Operation Fallen Angel Read online

  The stillness in his body when he was through shouted complete relaxation. Although he breathed heavily, every other aspect was serene. After a few minutes, he rolled further onto the bed, drawing her onto his chest as he rolled.

  Doc stroked his fingers over Elizabeth’s cheek. Her eyes were closed, and she gripped him with trust and affection. Her long, dark blond hair was spread over his chest in a thin sheet that clung to him. Her tiny frame was pressed to his, their legs still entwined.

  His thoughts, against his wishes, flashed images of Victoria’s thick, dark hair over his chest from so long ago, her body, full and womanly, a stark contrast to Elizabeth’s. Everything about Victoria was drastically different than every trait that made Elizabeth the person she was. Polar opposites assaulted his consciousness.

  “I do,” her full red lips spoke, a smile beaming at him with sassy confidence. Her white wedding gown hugging all her feminine curves, the tall, brass organ pipes of the church rising behind her. Victoria, on their wedding day.

  Doc shook the images from his mind. He checked his wristwatch. Their captors would return in less than an hour. They needed to get up and get dressed as instructed. They needed to talk. He needed to coach Elizabeth so they had a snowball’s chance in hell of surviving until his team could mount a rescue that evening.

  “Elizabeth,” he spoke as he gently shook her. “We need to get dressed.”

  She opened her eyes and gazed into his. “One more kiss, please?”

  She didn’t want this moment to end. It had been all she had hoped it would be, the act, intense with emotions. The connection with him was strong, just as she had always imagined it would be after making love with a man. And the appreciation she felt that he had agreed to do this, consumed her.

  Doc took her cheeks between his hands. He gifted her with a kiss that under any other circumstances would have kept them both in bed for a very long time. “We need to get up,” he said when their lips parted.

  Reluctantly, Elizabeth rose. After quickly washing herself off in the bathroom, she reentered the room with the towel wrapped around herself. Like it mattered! Alexander had seen and felt over every inch of her body. It was a heady feeling, knowing she had shared that type of intimacy with him.

  Doc went into the bathroom behind her. He cleaned himself up quickly. His shorts were disgusting, he would not put them back on. He had not been provided with underclothing. He slid the pants over his naked butt. They were of a fine fabric. They were at least two sizes too large. He’d use his own belt.

  He reentered the room to find Elizabeth dressed, the dirac flowing down to the floor, the headscarf in place. The dress was short-sleeved. He found that odd. The women he viewed out the window were fully covered, and Elizabeth had said the General was Muslim.

  Doc pulled the dress shirt on and then his dirty socks, followed by his combat boots, chuckling at the contrast. What the fuck was this about? Why the formal clothing?

  Doc pointed at Elizabeth’s boots. “Put them on.” If the opportunity for escape presented itself, she’d have to be able to run.

  She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her dirty socks back on and then her boots. “This all feels so surreal.”

  Doc nodded. His thoughts exactly. All of it was surreal, contradictions that were almost comical. He was most likely going to die going commando in some strange man’s military dress pants. And even the size of them, so large, what Somali wore pants that large? Most Somali’s were rail-thin, starving to death.

  Foxtrot

  The officer and three of his men returned at the appointed hour. “You will cooperate?”

  “We will,” Doc said.

  Doc took hold of Elizabeth’s upper arm and led her from the room, following the officer and one of his men. The two others fell in behind them, rifles aimed at their backs. They walked the length of the hallway and back down the main staircase.

  At least forty people fussed about the entry and the formal dining room to the left of the staircase. Plates were set formally, crystal goblets sat on the table over fine linens. Trays of food were then brought out and sat on the table. The officer halted them in the foyer, in what became a growing line of bodies.

  Elizabeth soon realized she was the only woman in the gathering. The other women who had been scurrying about were nowhere to be seen. Her eyes met Alexander’s questioningly. He seemed as confused as she was. All at once all the women appeared in a line and fell in behind the one Elizabeth and the men were in. They bowed their heads.

  The front doors swung open, held by a man on each side. Striding through was a large man in decorated military dress. Doc judged his size to match the pants he wore. He found that even more confusing. It was obvious that he was the master of the house. By the activity and the reverence, the others showed, you’d think God himself was walking into the foyer.

  “Welcome home General,” the officer proclaimed.

  “Is all prepared as requested,” the General asked.

  “Yes, your excellency,” the officer replied.

  Doc wanted to laugh out loud. Jesus! Your excellency. Seriously? This General had a mighty high opinion of himself. He’d have to feed that. Then he realized they had spoken in English. This was for his and Elizabeth’s benefit.

  The General greeted many of the others in line and spoke briefly with them in Somali. Then he stepped in front of Doc and Elizabeth. He eyed them both up and down with an unreadable, but unfriendly expression on his face.

