Welcome to Dubai (The Traveler) Read online

  “That’s what happens when you allow yourself to get out of shape.”

  *****

  Later that evening, Gary strolled into a downtown Arlington, Virginia, bar to meet up alone with Jonah. Dressed comfortably in a long black-wool coat, the wandering eyes of young women followed Gary, just as they always had. His handsome mystique begged for attention, even though he no longer asked for it.

  Jonah sat at the bar in a conversation with a tall black man in his late twenties who stood beside her. He looked huge and well groomed, like a professional athlete with money to blow. But when Jonah spotted Gary approaching her, she dismissed the young man.

  “All right, I may call you. But my business partner just walked in, so you’ll have to excuse me.”

  “You may call me?” the well-groomed man questioned. He didn’t budge. After buying her a drink at the bar, he felt slighted.

  Jonah eyed him with measured authority. “That’s what I said,” she told him. “Now have some respect for your elders. As I told you earlier, I have a business meeting.”

  The towering man paused and grabbed his drink from the counter. He nodded and said sarcastically, “You have a good night,” before walking away.

  “Did I just break up something important?” Gary asked Jonah, picking up on the tension.

  Jonah smiled. “Not at all. You know my dilemma with men. There are other things that are more important.”

  Gary grinned, marveling at how young and vibrant she continued to look. Dressed professionally in a black skirt suit with her hair done, she didn’t look a day over thirty.

  “Well, they never stop lining up for you,” he commented with softness in his eyes. Any man would line up for a woman as attractive, professional and confident as Jonah, if only they could handle her intimidation factor.

  Having been trained in the military’s Special Forces Unit, Jonah was no-nonsense. She had been sent to guard Gary by her employer, an affluent and mysterious international businessman—Gary’s father, in fact, who Gary knew only through Jonah.

  Gary had been raised in Louisville, Kentucky, where his over-achieving and beautiful young mother, Gabrielle Stevens, had pampered him alone, having never married Gary’s father. The all-American boy with no father grew to become a charmer who was super-smart, with movie star looks and natural athleticism. Gabrielle often viewed him as her overgrown puppy of a son.

  When Gary was in his twenties, his mother died, a victim of a carjacking, followed by the cold-blooded terrorist murder of his best friend, Taylor. Gary was forced to grow up quickly, and it became Jonah’s job to prepare him for the world, then safely usher him through it, with the perks of Gary’s father, who had financed his son’s military training and livelihood.

  At the bar, Gary took a seat next to Jonah. “Anyway, getting back to our business, because no one gets more attention than you do,” Jonah commented lightheartedly.

  “Tell me about it. I need to get away from one right now,” Gary hinted. “I’m thinking about taking a much-needed trip out of the country. It’s been a while.”

  That idea gave Jonah a moment of concern. The last time Gary was out of the country, he had lost his friend Taylor to murder at point-blank range.

  “Are you ready for that yet?” she asked.

  Gary sighed. “I told myself years ago that you have to face your fears to live the life that you ultimately want to live. So after spending the last five years of my life to finish school and complete military training, I need to figure out who I am and what I want out of life. What am I even here for, you know? I still haven’t answered those questions of myself … and I still haven’t met my father.”

  Jonah looked away momentarily, feeling some guilt. She said, “You’ve been great about that. You’ve really shown a lot of patience and maturity.”

  “Yeah, too bad I can’t say the same about the old man,” he jabbed.

  As the intermediary between a father and his estranged son, Jonah was leery of the waiting game as well. How much more did Gary have to prove to show that he was trustworthy enough to meet his father? Maybe Gary’s acceptance of the matter had only served to prolong the issue. Nevertheless, Jonah was the consummate professional who would continue to carry out the orders of the man who had hired her, no matter how close she had become to his son.

  As usual, Jonah quickly changed the subject. “So, where would you plan on going?” she asked him.

  Gary shrugged. “I’m thinking I’ll fly to Dubai,” he answered. “The place looks awesome, and I understand it’s the biggest tourist haven in the world now.”

  Jonah nodded and thought about it. Dubai was considered safe ground as an international tourist destination in the middle of the desert. The Middle East connected Africa, Europe and Asia.

  “Good choice,” she said, thinking of Gary’s safety. “Are you taking your lady friend from DC?”

  She took a sip of her drink, anticipating an interesting answer. She knew that Gary would have one. In the five years that she had watched over him, the young man had been as elusive with the opposite sex as she had been in her own personal life.

  Gary paused and grinned. “That’s where the problem is,” he answered. “I really need to get away and find myself before I can really commit to anyone like that. I don’t think it would be fair to have a man who’s obviously still searching to find himself.”

  “I bet she wouldn’t agree with that, especially after you tell her you’re traveling there alone.”

  “Yeah, well, at least I’m going to a place where all of the women are covered in sheets,” he joked.

  Jonah chuckled. “Not all of the women. I’m sure they have enough tourists over there who are not in sheets.”

  “Well, that’s not what I’m going there to look for. I just need to clear my mind for a minute. And I haven’t done that in a while.”

