In the Grey

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  “I keep wondering what would make him go,” White Boy said. When everyone looked at him, he blushed and mumbled something.

  “No, tell them,” Trece said.

  White Boy looked at Trece and Trece nodded.

  “I had some time on my hands; you know, when we were in the ICU,” White Boy said. “I started to think about Jack; you know, try to think like Jack. Steve always says you have to think like an asshole to figure out what he’s up to. I’m no great thinker.”

  “Aww,” the team said. Raz threw his wool hat at White Boy.

  “Not a big stretch for you to think like an asshole though,” Trece grinned.

  “That’s the truth,” White Boy chucked. “But I don’t think it would be a stretch for Jack either. I asked Eoin about it. He said Jack was people smart, but not book smart. He’s a hard worker too. Like me.”

  White Boy nodded.

  “So why do you think he’d go?” Alex asked.

  “Oh right,” White Boy smiled. “I was thinking and thinking, and then I realized that from what everyone says, Jack really loved his wife. How do you say her name?”

  “Neev,” Troy said.

  “Her,” White Boy said. “I bet he’d go anywhere if he thought he was saving her or helping her. Eoin told me he would do anything for her ever since they met. ‘He just loves her.’ Eoin said that. So I figured he’s doing something for her.”

  “What?” Alex asked.

  “What does he do?” White Boy asked. “If it was me, I’d be guarding someone or maybe working in the yard or training or . . .”

  White Boy shrugged.

  “You smarties can figure that out,” White Boy nodded.

  “Ok, who did the profile?” Alex asked.

  “Leena, Colin, and I,” Vince said. “And I think his idea is valid. We found a number of times that Jack sacrificed himself for Neev.”

  “Move to the Republic,” Colin said.

  “Have children,” Leena said. “After the Maze, Jack wanted open space and quiet. His PTSD was bad, but they still had as many kids as she wanted.”

  “Five,” Vince said. “I know you read the transcript of the interview with the Mister where Neev says she’s not a great mother. But her kids said they were great parents and grandparents. They agreed that their mom could be harsh, but they could chide her out of it. They called it ‘her moods.’ When she was nasty to Jack, he would laugh and laugh until she was laughing along with him. We think they were really happy.”

  “He didn’t leave her,” Leena said. “No way.”

  “I don’t think so either,” Colin said.

  “If their kids could get visas, they’d be here with her,” Vince said.

  “So what White Boy’s saying fits our profile,” Colin said.

  Joseph got up from his seat, and Matthew sat down. He showed the team his new Fey Team tattoo. They applauded and he bowed.

  “Very nice, Jeb,” Alex said. He nodded and started working on Matthew.

  “Okay, so who lured Jack away from home?” Alex asked.

  “If what you’re saying is true, that wouldn’t be easy,” Raz said.

  “Damned hard,” Vince nodded.

  “So what do we think would lure Jack Mac Kinney from his bed and out into the world?” Alex asked.

  “Sick cow,” Cliff said.

  “I bet you’re right,” Alex said. “Vince, can you call his son and ask?”

  Vince picked up his cell phone and made the call.

  “What is it that Neev said?” Raz asked. “Something about going to town.”

  “I went to town. When I came back there was a note on my kitchen table,” Alex read from the transcript.

  “I caught that, too,” Royce said.

  “What?” Alex asked.

  “Why did she go to town?” Raz asked.

  “That’s right,” Vince said. “They belong to a co-op. Their milk is picked up and distributed. Their groceries are delivered from the co-op.”

  “Same order every week, with a turkey or ham on the holidays, their daughter said,” Colin said.

  “Neither of them is a drinker, and Neev is supposed to be a great cook,” Leena said. “She made most of their food.”

  “Church?” Alex shrugged.

  “They went on Sundays,” Royce said. “I spoke with their priest. He had no idea Jack was gone. He hadn’t seen Jack in months, but said that was normal. Neev came almost every Sunday, but Jack only came ‘when the spirit moved him.’ That’s a quote.”

  “Gardaí?” Alex asked about the Irish Police.

