Chapter 7
Leah and I ate like we had never seen food before. The meal that Hortense somehow managed to cook on short notice and in new facilities was little short of magnificent. I noticed that Ari, Sandy and Michael managed to pack the food away despite an ongoing conversation that Leah and I were not privy to.
Finally, with a groan of satisfaction Ari stood and said to all of us, "it's time to start clearing this business up. We can't keep losing Sandy's fine collection of compact disks-it's too damned expensive."
Then looking at Leah he said, "if I have your permission I would like to check out the places I think the keys might fit."
"Yes but take Michael and at least two of the team as back up. This is either a group of crazies or a bunch of amateurs playing for big money."
I sat open mouthed. "What the hell kind of a job does the girl I want to marry have?" I wondered silently.
Leah watching my face started to laugh, "he's not dense just easily confused," she said taking my hand. "I'm not leaving you tonight but I do have to talk with Ari. So you let Sandy explain what is going on." Kissing me lightly she walked out of the room followed by Ari and Michael.
Sandy moved from the large dining table to an old, leather covered sofa. The leather was as soft as butter. Sitting down with a soft sigh he picked up a small remote control device and aimed it at a large wood paneled wall. Music filled the barn like room immediately.
"After a good dinner I relax best with Schubert and Dvorak-this is a piano quintet of Dvorak's-good for the digestion doctor." Before settling down he asked, "how would a little brandy sit with you while we talk?"
"Great."
He moved to the sideboard near the large dining table. After opening one of the doors he brought out an old, dusty looking bottle and poured two snifters half full of dark brown liquid. Handing me one of the glasses he said, "there are many things the French don't do well but their brandy excuses much. This is an old armagnac that I particularly favor.
I sipped the liquid tentatively. Every brandy I had ever tasted seemed to set a fire burning from mouth to navel. This, however, was smooth and pleasantly glowing as it melted in my mouth.
"My God, I've never tasted anything like this before. It's marvelous."
He smiled. "My father would be pleased. He bought a case of this many years ago. I have two bottles left." Then settling down on the sofa he said, "doctor I wish to clarify as much of this situation as I can for you. Please save your questions until I have finished my explanation. "As you already know this is a foreign mission. We, however, cooperate fully with the British and Americans in dealing with both terrorist activity and illicit drug dealing.
"We have been aware for sometime of a group that uses drug dealing to provide funds for terrorist activity. We, and the British, have not been able to identify them and so could not determine precisely how they did their dirty work.
"Your involvement was oddly fortuitous. You came to our attention because of the way your flight reservations were handled. The people who made your travel arrangements expressed unusual concern for your safety. We wondered why. After all, if you were a government agent you would have merited your government's protection. On the other hand if you were an agent for a criminal group why call attention to your existence?
"It occurred to us that you might very well be a decoy. Hence the interest our agents displayed during the flight. Yes Leah and Ari are agents-Leah is the boss of the group here in England.
"Once they were satisfied that you were just what you are, a young doctor on vacation, their interest in you as a suspect waned. Fortunately, for all concerned, Leah found other reasons to be interested in you. Chance, serendipity, fate-call it what you will-entered the picture and brought us all together. For good I hope." Settling back he sipped his brandy before saying, "any questions?"
"Too many. Most important to me is my relationship with Leah. I am very fond of her, sir, but from what you have just said I, apparently, have been merely a means to an end where she is concerned."
Leah's voice, behind me, cracked like a whip in cold air as she said, "like hell you were. Since you won't say it I will-I love you and regard you only as a means to an end that leads to having a family.
Now it's up to you."
I turned while she spoke and saw the tears running down her lovely, flushed cheeks. I went to her and kissed her not daring to do more with Sandy still sitting and sipping his brandy.
"Will you marry me," I whispered in her ear.
"Of course you ninny--once this business we're mixed up in is over," she murmured holding me close and kissing me fiercely with each word.
We cuddled on the couch listening to the music Sandy had selected fill the still damp room. Unlike English homes the warehouse offered no fireplace much less central heating. I was becoming uncomfortably chilled and saw that Leah's bare arms were covered with goose pimples.
"Is there someplace we can go to get out of this damn dampness," I whispered.
Leah snuggled closer and shivered. "I'm cold too but I don't want to leave Sandy alone. I'll wait for Ari and the team to report. Let me show you where you will sleep. You, at least, can get some rest."
