Trouble In Trinidad

by William Manchee

Chapter 21

The next day, Kevin, Deviane, Kiran and Anila were talking in Deviane's room. It was midday, the sun was shining brightly and the mood was one of joy and happiness. Deviane was sitting up and Kevin was sitting on the side of her bed. Anila and Kiran were sitting in chairs, facing Deviane. Everyone was particularly happy, because word had just come in that the Prime Minister had just survived a no-confidence vote.
"I want the bridesmaids to wear yellow gowns," Deviane said. "Yellow is my favorite color."
"I didn't know that." Kevin said.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Kevin. But you'll have plenty of time to learn, don't worry."
"I'm not worried. I'm the happiest man alive."
"Where do you want to have the wedding, Deviane?" Anila asked. "At the Cathedral?"
"I don't know. I haven't had time to think about it."
"Why don't you have it at the Royal Botanical Gardens?" Kiran suggested.
"I'd love to have it there, but are you sure you wouldn't mind?"
"No, God knows when I'll get married. Have it there if you like."
"It's so beautiful there. Would January be okay, Kevin?"
"Sure, whatever pleases you, honey."
"Good, it's set then." Anila said. "We'll have it the last week of January at the Royal Botanical Gardens. I'll call the manager tomorrow and reserve it."
"How many people do you think will come from Plano to the wedding, Kevin?" Kiran asked.
"Oh, probably not more than a dozen or so. My family is pretty small."
"Well, it doesn't matter, you've made hundreds of friends here in Trinidad," Anila noted.
"I know, the people of Trinidad have been so nice to me. I really like it here."
"I hope you'll stay and make your home here, Kevin," Anila said.
"We haven't really given that much thought yet," Kevin replied.
"We're going to school in the United States, and then we'll see what happens," Deviane added.
"Well, there's no rush to make a decision. Do you have any idea what school you want to attend?"
"I've been looking at UCLA and Stanford out in California, but Deviane may have her mind set on another college. It doesn't really matter that much to me, as long as we're together."
"I like UCLA, but we should consider Columbia or Yale too," Deviane said.
"Fine, there are a lot of good colleges to choose from," Kevin replied.
"In a couple of weeks, when you two are feeling better, I want to have an engagement party for you," Anila said. "We need a big social event in Trinidad, to break all the tension that's in the air. It will be wonderful. I'll invite everybody who's anybody."
"That would be great, Mom," Kiran said. "I love big parties."
"It's not really necessary, Mother," Deviane said.
"Nonsense. I want to celebrate my little baby's engagement. It's a mother's right."
"Okay, whatever makes you happy."
As the conversation continued, the Prime Minister entered the room. He was dressed up and looked quite impressive. Anila ran over to him and gave him a big hug.
"Congratulations, honey. I heard the vote came out well."
"Yes, but it was a razor thin victory. Not the mandate I needed to push through the reforms this country needs."
"Well, I'm sure that, in time, you'll get the support you need, honey. Anyway, we were just discussing Kevin and Deviane's wedding. I want to have an engagement party for them in a couple of weeks."
"That would be nice, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to borrow Kevin for a few hours. We need him down at the courthouse."
"Oh no, not again. We need him here to help plan the wedding."
"Oh, I think you all will do just fine without me. I better go and help out, if I can."
"Don't keep him long, Daddy," Deviane said.
"I won't, you have my word on it."
The Prime Minister left the room with Kevin at his side. They left the hospital and got into a waiting automobile.
"So what's going on? You have some more suspects?"
"We've captured a high ranking NDC officer, one of Malcolm Mann's right hand men. We're sure you must have seen him."
"Why would I have seen him?"
"He must have been at the warehouse with Malcolm."
"Hmm."
"So you really love Deviane, huh?"
"Oh yes, I do..., more than anything."
"I've never seen her so happy. I guess you two were meant for each other, huh?"
"Yes, we're going to be very happy together."
"I suppose this means I'll have a dozen grandchildren running around destroying my house?"
Kevin laughed. "I don't know, we haven't talked about kids yet, but I’m sure some day we’ll have one or two."
"That’s okay, you've got plenty of time for that later. Live it up now, while you're young and can enjoy it!"
"We plan to."
"Kevin, you know that Malcolm Mann escaped, don't you?"
"Did he? Damn it!"
"Well, this man we have in custody is the highest ranking NDC official in Trinidad. It's imperative that we convict him. Otherwise, our government will look feeble and lose face. The leader of the UAR has warned me that he will withdraw his support of the government if I don't make some progress in arresting and convicting NDC officials. I was very disappointed that you were only able to identify one person out of the twenty-four we showed you last week. Why couldn't you have recognized eight or ten of them? What difference would it have made?"
"Sir, we've had this conversation before. You know how I feel."
"Yes, and it's too bad, because if you don't help with this problem today, you can leave Trinidad and forget about Deviane."
Ahmad’s words hit Kevin like a jolt from an electrical socket. Incredulous, he turned and glared at Ahmad.
"What? You're joking, right?"
"I am sorry, Kevin, but I am completely serious. If you don't recognize our prisoner as being at the NDC headquarters on the day of the kidnaping, then I'm going to take you directly to the airport and send you back to America!"
"You can't do this! Deviane won't stand for it. Your wife won't stand for it."
"They will both do as I say! It's time for you to face reality, Kevin. Sometimes we have to do things we don't like to do, but we still do them if it's necessary to survive, or to get what we want."
"That's bullshit! I thought you believed in law and justice. You're no better than Malcolm Mann!"
"Ha! You've been here one week and you think you understand what's going on in this country? You know nothing about Trinidad! Nothing! You think you've got all the answers, but you don't even know the questions."
"You're absolutely right, I know nothing about Trinidad, but I know a lot about justice and democracy, because I live in America. What you're doing is wrong."
"I don't care what you think, Kevin. Let me make it as clear as a crystal goblet to you. If you don't identify this man as being one of the traitors who beat you up, then you'll never see Deviane again."
Kevin didn't reply. He just shook his head and turned away from the Prime Minister. When they arrived at the courthouse, Kevin reluctantly followed the Prime Minister inside. They went to the interrogation room and Kevin sat in front of the two-way mirror. The man being questioned had his face turned away so Kevin couldn't see it. He waited, praying he would recognize the face so he could put an end to this madness without having to make a choice between his integrity and Deviane. When the man finally turned his face toward the mirror, Kevin's heart sank. Suddenly feeling very dizzy, he nearly collapsed. The Prime Minister grabbed him, to keep him from falling over. Once he was stabilized, he looked in the very familiar face, the face of a saint, his protector, Obatala!
"Shit, you can't do this! That's the man who saved our lives. He's the man who saved us from the death squad."
"I don't think so. You thought he was saving you, but he was actually delivering you to a location where the NDC could find you and take you away."
"That's total bullshit! Obatala hates the NDC. He loves freedom and liberty. He's one of the kindest men I've ever known! I will not accuse him of having any association with the NDC. I can't believe you would do this to the man who saved your daughters' lives. I've totally misjudged you. You're just a ruthless tyrant!"
"All right, Kevin, if that's what you want! We'll go back to the hospital, pack your bags and you'll be on your way back to Texas! Don't even think about taking Deviane with you! She's already been taken home, where she'll be safe. Don't call her or write her, and don't even dream about coming back here to see her. You're not welcome in Trinidad. Do you understand?"
"She won't stand for this, you know. You'll have to make her a prisoner in her own house. She'll hate you for the rest of your life."
"Like I said, sometimes we have to do things we don't like to do. We have to do what's best for Trinidad."
Tears began to well in Kevin's eyes. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving Trinidad and never seeing Deviane again. Oh, God. What am I going to do? This can’t be happening. Just when I thought everything was going to work out– Damn it! What a evil bastard you are, Ahmad.
"Come on, let’s go," the Prime Minister said.
No, I need time. I’ve got to stall. I need time to think. There has to be a way out of this.
"Can I talk to Obatala before we leave?"
