“I know,” he said quietly.
Kay stared quietly at him. She wondered if he meant what she thought he meant. Glancing down at Amanda, she looked back at Agent Smith and said, “you can’t mean…”
He nodded his head and sat quietly. Agent Jones looked ahead, out the windshield. They were both very serious and, she thought, a bit troubled.
“Would you like to come up to the house for tea and pie?” she asked. “Do you have time?”
They looked at each other. “Yes, we can enjoy some tea and pie while you pack,” Agent Smith said pointedly.
Kay cringed. She hated the short notice, especially if they were going to send her to Europe. A twinge of excitement coursed through her though. Europe! Imagine that!
The truck drove up the driveway and Kay followed with Amanda. “Can I pour tea for them?” the little girl asked when they reached the kitchen.
“I was hoping you would!” Kay said enthusiastically and gave the little girl a hug. She plopped ice cubes in two tall plastic cups, then set them on the table. Amanda carefully carried the pitcher of tea from the refrigerator, her tongue between her teeth.
She filled both cups, then gave a huge sigh of relief and returned the pitcher to the fridge. Kay set two pie pans on the table. “Peach or apple?” she asked. They looked back and forth between the pans. Kay cut them a slice of each.
“How many days? How much stuff do I need?” she asked.
“Mommy! Are you leaving?” Amanda asked. Her face screwed up like she might cry.
Kay crouched down near her and looked at her. She patted the little girl’s back and said, “Yes, Mommy has to go do some of that substitute work for a few days. You’ll have fun with Daddy and the kids.”
“I’ll miss you very much,” Amanda said, wrapping her arms around Kay.
“I’ll miss you very much, too,” Kay said.
“I’m going to run and tell the kids! We can start figuring out what we want Daddy to let us do when you’re not here this time!” she said happily and trotted out the back door.
“Well! How about that!” Kay was miffed. She stood back up and joined the agents at the table. Now that they were alone, she narrowed her eyes and said, “are you sending me to that European conference thing?”
“Yes,” Agent Smith said simply.
“And we need to leave A-sap,” said Agent Jones.
“Why am I going? What’s wrong with Madeline? Is she sick again?” Kay asked.
The agents were silent and uncomfortable. “She’s not sick. She just can’t go.”
“Why not?” Kay demanded.
“It’s classified,” Agent Smith said.
“Oh, of course it is. I think that’s just convenient for you, isn’t it. What a handy line for anything you don’t feel like explaining!” she said. “Will I be safe?”
“Yes,” said Agent Smith.
“We would never let anything happen to you. We’re taking two additional agents for your personal protection, and there will be extra security everywhere,” elaborated Agent Jones.
“Okay,” she sighed. “I’ll grab some things. I need to say good-bye to Dan and the kids.” Darn them for showing up like this. She had mixed feelings about covering for Madeline at an event like this. More was probably going to be expected of her than pleasant social conversations and choking down salads.
She managed to have a few minutes alone with Dan as she packed her things, and she quietly shared with him where they were taking her. He sensed her apprehension and held her for a moment. “I’m sure you’ll be okay. They’d never put you in harm’s way.” He had to stifle the urge to cross his fingers, out of sight of Kay, of course.
The kids expressed their worry about her being gone, mixed with excitement about being left in Daddy’s care. She’d have to investigate more closely and find out what went on while she was gone. They seemed to have fun, but the house was always clean and everyone healthy and intact when she returned. Now she worried that maybe they liked it better when she was gone.
She shoved that thought away and finished the good-byes and hugs.
The agents were quiet during the drive to the airport. Kay opened her mouth a couple times to make a bright statement to cut through the tension in the air, but it seemed inappropriate, so she just sat between the two and watched the fields roll by.
Holding her arms they whisked her from the truck toward the jet. She pulled her arms away gently. “Hey! You act like I’m in custody or something. I’m coming willingly, so lighten up.”
“Sorry,” said Agent Smith.
“It’s just that it’s urgent that we hurry,” supplied Agent Jones, apologetically.
Kay picked up her pace, practically running, with the agents half-running to keep up with her. James helped her in, allowed Smith and Jones past him, then pulled the door shut. Seconds later they were streaking through the air.
Gino and Andrea were spread out over the back row of seats, one on each side of the aisle. Andrea was sound asleep with a magazine on her lap and didn’t stir, but Gino opened his eyes and gave her a wave before going back to sleep.
“Oh!” Kay said. “They’re coming with us.” She felt like an idiot tripping over her tongue in her surprise to see them.
“Sure. Unless you’re ready to do your own make-up and wardrobe?” Agent Jones asked, jokingly.
“Oh no, I’m glad they’re along. I never thought about that part of it,” said Kay, relieved.
“We have a lot to go over on the way to Zurich,” Agent Smith said, his brow furrowed. “Would you like something to eat or drink before we start?”
