by Joany Kane
“I wonder where he went?” Katrina sighs, disappointed that the man has left.
“I'm wondering if I owe you a hotdog?” Sully feigns curiosity.
“You do, but it's a bit early for one.”
“I have a proposition for you,” Sully says. Katrina shoots him a look, after that mind-blowing encounter the last thing she wants is to flirt with this guy. It would take Paolo himself to sway her from thinking about the mysterious man who just captured her mind, her heart, her soul, her body in mere seconds.
Sully, noting Katrina’s expression, realizes his charm isn’t working at the moment. “A business proposition,” he amends.
A handful of people enter the store, they’re in the midst of animated conversation about a book. “I have a book club meeting to convene. You can propose your business at lunch. In the park. At the same bench,” Katrina offers.
“You have a date,” Sully smiles, trying to make it flirtatious.
Katrina grabs a book off of a display and hands it to Sully. “For you.”
Sully takes the book and looks at the title - The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women. “Is Lillian Hellman in here?”
“Read it and find out,” Katrina suggests.
*****
Mid-morning in the city park…
Sully sits on the park bench reading the anthology. He's actually engrossed by the material.
At the same time in the FSSU command center…
The tech seated at the computer is also reading the anthology since he has a good view of the book via Sully's American flag pin surveillance camera.
Richard joins the tech; he shakes his head at the two readers. He shouts into the microphone connected to Sully’s earplug. “Sully!!” Richard watches on the monitor as his holler shakes Sully to attention, he nearly drops the book. “Remember we don't want her to know about the FSSU so continue to use your prior cover,” Richard instructs.
“I got it,” Sully answers.
“Good. You do not want to screw this up. Understand me?” Richard threatens.
On the park bench…
From the look on Sully’s face he more than understands and the weight of that threat rests heavy in his expression. He returns his attention to the book.
Later in the morning, close to lunchtime…
Katrina approaches Sully. She smiles when she notices that he's not only reading the anthology, he's quite engrossed by it. “Hello, Mr. Reeves.”
Sully looks up from the book. His eyes are blood-shot as if something in the book made him sad.
“What's wrong?” She asks, concerned.
He tries to discreetly wipe is eyes. “Allergies,” he lies.
Katrina takes a seat on the bench and looks at the page Sully is reading. She now gets it. “Ah, Margaret Fuller.”
“She goes to Italy to write, falls in love with an Italian and then they die in a shipwreck on the way back to America. It's so tragic,” Sully elaborates.
“She found her great love and they died together,” Katrina says with a sigh.
“You are a romantic,” Sully affirms with a twinkle.
“The only thing I am is hungry,” she replies politely and professionally.
“Aren't you curious about my proposition?” Sully asks.
“I will be, after we get our hotdogs.”
Moments later Sully and Katrina sit on the bench eating hot dogs and sharing an order of French fries.
“I am, as you know, involved with Hamilton Dynamics,” Sully begins.
“One of the primary stock holders,” Katrina remembers.
“We would like to secure your services to help us steal a top secret remote control that was ours to begin with. The remote is located in an ultra secure location that is still to be determined,” Sully shares.
“I'm a white hat hacker, not a black hat hacker. That sounds suspiciously like a black hat project and way out of my comfort zone,” Katrina replies.
“It was stolen from us by the person who masterminded the Hacker Heaven program,” Sully informs Katrina.
“Sorry, not interested,” Katrina asserts.
“Your skill in mastering all ten levels of Hacker Heaven makes you the only one capable of helping us,” Sully pleads.
“I swim in the hacker circle. I could give you some names of people who are just as skilled as I am,” Katrina offers.
“We will make it worth your while,” Sully states, almost like a threat.
“I usually find that the more money offered and the more desperation that is detected in one's voice usually means that the risk is not worth it,” Katrina hands the Hacker Heaven disc to Sully and then stands up. “Thank you for the hot dog.”
Katrina walks away from Sully.