The Prime Minister considered the request and then nodded his assent. Kevin hurried over to the door to the interview room and knocked. The door opened and the guard poked his head outside.
"Let him see the prisoner for a moment," the Prime Minister commanded. The man opened the door and let Kevin in. He left them alone in the room.
"Obatala, are you all right?"
"Kevin, I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“Nor I to see you. Are you okay?”
“More or less. If this is gratitude, I'd hate to have them mad at me."
"I know, this is so ridiculous," Kevin moaned.
"What are you doing here?"
"They wanted me to identify you as a high ranking NDC official. Since Ray is dead and Malcolm got away they need a fall guy–someone they can parade in front of the people as an example, I guess. They said if I didn't identify you, I couldn't marry Deviane."
"You were going to marry Deviane?"
"Yes, we've already started to plan the wedding."
"Do you love her?"
"Of course. She's the woman I've been searching for all my life. We were meant for one another."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Do you have to ask? I couldn’t betray you. I told him, no way. I wouldn't help send an innocent man to his death. I certainly wouldn't send a man who saved my life twice."
“But, you’ll lose Deviane.”
“Maybe not, but if so, then that’s better than letting you die. I couldn’t live with myself if I betrayed you. And I don’t think Deviane would want me to either.”
Obatala closed his eyes and thought for a moment. Kevin wondered what was going through his mind. Do you know I killed your brother? Oh, God. Will you ever forgive me? Obatala opened his eyes and smiled faintly.
"Go back and tell him you changed your mind."
"Huh?"
"Tell him you'll testify against me. Tell him I'm the number three man in the NDC. Living around Ray, I know everyone in the organization. I know how they operate and I can give the Prime Minister exactly what he wants."
"Obatala, no. They'll hang you."
"Tell him I'll do it on two conditions. First, he must swear to me, in front of his daughters, that I will not hang. Secondly, he must let my family leave Trinidad and provide them with fifty thousand dollars, to start a new life in America."
"Obatala, why would you do this?"
"Because, like I told you before, the NDC stole my brother from me, and turned him into a ruthless beast. The only way I can get revenge is to see to it that every last remnant of the NDC is destroyed!"
"There's something I need to tell you about your brother."
"What?"
"Oh God, Obatala. I'm so sorry!" Kevin said and then began to cry.
"What is it?"
"I'm afraid. . . I'm afraid he's dead."
Obatala closed his eyes and sighed.
"Oh God, I hoped somehow he would escape this nightmare. Damn it!"
"You haven't heard the worst of it."
"What could be worse than his death?"
"To be looking at his killer."
"What?"
"I killed him. He beat me up and raped Deviane. I had no choice. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, not for him, but for you."
Obatala stood like a rock in a hurricane, his eyes fixed on Kevin. Then he lowered his head and took a deep breath. Breathing heavily, he walked a few steps away and stared at the two way mirror.
He mumbled, "Then he deserved to die. I'm ashamed he was my brother."
Kevin wiped away his tears and took a deep breath.
"Don't worry about Cetawayo and the children. Deviane and I will watch out for them. I think you should ask for a hundred thousand dollars. Fifty thousand won't last long."
"Okay, so be it."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, go tell the Prime Minister."
"Thank you, Obatala. You've saved my life again. I couldn't have lived without Deviane."
"Go on, get out of here before I change my mind."
"Goodbye, I'll always remember you."
Kevin and Obatala embraced. Kevin left reluctantly. He went directly to the Prime Minister who had been waiting impatiently for him.
"Okay, I've changed my mind. In fact, I've talked the prisoner into making a full confession. He knows everything about the NDC, their plans, how they operate and he'll cooperate fully in bringing every last NDC member to justice. Of course, it's all a lie, but you don't care, do you?"
"Why would he do this?"
"Because he's a decent man. He truly despises the NDC and what they stand for. You know he's Ray Mohammed's brother, right?"
"Of course, that's why we suspected him."
"Well, he tried to get Ray out of the NDC, but couldn't do it. Now he wants to do whatever it takes to bring them down. He also wants to see Deviane and me married. He cares about us, but I guess you wouldn't understand that, would you?"
"I love Deviane, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices."
"Tell that to Obatala's wife and three kids. Oh, there are a couple of conditions."
"What conditions?"
"Obatala will not hang, you must swear to it in front of your daughters. And you'll arrange for Obatala's family to leave Trinidad and go to America. Of course, they will need cash to live on, two hundred thousand would be about right."
"Two hundred thousand dollars?"
"Yes, that's pocket change considering how much you're going to get from him. You'll save a million dollars in prosecution costs alone."
"Okay, it's a deal."
"Good, then take me back to Deviane. I miss her already."
"Kevin, I hope you will forgive me some day. Some-"
"I know, sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do. I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive you, as long as Obatala is rotting in some prison for something he didn't do. I'm sorry."
"Will you tell Deviane?"
"How can I keep it from her? She's going to be my wife. We will not have secrets from each other. She will know everything."
"I'm doing this for them, you know. It's for their benefit. Anila loves being the Prime Minister's wife. She would be devastated if I were thrown out of office."
"I don't think you give her enough credit. She loves being in the limelight, but she loves you more. She'll stand by you no matter what happens."
"I'll make this up to you Kevin, I promise."
"Sure, can we get back now? The girls are expecting us."
"You go ahead. I'll have the driver take you back to the hospital. I need to stay here and make sure Obatala does what he has promised to do."
"Oh, he will, he's a man of his word. I promise.”

Chapter 22

Kevin agonized over the situation as he was driven back to the hospital. He knew that if he told Deviane about the deal he had made with her father, she would be devastated. He considered keeping it a secret, but dismissed that idea. The one thing they both wanted was a totally honest relationship. There couldn't be secrets between them. He thought of ways he could phrase her father's treachery that might be easier for her to take, but Deviane was not stupid, she would quickly understand that her father was using her as a pawn in his political games. Finally, he decided there was nothing he could do but tell it exactly like it happened. If Deviane never spoke to her father again, it was his own fault. Kevin gathered his things together and went back to the car to be taken to the Prime Minister's home. When he arrived, Deviane was waiting for him. She rushed to him as he got out of the car. They embraced.
"Boy, am I going to get greeted like this every time I come home?"
"Of course, I missed you."
"I've only been gone three hours."
"It seemed like a week."
Kevin smiled and pulled Deviane's lips to his. Kissing her was like being plugged into a two hundred twenty volt socket. Kevin's knees weakened from the jolt.
"Hmmm. That was sweet," he said.
Deviane winked at him.
"Just wait, the best is yet to come."
"Why wait, I'm ready now."
"No, no. You can't have all the candy at once, you’ll get sick."
"I'll chance it."
"Yeah, I bet. Come on inside. I want to show you the pictures of my mother's wedding. It will give us some ideas for ours."
"Okay."
Kevin followed Deviane inside to the parlor, where she had three large photo albums out on a table. She sat and started turning the pages. Kevin stood behind her, looking over her shoulder.
"Wasn't my mother a beautiful bride?"
"Oh God, yes. It’s obvious where you got your beauty."
"Silly, I'm not as pretty as Mom."
"Bullshit! You're just as pretty, maybe prettier."
"Do you think so?"
"I know so."
"Hmm. Do you like the lavender dresses?"
"Yeah, they're okay."
"My mom was married in the Cathedral, do you think we should do that too?"
"I thought you wanted to be married in the Botanical Gardens?"
"I do, but do you think it would be bad luck not to be married in the church?"
"Not as long as a priest marries us. It shouldn't matter."
"Wasn't Daddy a handsome groom?"
"That he was," Kevin said and then sat in the chair next to Deviane.
"Speaking of your father, I need to talk to you about something. It's not a pleasant topic."
Deviane looked at Kevin.
"What?"
"You know, sometimes honesty can be painful. I know we've pledged to be totally honest with each other, but there are some things that I think would be better left a secret. I'm asking you to let me have one secret. It would be better if you didn't know it."
"Kevin, what are you talking about?"
"There is something that I should tell you, but if you want my opinion, you'd be better off not to know it. Please give me permission not to tell you."