She slipped out of my grasp and moved quietly to a door on the far side of the room. I followed close behind. Moving through the door we entered a large room filled with boxes and bales all neatly stacked. The room was even more damp and cold than the one we had just left. I was a storage area sufficiently well lit so that I could see a rickety appearing wooden staircase against one wall.
Leah led me to it. As we climbed up to the next floor I realized that its rickety appearance was nothing more than clever camouflage. At the head of the staircase there was a heavy metal door. Leah reached into her skirt pocket and brought out a small bunch of keys. Selecting one she inserted it into a small slot and there was a soft ping immediately followed by the door swinging open silently and automatically. We entered a warm, dry, softly lit corridor. The door we had come through closed quietly behind us only seconds after we had cleared it.
Taking my hand Leah walked briskly to a wooden door halfway down the plushly carpeted hallway.
"This is my suite. We've set this facility up to serve as a siege site," she said as she used another key to open the door. It, like the first door, made a soft noise before swinging open automatically. The door to the suite, like the staircase outside, was a fine illustration of camouflage technique. It looked like wood but was made of a heavy metal. Turning to me as we stepped into a dimly lit room Leah put her arms around my neck and kissed me hungrily. With her pelvis pressed hard against my quickly, and painfully erect penis she murmured, "God how I need you darling-we just don't have time., Let me get my sweater-I'll be back soon. Stay here." Then after turning up the lights she moved quickly to a small closet and pulled a heavy wool cardigan sweater from it.
Turning back she stared salaciously at my crotch and giggled, "it's ready-just keep it that way because I have a good idea of how to use it tonight."
She opened the door with a key and smiling warmly she said, "you know you're not exactly a prisoner-you can get out of here without the key-but I won't tell you how just now." Nodding toward the far wall she as she left she whispered as she kissed me, "the bedroom and loo are through that door over there. Bye love."
The place was beautifully furnished. I suspected that Leah had selected every stick of furniture, and every piece of artwork in the small, comfortable living room. Off to one side was a tiny Pullman kitchen. I opened the fridge and found food store( in the freezer compartment and soft drinks and beer in the cooler area.
I strolled over to the door Leah had indicated as opening onto the bedroom and John. It, like the others, was of heavy metal with a wood veneer. At first I could find no way to open it. However, as felt along the door frame I found a small button which triggered the now familiar beep and the silent swinging of the heavy door. "Damned stupid to have a opener outside if the door is to protect someone inside," I thought.
The bedroom was as feminine as my lover. It was done in pink and white. The bed was large and covered with a heavy goose down comforter. I moved on to the John and found it commodious-a large shower, separate tub. It even had a bidet. Opening the medicine cabinet I found a note, "your shaving things are all here-I hope you will use them before I get back. Love, L."
"How the hell did she do that?" I wondered.
After using the facilities I walked over to the closet and found not only a reasonably good wardrobe of Leah's but all of the stuff Hortense and Michael had selected for me before the raid on the house. Their efficiency in the face of adversity was remarkable.
There was really nothing for me to do so I decided to follow Leah's advice and clean myself up. I took a long hot shower. Then slipping on a plush terry cloth robe I found in a small heated closet in the bathroom I shaved.
Once I finished my ablutions I wandered around the small suite and finally crawled into bed. My fatigue must have been greater than I realized because I must have fallen asleep immediately. How long I slept I don't know. A soft sound from somewhere in the darkened room roused me. I lay quietly trying to orient myself when a vision of pure loveliness appeared in the doorway. Leah stepped into the room dressed in the filmiest of nightgowns.
"You were so peacefully asleep I didn't want to wake you, darling, " she said running eagerly to the bed and kissing me with fierce passion.
I slipped my arms around her and our tongues met in a flashing duel of ardor and desire. I moved one arm so that I could lift the hem of her nightgown. Slipping a hand up to her firm breast I took her rigidly, erect nipple between my fingers and rolled it gently. She sighed and squirmed. Her delicate hands clung to me as she pressed her pelvis against my erect penis, her hips moving reflexively.
Pushing her ardent body away she slipped out of her nightgown and took my face in her hands whispering, "darling take me from behind please."
