Beyond the Checkpoint

by Addison M. Conley

  Glancing over her itinerary, she noticed one meeting with no subject was tacked on at the last minute. From the attendees, Lynn suspected it was to discuss a new assignment. The Air Force had already taken the unusual step of extending her tour. But why four days of meetings? Why can’t this be done via video telecommunications?

  She tossed the paperwork back into her briefcase. No use in second-guessing the powers that be. Despite the meetings, the extra leave at the trip’s end would give her time to clear her head after the breakup with her girlfriend. The two had been together for almost two years, but it wasn’t working.

  After stretching, she opened her laptop to research easy-care perennial plants and flowers. Rose rosette disease had wiped out her aunt’s beloved roses, and Lynn had promised to sketch out some ideas for a new garden.

  Lynn paused and closed her eyes. A vision of Ali among the roses, her head tilted and a mischievous smile and brown chestnut eyes peeking out from auburn hair, made Lynn swallow. Nearly six years after that first deployment, and she still couldn’t forget the way she felt when strolling through the garden with Ali. The aura of tranquility mixed with lust when she had held that rose petal for Ali to smell. The scent of the roses still lingered in her mind. Whenever Lynn caught a whiff of scented roses on a woman’s perfume, she always turned and hoped to see Ali.

  That didn’t end well either. Stop daydreaming and plan the garden.

  After searching for nearly an hour and making a list of choices, Lynn started looking for professional designers. She knew her aunt couldn’t afford that, but Lynn decided to pay for the service as a gift.

  Her fingers stilled on the keyboard, and her heart practically stopped. There was a picture of a gorgeous redhead with a man. Their arms draped over each other’s shoulders. Lynn’s gut twisted into a pretzel. Is Ali married? No, she can’t be. Maybe she’s bi. Lynn felt like her breakfast was going to come up. Stop, you jealous idiot.

  She took a breath and read on, “Ms. Clairmont helps with her cousin’s home renovation business and has won local gardening awards.” Oh, thank God.

  Staring at Ali’s picture, the raw emotions came roaring back. Ali was intelligent, honest, and oh-so damn sexy from her eyes to her toes. Even her voice made Lynn’s insides quiver with excitement. She punched the keys to turn off the computer and practically threw it in the briefcase. Why do I act this way? A tiny voice inside whispered, Because Ali is the only one you’ve ever loved.

  Chapter 38

  January 2015 – NGA Headquarters, Springfield, Virginia

  After the busy holiday season, 2015 had started off as a good year. Ali had passed the second polygraph a week ago without a meltdown, and yesterday, she had been nominated for an award on a work project.

  Strolling down the division hallway, she heard, “Ali, can I please have a word with you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Please sit down.” The division chief’s face was blank as he motioned to the chair.

  Without looking up, Dave Curtis flatly said, “Your Branch Chief doesn’t want to let you go.”

  Are they moving me? Is something wrong?

  After letting her dangle for a few seconds, he cracked a smile. “We need you to slide over as the temporary senior analyst next month.”

  “Excuse me? What about Dory?”

  “She will be out for a couple of weeks, then returning on limited hours. Her job is too important to leave open. So, do you accept?”

  “Sure.” She hoped the waver in her voice was not detectable.

  “Ali, your papers have gotten a lot of attention, and you’re one of our best briefers. Since your commitment to the briefing class has ended, I need you to step up and work with the division junior analysts, especially with their writing skills. And who knows? If all goes well, there may be a promotion around the corner. Go back and talk to Dory. You have two weeks to learn from her before stepping into her shoes.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  He chuckled and held out his hand. “Please, it’s Dave.”

  Feeling elated, Ali walked out with a bit of a bounce in her step. As she rounded the corner, a young woman was with Dory. The dazed analyst walked away, and the edits on her paper seemed to bleed off the page.

  “How can I help you?” Dory peered over her glasses.

  Ali moved closer. “Division wants me to…ah…fill in for you.” The words stammering from my mouth probably aren’t a good impression. Ali rubbed her palms on her pant legs.

