Diplomatic Immunity, Part One

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

The Ambassabor’s Duties

Iman Dalhar

She was a very foolish girl and should have known better!

I sighed and laid aside the letter of instruction from Aruf Mahjalis, rubbing my eyes. The man was truly enraged and deeply offended by the flagrant acts of his daughter, and so he should be! She had transgressed every possible rule of her faith and upbringing then crowned this ultimate indignity to her family by giving herself away to all sorts of men while in a drunken or drugged flings! How could she have been so idiotic?!

Nevertheless, his instructions were quite clear about what was to be done, and I had to begin making the elaborate arrangements immediately. She was soon going to be a very sorry young woman indeed, and Allah alone knew what awaited her when she returned to her home.

Aruf Mahjalis is an extremely wealthy man with deep connections to the ruling elite of my country, and so I would be required to carry out his desires with all diligence. He owned three huge and elaborate palaces, and I was sure there were many other places that no one knew of. Rumours of them, and what transpired within their walls, had been whispered for years. I’d heard stories of how some of these more traditional men treated their errant wives and daughters and could hardly give credit that they were true, but as it is said: ‘where there is smoke, there is fire’.

The phone waited patiently, and so I began the series of calls that would change Delilah’s life forever.

How drastic these changes were to eventually be for her, I had no idea.

Dr Jannason

I received the invitation during the course of regular business hours, and it seemed ordinary enough at the beginning. The caller asked if I would be available for a private consultation, and I agreed to it with no concerns, and truth to tell, a great deal of curiosity.

My appointment was planned for the next afternoon, and so I set aside the unimportant projects I’d scheduled, and assembled my credentials, plus the assorted other materiel I had been requested to bring along. The caller insisted that a limousine would be sent to pick me up, and so the next afternoon, I waited in my office for the call from the front desk, going over some impending work. Occasionally, I glanced out the window and enjoyed the view of the bright Autumnal colours and the sight of the younger staff members out walking and enjoying the mild weather before the long, cold winter set in.

At 1:30 pm, I was ushered into the private office of the Ambassador, a Mr. Iman Dalhar. We exchanged pleasant greetings, and it was at this point I began to be drawn into the life of Delilah Mahjalis.

“Good afternoon, Doctor Jannason,” he spoke in a deep voice, standing and reaching across the desk to shake my hand. “Please! Make yourself comfortable.”

“Good afternoon, Sir,” I replied, settling into a comfortable chair before the ornately carved and decorated desk. “What can I assist you with?”

“Some refreshments perhaps?” he asked, ignoring my question.

“Ah, yes, please. Iced tea would be wonderful on a day like this.”

He made the arrangements with a quick phone call then turned to me again.

“Firstly, Dr Jannason, I must request, most emphatically, that any and all of our discussions remain utterly confidential, and that nothing be said to anyone, even should we proceed no further than today’s meeting. Do I have that assurance, sir?”

“Yes, of course,” I responded. “All of my clients and patients are accorded the utmost confidentiality.”

“Very good!” he smiled. “Now, should our talk lead to further discussions and work by you on our behalf at any time in the future, I must also ask that the same degree of confidentiality be applied. Is this satisfactory to you, also?”

“Yes, I see no problem, and the same conditions apply as I mentioned in response to your previous question.” I was intrigued by the deep secrecy required, it being much more than I had ever been asked in the past. Medical and patient/doctor confidentiality was a given.

“Very good. Doctor Jannason,” he asked, “it is my understanding that you are one of the premiere medical instrument inventors and creators in the world, as well as being a surgeon of international repute.”

“Well,” I replied, trying to be modest, “my peers seem to respect my abilities in those fields, and I feel I’m quite competent to tackle nearly any problem in them.”

“Ah ... yes,” he smiled at me above the rim of his frosted glass. “You have been recommended, very highly I might note, for employment in those specialties. The gentleman for whom I am acting is prepared to pay most generously for your services and any time you may spend on his behalf, including today’s meeting, of course.”

“Oh, really? I’m most flattered,” I replied happily. “How is it I can assist you, sir?”

“Uuummm ...” he paused, looking at me with an assessing glance. “Too tell the truth, I have a matter here at the embassy that must be dealt with quite ... ah ... delicately, shall I say?” He held up his hand, forestalling my questions. “Please bear with me for a few moments, Doctor, while I clarify the situation.”

The Ambassador then gave me a thumbnail history of Delilah Mahjalis and her recent bout of wild flings. He indicated that she was now being kept at the embassy prior to being returned home, and then he got to the interesting part of the story.

“... and so, her father, being the man that he is, wishes to have certain ... um ... procedures completed with regard to his daughter, and the placement of some ... ah ... how shall I phrase this?” his fingers steepled on the desk and he stared up at the ornate ceiling carvings for a moment then returned his gaze to me, starting directly into my eyes.

“In short, Dr Jannason, her father wishes you to create certain devices, then ... ah ... permanently attach them to Miss Mahjalis. These are to be fitted to, and into her by such means that they cannot be removed, by anyone. They will, in effect, become permanent additions to her body.”

I was more than a little stunned by this request and sat for a moment, deep in thought, but then my curiosity got the better of me.

“Ah ... what sort of devices are we speaking of here?”

“I take it then,” he asked, before answering, “that you are prepared to create such appliances and to perform the necessary surgeries?”

“Well ..,” I temporized, “I’ll need to know just what it is I’m making, and the physical condition of the ... ah ... patient.”

“I have all of the details available for you, Doctor, and you will quite naturally give Miss Mahjalis a complete physical examination to make your determination. However, I can assure you that her last medical report indicates she is in the prime of health and suffers no diseases, allergies, or other afflictions. Before we get to that point though, I must have your written agreement to the terms I’ve detailed and will require that you sign a variety of non-disclosure documents as well.”

“Yes, I believe I can assist you,” I said without any further thought. “I’ll be happy to sign the documents required,” I agreed, now deeply curious as to what was planned for the young woman.

The Ambassador smiled with relief at my assent then reached into a drawer and drew forth two large, thick envelopes.

He opened one, extracted a document, and passed it to me. I read it through and saw that it was, as he had stated, a non-disclosure agreement. The Ambassador handed me a pen and I signed it, then he witnessed it at the bottom.

“Excellent!” he smiled. “Please feel free to take this envelope with you and study the contents, Dr. Jannason. It, too, is subject to the non-disclosure requirements other than for manufacturing purposes.” He handed me the thicker, still sealed one.

“Thank you,” I dropped it, unopened, into my briefcase. “I shall get back to you within forty-eight hours, your Excellency, and give you a schedule, if that is acceptable to you and Mr Mahjalis?”

“That will be fine, Doctor. I’ll send a wire immediately and let him know of your agreement and the scheduling.”

“I’ll be in touch soon, Sir,” I said, standing. “Thank you for having me as your guest.”

“No, Dr Jannason. Thank you!” he beamed, standing up. “Your agreement has resolved a thorny and delicate problem for me, and I am most grateful. I shall look forward to your call.”

We shook hands, and I took my leave, being escorted to the front door of the embassy by a silent, burly member of the staff. The trip back to my offices in the limousine passed in a haze while I thoughtfully considered what I had stumbled into, for the moment ignoring the sealed, heavy envelope residing in my briefcase.