  “I am General Abdi Ishmael Halima,” he said with authority. “Do you know who I am?”

  Doc nodded. Elizabeth froze and stared at him with fear.

  The corner of the General’s lip ticked up. “You’ve given my men some problems.”

  “I’m sorry for that, General. We do not mean to cause you any problems,” Doc said as meekly as he could force his voice to sound.

  The General angled his view to Elizabeth. She avoided eye contact. “You are one of the Sisters from the village?”

  “Yes, General,” she replied respectfully. “I am also a nurse and this man is a doctor.”

  “You stayed to treat two injured boys?”

  “Yes, General,” she repeated with a slight bow to her head.

  The General used his index finger to raise her chin until she looked him in the eyes. “Do you know who those boys are?” The large man demanded.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Elizabeth said humbly trying to keep her voice even. His finger on her chin sent fear into every cell in her body. “They are children of God who needed healing and protection. We would not leave them and moving them to evacuate with the others would have killed them.”

  “You both sacrificed yourselves for these two boys?” He scoffed.

  Doc stood taller. “We stayed to ensure their welfare. They were alive when your men took them. If you would allow it, I’d like to see my patients to be assured they are well.”

  The General laughed. “Those boys are with my personal doctor. Those boys are my sons.”

  Doc and Elizabeth exchanged surprised stares. Holy hell. Doc’s eyes went back to the General’s. “Have you seen them since you’ve been back? Are they okay? We’ve been very worried about them.”

  An amused smile formed on the General’s lips. “I have and they are. I thank you for the care you gave them and the concern you still show. My enemies would wish death to them.”

  Doc shook his head. “We are not your enemies.” He pointed to Elizabeth. “The Sisters of Mercy took them in and would have even if they’d known who they were.”

  “Enough,” the General announced. “We eat.” He motioned towards the dining room, which became filled with activity at his pronouncement.

  Again, Doc and Elizabeth exchanged surprised stares.

  “Move,” the officer said, pressing his hand into Doc’s back. “Stand where the General tells you. Do not sit until after his excellency does.”

  “Here,” the General said, his eyes on Doc. He motioned to th
e chair to his left. “And the Sister shall sit beside you, doctor.”

  General Halima took his seat. Doc and Elizabeth watched the others and only sat when they did. Doc slid Elizabeth’s chair beneath her before he took his seat. The General said the Dua, which was repeated by the other men at the table. All platters were offered to the General first by the women, who came to the table and took the platters up. They circulated around the table beginning with Doc after the General.

  Doc was hungry, but suspicious of the food. The water it was washed with alone could give him a nasty intestinal bug. But he knew better than to offend so he took a serving of each offered dish. Wine was poured in the large goblet in front of each person. Doc knew the fermented beverage had a better chance of not causing illness.

  “General Halima, thank you for this hospitality. The Sister and I thank you for your kindness,” Doc said, still trying to figure out what was happening.

  Elizabeth was starving, but too nervous to eat. Would the fact that they cared for his sons really mean the General wouldn’t hurt them? And if he was going to kill them, why the niceties? Why feed them dinner? She forced herself to take bite after bite. The wine in the glass was strong. Combined with the afternoon heat, she quickly found herself getting lightheaded.

  “You are a military man,” the General said to Doc. “Your contributions to my army’s supplies are appreciated.”

  Doc was confused. “My contributions?”

  The officer who had taken them laughed. “Your pack, weapons, and equipment. The General’s personal doctor has found your donated medical supplies helpful in treating the General’s sons.”

  “Yes,” Doc said. “I am glad the doctor has been able to use those supplies to help your sons, General.”

  “As a military man, you appreciate rules of engagement, treatment of prisoners, and the need for discipline.” He leaned closer to Doc as he spoke, an act definitely meant to intimidate.

  Doc didn’t like where this conversation was going. “Yes, sir, I do. I also realize there are extenuating circumstances that necessitate compassion and the relaxing of those rules on occasion. It’s what makes us human when others are animals.” He hoped he hadn’t overplayed his role with that statement.

  “So, as a military man, do you make accommodations for personal reasons?”

  Doc knew he had to go all in on this one. “Yes, sir, I do. When it comes to family or my team, I definitely make accommodations. Strength is important. But I believe we must take care of those who take care of our own and by the same thought, I believe those who hurt our own must be dealt with harshly. Al-Shabaab attacked the village your sons were in and caused their injuries. The Sisters took them in. Sister Elizabeth and I cared for them.”

  “So, you believe I should show the two of you mercy?”

  Doc knew it was the moment of truth. This man admired strength and respect. Doc knew he had to respond appropriately. “Not mercy, sir, a fair response to the situation at hand.”