  “No,” Matthew said. “I talked to them; they had no idea Jack was missing. They were kind of freaked out about it. I guess the Garda stationed there is good friends with Neev and Jack.”

  “Everyone seems to be good friends with Jack and Neev,” Leena said.

  “Okay, so what could Jack have been doing that no one would have noticed?” Alex asked.

  “Charity work,” Troy said.

  Every eye in the room turned to him.

  “According to this website, Jack Mac Kinney was in charge of the refugee charity drive,” Troy said. “They were collecting blankets, coats, and stuff like that for refugee camps. This year, they’re collecting items for Afghanistan.”

  “Can it be that simple?” Alex asked.

  “We’re supposed to be dead,” Raz said. “The team in chaos. Who else would find him?”

  The team became very still. The only sound in the room was the buzz from Jeb’s tattoo machine.

  “You’re saying that Jack Mac Kinney is in a refugee camp in Afghanistan,” Alex shook her head at the impossibility.

  “Charahi Qambar or Nasaji Bagrami,” Troy said. “At least that’s where the coats and stuff were going. But the shipment left in . . . April.”

  She pointed to Vince, who was talking on the phone. Leena tapped his arm and pointed to Alex.

  “Can you ask him when exactly he saw his father last?” Alex asked Vince.

  Vince nodded. They talked for a moment, and Vince hung up.

  “He’s moved to the house,” Vince said. “‘To keep it warm until Mom comes home.’ The last time he saw his father was Easter this year.”

  “When was that?” Alex asked.

  “April 4,” Troy said.

  “He said that he went through his dad’s stuff,” Vince said. “There’s nothing, not a check or a note or anything after mid-April. You should know that he hasn’t seen his mom since July.”

  “Could Jack have been gone that long?” Alex asked.

  “Sure,” Raz said.

  “What about Neev?” Alex asked. “She arrived at our house last month. Where’s she been?”

  “How did you get a hold of her?” Vince asked.

  “I got the number from Rita and called the house,” Alex said.

  “We need to ask Rita,” Joseph pointed to Leena, and she called Rita Drayson.

  “Sir?” Royce asked. “Why is the refugee thing so weird?”

  “Most camps are run by Medecins Sans Frontières,” Alex said.

  “Doctors without Borders,” Margaret translated.

  “We all speak French,” Colin chided Margaret, and she smiled.

  “Alex knows people in every camp,” Matthew said.

  “Doctors, mostly,” Alex said. “I just . . . it’s so obvious.”

  “Maybe that’s why,” Raz said. “Hide him right under your nose.”

  “But again, you’re supposed to be dead,” Joseph said. “No one could have predicted what happened.”

  “Sir, no offense meant . . . ,” Royce started and then stopped.

  The team turned to look at him.

  “If the goal was to discredit you, what better way than putting someone in a place where you have a lot of contacts,” Royce said. “It’s kind of, ‘See she’s slipping.’ It could discredit you in the eyes of the international community.”

  “Didn’t know he was missing. It doesn’t seem like many people did.” She raised her eyeb
rows and shrugged. “It does explain why these actions are in the fall.”

  The team fell silent again.

  “Opium harvest cycle in Afghanistan,” Alex said. “Opium harvest is in . . .”

  “April,” Troy said.

  Leena raised her hand.

  “Leena you don’t have to . . . ,” Alex said.

  “Spit it out,” Joseph said.

  “Rita says she talks to Neev once a month, usually by Skype,” Leena said. “She doesn’t know where Neev was in August, September, or October. She did speak with her on that phone number.”

  “She could have been anywhere,” Alex said. “I wonder if she knows where she was. I have to remember to ask the Mister. Anything else?”

  Leena shook her head.

  “Okay, back to Afghanistan,” Alex said. “I’m excited that we’ve learned something about our dastardly villain.”

  “What’s that?” Joseph asked.

  “Someone at the center of this mess is involved in the opium trade in Afghanistan,” Alex said. “The poppy is scratched for resin in April; refine and ship to market in the summer; replant in September. When there’s snow on the ground, it’s time to fuck with the Fey Team again.”

