Witness Protection: Moving Target

by Jet MacLeod

  Earlier in the wee hours of the morning

  Angie woke up just enough to know that Del had opened her door to check on her like she did almost every night since they left New York. She made sure that she didn’t alert Del that she was still awake. She heard her earlier on the phone. She couldn’t make out the specifics of the argument but she knew that it had thoroughly upset Del to her core. Angie wanted to comfort her guardian, but she didn’t know how. Del wasn’t exactly approachable.

  Angie sighed and got out of bed. She paced around her room again for the fourth night in a row. It was too quiet here. At least at Cole’s farm, someone was always moving. Cole’s late nights helped her sleep because there was more than just “country noise.” She went to look out the window that faced the deck. She knew that Del would be furious with her if she saw her looking out, but she was just checking on the woman.

  She saw Del pacing. She could tell that she was mentally working something out while she wore down the deck boards with her feet. It was a weird sight to see Del so shaken by whatever news she got from the phone earlier. She watched as Del pulled the phone out and called someone again. She saw the look on her face in the moonlight when she heard Del clearly ask “why?”

  Angie’s heart dropped. She didn’t have to think about what little she knew about Del to know that it had to deal with Kiev and Yulia. She watched as the emotions covered Del’s face. She had to stop herself from going to her while she was still on the phone. She knew that Del wouldn’t ask for help. She would have to give it to her freely.

  She waited until she heard Del come back into the cabin. She knew that she would check on Angie again before going back to bed. Angie clambered back into the bed and waited. It only took another five minutes, but like everything else predictable that Del did, she slowly opened the door into Angie’s room and checked on her. Angie made a show of sighing and rolling over to hide her face. She heard her door close and then the soft steps of Del walking away.

  She waited for about ten minutes before she got up. She went into the kitchen. She checked the coffee pot to see that Del had already set its alarm. She got herself a glass of water and drank it slowly. She just knew that the sound of the faucet would have gotten Del’s attention, but she never came to investigate. Angie put the glass in the sink and made her way down the hall.

  She hesitated outside of Del’s room. She didn’t know if she should knock or just enter. It was then that she heard the strangled sobs of Del. She didn’t wait. She just went in. She walked around the bed and got in it.

  If Del felt her presence, she didn’t say anything. Angie reached across the bed and pulled the older brunette into her arms. Angie felt her struggle against the cuddle for a minute before her body must have surrendered against her will. Angie couldn’t help but comfort the woman.

  She felt Del’s warmth against her body and had to will herself to not become aroused. It was hard, but she doubted that Del would appreciate a good angry fuck at that moment. It was an idea that didn’t need to be in Angie’s head.

  She lay on her back and pulled Del’s lithe and muscular form against her side. She tucked her head in the crease of her shoulder and neck. Her left hand found its way to the back of her head and she slowly kneaded her scalp, willing Del to relax. She felt Del’s left arm tighten across her torso at the gesture. She wrapped her right arm around her back and rubbed circles.

  She could feel the hot wet tears of anguish flowing down onto her shoulder. She didn’t care. She just pulled her closer. Del molded herself to Angie’s side. Angie felt her sigh against her chest. She made her body not react to the intimacy of the gesture as she couldn’t to soothe.

  “Do you want to talk?”

  “No,” Del told her.

  “That’s fine. Get some sleep. We can talk about it later, when you’re ready,” Angie told her.

  “I am never going to be ready,” Del admitted.

  “Just relax tonight, Del. Tomorrow is another day. We’ll deal with it then. Just sleep.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’ll sleep soon. Don’t worry about me. I am fine,” Angie lied.

  Her body was on fire. It was begging for her to touch Del more. Her mind was telling her body to calm down, but she was afraid that was going to lose the battle. She hoped that Del went to sleep soon because she didn’t know how long she would be able to hold her without wanting to touch her more. Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long. Del rolled over out of her embrace and slept.

  Sure, Del thrashed around and more than once, Angie had to block a stray arm. She woke at every whimper and sigh. She pulled Del into her embrace twice more when it seemed like the dreams were winning. Both times, Del quietened and fell back into a deep sleep. Angie willed herself back to sleep each time, hoping that Del would open up to her in the morning.

  *****

  “Angie?”

  “You couldn’t sleep. I held you. I don’t know what else you want to know,” Angie told her.

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why would you do that?” Del asked her.

  “Because you needed it.”

  Del just stared at her. She didn’t know what to say. She felt her pulse race and her blood boil at the thought of being in Angie’s arms. It was a like dream, a lustful dream, and she missed it.

  “Thank you,” Del replied quietly, as she got up and went back into her room.

  Angie turned around in time to hear Del’s bedroom door click shut. She was alone. She didn’t want to push the issue. She knew that Del might need time, but she hoped that she would still take her out on the lake. She did want things to be weirder than they already were between them.

  She turned back around and plated the eggs and sausage that she had fried. She pulled out some hash browns out the freezer and began to fry them up. She grabbed a glass of milk and drank it, too, before she heard the door open and close again. When she turned around this time, Del was back.

