The 22nd Secret Page 10

  Ben and Tino nodded.

  Henry called Pam from the cell on his commercial flight back to New Mexico. He briefed her on that evening’s meeting and they discussed strategy.

  Ben walked into the classroom at one minute after the hour. Patty sat in the same spot as the previous week, reading her textbook. He sat down in his same seat, with an empty desk between them “Hi, Patty.”

  Patty looked up from her book and smiled.

  “Hi, Ben.”

  “How about some lunch after class?” Professor Weiker entered the room and set his books down next to the lectern.

  “Okay.” Patty whispered as the class prepared for the lecture. She looked at Ben and smiled.

  Ben talked constantly through lunch. About Weiker’s class, about San Francisco, and about current events. He said he was from New York so he could avoid talking about China. Patty said very little. She smiled a lot and acted interested. She did make a mental suggestion assuring Ben would ask her out. They ate hamburgers and fries at the student union. After lunch, Ben walked Patty to her car. He tried to ignore the fact that his life depended on her interest in him. At the last moment, he decided not to risk asking her today. He would ask her out after next week’s class. But then the words suddenly tumbled out of him.

  “You busy Friday night?” His stomach tightened. He thought of Henry’s gun pointed at him under the table at the restaurant. Patty turned, smiled, staring into Ben’s eyes.

  “No, I’m not.” She managed not to laugh at his obvious relief or her provocation of him asking her out.

  Ben quickly regained control.

  “Great, how about dinner and a movie? You want to pick the movie?”

  “Sure,” she said, smiling. She pulled her hair behind her ears.

  “I’ll pick you up around 7.”

  Patty got in her car and started the engine. Ben watched his own reflection as she lowered her window.

  “Wait, you pick it. Anything’s fine.” Patty watched him standing awkwardly.

  “Okay, great. See you at 7 Friday night.”

  Pam thought of the numbers in her address.

  “Oh yeah,” Ben said. “What’s your address?”

  “Why don’t you call me? My number is–” Ben dropped his books and fumbled to get to a blank page in his notebook. Pam enjoyed this island of control in the sea of submission that would characterize their relationship.

  “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Patty rattled off her number.

  “Can I call you tonight?” Ben asked.

  Patty grew shy. “Call me whenever you want.” She looked directly into Ben’s eyes and made sure he would. “I’m looking forward to Friday night.”

  She raised the window and drove off, leaving Ben standing there with his books piled at his feet. The rest of Ben’s life passed in front of his eyes; most important scientist in China, maybe the world, Patty as his own personal playmate. It was all so easy, or was he that good? Ben decided it was the latter. He raised his fist in the air and quickly lowered it. “Yes,” he said, smiling to himself.

  Their date was uneventful. Patty suggested they leave Ben’s Honda at Patty’s. Ben would drive them in her Mercedes. Driving the powerful expensive sports car ballooned Ben’s ego. Ben did most of the talking, as he had each time he saw her. Pam’s mind silently worked on building Ben’s confidence and feelings of dominance over her. It was easy to plant thoughts into his overly confident mind.

  After their date, Ben walked Patty to the door of her apartment. She unlocked the door and turned to face him.

  “Thank you, Ben,” she said, holding out her hand. “I had a wonderful time.”

  Ben ignored the hand and gently held Patty’s chin. She closed her eyes and allowed him to direct the position of her head and kiss her. It was a modest kiss. He tried to look her straight in the eyes when he finished, but she was too embarrassed and turned away to enter the door. Pam decided she wanted to see Ben tomorrow and using her mind made him ask her.

  “Patty, I’d like to see you again. Can we go for a ride along Highway 101 in your car tomorrow afternoon?” The words flowed out of Ben’s mouth. He considered it inspiration but felt weird while he asked. It was as though he lost control around her, which he had never experienced around a woman.

  “I’d love to.” Pam stood in the doorway smiling. She kissed Ben on the cheek and grew embarrassed. She rushed into her apartment, closing the door behind her. They were inseparable from that moment on.