  “That’s got to be where Joiner got his money,” Matthew said. “You know, the money in Buffy’s secret accounts?”

  “I bet you’re right,” Alex said.

  “Could the product in the third locker have something to do with this?” Troy asked.

  “I wonder . . . ,” Alex said. “It’s been there too long to be modern payoffs for drugs. Plus, the serial numbers match the gold you spent a decade looking for in South America, Troy.”

  “Could be some kind of money laundering scheme,” Raz said.

  “Maybe,” Alex said. “Do we have a contact in the Dubai drug market?”

  “We do,” Trece said.

  “Can you make some discrete enquiries?” Alex asked.

  “I probably can’t, but someone from Steve’s team can,” Trece nodded.

  “Thanks,” Alex said.

  “So what’s next?” Troy asked.

  “I have to make some calls,” Alex said. “If I find him, we go get him.”

  “We?” MJ asked.

  “Let me get through the calls first,” Alex said. “It’s not like calling the Ritz Carlton. It’s going to take me a while. I also need to . . .”

  Colonel Gordon stood in the doorway. The team jumped to attention.

  “At ease,” Colonel Gordon said.

  He looked from person to person. His eyes finally settled on Jeb.

  “You’ve got to be a Scully,” Colonel Gordon said.

  “Jeb, sir,” he said.

  “He’s my dad’s younger brother,” MJ said. “He’s here to . . .”

  “It’s about time,” Colonel Gordon smiled. “Where’s the pizza?”

  “We didn’t . . . ,” Joseph stepped forward to greet the Colonel.

  “By all means,” Colonel Gordon said. “Ramirez, I bet you can’t stand being in any building now. Ready for a drive?”

  “Yes, sir,” Trece said.

  “Get that good pizza,” Colonel Gordon said. “Not the cheap stuff.”

  Trece looked at Alex, and she nodded.

  “Looks like you’ll be here a while,” Colonel Gordon said. “Mind if I borrow your Lieutenant Colonel?”

  Alex got up from her desk and followed him out of the office. They walked down the hallway to his office. He opened the door and turned on the light. She followed him inside.

  He turned around quickly. Unsure, she jumped back. He smiled.

  He held out his arms and hugged her.

  “I’m so glad you made it,” he said. “I’m sorry, I know it’s unprofessional. It’s just this time, with everything, and Steve . . .”

  She heard him sniff.

  “Thank you, sir,” she said. “You mean a lot to me as well.”

  He stepped back and gave her a little nod. Turning in place, he walked to his desk.

  “When were you planning to update me on the progress of this mission, Lieutenant Colonel?” Colonel Gordon asked.

  Alex grinned and told him what she knew.

  F

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Two days later

  Friday night

  December 3 – 6:11 p.m. MST

  Denver, CO

  “Hi,” John said, and sat down on the bed.

  Alex rolled onto her back. She smiled at him. He leaned down and kissed her lips.

  “What time is it?” she asked.

  “Little after six-thirty,” he said.

  “Wow,” she sat up in bed. “Time flies.”

  He gave her a soft smile.

  “Are you home for the weekend?” she asked.

  “I am,” he said. “I’ve finished up with Dr. Wolfe. I won’t join the Children’s Hospital trauma team until the new year. So, I’m footloose and fancy free. You?”

  “I am,” she said.

  “How are the calls to refugee camps going?” John asked.

  “Not well,” Alex said. “Ten years ago, I would have just gone. Of course, we would have been in the region, so that’s easier. Today, I’d rather nap.”

  He smiled.

  “How’s your energy level?” he asked.

  “Good, mostly,” she said. “With spikes of exhaustion.”

  “Your last scan shows that there’s a bit of the knife embedded in your scapula,” John said. “I’m wondering if that’s causing the hemolytic anemia.”

  “What do you mean?” Alex asked.

  “We know that Steve was programmed to use a specific knife, right?” John asked.

  Alex nodded.

  “We know the knife had Heparin embedded in it,” John said.

  “Right,” Alex said.

  “I’ve started to wonder if the knife has other tricks,” John said.

