by Marja McGraw
I had a sudden thought. What if this was all a mistake? What if these people weren’t really spies? If they were, then what if they were actually spies for a foreign country?
No, that couldn’t be. They were friends of Rick’s, and his reputation preceded him. He was an American spy. But what if this wasn’t the real Rick?
It was too much to take in. My head was practically spinning. I’d talk to Chris about it later.
Randy exited the candy store with a two pound box of chocolates. He waved at me. “Thanks for the advice about the gifts. Now I’m headed for the department store.”
I waved back. “Tell her a total stranger said Happy Birthday!”
After a brief discussion, the Hathaways left with their bags and after throwing them in the trunk, headed for the sandwich shop.
A light blue car backed out and followed them.
Chris left the building and headed for the Jeep. He pulled out of his parking place and drove around to the other side of the mall, where Judith and I met him. No one should know we were together.
Pulling into a parking lot near the sandwich shop, he and his mother climbed out of the car. I drove on to our rendezvous, appearing to be alone.
Judith walked the rest of the way, with Chris several feet behind her.
I surveyed the parking lot, but there was no light blue car. Piper and James had parked up front in order to be obvious.
I wondered if they were overdoing it. Grigori might catch on if they kept putting themselves in plain view.
I exited the car and felt like a criminal because I was trying so hard to be the fly on the wall. I didn’t want to be noticed, needless to say, but I was practically slinking into the shop.
I found a table across from the spies and ordered a hamburger.
Judith arrived moments after me and seated herself at a table two places down from the Hathaways. Picking up a menu, she held it in front of her face. Nothing obvious about that. Uh huh.
Chris was next in and seated himself at the counter.
Unfortunately, it was a long leisurely lunch. I ate slowly and tried to appear bored.
The next thing I knew, Chris was standing in the hallway leading to the restrooms, motioning me over.
I casually took a drink of iced tea before standing and heading in his direction.
Judith looked at me as though she wanted to know if she should follow, but I discreetly shook my head. She looked away.
I whispered. “What is it, Chris?”
“I wanted to let you know I saw the blue car in the next parking lot. He’s got a clear view of the Hathaway’s car. He’s still on their scent.”
“I sure wish we knew what’s behind all of this. I gather Grigori wants to get even with the three spies, but there’s more to it than that. Piper said – “
“Tell me later. Go back to your table for now.”
I shrugged and left his side. I had to assume he knew best.
Sitting at my table, I sipped on my iced tea and thought about what we were doing, realizing I’d make a terrible spy. I don’t have the patience for the job. Sighing as quietly as I could, I took a small bite of my burger.
The waitress brought my check, as well as everyone else’s. That made me feel as though if anyone was paying attention, they’d link all of us together. Obviously we’d all come in around the same time.
Chris was first up and out the door after paying for his lunch. He climbed into the Jeep and pulled out of the parking lot, parking close-by on the street, I hoped.
I headed for the register to pay my check, dropping it in front of the Hathaway’s table on my way.
I bent to pick it up and as I stood, I whispered, “Where to now?”
James didn’t look up. “Back to Judith’s.”
My mother-in-law stood and took her check to the register, too, standing behind me. She never said a word and acted like she didn’t know me.
I left and headed up the street toward the Jeep. Judith slowly followed behind.
As casually as possible, I took a sidelong glance at the blue vehicle and realized he wouldn’t have a view of our car. I breathed a sigh of relief and stepped up my pace.
Judith stayed right behind me.
When we were out of sight of the blue car, we both ran to the Jeep and hurriedly climbed in.
Judith clicked her seatbelt in place.
“Are we spies?”
Chapter Twenty-eight
“No, Mother. We may be foolish for getting involved in this, but we’re not spies.” Chris sounded adamant, and maybe a little disgusted.
After we saw the Hathaways pull out of the parking lot, we headed back to Judith’s house.
Chris checked the rearview mirror.
“Hey! I just had a thought. How did Grigori find Piper and James at your mother’s house?” That should have struck me right away.
Chris pulled on that endearing earlobe of his after checking the rear view mirror again. “I’ve thought about that. I have to believe, if he has connections or if there’s really a leak at the agency, someone at least knew the general area where they live. He may have been scouting and seen them, and followed them to Mother’s house.”
“Makes sense to me,” Judith said.
Once again, my husband looked at the rear view mirror.
“I guess, but it seems awfully coincidental.” I pulled on my own earlobe, realized what I was doing and dropped my hand to my lap.
Chris checked the side view mirror.
“Don’t turn around when I tell you this. I don’t want to scare you, but I think we’re being followed, and it’s not the old man.”
It took every bit of willpower I had, but I didn’t turn and look out the back window. “Can you see who it is?”
“No. The windows are tinted.”
“Junior, how can we tell if someone is really following us?”
I knew all the way to my nerve endings that Judith was struggling with her own willpower.
“Like this.” Chris quickly changed lanes and sped up. He whipped into a left turn lane and turned in front of traffic.