  “You sure have the money to do it,” Jonah hinted with another sip of her drink. “Are you gonna stay at one of their seven-star hotels?”

  Gary was very fortunate, but he had barely touched any of the money he had inherited from his mother’s estate—she had done well as a political consultant for the local government in the state of Kentucky—let alone millions more that he would soon receive from his father. Money would never be an issue, and he never liked to talk about it. But Gary had definitely been spoiled by his parents’ wealth, and he knew it.

  He shrugged. “I may spend one or two nights at a fancy hotel just to see what it feels like, but for the rest of the time, I’ll just stay at a three- or four-star.”

  Jonah chuckled and joked, “Yeah, a Motel 6 in Dubai, right? As if that even exists over there.”

  Gary laughed along with her. He joked back, “Maybe they call theirs a Motel 16.”

  Jonah asked him, “Does this girl know how well-off you are?”

  Gary frowned. “Of course not! Look at how I’m dressed.”

  Jonah looked over his typically casual dress code and grinned.

  Gary was more embarrassed and apologetic of his windfall, especially in light of the recent economic struggles in America and around the world. He never once bragged about fortune, and he had contributed more than a million dollars to different foundations for charity. After the tragic deaths of his mother and his best friend, Gary thought constantly about ways to help others. His humility had been strengthened by his painful losses.

  Jonah said, “Well, whenever you want to buy a top-grade suit and shoes, you just go do it. That’s definitely how your father would want to see you.”

  “Yeah, when he finally agrees to meet me.”

  Jonah changed the subject again. “Okay, so let’s get to the hard part. Do you want to change your name for this trip? I can help you do that if it’ll make you feel safer.”

  After what happened to Gary and Taylor in Medellín, Colombia, Jonah was very cautious of his travel out of the country. But now that Gary had years of military training and instruction in mixed martial arts, he was more than
able to protect himself.

  Gary joked and said, “What, you want me to become Jared Heath or something?”

  He laughed out loud at the idea.

  “If that’s the name you want,” Jonah responded seriously. “Of course, we would have to do a name search first to make sure there’s nothing crazy attached to it.”

  Gary frowned and said, “Yeah, but I’m not a spy or anything. That would be more of a hindrance than me using my own name. What if someone asked me some hard questions?”

  “I’m only trying to protect you,” Jonah said. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.” She paused then added, “It’s my job.”

  Her comment forced Gary to think back to his painful trip to Colombia five years ago. His exploration there had been a spur of the moment idea that was definitely ill-advised. Gary could still hear the Colombian man’s voice in his head, Now you can travel alone in pain and fear, followed by the blow of the single gunshot to his best friend’s head.

  Gary had often shot at targets during his military training with the Colombian terrorist in mind. His unfortunate torture in South America had been the reason for receiving military instruction. He wanted to learn how to protect himself in the future from any situation. He also realized that it was time to move on and let it go … unless he ever came face-to-face with the Colombian again.

  Shaking off his thoughts of pain, fear and revenge, Gary imagined a beautiful time of healing, discovery and wonder in Dubai.

  “All I have to do is mind my own business and behave myself like a respectable tourist, and I’ll be all right,” he stated. “So I’ll book a room at a normal place and do what every other tourist does to stay out of trouble.”

  Jonah nodded, agreeing with his strategy. “You do that. So when are you planning to go there?”

  Gary shrugged, thinking spontaneously. “I don’t know, in the next few weeks, maybe.”

  Jonah nearly choked on her drink. “In the next few weeks?” she repeated. “Well, that’s not enough time to—” She stopped herself, thinking about her own spontaneous travel. The military life had its travel perks, and Gary could afford to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.

  Jonah smiled and said, “I hope your friend doesn’t mind the short notice.”

  Gary smirked and didn’t respond to that. Instead, he joked, “If you need to fly over and save me from something, don’t hesitate to do it.”

  “That’s not funny. And if I have to fly anywhere to save you, your butt’s not going anywhere but Disney World from that point on. So stay out of trouble and leave the exotic women alone.”

  Gary chuckled, attempting to keep it light. “Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

  Chapter 3

  Abdul Khalif Hassan and his wife climbed off of the executive elevator at the garage level of their building, flanked by three armed Muslim guards in white throbes.

  The guards were serious and experienced men with the important duty of executive-level security. Abdul was a tremendously wealthy businessman and was always full of activity, but he was with Hamda, who had talked him into a lunch date.

  As they stepped forward and away from the elevator, a white Rolls Royce with gold trim awaited them inside of the parking lot. A large driver sat behind the wheel. More armed security men drove a white Cadillac Escalade in front of the Rolls Royce, with a second white SUV behind it.

  Hamda took a deep breath. She was used to it all, nevertheless, she continued to fantasize of less protective measures with her husband. It would have been nice to go out for a change without need of a full security team. Anything was better than nothing. But as soon as they climbed into the luxurious backseat of the car, Abdul’s cell phone rang at his hip; it was his business line.

  Hamda noticed it and sighed. Here we go again …

  Abdul quickly held up his right index finger before his wife could announce her usual displeasure. “One minute,” he told her as he answered his phone.

