Freedom Does Matter (Mercenaries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

shorter than al-Kassis, but they both carried themselves well. No fat on them, she thought, though she couldn’t tell any more about their bodies beyond their faces and hands.
    Most of the entourage had paid Beckie no attention, focusing instead on Willie, standing beside her. Al Hosni had a smile as he tipped his head in Willie’s direction and spoke to the woman beside him.
    In addition to a decorous business suit, the woman wore a hijab , a scarf over her hair which wrapped under her chin. Beckie found it hard to be sure, but she appeared younger than the men. Maybe thirty or so? Like most of the women Beckie had seen on the trip to the meeting, she didn’t cover her face. Looking at her, Beckie relaxed; her suit and the woman’s were both cut from the same pattern. Though Beckie had no veil, Sue had delivered a scarf to cover her head. Both women’s feminine contours were well disguised. I guess that’s the point.
    Beckie cast about to build her confidence and recalled her mother chairing a contentious political meeting over the most recent Christmas holiday. Jean Sverdupe had guided the discussion without demeaning the participants. With that image to emulate, Beckie quashed her fears and walked from the wall to the table. “Good morning,” she began. “I apologize for the delay, and hope we can swiftly return to the issues requiring resolution. May we begin with introductions?” She paused a moment, then said, “I am Rebecca Sverdupe. Please call me Beckie, or Rebecca. I believe everyone else, you have met.”
    It took a minute more before introductions were done: As expected, Sheikh Al Hosni and his… crew—Beckie giggled internally at the idea—sat to her right. Sheikh al-Kassis with his team were across the table. The woman, Ms Al Sahaf, sat next to Al Hosni, between him and Beckie.
    “Good morning,” Al Hosni said when they finished. “When Monsieur Wu spoke with us, he gave us little information about Monsieur Jamse?”
    Beckie took a deep breath, again calming herself before answering. “Mr. Jamse is in the hospital. He is recovering, but I do not have any better information. I can only say that his injury is quite serious.” The men started at her words, and Beckie wondered why. They must have known that. Well, too late now, she thought, and cut through the chatter. “As I said, I have no further information about Mr. Jamse. Can we begin?”
    “You…” Sheikh al-Kassis’ gaze went from Beckie’s head to her legs.
    His examination gave Beckie a hint of his discomfort. She glanced at Hassan, then stepped forward to stand against the end of the table. “Unlike Mr. Jamse, I am female. I hope this will not be an impediment, a barrier, to our discussions.” Her look made her question clear.
    Al-Kassis picked up his cup and sipped. His eyes skittered over the faces of Al Hosni’s group, sitting across the table from him. Beckie smiled as his gaze skipped the woman and continued, before he put his cup on the table and rose to leave.
    Beckie watched him through the door. “Hmm. I assume he is… unaccustomed to talking with women?”
    “I do not know for certain,” the woman responded, “but it certainly appears so.” Little wrinkles at her eyes agreed with the tiny smile on her lips.
    “Such involvement by a woman is… unexpected,” Al Hosni said.
    “And what is your opinion, Sheikh?” Beckie said.
    “I do not care for your gender. Rather, I wish to know how, at your youth, you can be competent to formulate suggestions that we…” He waved around the table. “… can debate and mold to our own use. Your…” He said a few words to the woman at his side.
    When he finished, she faced Beckie. “The Sheikh believes that you show audacity unmatched, appearing as you have—”
    Beckie dipped her head slightly to the man. “I apologize for my unintended affront. You and Sheikh al-Kassis have already paid for our services. In order to make these negotiations successful, Mr. Jamse’s