  “Does that make you nervous?” Dory asked.

  “No.”

  Hell, yes, I’m nervous, but I’ll never admit it. Dory held three master’s degrees and had a good forty years of experience between the military and the agency. No one knew for sure what Dory’s job was in the military, but rumors had it that she was involved in PSYOPs.

  Directors had come and gone at NGA and its predecessor agencies, and Dory was on a first name basis with many of them. In fact, the rumor was that being on Dory’s shit list was one of the worst places to be in the entire Intelligence Community.

  “I…ah…have two weeks to shadow you and learn the basics.”

  “Well, we had better start first thing tomorrow.”

  “Yes.” Ali licked her lips. “Are you okay with this?”

  “With your appointment?”

  Ali nodded.

  “I should hope so. I was the one who recommended you. Don’t look so dumbfounded. Sure, you have a lot to learn, but have you looked around? We’re short on experienced people. Your attention to detail and research are tops.” Dory loudly tapped her index finger on the table. “And note—Dave demands concise projects on schedule, and he always does his best to keep us out of the political crossfire. Seek his opinion often.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “See you tomorrow at six sharp.” Dory turned to her computer and started typing.

  Ali waved and began to walk away.

  “Oh, one more thing.” Ali turned, but Dory didn’t skip a beat at the keyboard. She said, “Wear some practical shoes and comfortable clothes tomorrow. You’re going to go to every meeting with me. I’m going to cram as much as possible in that head of yours, and soon, it will be spinning like Regan’s in the Exorcist.”

  Dory stopped her typing, and folded her hands. Her mouth formed a crocked grin. “Now, should you accept this assignment, the offer will self-destruct in a few weeks.” Her low voice was worthy of an Emmy. “Should you be caught messing up, this senior intelligence officer will disavow any and all knowledge of your activities. Good luck!” She cackled like an evil witch. “Check your email because I’m sending you some documents and will be quizzing you tomorrow.” Her smile lingered.

  “Thanks, Dory.”

  “Oh, you’ll thank me for taking back the avalanche of work when I return. However, I have been on their case for an assistant. Make us proud, and I might insist that you get that position.” Warmth as well as mischief shown in Dory’s eyes.

  Ali strolled back and spent the next couple of hours poring over the documents. As it neared the time to leave, she swiveled around in her chair. Snow was falling. The flakes were huge and glorious as they floated to the ground. Traffic would be a mess, but nothing could put a damper on Ali’s mood.

  Chapter 39

  February 2017 – NGA Headquarters, Springfield, Virginia

  Two Years Later

  The video conference with the Brits went over schedule and did not run as smoothly as usual. With the bluster of the new president, who knew how much longer the British would be sharing their intelligence. Now, she was running late for a two-thirty meeting suddenly called by the division chief.

  She pivoted sharply around the corner and almost knocked a woman over. “Sorry,” Ali mouthed and kept on.

  Her footsteps made uneven thuds on the thin industrial carpet, but she refused to let her slight limp slow her down. Her stride had never been the same after taking a fall downhill skiing last winter. Good grief, am I ever
going to make it out of here on time?

  She punched in the code and entered. One of the branch chiefs motioned to an empty seat, and she squeezed past the crowd. Even the side filing cabinets were doubling as seating. Ali became the fulltime senior analyst last year after Dory was promoted. The day was always long and seemed to be filled with endless meetings.

  “Thanks for saving me a seat.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Ali focused on the division chief sitting about ten feet away, and her heart stopped. Next to him in a blue silk blouse, the same shade as her eyes, was Lynn. Except for some crow’s feet and laugh lines, Lynn’s face hadn’t changed much. Her naturally sandy blonde hair was longer, right above the collar and more styled in waves.

  Ali opened her notebook, wrote the date, and doodled. Never in a million years did she expect to be working with Lynn again, especially in the third largest government building in the Washington D.C. area.

