Nightmare in Morocco

Nightmare in Morocco by Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson Page B

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Authors: Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson
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dancers!" From the adjoining table, Belda rose to snap a picture of the pretty, dark haired girls who entered the room, single file . The girls were dressed in what looked like golden bikinis draped with the shimmer of a thousand sparkling veils . Noa was fascinated by their graceful movements as they performed a modest version of the traditional "belly dance."
    The flashbulb went off again as one of the costumed dancers pulled a protesting Milton from his seat . "Go, Milton, go!" Belda cried . Clowning, Milton rolled his ample stomach and hips in imitation of the belly dance . Noa thought he looked as if he were trying to balance a runaway hula hoop . His movements attracted the attention of the kitten, which darted out to scamper among the dancers, chasing their long veils.
    One of the costumed girls approached Noa, attempting to pull her, as she had Milton, into the circle . Noa firmly declined, unwilling to be drawn in to the center of attention.
    "I'll go!" Cathy leaped up to join the dancers . The dark eyed girls, delighted by her enthusiasm, began to teach Cathy a few simple moves . "This isn't much different from disco dancing," Noa heard Cathy exclaim.
    "She's good!" Belda cried . Her flash went off again and again as Cathy, with some success, copied the dancer's movements . The black dress and bright platinum hair made her stand out, made every move appear to Noa exaggerated . Noa saw Johnny Ramos watching Cathy, his large eyes in the pale face aglow with desire . "You can join my harem any day!" she heard him say with bawdy loudness as Cathy returned to their table.
    "Why don't you dance for us, Noa?" Greg teased.
    "Yes!" Belda encouraged, overhearing him . "Come on, Dear . I must have a picture of our tour guide!"
    Greg tugged at Noa's hand . "Come on, I'll go with you!" Despite her reluctance, Noa let herself be tugged out to the floor . After all, it was part of her job to see that the group had fun. This was a special moment for them, an evening to go down in their scrapbooks and be remembered for the rest of their lives . She would not let it be spoiled by Taber's bad mood .
    One of the dancers draped a shimmering veil over Noa's tawny hair . The kitten pounced about, striking out at the hem of Noa's long skirt as she raised her arms above her head and shook her hips slightly . "This'll make a great picture," Belda called . "Smile for the camera, Noa."
    Noa instinctively smiled into the lens.
    "That's perfect, Noa . Now, don't you move . Greg, you come up and put your arm around her.
    Greg obediently did as he was told.
    "Perfect!" Belda laughed . "You two were made for each other!"
    As Noa glanced away from the flash's bright light, her eyes once again locked with Taber's . "What's wrong, Noa?" Greg tightened his grip on her shoulder . "The lights didn't blind you?" Noa, aware of Greg's arm tight around her, saw Taber's dark gaze move from Greg back to her . Then, without another glance or word, he stalked from the room.
    "It looks as if we've got the table all to ourselves!" Greg said . With surprise and a sense of bewilderment Noa's eyes fell upon the two vacant cushions once occupied by Cathy and Johnny Ramos.
    * * *
    At twelve o'clock, Noa obtained the key to Cathy's room from the desk, and finding it vacant, stopped to ring Johnny's number, which she found scribbled on a pad near the phone . Growing increasingly worried, she returned to the lobby, deciding to look for them one final time in the cocktail lounge.
    Inside the dimly lit bar, Noa spotted Marie Landos alone at a table . Marie apparently had a fondness for alcohol, although she never indulged when in charge of her schoolgirls . The fact struck Noa as a deception, made Marie Landos seem for a moment like a great fake, but as Noa hurried toward her, the impression vanished, and Marie Landos seemed, as she always did, one of the most self controlled and efficient women Noa had ever met .
    Marie's cold, knowing eyes anticipated Noa's yet unspoken

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