Sully speaks quietly into his surveillance pin. “What do we do now?”
In the FSSU command center…
Richard and Walter watch the monitor, having witnessed the entire exchange between Sully and Katrina.
Richard answers Sully. “We do what we did in Copenhagen.”
“No way. I am not seducing her into helping us,” Sully objects.
“You seem to enjoy charming her what's the difference?” Richard asks.
“What's the difference? There's a big difference!” Sully defends.
“I'd bang her. She's certainly lovely enough,” Walter interjects.
“That's not the issue,” Sully sighs, not happy with the direction of the conversation.
“You didn't seem to have any ethical issues in Copenhagen,” Richard points out.
“That woman wanted to be seduced and didn't give a rat's ass what the motivation was. Katrina's different. Besides, she's too bright to fall for it,” Sully counters.
“Not if you lead her to believe that you are Paolo. He's her Achilles heel,” Richard explains.
“That's not fair,” Sully is pissed.
“We either pull a Copenhagen or go the other route,” Richard threatens.
“This isn't right.”
“You don't protect freedom and democracy by doing what is right, Sully,” Walter interjects again.
Richard intensifies his threatening tone. “You were dishonorably discharged and should be rotting in a military jail cell. We expunged your record. You do not want to be booted from this unit. You have twenty four hours.”
Sully doesn’t answer.
“Understood?!” Richard hollers, his veins nearly bursting from his temples.
“Yes, understood,” Sully responds, although he’s completely pissed about it.
Sully removes his American flag pin and earplug, having had enough of Richard.
Inside the FSSU command center…
Richard turns his attention to the tech. “Can we intercept the emails and texts that Paolo sends to Katrina?”
“Yes,” the tech answers.
“Can we send her an email from Paolo?” Richard asks.
“Yes. What would you like it to say?”
Richard thinks for a moment. “Something about how he can't cyber chat this evening because he hopes to have a date. Make it romantic. And encouraging. We want Katrina to be inspired, to plant the seed that Sully is Paolo.”
*****
In the Chick Lit Bookstore…
Katrina works at her computer. She gets an email from Paolo, which seems strange to her, he usually texts/instant messages her.
Paolo’s email: I will not be able to chat this evening, I'm hoping to have a rendezvous. My heartfelt hope is that if the opportunity arises, you may have one as well. It is time for the flower to blossom, Francesca. Perhaps it will blossom this evening.
Katrina studies the email, a bit perplexed by it. Dorothy enters the store and joins Katrina. “What's with the furrow?” She asks, concerned by Katrina’s expression.
“I just received an email from Paolo. It reads a bit out of character for him,” Katrina shares.
“What does it say?”
Katrina reads the email to Dorothy.
Dorot
hy smiles. “Good advice.”
“I don't want an opportunity for a rendezvous, I want my nightly chat with Paolo,” Katrina laments.
“Only because he's safe and familiar and you don't have to reveal yourself to him,” Dorothy counters.
“I've revealed more of myself to him than to anyone ever,” Katrina declares with conviction.
“Not completely. Sharing in person is much different. To bear soul - and body - is a very vulnerable thing to do,” Dorothy encourages.
Katrina changes the subject. “We should get you to your doctor's appointment.”
“You're evading the subject, Kat.”
“Yes I am. It was getting out of my comfort zone.”
“Until you learn to get yourself out of your comfort zone you may never find love, and you have too many extraordinary gifts not to find love,” Dorothy tells her friend with heartfelt meaning.
Katrina puts her arm around Dorothy. “You're the love of my life, you know that.”
Dorothy and Katrina leave the store. As they walk across the threshold, and unbeknownst to the two women, a small bug flies into the store.
Katrina places a Closed sign in the door window and locks the door. She and Dorothy proceed down the sidewalk. They do not notice the tinted windowed SUV parked across the street.
Inside the bookstore…
The bug flies around the store. It's a mechanical bug - a state of the art surveillance gadget.
