Welch, D [Shadow People 02] Shadow Spies Read online

  “Will you live in Dorri’s apartment?” Sanjar asked.

  Edward’s eyebrows rose. “I haven’t thought much about it, since I expected to take her out of the country. Is it a problem?”

  Dorri nodded. “It is. Behrouz knows its location. Like Shalizeh, I don’t want that monster anywhere near you and me.”

  Edward relaxed in the chair, contemplating the ruby juice in his glass. “Then we’ll find one close to the Embassy. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

  Dorri’s patience grew to an end. “I think we’ve left something unfinished, Edward.”

  Edward smiled at her. “Yes we have. Unfinished many times.” His smile remained but his eyes narrowed. “It’s time to correct that.”

  “Dorri, why don’t you go up to the room and open my present before Edward joins you,” Shalizeh said hurriedly. “Edward you stay here until she’s ready.”

  Dorri threw an annoyed look in Shalizeh’s direction, but upon seeing her sly grin, shrugged and ascended the stairs.

  In the bedroom she sat on the side of the bed and opened the package. A shimmering sheer gown slithered out of it and she removed a bottle of scented oil.

  Grinning she went to the washroom and divested herself of each bit of clothing. She washed and smoothed the oil into her neck, breasts and thighs. She donned the gown and studied the effect in the mirror. Light and silky, it flowed across her body, highlighting the curve of her breasts and hips. Suddenly she felt incredibly sexy and anxious for her lover.

  She padded barefoot to the top of the stairs and called down. “Edward you can come up now.”

  She ran to the bedroom and turned off the overhead light, leaving just a small nightlight to illuminate the room. Seeing the full moon shining through the window she moved to stand in front of it knowing the glow would shine through the gown.

  Edward appeared at the door and paused in midstride. She saw his eyes widen and his mouth drop open.

  “My God, Dorri, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”

  He crossed the room and stood before her. Her body tingled as his eyes raked her, starting from her feet to her breasts and then her eyes. He reached out with a trembling hand and cupped her cheek.

  “I don’t know whether to touch you or worship you. You look like a goddess standing there.”

  “Touch me, Edward. Touch all of me. Make me a woman tonight.”

  He moved and soon his hands were caressing her through the sheer gown, exploring all of the places she’d longed for. His lips traveled from her lips to her neck and down to the tops of her now sensitive breasts. She cupped her hand behind his head and pressed it to her flesh, wanting more.

  He broke the embrace, stepping back to remove his clothing. She watched as he revealed his body to her gaze.

  Nude, he stood before her. Her eyes caressed the flowing powerful muscles of his chest and arms. They traveled down to the tapering waist and the towering manhood that jutted from the black hair at the apex of his thighs.

  He reached out his hand. “Come to the bed with me, darling wife.” He removed her gown and laid her on the bed.

  At the moment their nude bodies meshed, Dorri became immersed in mindless ecstasy. If there was pain, she didn’t register it, because Edward patiently opened her like a blossoming flower. He touched her and kissed her in places she’d never known could arouse her.

  At the moment she felt his manhood enter her; she felt a sense of completeness, a fulfillment, as though his body belonged to hers and had come home.

  When he began to move, incredible pleasure flowed through her, building with an urgency that bordered on madness. Just when she thought she’d die of it, the pleasure intensified and exploded, shooting through her body in waves, bringing involuntarily gasps and moans from her panting lips.

  Diminished thrills pulsed through her, but she missed their mind-shattering intensity and ached for its resurgence. She felt Edward still moving within her and soon the ecstasy built again.

  She wrapped her legs around his, welcoming his invasion and urging him deeper. Her hips seemed to have a mind of their own, rapidly plunging and seeking the next peak. The cycle continued for hours, with Edward pausing to recover between episodes. Dorri felt she could never get enough of him but eventually exhausted, they both fell asleep still locked together.

  Chapter 10

  Tehran – Early Summer to Late Autumn 1978

  Edward walked into the Embassy’s Military Liaison Office and spied Emily Robbins working diligently, as usual, at her desk. By now, he’d become accustomed to using her first name when he needed her assistance, so he approached her and caught her attention.