Deviane gave Kevin a hard stare.
"I don't know, Kevin. I would always wonder what your deep dark secret was. I don't know if that would be good. I've got quite a vivid imagination, you know. I'd think of a hundred possibilities. I would always feel sick inside wondering which one it was."
"You would never imagine this one. But, it's okay, I knew I'd have to tell you. I just didn't want to have to do it."
"What is it? Tell me."
"Your father almost sent me home to America today."
"What?"
"There was a prisoner, who he believed was a high ranking NDC official. He told me, if I didn't identify him as being at the warehouse before the assault, that he would ship me back to America and I would never see you again."
"No, Kevin. It's not true! You misunderstood him."
"There was no mistake, sweetheart. I'm sorry."
"Daddy wouldn't do such a thing. He loves me and he knows how much I love you. He wouldn't do something like that."
"I told you it would be better kept a secret."
"Kevin, this is a joke, right?"
"No! This isn't a joke, Deviane. I wouldn't kid about something like this."
Deviane began to cry.
"Why would he do such a horrible thing?"
"He's desperate, I guess. He says his government might not survive if he can't find someone to punish for the NDC's crimes against Trinidad."
Deviane wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve.
"You're still here. If what you say is true, why aren't you on your way to America? You couldn't have agreed to this scheme."
"I did refuse, but something unbelievable happened."
"He changed his mind, he came to his senses, right? God! You scared the crap out of me."
"No, I'm sorry, honey. When they showed me the so called high ranking NDC official, it turned out to be Obatala."
Deviane's mouth dropped.
"Oh God, no! Oh, Kevin, I can't believe this."
"I nearly died right on the spot."
"Did you tell Daddy who he was?"
"Yes, but he didn't care. This was the man he wanted me to falsely accuse of treason."
"So what did you do?"
"I said no, I wouldn't do it. I told him you would never stand for it either. So I told him to take me away and do whatever he had to do."
"You were really going to let him take you away without even saying goodbye?"
"What choice did I have? Obatala's life was at stake. At least, that's what I initially thought."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, as we were leaving I thought I should say goodbye to Obatala. Your father was gracious enough to grant me that last request. When I told Obatala what had happened, he said I should do what the Prime Minster wanted."
"What? He consented to being hanged for treason?"
"No, not exactly. One of the conditions of the arrangement was that your father would have to promise that Obatala wouldn't be executed. He would also have to guarantee the safety of Obatala's family. He wanted them to be sent to America, and given money to live on."
"I can't believe Obatala would agree to that. How could he just leave his family?"
"He knew that, because he was Ray's brother, he would probably go to prison anyway, whether I testified or not. This way he could be sure his family would be safe and protected. I promised him you and I would keep an eye out for them in America."
"How can I ever look my father in the face again after this? I thought he loved me. Now I know I'm just a piece of property, a possession that he'll sell to the highest bidder. Take me home with you to America. We'll get married in Texas."
"I knew you would say that, but what about your mother? She’ll die if you don't get married here in Trinidad."
"We can't have it here, the wedding will be nothing more than a political event. It will just be part of my father's games. I want our wedding to be about us, about truth and honesty, not deceit and treachery. My mother can come to our wedding in Texas."
"It won't be the same. She'll be humiliated. I love your mother and I hate for this to happen to her, just because of your father. Besides, if you disown your father, what would keep him from hanging Obatala? Once I testify, there would be nothing to stop him. Only his love for you will insure he honors his commitment."
"I'm not so sure he loves me anymore."
"I think he does. He's just under a lot of pressure and is not thinking clearly. In his mind, he's doing what's best for you and the family, as well as Trinidad."
"He's doing what's best for himself."
"Maybe, but I don't think we have a choice."
"Damn it! I hate when someone else controls my life!"
"Why don't we get away from here awhile? I'd like to go home before the trial. My parents have been worried sick, besides they haven't met you yet. I want you to meet all of my family and friends."
"Oh, that would be fun," Deviane replied. "We'd have three weeks before the trial."
"That's plenty of time. We can check out some colleges while we’re in the United States too."
"That's a good idea."
"You know what?" Kevin said. "We should take Obatala's family with us. That way we can make sure they get out of Trinidad."
"That makes sense. We can help them get settled before we come back for the trial."
"Exactly. I'll go call Cetawayo and see if we can go over to her place and talk to her."
"Okay, I'll go change and put on some make-up."
"You don't need make-up. You're beautiful just the way you are."
"Yes, I do. I won't be long."
Kevin called the Prime Minister and told him he was going to see Cetawayo, to advise her of the deal. He agreed, but didn't like the idea of them going to her home, as it would be too dangerous. He suggested dinner that evening at Michael's, in their private dining room. He said he would make all the arrangements. Kevin agreed and advised Deviane when she came down from her room.
Kevin and Deviane were driven to Michael's that evening. When they arrived, they were taken to a table where Cetawayo was already seated. Although she tried to hide it, it was obvious she had been crying a lot. Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked like she hadn't slept in days. She got up when she saw Kevin and they embraced.
"Cetawayo, it's so good to see you again. This is Deviane, the Prime Minister's daughter, and soon to be my wife."
"Oh," Cetawayo said coolly.
"Deviane had no part in this, believe me."
"I'm so sorry about your husband, Cetawayo," Deviane said. "He’s a wonderful man who saved my life. I’ll be forever indebted to him."
"Then why don't you get your father to let him go?"
Kevin took a deep breath.
"Okay, let's sit down and talk about this. I know this is difficult."
Cetawayo and Deviane didn't move.
"Come on. Sit down," Kevin said and gestured toward the table. "We'll talk about this while we eat."
Deviane walked over to the table and sat down. Cetawayo reluctantly followed her. Kevin sat down last.
"This is what Obatala wants, Cetawayo. He knows that there is no escape for him, because he is Ray's brother. He's made a deal with me and the Prime Minister. You and the kids are to go to America and live. The Prime Minister is going to give you two hundred thousand dollars so that you'll have plenty of money to live on until you can get settled."
"Is two hundred thousand dollars the price of his life?"
"No, the Prime Minister has promised he won't be executed. He'll just go to prison for awhile. A long while I'm afraid, but at least he won't die. This way, you and the kids will be safe. Deviane and I will be living in America, so we'll be there for you if you need us."
"But, if I'm in America, the children and I won't be able to visit Obatala."
"I know, but you won't be safe here. Obatala's going to take the NDC down. He's going to testify against everyone involved. It's going to get pretty ugly."
"Oh God, this isn't fair. Obatala had nothing to do with the NDC. He hated it!"
"Exactly, and now he has a chance to destroy it."
Tears flooded from Cetawayo's eyes. Deviane went to her and tried to console her.
"Your kids will like America. They'll be happy there. I know they'll miss their father, but it would be more painful for them if they were here and had to read all the nasty lies about him in the newspaper, and hear them talk about him on television."
"This is our home. We love Trinidad."
"I know, but I hear America is a wonderful place,” Deviane said. “Your children will be better off there."
"When we would we leave?"
"Soon. Kevin and I will be going to Texas to meet his family. We'll take you with us."
"What about school, and my job?"
"We'll find a job for you in America, and the schools there are good."
"I don't know if I can leave Obatala."
"He wants you to leave. He'll be worried sick about you if you stay," Kevin said.
"This is terrible. Why did this have to happen?"
"I don't know, but you've got to come with us," Deviane pleaded. "If not for yourself, think of your children."
"All right. If it's what Obatala wants me to do."
"It is. I'll arrange for you to see him before we leave," Kevin said.
"Yes, please. I need to see him. I'm so worried about him."
"You will, you'll see him soon,” I promise.”

Chapter 23

The following day, Kevin arranged for Cetawayo to visit Obatala at the courthouse. The visit lasted about an hour. She seemed resigned to her fate by the time she left him. She went home to begin packing and making arrangements to leave. That night, Kevin and Deviane broke the news to Anila about their plans to go to Texas.
"Mom, Kevin wants to go home and see his family before the trial. His parents are really anxious to see him since the kidnaping and everything. I'm going to go with him, so I can meet them."