  The e-mail from the shadow was marked urgent. Patty had been observed dating the Chinese male for almost two weeks. It was obvious to anyone who saw them together there was something special going on. They spent most of their days together. The shadow urgently requested further instructions. He was certain this was a very serious breach of national security. At the least, he needed to know if Henry Lo had checked to make sure he was not involved in espionage or the Chinese missile program?

  Henry replied that he and Director Johnson were aware of the contact. This was of the highest importance to national security. It was not necessary for the shadow to know why. Just don’t allow anyone to interfere. Continue to observe and report regularly to him and no one else. Henry deleted the original message and the reply after forwarding them to Betty. Betty added them to a file in the briefcase designated for this operation after Walker had read them.

  The third meeting of the three conspirators convened as usual after dinner.

  “I know through our shadow that you and Patty are seeing each other regularly. You think with time she’ll fall in love with you?”

  “I think she wants my cock right now.” Ben had obviously obtained some confidence since the last meeting. “I tell you, she’s putty in my hands. But I’ve taken it easy on her. I followed your instructions and moved slowly, but you give the word and I’ll have her so horny she won’t be able to keep her hands off me.”

  “She’s told you she loves you?” Tino asked. “Wants to have sex?”

  “Well, not exactly, but I can tell. She’s not the first virgin I’ve taken. I could have her any time I want. Hell, I wait much longer she’s going to start begging.”

  Henry thought he was a pathetic little punk. Pam could crush you with a thought if she wanted. She could make you into a fag instead of the greatest stud to walk the face of the earth. You’re not even aware of what she’s doing to you or why.

  Henry knew what Pam was capable of. He had been as close to her as any man was allowed. The times he was lucky enough to be with her, she did not hesitate to hide her power from him. Listening to Ben’s macho boasting was pathetic.

  “I have a plan that may get Patty where we want her, but it’s dependent on her falling in love with you. I mean like, wanting to marry you, spend the rest of her life with you, not some boy like I’m getting a piece of ass. You think you can accomplish that? You think you got a chance with her besides sex? Because that’s what it’s going to take.”

  Ben instantly turned serious. “To be honest with you two, I’m falling in love with her believe it or not. She’s so beautiful. Hell, I can’t believe she’s dating me regularly. If it hadn’t been for you, I probably would never have made a pass at her. I’d have figured she wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

  “You’ve probably figured out why she doesn’t get hit on more often. If more men had guns pointed at their balls she’d be the most popular girl on campus.” Henry appreciated Ben’s candor.

  “My biggest fear is that she’s not feeling the same toward me. I mean, we’re dating, I know I’ve gotten that far. And we’ll probably have sex. She seems willing to be with me. She’s even affectionate toward me, but marriage, lifelong devotion, enough to give up country and family and everything. That’s a pretty tall order. I know my life is at stake here, but be sensible. I can’t guarantee that would happen even if she says she’ll marry me.”

  “That’s not necessary. I told you I have a plan. I think it will work but it is entirely dependent o
n Patty falling in love with you to the extent she’d be willing to marry you. You think you can get that far?”

  “I at least got a chance.”

  “Good, that’s all we can expect. You’ve got until November 5th. That’s a couple of months. We’ll meet again at that time. If she’s in love with you and you’re in love with her, I’ll take it from there. I’ll get her to go with you to China.”

  “It’s not going to be hard for me. I can’t believe I’ve gotten this far. I hope she feels the same way toward me. How are you going to get her to go to China?”

  “Let me worry about that. I’ll explain it to you later. For now concentrate on developing a real relationship with Patty. None of this fuck-m and leave-m bullshit. If it isn’t real, my plan won’t work.”

  Henry turned to Tino, who had been quiet the whole meeting.

  “Tino, ask your Chinese people how they want us to deliver her. We’ll need to know this by the time we meet in November. Tell them I think we can have her there before Thanksgiving.”

  Henry filled Patty in by phone on the flight back to New Mexico. She asked him if he knew why Ben seemed to grow preoccupied with his testicles when they talked seriously about their relationship. Henry told her about the gun incident during their first meeting and they laughed.