“We’re going straight to Switzerland?” Kay asked.
“Yes. We have everything we’ll need. We’ll stop for fuel in Greenland,” Agent Jones informed her as he pulled the tab on a can of grape pop. He grabbed a can of root beer and handed it to her as he sat in his usual seat, across the aisle from her.
Agent Smith sat in front of him, sideways, so he could talk to Kay. He handed her a folder of pictures and bios, which was standard procedure at the start of any operation involving a ‘double’. This folder was much thicker than the previous ones had been, and Kay’s heart skipped a beat.
Madeline had confided to Kay that before events, she usually looked over the profiles of people she was going to see, just to brush up her memory. There were so many events she had to attend, and so many people she had to remember, and it was unforgivable, in their eyes, if she floundered.
If Madeline could do it, she could do it, Kay thought. “Should I start looking through these now, or do you have some kind of briefing for me first?”
“Go ahead and start studying them. We have calls to make and Intel to download,” Agent Smith said, pulling out a cell phone. Agent Jones already had a laptop computer open in front of him and his fingers were tapping away on the keys.
Kay sat back and opened the folder. A few of the faces were familiar, but most weren’t. This time it was a mixture of men and women. Everything was coded as to who was the most important for her to be able to recognize, and the things that were most important for her to know about them was highlighted.
She was absorbed in reading when the plane hit some turbulance. Without looking up her hand shot out and grabbed the can of root beer as it started to tip over.
“Lightning-fast reflexes there, Green Hornet!” teased Agent Jones.
Kay smiled at him. “I’m a mom. I can see a cup about to spill from 30’ away and get there in time to grab it!” He smiled back at her, then returned to his work.
A few hours later they landed in Greenland to refuel. Everyone stood and stretched, so Kay did the same.
“Want to grab a few minutes of fresh air?” Agent Smith asked. “It’s your only chance before our long leg over the Atlantic.”
“Of course she wants to!” said Gino, coming up behind Kay. “She has to set foot on the ground so she can claim she visited Greenland! How’re you doing, sweetie?” He put an arm around her shoulder.
“Grab your jacket, girl,” said Andrea. “Cause it’s never warm in Greenland!”
The five of them stepped down from the small jet and walked around on the pavement nearby. There was a thin layer of snow on the ground next to the runway, and the breeze was bitingly cold. Kay thought she could smell the ocean.
She shivered and joined the others in doing jumping jacks. It felt good, she thought, to be outside in the brisk air. It was weird, though, to think that she was actually in Greenland on a tarmac doing jumping jacks with Secret Service agents and make-up artists.
All too soon James called out, “saddle up, folks! Let’s move ‘em out!” With groans they filed back into the plane. James shook hands with the fuel men, then secured the door and climbed into the cockpit.
Kay saw that there was another man in the cockpit with James. Agent Jones noticed Kay’s gaze and said, “We giving a ride to a hitch-hiking Air Force pilot. He’ll co-pilot with James.”
“Is that what you usually do,” she queried.
“Yes, if we can. There isn’t always one available, but it helps our pilots when we can get another pilot along for part of the trip,” he said.
“Should I keep reading these files?” Kay asked, indicating the folder on the seat next to her.
“No, go ahead and give it here,” he said, reaching for it as she handed it to him. He flipped it open. “Pop quiz! Who is Dremmel VonDuskey?”
“Let me see the picture,” she said.
“Nope, can’t. What if someone mentioned him when he’s not around. You still need to know at least the pertinent information. I’ll give you a hint. “Dremmel” is also a type of tool, so if you know that, you could associate that Dremmel VonDuskey is the tool that built this peace pact this conference is centered around,” said Agent Smith.
“He’s a tool all right,” muttered Agent Jones under his breath. Agent Smith shot him a look, which bounced off an innocent face. “What?”
Kay reached over and grabbed the folder. She saw the face that went with the name and the rest filled itself in for her. She slammed the folder shut and recited the rest of the information, including his wife’s name, home city and country, and most of the key points of his career.
“Here, you can start looking this over, but it’s not something you’re expected to know ahead of time. It’s the layout of the conference grounds, where the meetings will be, where social events will be held, where the hotels are, where you’re room is,” Agent Smith said, handing her a few sheets of paper with maps printed on them.
She spread them out and looked at them. Everything was carefully labeled. Next he handed her a schedule. “This tells what day and time things are going to happen. The ones that apply to you are highlighted. They’re the ones you’re expected to attend, however if you see something that interests you, we’ll see about getting you in.”
With furrowed brow Kay studied the schedule, and lined it up on the maps. It wouldn’t be hard to find her way around, so that part was a relief. There were a few photographs of the various buildings. Kay marveled at the architecture, so European in appearance. She closed her eyes and tried to picture herself really standing there among them.