"Oh, when did you decide this?"
"Just in the last couple of days. We've been thinking about it and feel it's not fair to Kevin's family not to get a chance to meet me before the wedding."
"But we have so much to do."
"You don't need me. I want a wedding just like yours. Whatever you do will be fine. Anyway, I'll only be gone a couple of weeks. We've got months until the wedding."
"I guess we've been kind of selfish. Why don't you invite Kevin's parents here? They could be our guests."
"No, I need to meet all of his family. We’re also going to look at some colleges while we're there."
"I guess I can get along without you for a couple of weeks, but promise me you won't stay any longer."
"I won't. Kiran will help you too. She likes planning social events."
"When will you leave?"
"Tomorrow. The trial is in three weeks and Kevin has to testify, so we need to leave right away."
"Have you told your father?"
"Yes, he understands."
"Well, I'll miss you two."
"I'll call you every few days to tell you how things are going."
"Good, I'll be worried about you."
"I'll take good care of her, don't worry, Anila."
"I know you will, Kevin."
"Well, we've got to go pack. We're leaving early in the morning."
"Do you need any help?"
"No, Kevin will help me."
"All right, good night, dear."
"Good night, Mom."
The next morning, Kevin and Deviane were taken to a military air base. They were surprised to see a United States jet parked on the runway. They were escorted aboard and were delighted to see that Cetawayo and the children were already there. They gave Cetawayo a hug and said hello to the children. The captain came back and introduced himself.
He asked them to take their seats and buckle their seat belts until they were airborne. Just as everyone was set for the takeoff, the door to the plane opened and Ambassador Rawlins boarded carrying a black brief case and a raincoat.
"Hello, Kevin, Deviane."
"Mr. Ambassador, I didn't know you were going with us," Deviane said.
"Well, it was a last minute thing. You didn't give us much notice of this trip. We really had to scramble."
"I just thought we were going to take BWIA," Kevin said. "I didn't expect you to send a jet."
"The President didn't want anything more happening to you two. Besides, he wants you to come to the White House for dinner tonight."
"Really?"
"You don't mind, do you?"
"No," Kevin laughed. "I've always wanted to see the inside of the White House. I can't believe this!"
"I didn't bring anything nice enough to wear to the White House." Deviane said.
"It's all right, we'll arrange for you to get a gown when we arrive."
"Wow! This is exciting," Deviane said. "What about Cetawayo and the children?"
"We've made arrangements for them. The President has agreed to grant them political asylum in the United States. It will take a few days to process them. We'll take good care of them, don't worry. In a few days they'll join you in Dallas."
"Oh, the Prime Minister wanted me to give you this briefcase, Kevin. I don't know what's in it, but he said you would know what to do with it."
"Oh, thanks," Kevin said as he took the briefcase from the Ambassador.
"I guess congratulations are in order."
"Oh, thank you." Deviane said.
"Have you set a date?"
"After the first of the year, during the dry season.
We're getting married at the Royal Botanical Gardens."
"Oh, that should be beautiful. You know, this is going to be quite an event. An American hero marries the richest and prettiest girl in Trinidad."
"That's not true."
"Which part?"
"Kiran is prettier than me."
"I'm not so sure, my dear."
"I'm on your side, Ambassador," Kevin said smiling at Deviane.
She blushed and turned her head to look out the window. Kevin and the Ambassador laughed.
"Hey, with all this publicity you're getting, you ought to think about a career in politics."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you're damn near a household name. I bet you could be the youngest congressman on the Hill."
"Hmm."
"Well, I better go buckle up. The captain's ready to take off," the Ambassador said.
While Kevin and Deviane were excited about the prospect of going to the White House, they were more curious about the briefcase.
"Should I open it?" Kevin said.
"Wait until the Ambassador is gone. I don't know what's in it."
"Okay."
A little later, the Ambassador went to the back of the plane to use the restroom.
"Hurry," Deviane said. "Open it!"
Kevin opened the briefcase and exclaimed, "Oh shit! It's full of money."
"Really? How much?"
"Two hundred thousand I bet. This must be Cetawayo's money. I guess I get to take care of it for her."
"Yeah, because they've got to go through State Department processing, It might be difficult for Cetawayo to explain why she had two hundred thousand dollars."
"Good point."
Deviane noticed the door to the commode open.
"Put it away, the Ambassador is coming,"
Kevin closed the briefcase and put it under the seat.
He smiled at the Ambassador as he sat down.
"The attendant will serve us some lunch later on. If you want a Coke® or anything, just push the button over your seat."
"Thanks. This is so cool, flying in our own private jet," Kevin said.
"Your daddy has a private jet, doesn't he, Deviane?" the Ambassador said.
"Yes, I've been in it a few times. We went to Caracas once."
"Well, you might want to relax and get some shut eye. You're going to have a long day."
"Good idea," Deviane said as she started fumbling with her seat. "Kevin, wake me up for lunch."
"Okay, sweet dreams."
Deviane closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep. Kevin looked out the window at the ocean beneath them. He was much too excited to sleep. All he could think about was eating dinner at the White House. He thought back to that moment of decision, when he knew he had to act if he was going save the Prime Minister. He was so glad he hadn't stopped to think and just let his instincts guide him. He thanked God for putting him in the right place at the right time.
At two-thirty, the plane landed in Washington, D.C.. The President's helicopter was waiting for them at the airport. Kevin, Deviane and the Ambassador were taken aboard immediately. Cetawayo and the kids were escorted to a State Department van that was waiting not far away. The helicopter ride took thirty minutes. When they landed at the White House, they were escorted to guest rooms, where they could rest and prepare for dinner and their meeting with the President. One of the First Lady's aides found Deviane a gown, and a hairdresser came in to do her hair and nails. Kevin found a tux hanging in his closet. One of the White House servants came by to ask him if he needed any alterations or help getting dressed. Kevin politely declined. At six, the guests were called to the Blue Room for cocktails.
As Kevin walked into the elegant room, he noticed the magnificent candelabra and the picture of James Monroe on the wall. He admired the aqua upholstery on the chairs that matched the rich wallpaper. Then he saw the most beautiful thing in the room. It was Deviane, dressed in a magnificent, long, silver satin dress with a plunging neckline. It gave him goose bumps. He stared at her a moment, like she was a stranger. When she saw him, she waved and he quickly walked over to her.
"My God! You look stunning. I was mesmerized when I first saw you."
"Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself. I was wondering what you'd look like in a tux."
"Is the President here yet?"
"I don't think so. I've already seen someone I know, though."
"Really, who was that?"
"The wife of the Ambassador to Barbados. I had dinner with her one time, when we were on holiday."
"Well, that's good. I doubt I'll meet anybody I know."
Just then, Ambassador Rawlins spotted them and came over.
"Hey, let me take you two around and introduce you to everybody. My, you look fantastic, Deviane. You better keep a close eye on her tonight, Kevin. She might get kidnaped again!"
The Ambassador took Deviane by the arm and escorted her to a group of people. Kevin followed and the Ambassador introduced them. Thirty minutes later, the President made his entrance and immediately found Kevin and Deviane.
"Kevin, you did well in Trinidad I see," the President said.
"Yes, I'm very lucky."
"So, you two are going to take the plunge, huh?"
"Yes, in January," Kevin replied.
"Congratulations. I must say we had some very concerned moments back here when you two were kidnaped. That must have been quite an experience."
"It definitely was that, sir."
"How are you both feeling? I heard you both were badly beaten."
"I'm okay, I just got hit a few times," Deviane said. "Kevin is the one they really hurt."
"I'm feeling a lot better. I had a couple of broken ribs, and you can still see the bruise on my forehead. It's still a little tender."
"How did it feel to kill that terrorist, Ray Mohammed?"
"It felt good, at the time."
"I bet it did. Are you going to be all right with it?"
"Yeah, I had to do it."
"It's never easy to kill someone, no matter how evil they are," the President said.
“No, it’s not.”
"So, Deviane, have you been to America before?"