  Pam would eventually do something with Ben she had never done with another man. She would make Ben fall deeply in love with her. They spent a lot of time together over the next few weeks. Class, lunch, dinners and movies, dancing, jogging and drives in the Mercedes. They enjoyed each other’s company. Ben found he was not only falling in love with Patty, but she was becoming his best friend. Her layers of reticence slowly disappeared, and she freely admitted to never being as close to another man, or even having a man as a friend. It was a perfectly romantic relationship in every way. Ben even found himself respecting Patty. He had seen her in a bikini and other sexy clothing. He knew it would be fabulous to have sex with her. He wanted her desperately but he also wanted her to be ready. He cared for her too deeply to just try and take her. They kissed at the end of their dates and these kisses slowly grew passionate. Ben was patient. He knew the wait would be worth it. These were new experiences for Ben. He had never loved a woman like he loved Patty.

  The sunset over the Pacific Ocean was on fire as Ben drove Patty along Highway 101 in her Mercedes. They talked very little enjoying the view and each other’s company. Patty leaned her head on Ben’s shoulder and whispered in his ear.

  “I love being with you, Ben.” Her soft breath in his ear sent chills through his body. He didn’t speak or react. The signal he patiently awaited was coming. Patty unbuttoned Ben’s shirt and softly rubbed his chest. He exhaled deeply and became erect. They arrived at Patty’s at 9 and stood in front of the opened door as they had at the end of almost all their dates. Ben’s shirt was still unbuttoned. Patty admired his muscular chest as she rubbed both hands over it.

  Don’t rush it, don’t scare her. Just keep it cool, Ben thought.

  “How about something different for dinner tomorrow night?” Ben asked. “We’ll go to Chinatown and buy some things and I’ll make you some authentic Chinese food at my place.”

  Patty looked up to Ben. She sighed heavily “We have to wait till tomorrow night?”

  Ben was in charge now. He enjoyed protecting Patty’s virtue if even for one more night. “It’s too late to go shopping for dinner tonight.” Ben knew she was ready. They kissed long and passionately. Patty could feel Ben’s erection pressed against her.

  They broke for air and held each other close. Patty whispered in Ben’s ear, “You better go, Ben. I don’t want to go to Chinatown tomorrow. Would it be okay if I just came over at 6?”

  Ben held her by the shoulders. Her eyes were soft, almost glazed over. She was ready and she was his.

  “I’ll see you at 6. You’re very beautiful. I love being with you too.”

  They resumed kissing. Neither wanted to part for the evening, but Ben finally forced himself. Patty waited until Ben drove off before entering her apartment and closing the door.

  Ben opened the door when he heard Patty knock just after 6 the next evening. The apartment was filled with the aroma of Ben’s cooking. She stood in the door wearing a cut off T-shirt, no bra, hip-hugger shorts and sandals. Patty quickly threw her arms around Ben’s neck, raising her shirt above her breasts and kissed him, probing deeply in his mouth with her tongue. Ben grabbed one of her breasts as they kissed. It was pure ecstasy he thought. Suddenly she turned around.

  “The door Ben, really? Don’t you think you need to close the door?”

  Ben closed the door as Patty walked to the couch. “You’re not wearing a bra,” Ben said. He turned around to see Patty reclined on the couch, legs slightly spread, her arms behind her head exposing her breasts.

  “I’m not wearing any panties either.”

  That was all it took. Ben was on top of Patty in a moment. He struggled to pull her T-shirt off between their frantic kisses. He was grabbing at his own shirt when he noticed Patty was shivering.

  “What’s wrong? You cold?”

  “I’m so embarrassed.” Patty covered her face with her hands using her arms to cover her chest.

  “It’s okay, Patty. We don’t have to do any of this if you don’t want to.” Ben gently pulled her hands away from her face but allowed her to continue to hide her breasts with her arms.

  “No it’s not that. I’m scared. I’ve never really been any further than this with a man. Oh, Ben I want you to love me. I want to please you but I’m afraid I’ll let you go too far. I love you, Ben, but I want to save some things for…well, you know.”