When she opened her eyes again it was dark outside. The two secret service agents had pillows and blankets and were leaning against the wall of the aircraft, sleeping. A folded blanket and pillow had been placed on the seat next to Kay.
She turned around and looked back at Gino and Andrea. They were sitting together, watching a movie on a laptop computer, each wearing earphones. Kay was trying to decide what to do next when Gino looked up and saw that she was awake.
He nudged Andrea and they shut off the movie. They walked up to the front of the plane and motioned her to join them. “Feel like some practice, and a bit of exercise?” She looked at them blankly.
“We’ll go over some self-defense and escpape manuevers,” Gino said. “You’re good at the joint locks but slow on the spins that could help you escape. We don’t have room to practice running but we’ll give you some pointers on how to do it so you’ll actually get away.”
“And I need this why?” Kay asked, narrowing her eyes. “Is this conference that dangerous? Why would they let the First Lady go to something like that?”
“There’s always an element of danger when you have a famous face,” he answered. “Europe isn’t as safe as the United States for the First Lady, obviously. Switzerland is one of the safer places, however at an event like this, there is always the chance that a terrorist cell, or someone else looking to make a statement, will attempt something. It’s just best to be prepared.”
“Besides, it’s a good way to get the blood flowing on this maddeningly long flight,” said Andrea, as she did a few stretches.
Before Andrea could blink Kay had ahold of her, twisting Andrea’s arms in one of the joint-lock maneuvers. “You’re right,” she panted. “I feel better already!”
“Okay, let her go, and we’ll practice your reflex movements if you should spot someone about to grab you,” said Gino.
“Hah! I’m not letting go,” Kay said triumphantly. “Let her show me some escape maneuvers right now!”
Seconds later Kay was laying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling of the inside of the plane, and Andrea was standing to the side pretending to inspect her fingernails. Kay got to her feet and said, “Okay, I want to know how to do that! I never saw anything like that at my kids’ Tae Kwon Do classes.”
They worked for a while in the limited open area between the rows of seats and the small galley area. Soon she noticed Agents Smith and Jones were awake and watching. They added tips and advice to the discussion.
Soon they were advised to be seated and fasten their seatbelts for landing. “Are we to Switzerland already?” Kay asked. She must have slept longer than she thought earlier.
She slid over to the window and fastened the seat belt, then sat looking out as they landed. When they were finally outside it was still dark but there were lights everywhere. She stood turning in a slow circle, drinking it all in.
She only had a few seconds before they dragged her into a rounded, European-style black car. All five of them crowded into it and it took off as the doors slammed shut. She held on as the car turned this way and that, and she was alternately leaning on someone and being squashed by someone.
The car suddenly shot into a parking structure and it was dark. There were walls on each side, like a tunnel. They stopped next to a door and everyone climbed out of the car. When the door opened, Kay saw that it was an elevator. They entered it and Agent Smith and Agent Jones each typed in a code. It began to rise.
The elevator opened into a long hallway with dim lights in cases along the floor, every ten feet. On each side were numbered doors, so Kay decided they must be in the hotel. They stopped in front of one and the agents each typed in a number again. The door didn’t open.
Again they typed in their numbers and the door didn’t open. “Third time’s the charm,” Agent Jones said cheerfully, and they typed their numbers in again. They were bathed in a green glow followed by a bright flash, then the door made a click. Agent Smith pushed it open.
“Ah, the mind games our superiors play. We always have to enter the code more than once to gain access but it’s not supposed to be predictable. Yet it’s always three times,” Agent Jones said.
“Why?” asked Kay.
“Mostly for security. If someone is holding a gun to our head and the access codes won’t open the door, sometimes they quit right away and drag us off and kill us. That way whoever we’re protecting is still safe,” he said cheerfully. “Assuming they’re in the room and not out here with us.”
“Kill you!” Kay said, horrified.
“Yes, kill us,” he shrugged. “That’s our life. Protecting people like you. We come into this prepared to lay down our life.”
Kay couldn’t imagine choosing that kind of life, exciting as the rest of it was.
The room they
entered opened into a suite of several rooms. Kay was shown to a room where she would stay, and they left. “You have a few hours, if you want to sleep. Just ask us for anything you want,” Agent Smith said as he shut the door.
Kay walked over to the window. It was heavily tinted but she could still see the lights of the city. Her head was roaring from the flight, so she walked over to the bed and spread out on it. Seconds later she was asleep on the velvet bedspread.
She still felt groggy a few hours later when they woke her. They hurried her to another room in the suite where Gino and Andrea had set up the clothing and make-up stands. A tray of food was placed next to her as Gino began working on her hair. Andrea was working on her face, choreographing her steps with Gino’s, and to Kay’s amazement, they never collided or stepped on each other’s toes.
The Double Page 7