  The assistant dimmed the lights to get everyone’s attention, and Division Chief Dave Curtis rose. “Our deputy division chief slot has been empty for several months. The director has selected a candidate through the inter-agency Joint Duty Assignment.” He gestured at Lynn, “Effective immediately, Lynn Stewart from Cyber Command will be the new deputy division chief. Lynn, please introduce yourself.”

  Ali closed her notebook.

  “Good afternoon…”

  People milled around to welcome Lynn afterward, but Ali jumped up and rushed out the door. When she reached her desk, she threw her notebook in the drawer, powered off the computer, and marched to the garage.

  Inching down Shirley Highway toward Washington D.C., Ali slapped the steering wheel with her hand. Besides her knee, her whole body ached today.

  “Damn you, Lynn! Fucking damn you! Why do you keep coming back into my life?” Tears pooled. She wiped them away, but it was no use. More came, and she couldn’t stop the mascara from running.

  “Fantastic. I look like a bad Johnny Depp pirate.” The older man in the car next to her gawked. “I might as well continue to talk to myself since I look certifiably crazy.”

  She turned on the radio, and WTOP announced that traffic into D.C. was being forced off at King Street because of a bad accident. Creeping off the exit ramp, she could see emergency vehicles and police around a jackknifed tractor trailer and two vehicles. The ambulance slowly driving away with flashing lights and no sound was ominous.

  Her cell rang. She took a deep breath and punched the Bluetooth answer button.

  Tracy’s voice shrieked, “Where are you? You’re late! Are you even showing?”

  Ali ground her teeth before answering. “It is President’s Day weekend.”

  “Stop right there. You promised. One, you wouldn’t work as much, and two, that you’d spend more time with me!”

  “I’m not the one scheduling dinner ten minutes from my office. I can’t set my own hours like you.”

  “Look, Ali. Do you even want a girlfriend? No, don’t even answer that question!” Tracy’s voice screamed, “You’re probably screwing someone else at work.”

  Ali’s response was a quiet voice. “You’ve falsely accused me of dating someone else before. I’m through with the accusations and the way you treat me. Good luck, Ice Queen. You can have your castle all to yourself. I’ll get my things when it’s convenient for me.” Ali cut off the call. Not exactly how I anticipated ending things, but it was an overdue train wreck.

  They had had a few arguments over the past year, but nothing like the raging firestorms lately. Ali was steadily growing uncomfortable with Tracy’s increasing alcohol consumption and controlling behavior.

  “No more!” She banged her hand on the steering wheel again.

  Her stomach growled as she passed the Village of Shirlington, which had some of the best restaurants. She cut through a nearby neighborhood, thinking it would be faster, but accidentally turned down a dead-end street. A ‘For Sale by Owner’ caught her attention. Her eyes studied the property. It was in terrible shape and stuck out among the surrounding immaculate houses.

  Buying so soon would be a rash decision, but after partnering with her cousin, their renovation projects had always made a profit, especially the last two.

  “I need to stretch my legs anyway,” She mumbled to herself.

  She rubbed her knee and limped up to the doorway. As her hand reached up to knock, the door opened.

  A frail man said, “Can I help you?”

  “Hi. I saw your sign. Any chance I could take a quick peek?”

  The old man had a grim look and hesitated. A woman stepped behind him and said, “We were about to leave, but Dad, let’s give her ten minutes to walk through.” He stepped aside and mustered a weak smile.

  The house smelled stale with lingering cigarette smoke as if the windows hadn’t been opened in years, and the carpet was heavily stained. The furniture, out of the eighties, was encased in see-through plastic covers. The fireplace hearth was separating and crumbling. Ali moved into the kitchen and tripped on the cracked linoleum flooring but caught herself before falling. The pine cabinets and appliances dated from at least the sixties.

  The kitchen back door opened to a deck that needed sanding and staining. The backyard was in decent shape.

  “The pond is Dad’s pride and joy.” The woman pointed to the corner of the lot. “He put in a new pump last year.”

  Ali gawked. The garden pond had to be at least sixteen feet long.