  “Hi Emily, are you too busy?”

  She removed her glasses and smiled. “Never, for you, Lieutenant. What do you need?”

  Edward felt a little guilt because he sensed that she held some affection for him, but he summoned the courage and spoke.

  “I need His Excellency, the Ambassador, to perform a marriage.”

  Emily’s eyes flew wide open. “A marriage? May I ask to whom?”

  Edward sighed. “A marriage between me and Dorri Baraghani.”

  Emily’s eyes opened wider and her hand flew to her mouth. “You’re marrying Dorri? Oh my God! Wait until the Embassy staff hears about this.”

  Edward winced, but he accepted the inevitable gossip. “Actually we’re already married according to Iranian law and custom, but I want to make it legal under British law.”

  Emily looked a little disappointed but then brightened. “I really don’t know how to go about a wedding at the Embassy, it’s never happened before. But Dorri? Everyone here misses her. We all thought she’d left forever.”

  Edward felt reluctant to proceed, but ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’. “That’s not all. I also need housing in the dependent’s section of the apartment block for me and my new wife.”

  Emily whistled. “A marriage may be easier in comparison. I’ll do what I can. –I can’t believe it! You’re married to Dorri Baraghani!”

  Edward gritted his teeth and waited for the news to spread.

  * * *

  Edward had two new plain gold wedding bands made for the ceremony. The marriage, spurred on by the news that Dorri was back in the Embassy, was a hurried but tasteful affair. Afterwards, they were ensconced in their new dependent’s apartment, guarded by Embassy guards.

  The morning of first day in their new home, he woke to a warm, naked body snuggled against his chest. He stroked his hand through the glossy waves of hair that crowned her head and then caressed her hip and thigh. “Good morning dearest, did you sleep well?”

  Dorri stirred and stretched, with her arms above her head, yawning. She stroked her cheek along his arm, purring. “I want to wake like this, every morning, for the rest of my life.”

  Edward chuckled. “I think I can arrange that.”

  She titled her head to look at him. “Edward? I’ve come to a decision.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? And what’s that?”

  She turned her cheek’s attention to his chest, nestling it there. “I want to become pregnant. I want to feel your baby grow in my womb.”

  He felt a thrill flow through him and looked down at her head pressed against his chest. “You realize that we’ll have to perform endless repetitions of what we did last night, don’t you?”

  She stroked his hip with her leg. “I hoped you’d say that. Shall we get started?”

  * * *

  For the first few months they lived a life of wedded abandon, only venturing from their apartment to work at the Embassy. After Dorri’s first disastrous attempts at cooking, they’d hired a housekeeper to prepare meals, spending most of their free time in bed. Edward ignored the outside world, content to make love to Dorri and plan for their future. Therefore he was surprised when he entered the Military Liaison Office to find a beehive of activity.

  Catching the eye of Major Owens, he approached him.

  “What’s all the
turmoil about?”

  Owens adopted a disdainful attitude. “Haven’t you been watching the news, Rowan?”

  Edward didn’t react to Owens’ jibe. Instead, he replied casually, “No, I can’t say I have. I’ve been totally immersed in other pursuits.”

  Owens’ head jerked and his eyes widened. He didn’t reply for a moment and then a slight smile creased his lips. “I still haven’t forgiven you for that trick with the coffee at the cafe.”

  Edward returned the smile. “All’s fair in love and war, Major, particularly if the prize is precious enough to warrant it.”

  Owens laughed. “Bugger me, if I’m not starting to like you, Rowan! You’re one lucky knave you know. You’re right. Dorri is precious. Treat her well or you’ll be hearing from the likes of me.”

  Edward grinned at him. “I know how to treat a treasure, Major. –So, what’s all the fuss about?”

  Owens sobered. “Look’s like you were right about the Shah. His Excellency the Ambassador has ordered all sensitive material shredded and we’re setting self-destructs on all the cryptographic equipment. I fear it’s just a matter of time before we’ll be ordered to evacuate Iran.”