  Hamda looked away and shook her head as the three cars drove off toward the garage exit and the streets of Dubai.

  “Merciful Allah. I can never have his undivided attention,” she complained.

  Abdul frowned and ignored the remark. The woman just doesn’t understand business, he thought. His management knew not to call him on his cell phone unless it was urgently important, so he answered it with alarm and curiosity.

  “Yes, this is Abdul,” he spoke gruffly. His threatening tone hinted of irritation. It was also his way of maintaining the necessary business edge when needed. At the same time, he reached out to caress his wife’s soft hand. But it only took a few seconds for the dire news to rattle him.

  “What?!” he exclaimed into the phone. He released his wife’s hand immediately and brought his fingers up to his temple. “This just happened?”

  A frown of concern brought new wrinkles to his forehead.

  Hamda turned to study him, knowing that their lunch date was now out of the question. A serious issue was upon them.

  “How did this happen?” Abdul continued to question. “Every week now there’s something new. Merciful Allah!”

  As Abdul raised his voice and ranted into his cell phone, Hamda casually placed her hand on her husband’s thigh for comfort and support. But he removed it, in need of focus.

  When their caravan of white vehicles hit the bright and sunny streets of Dubai, Hamda looked out of the window at the beautiful, tall buildings that surrounded them. The construction of the city of Dubai was indeed impressive. But what was it all worth without the peace of mind and the uninterrupted love of your husband?

  Hamda had witnessed Abdul’s violent reactions to disappointments in business many times in the past, and she had learned to avoid probing because it only inflamed him more. He always overreacts, she thought. He always shows his temper. She felt her husband should model himself after the more aristocratic men in his family, who carried themselves with poise.

  “Is there a report? Who saw it happen?” Abdul asked.

  Listening to his turbulent conversation, Hamda decided that her husband’s questions did not sound like the usual business talk. So she turned again to face him.

  Abdul began to shake his head and breathe deeply.

  “Who was up there with him?” he asked. “Have the police come yet with an ambulance?”

  Hamda froze and looked concerned herself. The news began to sound graver by the second.

  “Okay, I am on my way to the site myself. I will be there in twenty minutes.”

  Hamda looked on with horror and was speechless. What is going on? she thought.

  Abdul hung up his cell phone and spoke first to his driver. “Take us to the new construction site.” He then addressed his puzzled wife with the news.

  “What is wrong?” she asked him.

  “An Indian worker fell from the construction building today and died.”

  Hamda covered her face with her hands, in shock. “Merciful Allah.”

  The driver quickly called the security team to inform them of their new destination, speaking to them in Arabic.

  “Did someone push him?” Hamda questioned her husband. She could not imagine it as an accident. There had to be more involved.

  “They don’t know yet,” Abdul snapped, as if the matter was none of her business. “That’s what I want to find out. The management said that many of the men walked off from work.”

  “He let them walk off? Why did he let them do that?”

  Hamda imagined that anyone there could have been a suspect.

  “I don’t know,” Abdul answered her. He was peeved, and he would ask his men every question once they arrived.

  *****

  The caravan of white vehicles pulled up to the construction site in the heat of the desert. Shade from the afternoon sun was one of the many blessings provided by the tall new buildings of Dubai. But wherever construction was incomplete, the sun seemed to beam down even harder on the naked steel, pipelines, plaster and the busy bodies of
hundreds of immigrant workers.

  At the scene of the tragic accident, UAE police officers had already arrived with an ambulance to try and piece together the needed information. They had questioned six construction workers who had been on the same floor or in the vicinity of the Indian man who had fallen to his death earlier. The men all confirmed that it had been an accident with no foul play. More than a hundred immigrant workers, the overseer and several site managers milled around in the background of the dusty ground floor, awaiting their turns to be questioned in the hot afternoon sun.

  Abdul jumped out of his car and headed toward the site before his security team could flank him. He had no fear of his surroundings. His security was only there for precautions and to serve as a warning to those with ill intent.

  As he approached the scene through the dust and dirt of the construction, Abdul looked back momentarily and noticed his wife had climbed out of the car behind him.

  Conflicted by her actions, he paused and wondered if he should stop to address her or continue on with his business of joining the police and his site managers for questions and answers of his own.

  What is she doing? he asked himself.

  Abdul decided to return to his car to promptly address his wayward wife.

  “Hamda, why did you not remain inside the car?” he asked. “You do not need to be here when I question these men. Filthy construction sites and sweaty men are not the proper place for a wife. These men do not deserve the right to see you. They will be fortunate to lay eyes on me.”

  Hamda grimaced and said, “Abdul, what about the wife and family of the man who died today? Are you telling me he does not deserve my sympathy and prayers?”

  She figured she could lend her husband additional sympathy through her presence. It would be a generous gesture. And she was already there with him. But Abdul remained against it.

  “You can pray for them just fine inside of the car, and without these men having to see you. And if you like, I can send for his wife and family to meet us both in private.”

  “That would be fine. But it is even more selfless of me to pray for him out here amongst the other men,” Hamda countered. “That would show that you are indeed gracious and a true follower of Allah.”