  “Nice mustache,” Del told her jokingly.

  “Huh?”

  “Milk-stash,” Del stated, pointing to her upper lip.

  Angie touched her lips and brushed her fingers across them, rubbing the milk away. She smiled as she turned around and grabbed two plates from the cabinet. Before Del could complain about the amount of food on her plate, Angie had it plated and sitting in front of her with a fork.

  “Eat,” she commanded simply.

  Del smiled and picked up the fork. She ate without any fanfare and without any complaints. Angie plated herself some of the food and then joined Del at the counter-top bar on the other stool. They both ate in silence.

  It wasn’t until she was sitting next to Del that she noticed that she had dressed. She was wearing a pair of slim fit blue jeans and had changed shirts into a light blue dressy t-shirt with a white tank top underneath. She was still barefoot, which made Angie smile. She looked more relaxed than she had in days. Whatever happened to her, Angie knew that it was breaking her.

  It didn’t matter that they really weren’t friends, that their relationship was a business arrangement. She hoped that they could become friends at least. It seemed that they only had each other to depend on for the moment. It would make sense that they would lean on each other for stability. It wasn’t a sign of weakness. It was a sign of strength. She just needed Del to understand that.

  “What kinda sandwich do you want?”

  “Huh?” Del replied as Angie broke her thoughts.

  “Sandwich? Boat ride? Picnic? What kind?”

  “Oh, whatever, it doesn’t matter.”

  “Ooo...kay? Do we have a cooler? I don’t want them to go bad.”

  “Yeah, I got one the other day. It isn’t anything fancy, but it should work for our needs. I don’t like things to go to waste, so whatever we can take with us when we leave better fit in it.” Del stated.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Angie replied and gave her at mock salute.

  “There is no need for th
at. I’ll go get it. I figured that you would want to leave us soon as possible. We’ll have all day. So, take whatever else you think that you might need while we’re on the water.”

  “Are you bringing a gun?”

  “I always do.”

  “Where will you put it?”

  “I will keep it on myself for the most part.”

  “But, what if we get in the water?”

  “We?”

  “Don’t like to swim?” Angie asked her.

  “I never said that.”

  “So, where will you put it, if you go swimming?” Angie questioned.

  “I’ll deal with that when the time comes. Don’t worry about it. I have my ways.”

  “I just know that wet ammo has a tendency to not fire well.”

  “That is an understatement,” Del added as she scrunched up her face.

  “I take it that you had a very ‘wet’ operation, once,” Angie replied.

  “Wet doesn’t even begin to explain that mission.”

  “Care to elaborate on that some more?”

  “You know that I can’t.”

  “Well, that is no fun,” Angie teased her. “I am going to get dressed. I hope that you’ll at least get in the water with me. I hate to swim alone.”

  Del watched her go, wondering where the Hell this version of Angie came from. What was it about the lake that caused them both to start letting their guard down. It didn’t make sense. She shook her head, but dealt with their dishes. Once she was done, she headed out to the sedan to get the cooler that she had indeed purchased the day before.

  She looked out at the lake. It was still early but she could already make out the forms of some other people on boats. She hoped that she could get them in cove that wasn’t that busy. She didn’t want to run the risk of being around too many people if she didn’t have to be. It made protecting Angie harder. She knew that she didn’t really need to be that paranoid, but it was always better to be vigilant.

  She walked back up onto the deck. She took another look around at the other cabins. She was glad that theirs was the furthest from the main lodge, but that it was situated in a position that they were close to the road if they needed to get away. It was just a stroke of luck that they had gotten that cabin.

  She knew it, but she didn’t want to jinx it, either. She could see Angie thru the window from where she was standing. She couldn’t scold her for that, because of the amount of windows in the cabin. It wasn’t an ideal place to defend someone, but she made it work to her advantage. It was another reason that she was chosen for this mission.

  She made her way back into the cabin and stopped short of kitchen. Angie was standing there with a pair of cut offs, light blue denim shorts and had put her tank top back on over what looked to be a bright red bikini. She made her mouth stayed closed when she wanted to drop it to the floor.

  “You okay?” Angie asked as she took the cooler from Del.

  “Yeah, I am fine.”

  “Alright, well go get your protective gear. I am almost ready. I have everything else in that bag there. So, whenever you’re ready, I’ll be ready to go,” Angie told her as she moved around the kitchen with a practiced eased.

  Del just watched her move. There was just something about Angie that made Del want to watch. She still couldn’t put her finger on it. She knew that Angie was beautiful. Anyone with a pulse could see that, but there was more to her. Sure, they were from two different sides of the tracks, but they seemed to understand each other. It only made her wonder why more.

  “Del?”

  “Yeah?”

  “What are you staring at?” Angie asked.

  “Umm...sorry. I’ll just go get my day pack,” Del stated, dropping her head and walking to her room.

