I apologize for having to meet you in a place like this, but because of what I do I can never take any chances about being watched.” We both sat down.
“Let me tell you a little about myself,” he started. “I have been working for the United Nations office of Drugs and Crimes for 10 years. I work both in the field and behind the scenes. I have 6 years experience with drugs and human trafficking. I’ve been undercover with the Salam organization for almost 2 years but I only met Rashad Salam 2 months ago. I haven’t been able to tie any of the crimes I have witnessed to him. I am hoping that will change now.” He started to go on but I stopped him.
“Nasun, please, I don’t want to date you, I just want to know what I need to do to fulfill my agreement with the UNDC so I can go on with my life,” I said. “Please get to the point.” He nodded at me.
“A man with little patience and a lot of gumption,” he paused. “That’s good. You will fit right in.” He took out several papers from a briefcase on the floor and passed them to me.
“We will be attending a dinner with these men,” he took out several pictures. “This is Abdul Amir, Salam’s second in command. I mentioned that I had heard from an old friend that had every reason to be thankful to Salam. Of course Amir wanted to know why, so I told him about you, and how you had purchased a girl from one of his auctions 2 years ago and couldn’t be happier. I asked if it would be possible for you to meet Salam himself and thank him in person.” He smiled and raised his eyebrows a little.
“Of course, they are tight on security and don’t like to take chances on new people. They are stricter than the mafia. Having another man vouch for someone isn’t good enough for them. Like I said, I have been with them for 2 years and still haven’t met him.” He nodded his head to the side.
“But with you, I think I have an in. I gave him your name and an estimated date of your purchase. He said he would get back to me. Well he just got back to me and we have been invited to a dinner tomorrow night.” I guess sex traffickers keep paperwork on all the people they sell. That would probably please the group of men that also made purchases that night in Paris.
“What am I supposed to do?” I asked.
“Meet Amir, rub shoulders, talk about your purchase,” I interrupted him again.
“My purchase as you keep referring to, is my wife, Norah, and I do not wish to discuss her with a man that was probably responsible for having her kidnapped in the first place.”
“Well you are going to have to get over it,” he held his hand up. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. But you purchasing your wife is the reason you are here. Buying her from Salam’s auction is how we are getting access to him. So I suggest you swallow your pride and understand that this is serious. They are going to ask you things you don’t want to talk about, they are going to refer to your wife as a whore, and they may even ask if you are willing to sell her for a nice new piece of ass.”
I could feel my heart racing. I didn’t know if I was prepared for Norah to be referred to as a whore. I wasn’t sure I would be able to hold my temper in check. Asking if I wanted to sell my wife was not only rude but it pissed me off just hearing him say the words. But I knew he was right. I couldn’t be sentimental over this. It was a job.
“Look, if it makes you feel better, just lie.” He held up his hand again. “I mean lie about your relationship, not the buying process. Don’t make it personal.” I understood what he was saying so I nodded.
“We’re hoping that if you can impress Amir, that he will take you to meet Salam and the auction. Did you get the phone?” he asked. I nodded and took it out of my pocket.
“Ok. Good. Don’t take your own phone with you. Only use this phone. The first contact is the agents that will be listening to everything. If you have to call
M.M. Brennan
Stephen Dixon
Border Wedding
BWWM Club, Tyra Small
Beth Goobie
Eva Ibbotson
Adrianne Lee
Margaret Way
Jonathan Gould
Nina Lane