Inside the SUV…
Walter sits in the passenger seat. There are two agents in the vehicle, one sits in the driver's seat. Walter works a control device and laptop; he's controlling the bug's flying and watches on the computer screen what the bug is seeing.
Inside the bookstore…
The bug flies around and lands on the edge of the top of a bookshelf.
*****
A pick-up game is in progress on an urban neighborhood basketball court. A dozen guys, aged twenty to forty, are kicking butt on the court. Sully is one of the guys. He's putting a ton of energy and intensity into his game as if he were trying to physically remove his inner demons. He slam dunks a shot which wins the game for his team.
The guys back slap each other as they head off the court. Sully grabs a towel and wipes his face then takes a swig of water. His buddy Tanner joins him.
“Man, you were on fire today!” Tanner enthuses.
“Needed to let off some steam.”
“I guess. Work shit?”
“Yeah. Hey, if you wanted to woo a lady on a first date, make it romantic and memorable, what would you do?” Sully asks.
“You actually met a lady?" Tanner can’t believe it.
“Through work.”
“One you care about impressing?” Tanner still can’t believe it.
“It's imperative.”
“On my first date with Ginnie, I took her to this seafood restaurant on the coast, The Shell Shack it's called, loads of casual beach front charm yet they have one hell of a wine list. Then we strolled over to the small town amusement park where I won her a teddy bear and we snuggled on the ferris wheel. We finished off the night drinking tequila and dancing at the nearby Cantina. Thanks to the mussels, teddy bear and tequila, she was more than ripe and we screwed all night long. We recreate our first date every year on our anniversary. Although after fourteen years and two kids, the sex doesn't last all night long anymore,” Tanner shares.
“Thanks, Tanner,” Sully walks away. As he approaches his car, he gets a call from Richard. Sully takes the call. “Yeah?”
“I've emailed you copies of the cyber chats Katrina has had with Paolo as well as the email we sent her this afternoon from Paolo. Use the information to lead her to the conclusion that you are Paolo. Got it?” Richard commands through the phone.
“Got it,” Sully replies.
“Good. Bone up, book boy,” Richard ends the call.
*****
In the Chick Lit Bookstore, Dorothy and Katrina sit in the cozy chairs by the front window drinking herbal tea.
Sully enters. He's showered and shaven, dressed casual sexy, wearing a leather jacket and holding a lovely plant in an Italian terra-cotta pot. “Hello,” Sully says, a bit nervously.
Both Dorothy and Katrina look surprised to see him. “Hello,” Katrina replies.
Sully approaches Dorothy. “I remember you from yesterday,” he says to her. Sully extends his hand to her. “I'm Sullivan Reeves. Everyone calls me Sully.”
“Everyone calls me Dorothy. Would you like a cup of tea, Sully?”
“No thank you.”
“But we're celebrating. My cancer is in remission,” Dorothy shares with Sully.
“That's good to hear,” he smiles warmly at Dorothy.
“It sure is,” Katrina agrees.
Sully hands the plant to Katrina. “For you. It's an evening primrose. It blooms at night.”
Dorothy and Katrina share a look, the blooming comment reminding them of Paolo's email.
“This is very sweet of you, thank you,” Katrina says politely.
“I have a craving for seafood. Really awesome seafood and I was hoping I could talk you into having dinner with me, at the Shell Shack, which is on the coast,” Sully offers.
“That's over an hour's drive,” Katrina points out.
“Once you've tried the Spanish mussels, conch fritters and the bay scallops baked in garlic, olive oil and mozzarella, you'll realize the drive will have been worth it,” Sully says with a twinkle.
Dorothy stands up. “She says yes.” Dorothy gives Katrina a hug and kiss, then heads for the door. “Have fun you two.”
Dorothy leaves. Katrina and Sully are alone. Katrina looks directly at Sully. “I'm not interested. I'm especially not interested in your hacking job.”
“The dinner invitation has nothing to do with the hacking job,” Sully tries to sound sincere.