  General Halima eyed him curiously. “You have courage. Or do you wrongly believe that I will not have you executed because you are a doctor?”

  “General Halima, I know our disposition is completely in your hands. I defer to you with respect and humility.” Doc bowed his head.

  Elizabeth couldn’t breathe. She prayed harder than she ever had, made a few bargains with God, and hoped Alexander knew what he was doing. Had he ever been in a similar situation? Or was he winging it?

  “You have been silent, Sister,” Halima said, startling her out of her prayers.

  “I am a guest in your country, General. I follow the customs as best as I am able.”

  “And we do not want to hear from females in Somalia?” He asked with antagonism.

  “General, that is not what I meant. I defer the handling of these matters to you and the doctor, a fellow military man. I have no experience in these things and I too realize that our disposition is in your hands. You are a strong leader and are known throughout the region as fair.”

  “A western woman who knows her place!” He paused and laughed. “It’s nice to know you exist. My son told me of your kisses to his brow, the tender touch you gave him that despite the fact he could not understand your words assured him he was safe. He saw his mother murdered. I’ll deal with those fighters soon. They will die miserable deaths!” He slapped Doc on the back. “I too believe that we should deal with those who hurt my family. harshly.”

  Doc nodded, still not sure where he stood with the General, waiting for the boom to lower.

  “Eat, both of you,” the General said, motioning to their picked at plates.

  Doc wondered if this was his last meal. He forced himself to take a few healthy bites. The food was good. The wine was not. He glanced sideways at Elizabeth. She too ate several large forkfuls of food at his prompting. General Halima then engaged in conversation in Somali with others at the table. Doc and Elizabeth exchanged a few nervous glances with each other.

  At the end of the meal the women cleared the plates. Halima motioned to one of the men who brought a cell phone to him. He handed it to Doc. “You will not dial this until you are in the designated location.” He motioned to the man who had brought it to him. “This man will show you a map. You will be provided a vehicle. You are to drive there. You may contact your people to pick you up once you arrive there, but not before. If you contact them prior to reaching that location, you will both be killed. For the care you gave my sons, I am granting you both amnesty. Go and do not return to my country. Be sure none of your men ever return here. I will treat them as the enemies they are, if they do.”

  A stunned Doc took the cell phone and bowed his head. “Thank you, General Halima. You have my word of compliance of your terms.”

  Halima came to his feet. He pointed to the man who brought the phone. “Go with him now.”

  Doc and Elizabeth instantly stood. They followed the man to the foyer. He produced a map from beneath his draped shirt. He pointed out the route, speaking in Somali. Doc knew the terrain well enough to figure out where he was being ordered to go.

  Halima stood by the doorway into the lavish dining room. The other men stood behind him. “Go and do not return.”

  “Yes, sir,” Doc said.

  The man who had pointed out the route opened the front door and spoke words Doc didn’t understand. He pointed to a Jeep, which sat directly in front of the residence.

  “We’re to take the Jeep?” He asked Halima.

  The big man nodded his head yes.

  As they walked out the front door, Doc positioned himself behind Elizabeth. If shots were going to be fired, he wanted them to impact his back and give her a chance. He placed his hand on the small of her back and nudged her forward. She was walking very slowly. He could feel the fear radiating from her. Outside, he took hold of her upper arm to guide her towards the awaiting Jeep, still doing all he could to use his body to shield hers.

  “Remember,” Abdi Ishmael Halima called from the doorway, “do not alert your friends of your location until you are in the clearing. I guarantee safe passage. My debt to you for saving my sons is now repaid. Do not return. Amnesty will not be granted to you in the future.”

  Elizabeth slowed and turned her head.

  “Keep walking and don’t look back,” Doc said to her. Then he turned his head to view the General when he reached the jeep. “Thank you, General Halima. I promise no one will return.”

  He pushed Elizabeth into the Jeep and slid into the driver’s seat beside her. “Let’s hope this thing doesn’t blow up when I turn the engine over,” he mumbled. “If you haven’t been saying prayers all along, now would be a good time to, Sister.”

  Elizabeth didn’t correct him on the fact that she was no longer a Sister. “I won’t stop until we are safely at the U.S. base in Djibouti.”

  Doc sucked in a breath and turned the engine over. He shifted into drive and pulled away. He kept his eyes peeled on the countryside as he drove the designated rout
e. The air swirling around them was at least one-hundred-ten degrees. The sunshine beating down on them in the open Jeep was intense and blinding. Doc knew his eyes would be shot from the brightness before they reached the clearing.

  Thirty minutes later, they arrived. He parked near a clump of rocks. He turned the engine off and turned to her. “Move when I move and quickly get out and crouch down behind those rocks.”

  She nodded her understanding of his directions.