  “For that special man, the man you’ll spend the rest of your life with. What makes you think I’m not that man?”

  Ben was surprised at the sincerity of his words. He had said similar words to other women in the past, but this time he meant them. He was on the verge of proposing.

  Patty wrapped her arms around Ben’s neck and buried his face in her chest. Pam was having fun with him.

  “Oh Ben, tell me you love me, tell me I can let myself go. Tell me I can trust you, you won’t hurt me.”

  Ben raised his head up and looked into Patty’s eyes. “I love you. I love you more than anything. Patty will you marry me.” The deed was done. What surprised Ben was that he meant it. He loved her and wanted nothing else but to spend eternity with her.

  “Yes. Oh, yes Ben. I will. I love you so much.” Patty pulled Ben to her lips. They kissed for as long as either could, then held each other close. “Teach me how to please you Ben, teach me what you like.” She whispered in his ear.

  There was not a lot of teaching. Ben frantically removed the rest of their clothes. It was over quickly. Pam made him believe she was a virgin. The overall experience was disappointing for her. Ben was not very skillful at sex and Pam would not be able to teach him a lot without jeopardizing her cover. She did not look forward to the future with Chen Wen Bin as her lover.

  Ben put on his underwear while he finished getting their dinner ready. He requested Patty remain nude for the rest of the evening. He explained that she was too beautiful to hide with clothing. He liked her better this way. Ben was already into treating Patty like a sex object. He was a selfish lover but the operation was on schedule.

  As many bewildered girls find out, promises are made and worse yet believed, during moments of passion. On rare occasions, promises are kept. Time is the only measure of the quality of these commitments. In Ben and Patty’s, case they proved to be good at least until November 5th. There was no way to tell how long the commitments would last after that. Relationships between men and women are very fragile, and can be lost or destroyed in a moment. Ben was truly in love with Patty and he believed she adored him. Ben would often spend several nights in a row at Patty’s. It was a larger, better-equipped apartment than his.

  Much to Pam’s relief Ben’s sexual techniques improved allowing her to enjoy the passion with
out revealing her experience. Patty said it wasn’t necessary, but Ben insisted on buying her an engagement ring. They didn’t set a date, deciding to wait until after they finished their doctoral work.

  The next meeting began after the servers cleared the room. It was to be the final meeting.

  “Well, Ben. Patty’s shadow tells me she’s wearing an engagement ring. Are congratulations in order?” Henry’s face was beaming.

  “Yeah, we heard you’re spending the night a lot too,” Tino said. “I’ll congratulate you for that.”

  “When I first met you two, I figured I was in one hell of a mess,” Ben said. “But things kind of worked out. It’s amazing, but I’m really in love with her, and she’s in love with me. We’re engaged, but I still can’t imagine how you’re going to get her to betray her country.”

  “First, timing is critical. We can’t give Patty a lot of time to think about this. Once it starts, it’s got to move on the schedule we set. Tino, how do the Chinese want us to deliver her and what about getting Ben out of here?”

  “Leave it to the Chinese to come up with the most fucking ridiculous plan. I guess the stranger it is, the harder they think it’s going to be for our government to interfere. I’m supposed to arrange for Patty and me to fly to Anchorage, Alaska. From there we rent a private plane with ski landing gear. I have a pilot I can use. Fly her to a place called Otter Bay. We’re to fly in low off radar and off our flight path. They’ll have a research vessel nearby. It’s moving into position as we speak. Patty will sail on it. The pilot and I return to Anchorage and claim we got lost. Patty disappears when she boards the commercial airliner here in San Francisco. One good thing is we don’t need any passports, just Patty’s driver’s license when getting on the commercial flight. I’m already setting everything up. They want us at the research vessel November 15th. As for Ben, he’s to fly to Anchorage just in case we have trouble with the girl. He’ll be there to deal with it. After she’s on the boat they’ll get Ben out on their own. Actually, it’s a pretty neat little package.