She moved onto her hands and knees her slim buttocks in the air her wet, lush pubic muff glistening in the dim light of the room. I moved behind her and kissed her buttocks as I reached for her breasts. Her right hand lifted my throbbing cock and guided it into her warm, wet, ardent cunt. As I slid deeply into her she squealed and her hips thrust with increasing strength and speed at my throbbing cock.
She moved with wanton abandon, her hands clutching at the bed clothes, her hips thrusting and grinding with wild frenzy. Suddenly she cried out, "I'm coming my love," and her lovely, little body shook with her orgasm.
I could not resist the sucking, pounding of her avid cunt. I came explosively my cock moving furiously against the tight grip of her vaginal contractions.
My climax set off a new bout of orgasmic delight in my eager lover. She squealed and moved an intense new orgasm swept through her lithe, fervent body. Her vaginal spasms squeezed and held my quickly flaccid penis.
Panting and shivering Leah murmured, "please hold me and stay in me darling while I move."
She rolled slowly onto her side her soft, gentle hand holding my limp cock in her wet, warm cunt.
The bed clothes beneath us were wet. Leah shivered as she pushed her firm, slender buttocks against me.
"Let's both sleep in the wet spot. Pull the comforter over us please my love."
We slept. It may have been an hour it may have been several hours. Since there were no windows in the room-or even in the suite-it was hard to tell the time. I wakened to find Leah sitting like legs crossed and looking like a pixie gently but firmly massaging my not quite erect penis.
"They say, 'where there's no sense there's no feeling' I've been trying to get a response for at least three minutes," she giggled. Her little breasts were full, her nipples standing up like tiny mushrooms, and the rosy blush of desire covered her chest and neck. I reached for her and she groaned as I took her breasts in my hands and rubbed them. Moving quickly she lifted her lovely, supple body so that she could straddle my cock. Lowering herself slowly onto the now throbbingly erect organ she shuddered and squealed. I now clung to her breasts as she began to thrust and buck wild intensity.
Suddenly she shrieked, "oh my God," and her body jerked violently. I felt warm moisture flowing from her onto my belly and into my pubic hair as her ravenous cunt sucked and pushed at my prick. I came grunting and groaning with the ecstasy my ardent Leah brought me.
She slumped forward onto my chest and her hands clung to my shoulders as panting and sweaty she brought her beautiful, lustful body to rest on mine.
"Darling, I love you I whispered."
She shivered and murmured, "even knowing my most awful secret?"
"What secret is that?"
"I come like a man-I can ejaculate when I'm excited. And with you I'm always excited," she snickered softly.
"Some secret. I certainly won't put you in diapers. It would impair certain essential functions," I whispered patting her firm, round butt. We slept again for a while only to be suddenly roused by a soft buzzing that came from the wall against which head of the bed was placed.
Leah rolled off me and got off the bed. she looked like a delightful little elf as she walked to a drum table on the far side of the room and opened its door. She pulled a phone from it and lifting the receiver said, "yes-Leah here."
Her face lit up as she listened. Finally, replacing the instrument she said, "lets dress. Ari is back with good news. He will report to us in about fifteen minutes."
We showered separately having decided that discretion is better than enjoying further indiscretion when time is important. Leah was dressed in jeans and a soft navy blue cotton shirt that covered but did not hide her lovely breasts and their erect nipples.
As I dressed in similar attire I grinned and asked, "are those things always up and ready."
"You are a sexist pig," she said putting her hands up to cover her chest in mock modesty. "I plan on wearing my heavy sweater so only a satyr like you will notice my constant bother because of you," she laughed, "by the way put on a sweater it gets cold in the large room at night."
We walked out of the living quarters hand in hand. As we entered the large sitting room soft music served as a background to the rumble of Ari's deep voice. Sandy was sitting forward, dangling a brandy glass between the fingers of one hand, and smiling.
"Did you have a good rest you two?" he asked as we entered.
"Great," Leah responded moving to Ari and standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "I'm glad you got back safely my friend."
Ari smiled and looked at Sandy. "I think I should start the story. It's late and the police will be here soon."
Sandy nodded and waved his glass questioningly at Leah and me. I nodded while Leah shook her pretty head in reply.
"Doctor do you recall your last words before our little Leah knocked you down?"
"Not really."
"You said, Ari look for some keys'. I thought at first you were referring to the hotel security man's keys. But I quickly realized you were trying once again to provide us with information about your own situation.
