Claimed by the Secret Agent by Lyn Stone Page A

require.”
    “Or else. You will have to relocate after this. Meet me here on Friday next. Dispose of the local hires before you leave. You know what is at stake, so do not fail thistime.” Mamud rang off and shoved the cell phone into his pocket.
    He hated dealing with incompetents, but there had been no mark more suited for this with regard to location and the opportunity to hire. The leverage over this man was perfect, and there would be no ties leading to himself, not even a money trail. He would transfer the accumulated ransoms from the numbered account Shapur had set up, and the funds would go directly to the buyer.
    His record was clear, his import/export business thriving and his nefarious contacts in his own country secure. All of that would remain as it was so long as he financed the shipments of arms as he had been ordered to do. If he failed, there would be consequences. He had been warned.
    Use and be used—it was the way of the world—but he used his wits. The plan was his and he was arranging the execution of it, true. But he would never actually touch the money, only collect and communicate the number of the account to the proper person. That person, another like himself who valued his place in the world, was to collect and make the buy. His part would be done. Next Friday for certain.
    This mission would be complete and the arms deal could commence. The secondary objective, Mamud’s own brilliant plan for a desired side effect, had already been met. He imagined now that Americans serving abroad were terrified, especially the women. None of those felt safe to remain. The operation of the enemy’s embassies and consulates surely had been thrown into chaos by that fear. Perhaps that benefit would provetemporary and never be publicized, but any blow to the United States was a tribute to his own country even if he was never lauded for it.
    Mamud decided he would use Shapur once more before he got rid of him. It wouldn’t hurt to make an extra strike to feather his own nest with an extra ransom. Who would know or care?
    Mamud would need the additional funds when his future wife was given leave to come to Paris. She was a sweet young plum with excellent connections that should provide a great return on her dowry. He patted his pocket, which held the photo of the carefully guarded morsel that would become the mother of his children.
    There was another photo there—of the woman who had escaped Shapur’s net. Thus far there had been no headlines, as there had been with the others.
    The silence surrounding the abduction worried him.
    He tried to dismiss his troubling thoughts. When he met with Shapur and received the number of the account, perhaps he should dispose of him immediately and forego any further activity. After all, the doctor was the only one who could link Mamud to this.
    Mamud put the pictures of the women away and sat back in his executive chair to consider all the aspects of his plan and make a final decision.

Chapter 11
    G rant followed Marie down to the car and listened to her excited directions as she guided him through the outskirts of Gouda to the road that led east.
    He had to shift his focus to the case, but he had trouble doing it. So Marie wasn’t ready to acknowledge what had happened between them, much less discuss it. He could wait. Unless she came down with a galloping case of total amnesia, he knew she wouldn’t forget it.
    It wasn’t ego that made him know that. In fact, he felt pretty humbled by the whole experience. He could understand her shock. They’d known each other for less than forty-eight hours. Apparently that was all it took in his case. He’d like to believe it was only the power of suggestion, triggered by recalling his dad’s similarexperience when he’d met Grant’s mother, but he knew better. Marie was the one.
    Now she was his, at least in his own mind and heart, and he now had the forever responsibility of keeping her safe and protected. She wouldn’t