I grabbed hold of my seat and hung on – tight.
“Junior! What are you doing?”
“He followed us. I was right.”
Chris hung a fast right turn.
“Why would someone follow us?”
“To throw a scare into us so we’ll stay away from the Hathaways.”
“Yeah, we’re in someone’s way.” I let go of the seat with one hand and grabbed the dashboard.
Chris slammed on the brake and spun the car around, ending up facing the other direction. He stepped on the gas and drove to the first corner where he turned left, then right at the next street, and then left again.
I glanced behind us but there was no one following us. Thankfully, not even the coppers. “Looks like you lost him.”
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Judith’s voice squeaked.
“Chris, I didn’t know you could drive like that.” I wanted to reach over and pat his arm, but at the same time I didn’t want to let go or the dashboard and seat.
Judith’s voice was higher than normal. “When he was young he wanted to be a race car driver. You didn’t know that?”
“I do now. How did you make that turn?”
“The Jeep has tight steering, so it can turn in a smaller radius.”
“Ah.” I tried to sound like I knew what he was talking about. Actually, I kinda did.
I thought Chris might pull over, but he kept going, and I finally leaned back and relaxed – a little.
He scratched his chin. “This tells me there are two people after the Hathaways, not just this Grigori character. It also makes me think someone younger is involved. I can’t imagine there’d be two seniors. I don’t know, but there’s more to this than meets the eye. Let’s get back to my mother’s house.”
“What kind of car was following us?” I asked.
“It was black and it was a large SUV with dark ti
nted windows. I was so busy watching traffic and the road that I can’t tell you any more than that.”
We watched for a black SUV all the way to Judith’s house, but it didn’t reappear – thankfully. Somehow a black SUV made me think of government cars.
Constance and Rick had apparently just pulled up to the house and were climbing out of his good car, as he called the Lamborghini.
Would that we all had a good car like his. Ah, well, we had the vintage Chevy.
I turned around and looked at Judith. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine now. That chase shook me up a little, but now that I think about it, it’s kind of exhilarating.”
Interestingly, I didn’t feel the least bit exhilarated. Maybe being chased hadn’t sunk in for her yet.
She left the car and headed for the house. Chris, Sr. was unlocking the front door with the twins and the Hathaways standing behind him. I almost laughed. If they stood any closer, they’d smother him.
Chris opened his car door but I put my hand on his arm to hold him back.
“Don’t you think we should look for a way out of this situation?”
He closed the door. “Angel, I don’t think there is a way out. Whoever’s behind this, whether it’s Grigori or someone else, knows who we are now. We could blow this place and suggest everyone else do the same, but I think it’s too late. We need to stop acting like amateurs, which we are, and take things more seriously.”
“You’re right, sweetie, but I have this sinking feeling. We’re in over our heads.”
“Yes, we are. We’re going to have to talk to Rick, or Piper and James, and ask them what we should do. We need to watch each other’s backs. I think it’s time to keep the three spies together while the rest of us create a sort of barrier around them and stay safe at the same time. Did Piper ever give even a hint about what these guys are after?”
“Yes and no. All I know is that people’s lives may be in the balance, even after all these years. She said she couldn’t tell me any more than that. Maybe being cryptic comes with being a spy. Or maybe she’s just out of practice.”
“As far as we know, they’ve been away from the spy game for a lot of years. You might be more right than you realize.”
“You know, the way we found the purple cows, and Marguerite’s note, kind of felt like the beginning of an adventure. The Hathaways and Rick showing up so quickly didn’t really give us time to think things through.” I thought for a moment. “I wish we’d never found those stupid cows!”
Chris pulled me across the console and gave me as much of a hug as he could. “Let’s go inside and find out if we’ve missed anything. It’s all going to work out, honey, I promise.”
That threw me for a loop. Chris only called me honey when the chips were really down.
“I want to call Mikey before it gets any later. I need a Kid Fix. Oh, and what about the supper club? We should be there right now.”
“Like I said earlier, I made arrangements with George. He’s covering for us for the next few days. You don’t have to worry. Now, come on and we’ll call Ace from the phone in Mom’s kitchen. I’m sure she’ll want to talk to him, too.”
“Mom? Not Ma?”
Chris glanced at the house and smiled. “I just call her that to get her goat. It works, too.”
We exited the car and Chris looked up and down the street.
I followed his lead and studied our surroundings.
There was no light blue car nor was there a black SUV. I let out a sigh of relief and headed up the walkway.
Coral stood in the doorway waving us on. “Hurry up. Judith told us about you being followed. We have questions.”
We followed her into the house.
James stood at the end of the couch, watching us. “We need to talk.”
“Yes, we do,” I said, “but first I’m going to call my son. It’s late back in Virginia.” I walked past everyone without another word, in the direction of the kitchen.
Chris and his parents followed me. The rest of the group seemed to realize this was a personal call and they remained in the living room.
I dialed my parents’ home phone number, knowing the store would be closed by now.