  Dread clouded Edward’s mind. “Evacuate? What about supporting the Shah? Surely we can’t just abandon him!”

  A look of concern crossed Owens’ face. “Are you more worried about the Shah, Edward, or about Dorri?”

  Caught out, Edward could only nod. “We’ve only been married for a few months, Henry. Of course, I’m worried about her.”

  “Well then, you needn’t. If it comes to that, she’ll leave with the employed British citizens and the dependents. The RAF has transports stationed at the air terminal and we have busses on standby. Dorri will be quite safe, I assure you. If necessary, I’ll see to it myself.”

  A profound feeling of gratitude swept Edward’s body. “Thanks, Henry. It relieves my mind to know she’ll have more than one who’ll watch out for her.”

  * * *

  Edward found Dorri in the Information Office, engaged in the task of shredding documents. He beckoned to her and she stepped out into the corridor.

  “I assume you’ve heard?”

  She looked stressed but nodded. “The protests have become more violent and parts of the army have defected to the side of the militants.”

  Edward grabbed her shoulders and leaned down to look into her eyes. “Can you leave Iran?”

  She looked unsure. “Maybe. Father says that one of the sympathetic British Houses has agreed to modify the pattern to make it less severe. –Edward, I’m willing to take the chance if you are. I can’t bear the thought of being without you.” She looked at him with tears in her eyes. “If the time comes, I’m leaving with everyone else.”

  He didn’t reply. He folded her in his arms and hugged her, holding her tight.

  * * *

  He’d done everything he could to prepare for the evacuation, but the actual summons, when it came, took Edward by surprise. Dorri suffered from morning sickness so she’d been absent from the Embassy and was at home sleeping.

  Commander Rice entered his office holding a carry-all. His face looked strained.

  “It’s time, Edward. We’ve been ordered to leave by His Excellency.”

  Alarmed, Edward leapt from the chair at his desk. “So soon? I thought we’d have more time. Dorri is at home. I need to go to her.”

  Commander Rice shook his head. “No time, Edward, the dependents are boarding the busses with their luggage as we speak. The Embassy guards are escorting them.”

  Edward felt his mouth twist in anguish. “But Dorri’s pregnant. She’ll be frightened without me.”

  Rice’s eyes held a look of compassion. “I understand, Edward, my wife’s among them, but Major Owens is in charge of the guards. I doubt he’ll let something happen to Dorri. We’ve a motorcar waiting to take us to the airport. The dependents will follow. The RAF transports will be full so we’re leaving on a British Airways flight and it leaves soon. So collect your carry-all and follow me.”

  Fretting about not having Dorri by his side, Edward accompanied Commander Rice to the airport.

  Surging crowds of men, and women wearing chadors in defiance of the Shah’s ban on the wearing of the garment, marched through the streets carrying banners and waving placards. Shouting anti-Western slogans, they interrupted the motorcar’s progress more than few times.

  He felt a sense of dread wondering what would happen to Sanjar and Shalizeh when the radical Muslims ruled the country. But his anxiety over Dorri’s safety overrode all other concerns. At the air terminal, he hoped to get a glimpse of the dependent’s busses, but their hurried progress through the concourse precluded it.

  The flight from Tehran to London’s Heathrow airport seemed to take forever. After the flight landed, Edward chaffed at the inevitable delays in disembarking from the plane and waiting at customs.

  When they’d cleared, he joined Commander Rice as he walked through the terminal trailed by the other Embassy military personnel. “Where will the dependent’s planes touch down?”

  “RAF Northolt,” he replied. “I’ve made arrangements for a couple of military Range Rovers to meet us at the air terminal.”

  The drive to Northolt further grated on Edward’s nerves. He fiercely clamped down on his rising anxiety, praying that Owens had kept his word and seen to Dorri’s safety.

