Free Ruthless by Steven F. Freeman Page A

I’ve seen her since the month after all that Rabinil stuff went down.”
    “Really? I wouldn’t have guessed that. In any case, thanks for waiting. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”
    “I can’t believe it’s already been three years since you guys met,” said David. “It seems like just a few months ago. You know, giving her this surprise party is a great idea. She’ll appreciate it.”
    Alton forced himself to suppress a wicked grin. “Yes—I concur,” he said with as innocent an expression as he could muster.
    Alton opened his phone and prepared a brief text message. Keeping his eyes glued to the escalator, he kept his finger poised above the “send” icon. After a few minutes, a familiar figure caught his eye. Alton sent his text message and waited for events to unfold.
    David had just glanced down at his phone. Alton elbowed him and said, “Hey, there she is.”
    As David raised his gaze, his pleasant smile transformed into an expression of utter astonishment. “Oh my God…”
    As the escalator continued to scroll upwards, the lovely visage of Fahima rose into view. When her gaze alighted on her fiancée, Fahima’s dazzling smile seemed to illuminate the foyer, lifting the normally-mundane space to sacred heights in the eyes of the two so long separated.
    As the last traveler in front of Fahima stepped clear of the escalator, she ran forward and fell into David’s arms, embracing him with a strength suggesting she might never release her grip. David in turn clasped his beloved with an equal tenacity. For the first time in his experience, Alton witnessed David weep, silent tears of joy running down his friend’s face.
    Having received Alton’s message, Mallory emerged from hiding and rejoined the group. For the second time, she and Alton rejoiced in the reunion of their two friends, the first instance occurring in Afghanistan two years earlier, the second here in the terminal. As before, Fahima had been aware of the impending meeting but David had not.
    David and Fahima eventually regained their composure, and Alton gently pulled them over to a wall to avoid the crush of travelers who continued to stream from the airport’s subway system.
    Expanding the focus of his attention to include a bit more of the world besides Fahima, David started in surprise. “Mallory!” he exclaimed. “You’re already here? When did you arrive?”
    Mallory grinned mischievously. “Um…I flew into Georgia four days ago.”
    “What?” David tilted his head in surprise.
    “I’ve been around the corner over there for the last few minutes, waiting for Fahima to arrive.” Seeing David’s puzzled expression, she continued, “We had to have an excuse to keep you at the airport until Fahima showed up. Alton thought up the idea of the three-year reunion so you all would ‘wait’ for me.”
    “You guys…” David shook his head, overwhelmed with unanticipated joy. He turned to Fahima and hugged her once again.
    “Surprised?” asked Alton, wearing a face-splitting grin.
    “Dude, I was so flashing back to the time Fahima escaped from those Al-Qaeda creeps!”
    “That’s what gave me the idea,” admitted Alton. “The day you saw Fahima freed was the happiest I’ve ever seen you. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to stage a repeat performance.” Back in Kabul, Alton had enlisted the aid of his young friend Mastana and an Al-Qaeda double-agent to free Fahima from the clutches of a band of terrorists. Like today, David had been caught off guard by Fahima’s sudden appearance.
    David shook his head. “You never cease to amaze me. So…how in the hell did Fahima get here?” A sudden look of concern flashed across his face. “She’s not here illegally, is she?”
    Alton laughed. “No—she’s perfectly legal. I’ll explain everything in the car. But first, let’s go pick up your luggage…and hers.”

CHAPTER 22
     
     
    Alton’s slid his Explorer into its assigned parking space in front of his