Mikey answered on the second ring. “Hi, Mom!” He sounded happy, which made me feel better.
“How did you know it would be me?”
“Who else would it be? Besides, Grandma said it would be you.”
“Hello, sweetness.” I heard my mother yell at me from the background.
“Sweetness?” Mikey giggled.
“My mother loves me, just like I love you, sweetie pie.”
He giggled again.
“So, Mom, what’s going on there? Did you find any bad guys yet?”
“No, but we were followed by one.” I knew he wouldn’t believe me.
“Sure you were. What’s really going on?”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“I’ll let you talk to your dad. He makes up better stories than I do. In the meantime, I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you already. Are you having fun?” I knew Chris could make it sound like things were fine here at home.
“I am. I already helped at the store, and Grandma and Grandpa took me out to dinner. Grandma was too tired to cook. Grandpa and I played catch for a while, too. And they’re going to let me stay up past my bedtime.”
“That sounds like my mom and dad. I’m glad you’re having fun.” I felt a lump in my throat. I really missed my son. “Here. Talk to your dad for a minute.”
I handed the phone to Chris.
While they talked I got myself a glass of water and tried to swallow the lump. A tear ran down my face.
Judith put her arms around me.
“This is so out of character for me,” I said.
“I know, but it’s okay. Your son is out of town, we’re working with a bunch of crazy people, including spies, and other people are following us. James and Rick are waiting for us so they can give us some tips. I think Piper feels really bad that they dragged us into this. But, Pamela, we’re survivors. We’ll be fine.”
“You should have been a cheerleader, Judith.” I smiled at her and dried my tears.
“Remember what I said? There are ten of us. There are only two of them, that we know of, and we’ll overcome. It’s in our nature.”
I held my hand out toward Chris, wanting to talk to my son.
“Your mother wants to talk to you again.” He handed me the phone.
“Hi, sweetie. So what else are you going to do with Grandma and Grandpa?”
“Well, tomorrow we’re going to church in the morning and then Grandpa said we’re going to some kind of petting zoo. Grandma says she’s going to fix a big spread for Sunday dinner. That’s what she called it – a spread.”
“I’m jealous. I wish I was there with you. We’ll have to talk them into closing the store for a week so they can come out here for a visit.”
“Dad told me some stories, but I think they really were just stories. Right, Mom?”
“I don’t know what he told you, son. I’ll ask him about it after we hang up.”
We talked for a few more minutes before I handed the phone to Judith.
Chris, Sr. was waiting for a turn, too.
We returned to the living room and through the window I saw Randy working out in the yard again. Apparently he’d used his lunch time to buy gifts for his wife. What a guy. I decided to buy a birthday card to send home with him. We could all sign it. It was nice to have something normal going on around us.
Coral leaned forward on her chair. “Tell us about your chase. It sounded exciting, and I’m so proud of your husband for getting away.”
“So am I. There’s not much to tell. A car followed us and Chris did some fancy driving. I don’t think the thug expected it. Simple as that.”
Carol leaned back in her chair. “Oh, come on. There must have been more to it than that.”
Chris shrugged. “That’s pretty muc
h it, except now we know there are two people following us.”
“That’s what bothers me,” I said.
“James, do you have any ideas? It’s clear they’ve been casing the joint, or joints as the case may be. Otherwise why would someone follow us?”
James took his time pulling the cigar out of his pocket. He shoved it between his teeth, slowly pulling it out again and fingering it. “Are you sure you were being followed?”
Chris rolled his upper lip under and leaned back on his heels. “Yeah. I tried to eyeball the thug but his windows were too darkly tinted to see him.”
James nodded before moving the stogie under his nose and sniffing it.
Piper looked disgusted. “If you want that smelly thing so much, go out back and light up.”
James looked from her to the cigar and slowly put it back in his shirt pocket.
“Well?” I asked.
James ignored the rest of us and turned to Judith. “Where are the purple cows? Are you sure no one will find them?”
Judith had just returned to the room with her husband and she looked surprised. “I’m positive they won’t be found. Why?”
James appeared more serious than I’d seen so far. “They contain important information. Grigori knows it’s there for the taking. I don’t think he’s figured out where it is yet, but he’s a smart man.” He glanced toward the stairs and the hidey hole under them. “I’d take the cows home but you’ve got better hiding places.”
“Yes, I do, and they’re not all under the stairs.” Judith smiled like a little kid does when they have a secret.
“Do me a favor. Don’t tell me where you’ve stored them.” He glanced at Piper and back at Judith. “If anything happens to us, give them to Rick. We don’t know who to trust, but he’ll figure it out.”
Carol and Coral both leapt out of their chairs.
Carol crossed the room in a few steps and stood in front of James. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you now that we have you back in our lives.”
Coral followed her but stood next to Piper. “Yeah. You’re a part of our past. We’ll take care of you just like our parents would have.”
Constance stood next to the chair where Rick sat. “I just found this man and I’m not ready to lose him yet. I’m with you two.”