Silence. Nick gave Eliah Kader a pat on the back of the head. “I think you did quite well. Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us, Eli?”
Eliah began to speak, but the syringe Nick stuck into his neck worked quickly. “There you go. We need to have you go sleepy time for a while, Eli. Pull over in a quiet spot so we can put Eli in cargo and cover him, Gus.”
Nick explained the situation after they deposited the sedated Eliah in the back cargo area with a tarp covering. “I’m thinking me, Johnny, and Cala, all dressed in our Muslim costumes, could ring the doorbell, check on Felicia, and proceed from there. If we get a lot of flack from this El-Amin, I may have to insist. This is volunteer only. Claude is no saint. John Harding stopped him from assassinating Samira and maimed him while doing it. They recruited him from the dark side. We can agree Johnny and I have monster credentials from our past. If we’re allowed to see Felicia and the years belonging to this El-Amin have put her beyond our reach mentally, then we’ll just leave. She may have six kids and be happy as hell for all I know.”
“I’m in,” Johnny stated.
“And I,” Cala added. “She was kidnapped from her home and sold into slavery. As you say, Muerto, if she wants out, we should help her.”
“What about El-Amin,” Gus asked.
“We have room in the cargo area for one more. Eliah will have company on his Allegheny resting place trip.”
“I want you to do a Kabuki dance with my Uncle, Muerto.”
“Cala!” Gus nearly drove off the road as Nick and Johnny enjoyed Cala’s request.
“He deserves it, Payaso,” Cala stated. “I hope Felicia is okay. I can only imagine what it was like for her. I am glad Lynn has punished that Saran Al-Kadi who stole Felicia’s life.”
“Remember to keep your feelings in check. Lynn will have Al-Kadi make a very enticing phone call introduction I’m sure. We have to be calm through this no matter how it comes out. This has to be Felicia’s decision without our input, whether she’s brainwashed or not. This will be either a visit or a rescue. It will not be an intervention. Is that clear, Cala?”
“Yes, Muerto.”
Nick’s phone buzzed an hour later. “Hi Lynn.”
“The phone call worked. I had Saran state he needed Claude for a contract in Yemen and the call was the only way Claude would consider it. We learned during the interrogation that El-Amin has participated in the money laundering enterprise Al-Kadi worked with his overseas conduit. It was suggested by El-Amin, Claude could talk with Felicia immediately. We anticipated that and had Saran tell him Claude demanded people he trusted see her while he was calling.”
“Interesting. I will let you know how this proceeds. Tell Claude we will not make things worse for Felicia no matter what. With Al-Kadi gone, we can put this El-Amin on our watch list to make sure he doesn’t hook up with another cell.”
“That’s our thoughts on it too, Muerto. Talk again soon.” Lynn disconnected.
“We’re on,” Nick said.
*
Nick and Johnny wore their white kufi head coverings with clothing neatly arranged. Cala, again with conservative clothing and headscarf, walked demurely behind the men as they approached the door to El-Amin’s huge well maintained home. Nick rang the doorbell, stepping back slightly with hands clasped in front of him. A thin bearded man in a dark three piece business suit answered the door with a scowl. Without a word, he motioned the visitors inside.
“I have been told to greet this intrusion on my life,” El-Amin muttered in guttural Arabic. “If not for my business associate this meeting would never take place. What name do you go by?”
“I am Momar Bati, sent by Saran Al-Kadi,” Nick stated in Arabic when they were inside the house. “My companions are trusted friends of Claude Chardin. They will be observing the phone call and will speak with your wife, Felicia.”
“She is my property, not my wife,” El-Amin retorted suspiciously. “Saran knows this. Why do you not?”
“I am merely an emissary on behalf of my employer. I did not wish to offend and I have no knowledge of your personal life.”
El-Amin grunted. “Let us get this farce over with. Follow me.”
In the spacious living room, a woman wearing a black burka knelt near the leather couch. El-Amin walked over and sat down near the woman. “These are the people I spoke to you about. They wish for you to speak with a cousin of yours. Do you know this Claude Chardin?”
The woman kept her eyes on the floor. “Yes. He was my cousin. I have not seen him in many years.”
“Saran wishes for you to speak with him. This man will put you on the phone with him.”
Nick Facetimed Claude. When he established a good signal and audio, Nick handed the iPhone to Cala. She went over to kneel next to Felicia, put the iPhone on speaker, and held it where the two could see each other on the screen.
“Felicia? I am so happy to see you alive. I tried to find you after Paris.”