  When they arrived at the hangars bordering the tarmac, the planes still hadn’t arrived, so he paced nervously as he waited. A few agonizing hours passed and then word arrived that the planes would be arriving shortly. Like all the other Embassy employees, both civilian and military, he stood by the tarmac and strained for a glimpse of the aeroplane’s approach. A cheer erupted when the first glint of sunlight from the aircraft’s wings caught their attention. A profound sense of relief flashed through Edward’s body only to be replaced a moment later with apprehension as the planes neared the airfield.

  Landing safely, the transports rolled to a stop in front of the hanger. A military band struck up a rendition of “God Save the Queen” as he and the others stood at attention.

  RAF ratings rolled portable stairs to the planes and the doors opened. People began to file out and stood in groups, searching for loved ones. As they disembarked, he looked for Dorri’s face among the smiling passengers. Not seeing her, he walked along the tarmac to the second aeroplane and studied the faces of the people. He waited, his anxiety level growing, for her to emerge. When the last of the passengers had exited the plane, he ran back to the first one, frantically searching the crowds. He felt dizzy and his heart beat like it would erupt from his chest. Scanning faces, he saw Major Owens sitting next to an elderly woman. His head hung and he clasped his hands between his knees.

  A sense of foreboding clutched Edward and he hurried over to him.

  “Where’s Dorri, Henry?”

  It seemed to take an eternity for Owens’ head to rise. Edward paled when he saw the anguish reflected in Henry’s face. “We couldn’t find her Edward, as far as we can tell, she’s still in Iran.”

  Chapter 11

  Tehran – Late Autumn 1978 – Winter 1979

  Edward’s gut writhed. The woman next to Owens took one look at him, vacated her seat, and fled to rejoin her family. He suddenly felt weak and collapsed in the now vacant chair next to Owens.

  Running his fingers through his hair, he moaned. “Henry, you promised me you’d keep her safe.”

  “I tried, Edward, God knows I tried. She’s one of the reasons the planes were delayed. We informed everyone to stay in or near the apartments and be packed and ready to move when the call came. Dorri wasn’t in her apartment so I sent two-man patrols out to try and find her. The patrols searched the vicinity, but I had to order them to not stray too far. If they wound up in the middle of a protest, it could cause an international incident. They returned without finding her.”

  Owens gestured to the vicinity of the chair Edward sat in. “The woman I jus
t talked to said she saw someone dressed in a black chador leave your apartment in the morning. She thought it was your Iranian housekeeper and didn’t pay much attention, but she also said that the person acted strangely, like she didn’t want to leave but something forced her.”

  Edward’s chest burned and his eyes prickled. He knew he hovered close to a breakdown, but he didn’t want to do it in front of Owens, so with enormous effort he controlled himself.

  He spoke with a hoarse voice. “Did you inform the Embassy?”

  Owens nodded. “Yes, as soon as I realized we’d have to leave without her. There’s still a chance, Edward. They’re working with minimal staff but the Ambassador’s still in residence. If Dorri makes her way back to the Embassy, they can still get her out.”

  * * *

  Dorri dragged herself out of bed. Ever since the Embassy’s doctor had confirmed her pregnancy, she’d suffered debilitating morning sickness.

  Hoping she could finally find something in the pantry she could eat that wouldn’t make her ill, she slipped on some jeans and a tee shirt and padded barefoot into the kitchen. The housekeeper wouldn’t arrive until later in the day and she felt hungry enough to eat anything.

  Ransacking the pantry and the refrigerator she found a box of cracked wheat and a half container of yogurt. Crossing her fingers, and praying the porridge and cold yogurt would not make her sick, she prepared her morning meal and ate it.

  She returned to her bedroom and had just decided on a hot shower when the telephone rang.

  An unfamiliar male voice came over the line. “Missus Rowan?” Startled, Dorri hesitated. She still hadn’t become accustomed to her new name and the question had momentarily confused her. “Yes, this is Missus. Rowan,” she replied, dreading the man’s next words.

  “We’re giving the evacuation order. Be prepared to leave. The busses will be there within an hour. –Do you have any questions?”

  Dorri had known the day was coming because the Embassy had prepared them in advance. Still, the shock of learning today was the day, made her speechless.