professional efficiency. Her lips moistened and her eyes dilated. She moved her other hand to cover his and pushed her chest forward.

  “What can I do to help you?”

  Her assuredness had drifted away. In front of Treeborne was a meek and malleable individual.

  “It’ll be dangerous. Are you ok with that?”

  “Yes. Yes, I think so.” Her elbows slid forward and her mouth moved close to Treeborne’s. “Are you in danger?”

  “Often. But I’ve been trained.”

  Treeborne gave a surly, arrogant smirk and held the tablet close to him. Trust me. Trust every word I say is true. Fix the belief. Don’t let it leave you. The mantra rang in his head.

  Aswa-da smiled, delighted to see his creation blooming.

  Rachel chewed her lip.

  Suddenly, unable to hold back, Rachel launched up and planted her lips on Treeborne’s. He pulled his hands away and held her face.

  She was gorgeous.

  Treeborne pulled her up. Putting his arms around her waist, he pulled her into him. The tingle in his groin had turned into a shuddering vibration of want. Her hands wandered down to his trousers. Gripping him, she smiled. She kissed him harder, pushing her tongue into his mouth. He brought his hands to the front of her body, cupping her firm breasts.

  “Hey! You guys. Take that someplace else!” yelled the waitress, seeing Treeborne and Rachel’s lurid behavior.

  “Too damn right,” said Treeborne, smirking. He threw down a few dollars for the check then grabbed Rachel’s hand, and ran toward the door. “And I got just that someplace!”

  Aswa-da observed as Rachel raced out with Treeborne, hand in hand, to his car.

  He knew that Treeborne’s promise to Dave was just another lie in a lifetime of lies.

  Chapter 23

  Ellie had no idea who Sam fought against, but logically, of course it had to be Al Nadir. They were a new breed of evil known as a terrorist collective. Initially, their power had been driven by their openness to work and collaborate with other terrorist groups. But the term ‘collaborative’ could not now be used to describe their current activities. Highly dictatorial, their approach was one of hostile takeover, and whether they wanted to or not, terrorist groups, crime syndicates and even entire rogue states were invaded with rapid and brutally smooth efficiency.

  Many years ago, the security agencies had not taken Al Nadir seriously. They saw them as a group of cranks headed by a guy with too much money and a brain fried on too much coke. Then 9/11 hit and all eyes around the world turned to Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. The second Gulf War in Iraq and the ensuing battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan kept the intelligence services, the US and the allied troops occupied.

  Everyone ignored Salim Al Douri. Assessed by intelligence analysts as not a present threat, Salim and Al Nadir were passed over. Whatever intelligence had been assessed to come to this conclusion had been severely misjudged.

  Gradually, the networks Al Nadir formed while the world looked the other way. Rapidly, their reach and capability grew, and in parallel, so did their power. But they were like a building site underneath a tarpaulin cover. The massiveness of the construction couldn’t be visualized until the cover was pulled away. One day, early May, six years ago, Al Nadir removed their tarpaulin, and the world was redefined.

  Ellie remembered the day. The bloodied faces, the horrific wounds, the global confusion and the calls to blame the security agencies that had failed to protect their people.

  Concurrent bombing in thirty major cities.

  It was an unprecedented act of terrorism that escalated Al Nadir’s position to number one and made Al Qaeda look like playground bullies. Globally connected, Al Nadir’s aim was simple: to underm
ine the economic and social stability of every major country across the world.

  Ellie could not begin to comprehend, let alone deal with, the fact that her husband faced such danger. She stared hard at Sam and in a small, soft voice whispered, “They’d kill you if they caught you.”

  “Eventually, they would.”

  From Ellie’s face, Sam saw that the words had been a step too far.

  His wife listened to his unusually cold, matter-of-fact tone, and contemplated the meaning behind his words. Her face drained. The sheer thought of that happening to the man she loved made her heart hammer. Bile rose in her throat, forcing her to gag. Sudden stress snapped her head in a vise-like grip and pain sailed through her body. He had risked his life and their future for ten years, and that was unforgivable. At that point, she didn’t know whether to love Sam or hate him.

  “I’m good, Ellie. I’ve been trained really well. You have no reason to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

  Recalling his impromptu burst of action, she couldn’t deny Sam probably could look after himself. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have reason to worry.

  Sam read the anguish on her face and walked over to cuddle her close to him. This time, she didn’t signal “back off” in her beautiful eyes. Under his touch, her skin was cold and trembling.

  “You know I could lose you?”

  As she said it, all Ellie could see in her mind was black. Black clothes she would wear to his funeral. Black she would feel in her heart. Black would be her future without Sam.

  Sam stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.

  “You’re not going to lose me. I’m here.”

  He tilted her chin up to him and kissed her slowly.

  “For how long?” Ellie asked, returning his kiss with growing passion.

  “Forever.”

  “Nobody lives forever.”

  Ellie kissed him with a fervor he had never seen before. Sam took her hand and led her gently back to bed to show her just how much he really loved her, to eliminate any shred of doubt that still lingered in her confused mind.