Katrina isn’t buying it. “Are you sure about that?”
“I'm no longer with Hamilton Dynamics. They wanted me to pressure you and that's not my scene,” Sully lies through his teeth.
Sully steps closer to Katrina. “I admire you, Ms. Brice. Even envy you. You're able to make your own way in the world, live by your own code of honor,” he extends his hand to Katrina as if it were a peace offering. “Please. Have dinner with me.”
She looks at his hand. There’s a moment of indecision. Will she or won't she take it? Katrina does not take Sully's hand.
She does however, reply with only a slight smile. “If you're going to treat me to Spanish mussels, conch fritters and baked scallops, you should call me Katrina.”
Sully beams and it almost looks genuine. “Great. Katrina.”
“It'll just take me a minute to freshen up,” Katrina heads for the stairs in the back that lead to her apartment above the store. She calls to Sully. “Do you have a CD player in your car?”
“I do, why?”
“I have Lillian Hellman's memoir ‘Scoundrel Time’ on CD.”
“Do you have Wuthering Heights on CD?” Sully asks knowingly.
This question stops Katrina in her tracks. The serious thought that maybe he’s Paolo pops into her mind. Between the plant and the blooming at night comment, him knowing the history of the painting, the weird email earlier today, and now the Wuthering Heights comment, he very well could be Paolo. The thought brings a rose red flush to her cheeks and a smile that blossoms from her heart. She bounds up the stairs now excited for the evening.
Outside of the bookstore, the dark SUV is parked. Inside the SUV Walter fiddles with
The laptop program that controls the mechanical bug. “I’m about to bug Sully so now we can follow them and hear them,” Walter tells the two agents with him.
Inside the Chick Lit Bookstore…
Sully browses the bookstore waiting for Katrina. The mechanical bug flies off of the bookshelf and quietly lands on the underneath of Sully's leather jacket collar adhering itself out of sight from and undetected by Sully.
; *****
On the coast, in the restaurant the Shell Shack, the host escorts Sully and Katrina to a table on the deck overlooking the ocean. The setting sun bathes the coast in a warm, romantic glow.
Sully pulls the chair out for Katrina, she takes a seat. “Thank you.”
He takes his seat as the waitress delivers menus. “Can I start you with something to drink?” The waitress inquires.
Sully looks to Katrina. “Would you like to split a bottle of chardonnay?”
“Sounds good.”
Sully orders. “We'll have a bottle of the Talbott.”
As Katrina reads the menu her eyes widen. “Their Caesar salad has real anchovies.”
“You mentioned anchovies the other day when you brought me a pizza slice,” Sully remembers. “You like anchovies, huh?
“I don't like anchovies. I love anchovies,” she smiles. A smile that causes Sully to catch his breath and make his insides tingle.
The waitress returns with the bottle of wine and a couple of glasses. She pours the wine. Sully hands a glass to Katrina and raises his in a toast. “Here’s to a wonderful rendezvous,” He says, emphasizing the word rendezvous.”
Katrina’s eyes widen at the specific word Sully chose. That nearly seals the deal for her; she really is starting to believe Sully is Paolo. But she won’t say anything until he does. She blushes and looks at him like a hopeful romantic.
Sully sees that the ruse is working and he’s conflicted about it but covers knowing what is at stake. He looks intently at Katrina. “Are you ready for a feast?”
And a feast they share as the waves crash beyond the deck of the restaurant and the summer’s night sky fills with stars.
Sully and Katrina enjoy comfortable conversation, much laughter and a couple of bottles of wine while splitting mouth watering seafood that includes Spanish mussels, conch fritters, Caesar salad with anchovies, and Italian baked bay scallops.
A couple of hours later their plates are empty, their bellies are full and they have become comfortable with each other. As far as dinner dates go, this one has been absolutely perfection. True affection and connection is evident in the way they both are looking at each other. The waitress removes the empty plates as Katrina takes a sip of wine.