  The woman thrust an information sheet into Ali’s hand. “We’re asking two hundred and ninety-five thousand cash. We need to close fast.” The old man grimaced at his daughter’s cold words. “After Sunday, we’re not taking any more bids. Act fast if you’re interested. You need to go now.”

  “How many bids do you have?” Ali had to ask as they walked to the front door.

  “Several.” The woman said curtly.

  “Thank you for your time.”

  Back in the car, Ali ran a search, then dialed her cousin.

  “Hey, Crazster. What’s up?”

  “Scott, I’ve found a three-bedroom split-level with a basement, attached garage, and a garden pond.”

  “Which needs more work, the interior or exterior?”

  “Both are a disaster, and there are possible foundation issues. They want all bids in by Sunday.”

  “Whoa! No way.”

  “It’s less than two miles from Shirlington.”

  “That’s an ideal location, but even with my magnificent carpenter skills and your artsy-fartsy designs, you have got to be out of your freaking mind. It may be a good deal, but I’m not interested in investing in something that needs that much work. It would stretch my resources and time.”

  Ali chewed on her lip. “I want to buy it for myself. I have the cash and an extra two hundred thousand for reno. The time can be stretched out over six months or longer. Please Scott. I need your help in fixing it up.”

  “Oh, you know Miss Fancy Pants won’t stand for a dump. Are you sure your brain isn’t fried? And where’s this going to leave you if you blow all your cash reserve?”

  “I need my own space again. Fixing up a place gives me a feeling of accomplishment.”

  He laughed. “Are you still with her?”

  “No. Please, Scott. I’ve googled the numbers on comps and an empty lot. It’s worth the risk. Are you with me?” Ali could hear him fretting. “Pretty please with sugar on it.”

  “You’re my favorite cuz, Alaina. I don’t know how much time I can give you, but I’ll help. Are you sure this is the right decision?”

  “Stop worrying about me.”

  “Habit.”

  Scott cleared his throat, “By the way, where are you sleeping if Tracy’s out of the picture?” After she didn’t answer, he said, “Spend the night with us. It’s close to your job. If you get here early enough, you can help Brooke with her AP Calculus. It’s her only non-A.” He chuckled. “God knows she didn’t get her smarts from me. She surpassed
me long ago.”

  “Sure. Thanks, Scott.”

  Ali texted her real estate broker. Need bid with an escalation clause by Sunday. Property will be my home. Broke up with Tracy.

  The reply read, It’s a holiday weekend. Good thing you’re a dear friend. Email me the details, and I’ll get it done. Congrats on dumping uptight Ms. Prissy.

  Ali tore open a granola bar with her teeth and turned the car around. “Today’s a new beginning. Let’s have some music.” Punching in her favorite station at the stop sign, she took a drink of water. “Hell, yeah!”

  She sang, “Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh…” along to the lyrics of “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors while drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. The song finished. “Yep, moving on and never looking back.”

  Chapter 40

  April 2017 – Northern Virginia

  “Boy are you lucky,” Scott smirked.

  “I know. It’s a great buy. Cost me a bit more with the escalation clause, but it’s worth it.” Ali motioned at the mess. “It’s a challenge, but the bones of the house are solid.”

  “Yes, on the house, but what I meant is, I snagged someone to help with the reno on the weekends.” Scott was all smug, grinning and waggling his eyebrows. “I think she’s a lesbian, and she lives two streets over. Joe who worked on that Springfield property, you remember last year, introduced us.”

  “No fixing me up!”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Biting his lip did nothing to hide the silly grin. “Besides, my crew is busy for the next two months, and beyond demo, you can’t do shit. You even require supervision with that.”

  “Hey, I’m good at painting and design, and I’m an award-winning landscape designer.”

  “You mean flower garden design with the garden club?” His wicked grin lit up his eyes, and Ali lovingly punched him on his muscled shoulder. “Ah, Crazster. I love ya, but there is a lot of work here that you can’t do. You need help with your bum knee, and my schedule is packed.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked on his toes. “Be on your best behavior because she’s dropping by in fifteen.”