"I searched the entire room in all the logical places. No keys. Then applying simple logic I searched the improbable places. They had fallen into the crack between the bottom and the back of the upholstered chair."
"I'll be damned," I muttered, "that's where I dumped everything out of the bag originally."
Ari smiled. "I assumed that, " he continued, "I pocketed the keys. And, since I knew senior police officials would be on the way I got out of the room by acting as if I were continuing to follow your assailants.
"I'm sure that Inspector Greene knew who I was once the young bobby described me. Whether he has known about the keys is a moot question. However, Leah and I have used our sources and identified most of the keys. Tonight I checked out three of the five on the ring.
"All three belonged to rental storage facilities in widely scattered areas of London. Every one fit a small room size locker designed to store personal articles such as furniture. We found, machine guns, hand grenades, rifles and boxes of ammunition and explosives in all three. We also found some papers with the names of Kurt Dieterle, Sean Flannery and Lydia Schumann.
"Everything is now in our warehouse pending the arrival of the police. Do those names mean anything to you doctor?"
"Only Kurt, perhaps-that's what the redheaded girl called the man who broke into my room."
"Leah do you want to tell him about Kurt and Sean or should I?" Ari asked.
At that moment a buzz of interference sounded in the hi fidelity system. It was brief and the music' resumed almost immediately. Sandy and Leah rose and walked to a small table where they reached into the drawer and removed small, very ugly looking hand guns. Ari, stood and picked up Uzi that I had failed to notice lying under his chair.
Moments later the music was interrupted by a brief high pitched whine. Everyone relaxed and has-tily put their hardware away.
A soft series of ch ines brought Hortense hurrying from the kitchen area, "I'll answer the door."
She returned immediately followed by Inspector Greene and a man I had never seen before.
Sandy rose and smiling broadly he said walked to the inspector saying, "how nice to see you again inspector."
Greene smiled and took Sandy's hand saying, "this is Harold Sher, I assume you two know each other."
Sher was a big, blond man, well dressed and alert. His midwestern American accent couldn't be missed. "Yep, Sandy and I have known each other for a while-nice to see you again, Sandy." His big hand engulfed the Sandy's hand as they shook hands with real cordiality.
"May I offer you and our assembled company-oh Harold I don't believe you have met our guest Dr. Keith, a countryman of yours."
Sher stepped over to where I stood and as he took my hand he remarked, "you're the young fellow that set the wheels in motion I understand."
"I am still thoroughly confused by this whole thing," I said rather lamely. "Breakfast sounds good to me-how about it Mervin," Sher said turning to Inspector Greene.
It sounded good to me too. As we all bellied up to the table, Leah, her hand resting on my thigh whispered, "good sex and a good appetite go together." She giggled like a naughty little girl as she squeezed my leg so that I jumped and called attention to our childishness.
After finishing a sumptuous breakfast we all moved to the sitting room. The music still played softly in the background. I finally grasped the fact that it was part of the security system for the mission.
Inspector Greene took center stage immediately.
"We want to hear what you have to say friend Ari."
Ari told him and Sher everything he told the group, including me, earlier. He did not try to hide the fact that he made off with the keys that Kurt and Loki were trying to find.
"Ok. I have some news for all of you now," Greene said after hearing Ari's story. "The residence occupied by the rock group 'Dry Rain' was the site of arson and attempted murder last night. The murder attempt failed because the intended victim has disappeared-Loki-the girl with Dieterle.
"Now we know that Dieterle and a woman by the name of Schumann are part of a terror for hire group. Flannery, the leader of the rock group, is their current employer.
"From what Ari tell's me I assume the two remaining keys in that collection the doctor his so well must be to bank vault boxes-any ideas Sandy?"
Sandy cleared his throat and looking at Sher rather than Greene said, "yes. One box is at a Barclay's office not far from Euston Station the other is in a small bank near the Savoy Hotel."
"Why didn't you open them?" Greene said smiling at Sandy.
"Because we felt that is your job-the money's no good if there are no weapons to sell now is it?"
"You're so right," Greene replied. "May I have the keys to the boxes Ari?"
Ari tossed them to the inspector saying, "alright we gave you what we had let's hear what you've discovered."
Greene sat up and looked over the assembled group. "I think we have a little more data to get. Let's all meet for tea in Harold's digs at the Savoy." Rising and nodding to Harold Sher to follow he walked toward the door calling, "cheerio," over his shoulder.