  What she didn’t notice was Angie’s smile as she left. Angie didn’t know what it was about herself that made Del uneasy. Cole had mentioned Yulia, once. She figured that Del must have a thing for blondes. She knew that she could use this to her advantage and truth be told if Del had been a male agent, she would. Del was different. There was a fragility to her that Angie could identify with that she could understand, and she didn’t know why. They really didn’t have anything in common, but it seemed that they were starting to be attracted to one another. At least, Angie hoped it wasn’t one-sided.

  Chapter 15

  She couldn’t believe the ease in which Del drove the car. She didn’t even care that Del never let her drive. It was easy to give up the control on that aspect of her life. She knew that it was better for Del to do the driving anyway. But, that wasn’t it. There was just something about the way that Del drove a car. It was like she was part of it.

  “What?”

  “What?” Angie replied.

  “You’re staring at me. What is it? What are you staring at?” Del asked her.

  “Where did you learn to drive like that?”

  “Drive like what?”

  “Like you are an extension of the car,” Angie told her.

  “I was trained. Everything that I do has to be an extension of myself. I have to become part of it and it part of me. If I can’t trust myself and my equipment, then I can’t do my job effectively.”

  “Your rifle is in the trunk, isn’t it?”

  “Always, yes,” Del answered.

  “Do you feel better knowing that it is there?”

  “It has been a part of my life for so long that I don’t know how to function without it being there. It is my rifle. There are many like it, but it is truly mine. It has been modified for my body and my line of sight. I have shot over ten thousand rounds through it. No one else can say that.”

  “I understand all that, Del, but what are you going to do when you retire and you have no need for it anymore? What are you going to do then? What will become of your rifle?”

  “I will take it with me.”

  “They will let you do that?” Angie questioned.

  “They will have no choice because they didn’t buy it. That is truly my rifle. No one else will ever lay claim to it. I had it specifically made. It was adapted to me, piece by piece, until it became my masterpiece. And, then, it became part of me.”

  “You sound like a drone.”

  “I am a drone. That is how we are taught. First you slaughter the ego and the individual. Then, you rebuild it, mold it, and shape it into a member of the unit. Once the unit has been completed, the units will do as they are told for a common goal. It is all they know. It had become their function and their equipment is a vital member of the unit. Without training and equipment, the unit is just a gaggle of men together. They need a purpose, a goal, something to believe in, and they are given that and a new family, a band of brothers that they will willing die for and protect because in doing that, they are defending the nation that allows them the freedoms they enjoy.”

  “That was such a party answer.”

  “It is doctrine.”

  “I know,” Angie stated.

  “It is the same for you.”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “But, that is where you are wrong, Angie. You had the same training in law school. The professors opened your brains to the field. They taught you how to manipulate words and phrases, which led you to the learning of manipulation of people. Don’t look at me like that. Lawyers manipulate so much sometimes, but the law and what the law represents is an extension of the lawyer. Without the law, the lawyer is nothing. It is the same for the soldier. If he has no mission, no weapon and no unit, he is lost in an abyss that he cannot find the way out.”

  “What does he do then?”

  “He finds a new band of brothers to be with. He trades his weapon in for something else. He finds a new mission. But, most of all, he finds the way to survive and excel because that is what he has been trained to do. He has been taught on how to learn, adapt, overcome, and survive. That is his true mission, to survive until death,” Del stated.

  “And, what are you going to do?” Angie asked, s
uddenly concerned about Del would do once her mission was over and she finally, actually retired.

  “I am going to find myself a plot of land near the ocean and the mountains, if possible. I am going to build a house and just live simply. I keep to myself, so I don’t need to share it with anyone. And, I don’t plan on finding another profession. I am not cut out to work in the civilian world. I think that I have proven that, time and again. I just want to relax and not have to worry about if someone is trying to kill me or looking for the next target,” Del answered.

  “That sounds lonely.”

  “It sounds perfect for me.”

  Angie didn’t add anything else to the conversation because she realized that they were at the harbor. Del parked the car and got her day pack. She grabbed the cooler and began to head down the dock towards the boats. Angie watched her and grabbed her own bag. She caught up to Del, quickly. Del kept her eye on her and Angie knew it.

  “This is us here, I think. Let me check in with the harbor master really quickly. Don’t move from here. I can see you and I’ll know your safe,” Del told her.

  Angie stood there next to a pontoon boat and waited for Del to return. She wasn’t gone but a minute or two. She came back carrying and bright orange box, a walkie-talkie, and a set of keys.

  “Yep, that’s us. Go ahead a board and I’ll get her ready to shove off. Put the cooler near the wheel there,” Del told her pointing. “You can put your bag under the bench seat in the back. It will keep everything dry there.”

  Angie did as she was asked. She watched as Del untied the ropes and threw them onto the pontoon’s floor. She stepped aboard the boat and headed to the wheel. She put the orange bag on the captain’s chair and set the radio in the seat. She then tucked her bag under the wheel housing. Angie walked over to the captain’s chair and stood waiting for further instructions. She watched as Del tucked all the ropes up and secured all the doors on the sides of the boat. Once she was happy with their preparations, she went back to the captain’s chair and started the boat.

  “Should I hold on?” Angie asked her.