"Yes, we went to Florida once, when I was pretty young."
"Well, I hope you enjoy your stay."
"I'm sure I will."
"Will you two be living in the United States?"
"We're not sure, but we'll definitely be going to college here."
"Great, do you know where you're going yet?"
"No, not yet. In fact, we're going to look at a few colleges while were here."
"Oh, you should go see Georgetown while you're in Washington. It's a fine school."
"Maybe we will."
"So, what do you think of the White House?"
"It's magnificent!" Kevin replied.
"Play your cards right and maybe you can live here some day."
Kevin raised his eyebrows. "Well, I don't know about that, Sir."
"Kevin and I are thinking about going to medical school," Deviane said.
"Both of you? My word, you two are ambitious."
"We'd like to open up a free clinic for the poor," Deviane said.
"That sounds great. Well, we better get this dinner on the road, Pierre gets cranky if we're late for dinner. Come on everyone, let's go to the dining room. Dinner is served!"
Since Kevin and Deviane's arrival, the crowd had swelled to over a hundred. The gigantic horseshoe-shaped table was an incredible sight. Kevin was impressed by the gold silverware and fine china. Before they sat down, the First Lady came over and introduced herself. After they had talked a few minutes, she left and everyone was seated. Before dinner started, the President asked for everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to say a few words and then propose a toast to our guests, Kevin Wells and Deviane Shah. Several months ago, we all witnessed a most courageous act. Kevin Wells, without blinking an eye, jumped up to protect a head of state who was a guest here in America. He prevented a horrible tragedy from occurring and thwarted an attempt by terrorists to forcibly take over Trinidad. We thought that was as much heroism as anyone could expect from one individual in a lifetime.
“Well, as you know Kevin was called upon again to demonstrate extraordinary courage. This time, he and the two daughters of the Prime Minister of Trinidad were chased through the forest by enemy guerrillas, who had orders to kill them. One of the girls was shot. Kevin carried her, under fire, for several miles until they thought they had been rescued. Unfortunately, it was a trick. Kevin and Deviane were bound and gagged, thrown into a helicopter at gun point, and then dumped in a dark prison cell. By the grace of God, they were rescued and we welcome them here tonight!"
The crowd gave them a rousing round of applause. Kevin smiled and bowed slightly. Deviane wiped a tear from her eye.
The President continued, "Raise your glasses and toast this most extraordinary American, Kevin Wells. You're an inspiration to us all!"
Everyone took a drink and then gave them another round of applause.
"If you haven't already heard it, there is a fairy tale ending to this story. Kevin and Deviane are to be married in Trinidad, in January!"
Several women in the crowd sighed, "Ohhh!"
"Here's to Kevin and Deviane! To many wonderful years together!"
After dinner, the President excused himself, as he had to attend to matters of state. He suggested Kevin and Deviane spend the night in the White House. He told them he'd see to it that someone gave them a tour of Georgetown in the morning. Then, they could take an afternoon flight to Dallas. They accepted, thanked the President and were taken to the Red Room for coffee with Ambassador Rawlins and other State Department officials.
"Kevin, I'd like you to meet Monty Crandall. He's my boss at the State Department. I promised him I'd introduce you both to him before you left town."
"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you." Kevin said.
Deviane smiled and said, "Hello."
"I'm not going to bore you with more accolades. You've had enough of that tonight, I'm sure. What I wanted to tell you was that the President wants to provide you with some security while you're in the United States. We don't want anything happening to you. We'll provide a jet to take you anywhere you want to go. I'm assigning three men to watch out for you."
"Is that really necessary?" Deviane said.
"Yes, you're the daughter of a foreign head of state, so this is just diplomatic courtesy. We want your stay here in America to be pleasant and uneventful. Besides, the press could be a problem, so we'll help you manage that situation."
"The press?" Kevin said.
"Yes. You two are a hot item. They'll be stalking you wherever you go."
"Really?" Kevin said.
"Yes, we also want to be sure you get back to Trinidad to testify. This trial is very important to the United States. We want to be sure Deviane's father stays in power. He's been very friendly to the United States and we don't want anything to jeopardize that relationship, particularly since the Cocos Bay discovery."
"Okay, whatever you say," Kevin replied.
"If you two want to be alone before you go to bed, there’s a sitting room on the third floor that you can use. Or, if you want to see a movie, just let one of the staff know."
"Thank you. That's very thoughtful," Deviane said as she smiled at Kevin.
"If you need anything at all, just let someone know."
"Thank you, sir," Kevin said.
"Well, the Ambassador and I must run. It was a pleasure meeting both of you."
"Yes, it was nice meeting you. Thank you for everything," Kevin replied.
After the Ambassador and Mr. Crandall left, Kevin and Deviane went up to the sitting room to talk for a while before bed. Someone from the kitchen staff brought them a snack and asked if they needed anything else. When they were alone, they kissed for a while, then held hands as they gazed out the window at the cars traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue.
"You know, this is a fairy tale," Kevin said. "Sometimes I think I'm dreaming and I'm afraid I'm going to wake up."
Deviane smiled. "I know what you mean. When I saw you for the first time on Jay Leno, I just knew we were meant to be together. I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to have you. Then, when you thought you loved Kiran, I wanted to jump off the roof."
Kevin laughed. "I'm glad you didn't."
"Now, I'm so scared something will happen and I'll lose you."
"No chance. You're stuck with me now."
"You promise?"
"Scout's honor."
Deviane put her arms around Kevin and squeezed him tightly. Kevin began to stroke her hair and caress her neck. Then he kissed the top of her head gently.
"I love you," he said.

Chapter 24

The next morning, Kevin and Deviane met the men who would be their escorts for the duration of their stay in the United States. The three Secret Service agents briefed them on their security procedures and promised that they would stay out of their way as much as possible. A driver took them to Georgetown University, where they were given a tour by an assistant dean. When they had seen everything of interest, they were taken to a nearby military base, where their jet to Dallas was waiting. It was a warm, clear day, perfect for flying. Once airborne, Kevin and Deviane talked about their unique experience.
"I wouldn't mind living in the White House," Kevin said.
"It was rather nice, actually. I could get used to it."
"I don't know if I'd like having Secret Service agents crawling all over me though."
"I know, we're not going to have any privacy."
"Did you sleep well last night?" Kevin asked.
"Pretty good. It took me a while to fall asleep, though,” Deviane replied.
"I didn't sleep well at all. Everything that's happened to us recently kept running through my mind. I don't know why. I should have been exhausted, but something was bothering me."
"Well, I'll shut up and you can take a nap."
"No, I want to talk while we've got a little privacy."
Deviane smiled, took Kevin's hand and squeezed it. "So what was bothering you?"
"Everything. It was like our life was an open book."
"What do you mean?"
"Like–How did the Ambassador know we were going to get married?"
"My father probably told him."
"Why would your father tell him that when it hasn't been officially announced yet? Your mother was going to have an engagement party and announce it then."
"He's not too good at keeping secrets, I guess."
"Do you think he called the President and told him?"
"No, obviously the Ambassador told him, or Mr. Crandall."
"That's what I mean. Everybody knows every move we're making."
"Hmm," Deviane sighed.
"And the briefcase full of money. It wasn't locked. You're going to tell me that the Ambassador didn't open it up to see what was in it?"
"What are you saying, Kevin?"
"The Ambassador knew exactly what was in the briefcase, so he must have known about the deal we struck with your father."
“Well, he had to know since my father had to arrange political asylum for Cetawayo and the children.”
"True, but he could have made up an excuse. I can't imagine your father divulging his plans to commit bribery, extortion and obstruction of justice to the Ambassador, unless–"
"Unless what?"
"The Ambassador was in on it."
"No, I don't think that's likely. My father doesn't like foreigners trying to influence his decisions. I've heard him complain about that a lot."
"I don't know. Last night I kept thinking of what Malcolm Mann said, about how everyone was a slave of the Wall Street business cartel and they didn't even realize it."
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm beginning to understand what he meant."
"I don't understand."