  “Tricks?”

  “What if they intended to leave that bit in you?” John asked.

  “It’s hard to imagine,” Alex said. “If Steve’s programming had gone well, I should have died.”

  “I know,” John said. “I’m grateful for Steve’s . . .”

  “Capacity to suffer?” Alex smiled.

  “Stubborn nature,” John said.

  “Me too,” Alex smiled.

  “The question is what to do with the bit of knife you have inside you,” John said.

  “More surgery,” Alex said. “And I just got my stitches out and my bandages off.”

  “Right,” John said.

  Alex leaned back against the headboard and stared at nothing. When she didn’t respond, he moved over her to the bed. He tugged on her and she scooted down to rest on his shoulder. Her whole body sighed into him. They lay in the joy of their shared warmth.

  “When is the surgery scheduled?” she asked.

  “Tomorrow morning,” he said. “It’s unusual to do it on at the weekend, but it’s the first time they could guarantee the security required.”

  “Are you doing the surgery?” Alex asked.

  “Not this time,” John said. “I’ll be available to assist in case anything pops loose, but this is being done by your orthopedist.”

  “Well . . . ,” Alex let out a breath. “I guess we’d better get busy.”

  He laughed. She looked up at him. His cobalt-blue eyes scanned her face and he kissed her. She responded with equal fervor.

  “You’re not mad?” he asked.

  “Mad?” Alex asked. “Sure, I’m mad. I’m furious that no matter what I do, I can’t seem to keep those I love safe. I really try. Every adult in the house is an expert in some martial art. Even the children are martial arts trained. All the doors and windows are locked. Security everywhere and . . .”

  “In walks a relative of mine,” John said.

  “You couldn’t have known,” she said.

  “I know,” he said. “I’m saying it’s hard for me, as well.”

  She smiled.

 
“I’m thinking of changing the way I do things,” she said. “No active warfare, more armchair directing. Why not send in the Marines or the Seals or the Rangers – young, healthy men ready to serve their country?”

  He gave her an ironic smile.

  “You don’t believe me,” she said.

  “I don’t,” he said. “And that’s all right. You let me take that safe, sedate job working with diabetes patients. You didn’t laugh at me or tell me I’d get bored.”

  “To your face,” she smiled.

  “What?” He looked offended and she laughed. He smiled.

  “I’ll say this,” he said. “I like that you’re thinking about it. When we have kids, we’ll both want to be home more. It’s worth giving our lifestyle some real thought.”

  “I have. I am,” Alex nodded. “Yes. Right now, I wish I never had to get on another plane ever in my whole life.”

  “Uh oh,” John said. “When is your next trip?”

  “As soon as I’m fit to go,” Alex said. “It’s either that or abandon Jack Mac Kinney to the refugee camps. At some point, whoever set this up is going to realize that this plan didn’t work out and Jack becomes a liability. He’s expendable now. I only hope . . .”

  “What?” John asked.

  “There’s a . . . story, I guess, about an Irishman; tall, thinning hair, and working as a volunteer in the camps,” Alex said. “Everyone likes him. He’s moving from camp to camp with a charity group. If it’s him, his movements either put him in more danger or are keeping him alive. I’m not sure which.”

  “But you have to go,” John said.

  “I think so,” Alex said. “Joseph’s been to the camps with me, but he doesn’t really know people there. This is what I mean; I have to go, but I really . . .”

  “You’ve never wanted to go,” John said.

  “I know,” Alex said. “It just seems stronger now.”

  “In some ways, all these years later, it’s kind of nice,” he smiled.

  “It feels so unfair that what I’m good at takes me far, far away from you,” Alex said. “And what you’re good at takes you far, far away from me.”

  “Maybe that’s why we’re so good when we’re together,” John said.

  “Because we’re good apart?” Alex asked.

  “Something like that,” John said. “Are you comfortable with Dawn?”

  “As our surrogate?” Alex smiled at the thought of the young, vibrant Air Force wife who’d already surrogated three healthy children. “I like her. She’s done it before, and likes us. What’s not to like?”