"No one in Trinidad would ever dream that the United States was in control of its affairs, right?"
"No, that's ridiculous."
"Well, last night I got the impression that Mr. Crandall was calling the shots in the NDC prosecution. I'm beginning to wonder if he doesn't make a lot of decisions for the Trinidad government."
"I didn't like him much. He made me feel uncomfortable."
"I bet that two hundred thousand came from the Ambassador's safe."
"My father has always been pretty close to the Ambassador."
"Is your father really the richest man in Trinidad?"
"I guess, I don't know for sure."
"Has he always been rich?"
"No. Up until about six or seven years ago, we didn't have all that much money. We were comfortable, but I remember there were a lot of things we couldn't afford. Then my father's oil company went into partnership with another company. They were able to get some good leases. They've done very well ever since."
"Do you remember the name of the company?"
"Sure, Navet Exploration, Limited."
"Hmm. I wonder who owns Navet."
"I wouldn't know."
"We can check it out at the library or on the internet when we get to Dallas."
"So who do you think owns it?"
"Well, if it were a United States company, that would certainly be interesting."
"So, you think my father is working for the United States government?"
"The thought crossed my mind. That would explain why he would use you and Kiran as bargaining chips. A father wouldn't do something like that on his own. The Ambassador probably suggested it rather strongly."
"I can't believe my father would do that."
"I know, I'm sorry, honey. I hope I'm wrong."
"You must be, he loves Trinidad. He would never betray his own people."
"Just like he didn't betray you and Kiran."
Deviane didn't respond.
"Did you notice how everyone suggested I start thinking about politics as a career? Even the President mentioned it indirectly."
"Yeah, what was that all about?"
"I think they're hoping to suck me into their game, now that I've got some notoriety."
"I don't know, Kevin. Do you think, maybe we're getting a little paranoid?"
"Maybe, but after what has happened to us, I don't think we can be too careful."
"I guess you're right. I'm just so sick of all this intrigue. Why can't everything be the way it appears?" Deviane asked.
"Because nobody gives a rat's ass about truth and honesty anymore. Everything today is about power and money."
"I hope we don't get caught up in that game."
"We're already caught up in it, but maybe after our wedding, we can change things and live an honest, decent life."
"I hope so."
Two hours later, the State Department jet landed at Love Field in Dallas. A car was waiting to take Kevin and Deviane to Plano. It was a hot, muggy day, so the air conditioner was going full blast. Although the sky was clear, visibility was bad. There was an ozone alert in effect.
The car left the airport and headed west on Mockingbird to I35. It traveled north to LBJ Freeway, then east to the Dallas North Tollway. Ten minutes later, it pulled up in front of Kevin's house in Plano. Kevin's parents were waiting anxiously and came out to meet them. As soon as Kevin got out of the car, his mother embraced him. The Secret Service agents stepped out and scanned the neighborhood.
"Hi, Mom."
"Kevin! Hi. . . Oh, I'm so glad to see you. I've been so worried about you."
Kevin put his arm around Deviane and smiled.
"Mom and Dad, this is Deviane."
"Hi, Deviane. It's so nice to meet you at last. How are you feeling? I read about how the terrorists beat you up."
"Oh, I'm okay now."
"Good, I can't believe what you two have been through."
"Who are these men with you, Kevin?" Mr. Wells asked.
"It's our Secret Service escort. Can you believe that?"
"Really? How come?"
"It's because Deviane is a diplomatic visitor and the President wants to be sure I get back safely to testify in Trinidad."
As Kevin was talking, a big television van pulled up. It was followed by several other press vehicles. A reporter leaped out and rushed up to Kevin. The Secret Service agents quickly went into action and started moving everyone inside.
"Mr. Wells, how was your visit with the President?" the reporter asked.
"Oh, it was great."
"Is it true you and Ms. Shah are engaged to be married?"
"Well, I haven't had a chance to buy her an engagement ring yet, but we plan to visit some jewelry stores in the next few days."

"So it's true you're going to get married?"
"Yes, in January."
"What is your reaction to Malcolm Mann's statement that you'll never live to testify against Obatala Mohammed?"
Kevin’s jaw dropped. A cold chill radiated down his spine. "I don't know. This is the first I've heard of it."
"Okay, that will be all," one of the Secret Service agents said as he took Kevin by the arm and escorted him into the house. Once inside the agents began a security check of the house.
While Kevin’s parents were distracted by the agents, Deviane took Kevin aside to talk.
"What did the reporter say about Malcolm Mann, Kevin?" Deviane asked.
"It sounded like he made some sort of threat to kill me."
"Oh my God! Where is he?"
"I don't know anything other than what the reporter said."
"Damn it!" Deviane said. "I wish you would have killed him, too. "
"It's just talk, honey. There's no way he could hurt us here."
"What's wrong, Kevin?" Mrs. Wells asked as she approached them.
Kevin turned and looked at his mother’s worried face.
“Oh. Ah. . . nothing. I guess I may have let the cat out of the bag about our wedding.”
Deviane forced a smile.
Kevin looked at Deviane. “I hope I didn’t spoil it for your mother. I know she wanted to make the announcement.”
“It’s okay. I don’t think it’s much of a secret anymore.”
"The wedding?" Mrs. Wells said.
"You haven't heard about it?" Kevin asked.
"No."
"Oh, good. We wanted to tell you before you heard it on the news. Deviane and I are getting married."
Mrs. Wells eyes widened. "Kevin, this is so sudden. You two haven't known each other very long."
"I know, but we fell in love. What can I say?"
"You haven't finished high school yet, and what about college?" Mr. Wells asked.
"I'll finish high school this summer and then we're going to go to college together. We looked at Georgetown while we were in Washington."
"Georgetown, you never mentioned being interested in Georgetown," Mr. Wells said.
"The President wanted us to see it," Deviane said. "I kind of liked it. It had a certain charm."
"Have you set a date, honey?" Mrs. Wells asked.
"Not exactly, it will be sometime in January. I hope everyone won't mind flying to Trinidad."
"Oh my word! You're getting married in Trinidad?"
"Of course, Mom. The bride's family always puts on the wedding. You'll love Trinidad. It's a beautiful country. We're getting married at the Royal Botanical Gardens. You won't believe it. It's absolutely incredible. It's probably the most beautiful place on earth. I can't wait for you and Dad to see it."
"My mother will see to it that it's a memorable wedding, believe me," Deviane said. "It will be the biggest social event Trinidad has had in years."
"Is that right? Well, this is all so exciting. I don't know what to say."
"Don't worry, Mom. I know all this is all pretty overwhelming but you'll get used to it. I'm starting to."
"I guess I could take my vacation time in January," Mr. Wells said.
"Yeah, Dad. It'll be forty or fifty degrees warmer in Trinidad than in Dallas. It'll be a good break from the cold winter weather."
"Where are you going to go on your honeymoon?" Mrs. Wells asked.
Kevin and Deviane looked at each other and started to laugh.
"We haven't even thought about that, Mom. Maybe we'll stop by a travel agency tomorrow, when we go shopping."
"I like Barbados. It's a beautiful island," Deviane said.
"That's too close to Trinidad, Deviane. We should go somewhere far away, like Hawaii."
"Oh, I've always wanted to go to Hawaii. I like that idea."
"Good, that was easy."
"Where are you going shopping tomorrow?"
"We thought we'd go to the Galleria and check out the jewelry stores. I need to buy Deviane an engagement ring. We might stop at Victoria's Secret while we're there too."
"Kevin!" Mrs. Wells said.
"For our wedding night, Mom. We've got to think ahead."
"Uh huh."
"I hate to bring up minor details, but how do you plan to finance all of this?" Mr. Wells asked.
"Oh, I was going to ask you if I could borrow your Visa card, Dad," Kevin replied.
Mr. Wells frowned.
"No, luckily I listened to you and I've been saving my pennies. I've got a few bucks in the bank. Fortunately, the government has been flying us everywhere, so we haven't spent a nickel since we left Trinidad."
"I haven't told Kevin this before, but I've got quite a lot of money in a trust fund," Deviane added. "Money shouldn't be a problem."
Kevin looked at Deviane. "You've got a trust fund?"
"Yes."
He smiled. "Aren't you full of surprises. How much?"
Deviane shook her head and replied, "We'll talk about it later."
"Hmm, well, I guess you don't have to worry about us having enough money, Dad."
"That's good. I just wanted to be sure everything would work out for you."
"I know. Hey, we're going to go watch television in the guest room, okay?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Your friends are coming over to see you in a little bit. They've all been worried about you."
"Oh, great. I wanted Deviane to meet them. Who all's coming?"
"Paula, Alice and Brent."
Kevin smiled at Deviane. She gave him a distressed look and he laughed. "Don't worry. It will be all right."
Deviane took a deep breath and returned a half smile.
It wasn't long before the doorbell rang. Kevin got up quickly and went to the door. Deviane followed him, but only went far enough to see the front door. Kevin opened it and embraced Paula. Alice walked past them, went straight over to Deviane and extended her hand.
"You must be the princess," she said.
Deviane frowned as they shook hands.
"Come on, Alice," Kevin said, "Deviane's not a princess. They don't have royalty in Trinidad."
Brent came forward shaking his head. "I don't know,
she may not be a princess, but there's no doubt she's a goddess."
Deviane blushed a little and then shook Brent's hand. Kevin laughed. "You noticed, huh...? Forgive my friends, Deviane, they're not–well actually they are usually this rude."
They all laughed. "Yes," Paula said. "Please forgive us. You've been through so much. I don't know how you two did it. I can't imagine being kidnaped by terrorists."
"Let's not talk about that," Kevin said. "That's one nightmare we're trying to forget."
"I can imagine," Paula said. "We've just been so worried about you two."
"Thank you," Deviane said. "Kevin has told me what wonderful friends he had back in America. I'm so glad I finally got to meet all of you. I hope you all can come to Trinidad for the wedding."
Paula's face stiffened. She looked over at Kevin.
"Wedding?"
"Yes, it's going to be in the papers tomorrow so we best tell you now. Deviane and I are getting married in Trinidad in January."
Paula turned away as she struggled to keep her composure. Kevin watched her intently. Deviane watched them both.
"Wow! I can't believe you're getting married," Alice said. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Deviane replied. "My father will provide all of you transportation and you'll be our guests while you’re in Trinidad."
"Are you serious?" Brent said.
"Yes, Kevin's friends are my friends . . . at least I hope so."
Paula turned and looked at Deviane.
Alice said, "Well, you must be some kind of woman to land this Texas lunker. I'd be proud to be your friend."
Kevin laughed. Alice and Deviane embraced.
Paula took a deep breath, wiped a tear from her eye and said, "Yes, of course, I'd be honored to be your friend. You're a very lucky woman."
Deviane smiled tenderly. "Yes, I know."
It was several hours later when the reunion broke up. As Kevin was walking them out to the car, Paula pulled him aside.
"Congratulations, you finally found your virgin," she said.
Kevin took a deep breath. "Listen, Paula, I'm sorry things didn't work out for us. I do love you, but as a friend."
"You know what really bothers me?"
"What's that?"
"When I had sex the first time I had no idea what I was giving up. If I had the slightest inkling that you were out there, I wouldn't have let anyone touch me. I just never-"
"Paula, even if you'd been a virgin, I'm not sure we'd have ever gotten together. I wasn't just looking for a virgin. That was just one of the qualities I wanted in my wife. Besides, you must know by now Deviane isn't a virgin. What happened to her was in all the papers."
"Well, that was speculation by reporters. I hoped it wasn’t true."
"It is true. She was raped by Ray Mohammed. That's why I killed him."
"Oh, my God!" Paula said. "You must have been devastated."
"Well at the time I didn’t realize I was in love with Deviane. She’d told me how she felt about me but I thought I was still in love with Kiran. Then, when Mohammed took her, I felt like taking that gun and blowing my own brains out. Just when I realized Deviane was the woman I had been searching for, she was snatched away from me. So what was the point of living? But I figured out pretty quick that nothing had really changed. She was still the same woman. All we had to do was erase a few hours from our memories.
“I wanted her back no matter what condition she was in. It didn't matter that she'd been raped. I couldn't live without her. If she hadn't come out of shock, then that’s when I would have definitely taken a gun and blown my brains out."
Paula began to cry. They embraced.
"I'm so sorry, Kevin. I had no idea. I've been so selfish."
Kevin pulled away and looked Paula in the eye. "Bullshit. You've been a wonderful friend. One of these days I'll be coming to your wedding and you know what?"
"What?"
"I'm going to be a little jealous myself."
Paula smiled. "Really?. . . I don't believe you, but it was nice of you to say it anyway."
Kevin took Paula's hand and squeezed it. She turned and walked to the car. She got in and they drove off. Kevin turned and saw Deviane standing at the door. He smiled and went to her.
"That was awkward," he said, "but I'm glad we got it over with."
"She really loves you," Deviane said.
"I know, but she'll get over it."
"But will you?"
Kevin put his arms around Deviane and replied, "I only have room in my heart for one woman. I've always known that and now that I have you, there's no room for anyone else."
They embraced before rejoining Kevin's parents in the den. "We're going to go watch TV in the guest room," he said.
"Why don't you watch it in the den?" Mrs. Wells asked.
"It's cozier in the guest room."
"You two be good," Mrs. Wells said.
"I think you know you don't have to worry about that."
"I know. It's been nice talking to you, Deviane," Mrs. Wells said. "Maybe if Kevin will let loose of you one afternoon, we could go to lunch."
"That would be fine," Kevin said. "As long as you promise not to tell her anything bad about me."
"I never make promises I can't keep."
"Don't believe everything Mom tells you, Deviane."
"Oh, I doubt your mother would lie to me."
"Hmm. Why is it you put two women together and a conspiracy always begins?"
"That's how we keep men under control," Mrs. Wells replied.
"I believe that. . . . Okay, so after we go shopping in the morning, why don't you two go to lunch? I've got an errand I've got to run anyway."
"Oh, wonderful. Is that okay, Deviane?" Mrs. Wells said.
"Yes, I'd like that very much."
"Good, it's settled then,” Kevin said. “Come on, Deviane. Let's go watch TV."

The next day, Kevin took Deviane to the Galleria. She was amazed by its size and loved the department stores, hundreds of shops and the ice rink inside. She made Kevin sit and watch the skaters for thirty minutes since she had never seen an ice rink before, except on TV. After doing their shopping, which included the purchase of an impressive one carat engagement ring, they drove around North Dallas. Deviane was impressed with the miles and miles of beautiful homes and busy shopping centers that adorned this part of town.

When they got back home, Mrs. Wells was patiently waiting to go to lunch.
"Hi, Mom," Kevin said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Oh, hi. How did your shopping go?"
"Well, look on Deviane's finger and you can judge for yourself."
Deviane extended her hand proudly exhibiting a beautiful diamond engagement ring. Mrs. Wells took her hand and lifted it up so she could get a good look at it.
"Oh my Lord, that is beautiful!" Mrs. Wells exclaimed. "I love it!"
"Isn't it exquisite?" Deviane said, twisting her hand so the diamond would sparkle.
"Oh, yes. I'm so jealous."
Kevin watched his mother and Deviane with great satisfaction. He was glad they liked each other. He thought maybe having Deviane around would help fill the void left after Diana’s death. At least he hoped so.
"Okay, I've got to go on my errand, so I'm going to leave you two. Have a good lunch."
"We will. I thought we'd go to Bennigans and then do some more shopping at Stonebriar Mall."
"Have fun. Oh, I think two Secret Service agents are going with you. The other one is coming with me."
"All right, we'll see you later."
Kevin went outside and got in the State Department car. His thoughts immediately turned to Cetawayo, who was scheduled to arrive with her children at Love Field. He wondered how she had made out and whether the State Department had treated her well. He remembered how strange he felt when he landed in Trinidad, so he could appreciate what a traumatic experience this would be for her and the children.
The driver took them out to the private runway where the jet was just pulling into its parking slot. Several men pushed a portable stairway in front of the door. Then they climbed up the stairs and opened the main hatch. Cetawayo looked scared as she made her way off the plane with her children in hand. Kevin rushed over to her and gave her a hug. Then he picked up one of the kids and shook hands with the other two.
After collecting their luggage, they were driven to a motel, where Kevin checked them in and helped them unpack. Then he showed Cetawayo her money.
"My word, look at all that cash! I've never seen so much money before," Cetawayo said.
Kevin laughed.
"I haven't either. Isn't it beautiful?"
"It will be nice to know it's there, if we need it."
"Lets go put it in the bank where it will be safe. You can't afford to take any chances with it. I saw a Guaranty Bank and a Comerica Bank a few blocks away. You don't want to put more than one hundred thousand in one bank. That's the most that is insured. We'll put half in each bank."
"Okay, whatever you say."
They went back out to the car and were driven to Guaranty Bank. The Secret Service agent waited outside to give them a little privacy. They walked inside and took a seat at the new accounts desk. The kids sat quietly next to their mother. A middle-aged lady, dressed in a business suit, approached them and sat down at her desk.
"Hello, can I help you?" she said.
"Yes," Kevin replied. "Mrs. Mohammed needs to open a bank account."
"Okay, what kind of an account?"
"Just a regular, interest bearing checking account."
"How much will you be depositing?"
"Oh, just a hundred thousand."
The lady looked up and gave Kevin a stunned look. "Oh, is it cash or check?"
"Cash."
"Then I'll have to fill out a Cash Transaction Report."
"What's that?"
"Any cash deposits over ten thousand dollars must be reported to the government."
"Oh really. Well I don't have time to fill that out right now, so we'll just put nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine dollars in the account. Will that work?"
"Certainly."
"Who will be the signatories?"
"Just Mrs. Mohammed."
"What about in the event of an emergency?"
"I don't know. What do you think, Cetawayo?"
"Why don't you sign, in case something happens to me? You're the only one I know in America, and you'd have to look after the kids if something happened to me."
"Hmm. Okay, if that's what you want."
The clerk filled out the necessary paperwork to open the account and Kevin gave her the money to deposit. When they were done, they went to the lobby and sat down on a sofa. Kevin thought for a moment.
"We don't want to report this money to anyone, particularly the government. They may know about it already, but just in case they don't, we can put it in a safety deposit box," Kevin said.
"Okay."
"Go back to the car with the kids. Tell the Secret Service agent you’re not feeling so well. Ask him to take you and the kids home and then come back for me. I'll go to the Comerica Bank down the street. I don't want the Secret Service knowing where you have the bulk of your money. I'll sneak down to that bank after you are gone and get a safety deposit box. I’ll leave the money in the box and then I'll come back here when I'm done and wait to be picked up. That way, nobody will know where the other money is located, except you and I.
"Do you think that’s really necessary?"
"It never hurts to be careful."
Kevin went out the back door and returned twenty minutes later. The Secret Service agent was just pulling up as he arrived. Later, when he returned to the motel, he gave Cetawayo the safety deposit key. He had her sign the signature card and told her it needed to be mailed back to the bank. After taking her and the kids to the store to buy some groceries, stopping by the post office and showing them around Dallas a little, they dropped them off at their motel.
"Okay, Cetawayo, I know it’s got to be hard for you to be suddenly dumped in Dallas like this. I'm sorry I can't spend more time with you."
"It's okay, you've been very helpful."
"If you need anything, you've got my phone number. After Deviane and I leave, you can call my dad. He'll be happy to give you a hand. Before we leave, Deviane and I will help you find an apartment, okay?"
"Thank you, Kevin. You've been so nice to us. We'll be all right now. Don't you be worrying about us, okay?"
"Are you going to try to get a job?"
"After I get the kids in school and learn my way around a little bit, I'll see about getting a teaching certificate here in Dallas. Once I do that, then I can look for a job."
"Great, we'll see you next week then."
Kevin left the motel and asked his driver to drop by the Dallas Library on the way home. He had done a search on the internet on his home computer for ownership information on Navet Exploration, Ltd. but hadn’t found what he wanted. There was a lot about the company, but no details on ownership. Once inside, he went directly to the reference section and asked the librarian on duty for assistance. She directed him to several international business directories. Kevin searched through the two volumes until he found what he wanted. He scanned the short paragraph on Navet Exploration. The last sentence provided the answer; Navet Exploration was owned and controlled by Sureguard Ventures, Inc. of Santa Barbara, California but had several other undisclosed partners.
Kevin closed the book and left the library. He felt like he had confirmed his suspicions about the Prime Minister; that he was on the United States payroll. Sure, it wasn’t conclusive evidence and he didn't understand exactly how it worked, but to him it stunk, any way you smelled it.
Deviane and his mother were in the kitchen cooking supper when he came in. Deviane rushed over to him and they embraced and kissed excitedly. Mrs. Wells watched them a moment and then went back to her cooking.
"Okay, Kevin. If you want to eat, you'd better release Deviane. She's in the middle of making the salad."
Kevin and Deviane finally let each other go.
"Come on, Mom. We've been separated nearly four hours. Have a heart."
"You'll have plenty of time for kissing later."
"Okay," Kevin replied.
"Enjoy all this affection now, Deviane," Mrs. Wells said. "When you get my age, you'll be lucky to get a little peck in the morning and swat on the ass at night."
Deviane laughed. "I don't know, Kevin's pretty passionate. I hope he doesn't change."
"He will, it comes with age."
"So, Kevin, how did your errand go?" Deviane asked.
"Very well, actually. I got Cetawayo and her kids settled, and the money put safely away."
"Good, how is Cetawayo?"
"She looked a little tired, but I think she'll be okay. Her kids are angels. They didn't give us any trouble at all. Oh, I went to the library on the way home."
"Oh. So were you right?" Deviane asked.
"I'm afraid so."
Deviane frowned and shook her head. Kevin shrugged and gave her a sympathetic look.
"So what are you kids going to do tomorrow?"
"I'm going to take Deviane to Six Flags."
"Oh. That will be fun," Mrs. Wells said. "Do they have amusement parks in Trinidad, Deviane?"
"No, but I went to Disneyworld once with my family when I was about twelve or thirteen."
"This Saturday, we're going to go check out SMU and TCU. On Sunday, I've got tickets for a Cowboy game."
"You two are going to be busy."
"Well, we've got a lot to do. Next week we have to go back to Trinidad."
"Oh, there was a message for you from someone at NBC."
"What did they want?"
"I don't know, you'll have to call them and find out."
"They probably want an interview. What should I tell them, Deviane?"
"It's up to you, honey. If you want to give them an interview, it's okay with me."
"I guess I'll give them a call."
Kevin went to the telephone and dialed the number on the message. It was a long distance call to Burbank.
"Hello, Kevin. Thanks for returning my call."
"No, problem."
"Listen, Jay heard you were back in the states and wondered if you and Miss Shah wanted to come on the show?"
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, we thought it would be a great follow up after your last appearance. You know, since you were kidnaped and now you've found a bride."
"Let me discuss it with Deviane and I'll get back with you, okay?"
"Sure, we were thinking about Tuesday night. We had a cancellation, so that would work out well."
"Okay, I'll get back with you. Thanks for calling."
Kevin hung up the phone and went back into the kitchen.
"Guess what?"
"What?" Deviane said."
"Jay Leno wants us on the Tonight Show."
"No way," Deviane said.
"Why?" Kevin asked showing obvious disappointment.
"Kiran said he made fun of you on his show the night we were kidnaped. He thought it was so funny, that you wanted to marry a virgin. If we go on the show, he'll probably humiliate us."
"He's a comedian. He's supposed to humiliate people. Nobody takes it seriously."
"I don't care. Our marriage should be private. I don't want our relationship debated on national television. We'll never have any privacy if we don't put a stop to all this publicity, right now."
"Good point. I'll call them back and decline the invitation. We don't have time for it anyway."