“Your coffee,” Emma told Mary.
Mary smiled. She took the coffee from Emma and stepped into a kitchen that felt lost in time. No matter how hard Mary tried to design the kitchen to look modern, she would never destroy the stain of time. Not that Mary cared. The kitchen was coated with the permanent touch of decades past; with old voices and dusty stories she would never be able to scrape off the walls. The kitchen, Mary knew, would always feel like a worn-down story shoved into the corner of a sad library, filled with pages written by a depressed woman. “I’m relieved you’re here.”
Emma closed the back door. “This door is made of very good wood, yes,” she said.
“Yes,” Mary agreed. She pointed around her kitchen with her left hand. “I painted the walls a light blue and put in some modern-day appliances, but as you can see,” she said, tapping the aged hardwood floor with her right foot, “this old house will never succumb to being modern.”
“Houses such as this are a gift,” Emma told Mary in a soft voice. “Houses must have character…a voice, yes?” Emma walked over to the square kitchen table covered with a blue and white tablecloth. She sat down, picked up a cup of coffee, and looked at Mary. “The little boy, he is home safe?” she asked.
“Safe and sound,” Mary assured her. She sat down across from Emma, kicked off her shoes, and took a sip of coffee. “Very good.”
“Farmer Griffith taught me how to make coffee American style.” Emma smiled. “He was a wonderful man, yes.”
“Yes, he was.” Mary sighed. She threw her eyes at the General Electric refrigerator. Her stomach was begging for food, but for the time being, she needed to talk to Emma. “Emma…as much as I want Agent Green to face justice, I can’t condone…murder. We have to devise a plan—”
“Eberhart Kruger has to die,” Emma told Mary in a very stern voice. “Your justice system will not condemn such evil, Mrs. Holland.”
Mary stared at Emma. “Emma, you could have insisted I turn your papers over to you back at the farm. You could have held Mitch hostage until I turned your papers over. Yet, you easily agreed to leave the farm, allow Mitch to return home, and come to my house.” Mary took a sip of her coffee. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you are not a killer. I believe you want to kill Agent Green…this Eberhart Kruger person… but you’re not sure if you can. Am I wrong?”
“Eberhart Kruger must die. He murdered Farmer Griffith in cold blood.” Emma lowered her eyes in shame. “I should have killed Eberhart when I saw him murder an innocent man, yet I did not. I became very frightened and hid myself. I became a coward.” Emma squeezed her coffee cup. “I will never forgive myself.”
Mary reached across the table and patted Emma’s hand. “You are not a coward.”
Emma raised her eyes. “Farmer Griffith had me park my motorcycle near the river. He was very smart to do so, yes. If Eberhart would have uncovered my motorcycle, he would have not left the farm until he located me.” Emma fought back a tear. “That wonderful man protected me, and I did not destroy his killer. My heart is very angry at this moment, Mrs. Holland.”
“I understand,” Mary promised Emma.
Emma looked down at her coffee. “My mind feels very confused, yes,” she told Mary. “I need to return to France, but my job is not complete. There is much information I need to gather. I have, as your saying goes, only kicked over one stone.” Emma grew silent for a few seconds. “I cannot leave until I destroy the evil that killed Farmer Griffith, yes,” she finally said. “I will take what information I have and leave your country as soon as the evil is dead.”
Mary felt pity rise in her heart. “Honey,” she told Emma, “you look so tired. Your eyes are very sleepy, and your voice is very upset. I suggest we get some sleep and rest our minds.”
Emma fought back a yawn. “How can I sleep?” she asked Mary. “Eberhart Kruger is out in the night. My papers are still not in my possession. And I am far from home.”
“Honey, we need to rest and—”
Before Mary could finish her sentence, a hard foot kicked open the back door. Agent Green appeared in the doorway holding a gun. He pointed the gun directly at Emma.
“Don’t move,” Mary told Emma.
“Smart advice.” Agent Green grinned. He stepped into the kitchen and kicked the back door shut. “The game ends tonight,” he announced. “Mrs. Holland, the government is going to be very interested to find out that you were caught harboring a foreign spy. I knew you were involved and would eventually lead to me the person I was seeking.” Agent Green shook his head. “The people of Pineville are going to be disappointed to find out that you are a traitor.”
Mary wasn’t sure what to do. She kept her eyes on the gun Agent Green was holding and began wondering how the man had slipped away from the sheriff. “Where is Sheriff Mables?”
“Locked in a closet inside of his home with his wife. The man refused to stop following me, so I cleverly tricked him into allowing me into his home for a…talk,” Agent Green explained in a calm voice. He smelled the kitchen air. “Coffee smells good, Mrs. Holland. I think I will have myself a cup.”
Mary and Emma watched Agent Green walk over to the stove, pick up a metal coffee pot, and pour coffee into a white cup. “You killed Farmer Griffith,” Mary snapped, unable to control her anger.
Agent Green took a sip of his coffee while keeping his gun aimed at Emma. “The man refused to cooperate with me. I knew he was hiding a spy on his farm.” Agent Green put down the coffee cup he was holding and fished out a Lucky Strike with his left hand. “You were not as clever as you thought,” he told Emma. “I recovered a notice that your underground movement sent a spy over the big lake. I was waiting.”
“You will die,” Emma hissed at Agent Green.
Agent Green lit his cigarette with a match. “Come now, Miss Charron, we do not have to be enemies.” Agent Green took a draw from his cigarette and slowly exhaled. “Miss Charron, I want information on your underground movement. If you cooperate with me, I will ensure your safe return back to France and,” Agent Green nodded his head at Mary, “the safety of Mrs. Holland. If you refuse to cooperate, I’m afraid I may be forced to bypass bringing Mrs. Holland in alive. Mrs. Holland will suffer the same fate as Farmer Griffith. But rest assured, I will ensure her grave is spit on by everyone.”
“You’re a snake,” Mary snapped at Agent Green. “If my husband was here he would put you in your place.”
“Mrs. Holland, your husband is dropping bombs on my people,” Agent Green snapped back. “If he were here I would shoot him for his crimes.”
“John would make you eat your gun!”
Agent Green gritted his teeth. “You Americans believe you are invincible. You do not know that my people will destroy you.” Agent Green took another draw from his Lucky Strike and calmed down. “We have conquered our enemies and will not allow the Americans to enter our land.” Agent Green lowered his cigarette. “As we speak, Mrs. Holland, certain members of your government are working with my people to bring very valuable scientists into this country. A deal has been reached between your government and my people to begin a…curious partnership, if you will.”
“A partnership?” Mary asked.
Agent Green nodded. “In exchange for the scientists being brought into this country, your people have agreed to discourage its military from attacking. So far, we have managed to keep a land invasion at bay. The attacks from the air are damaging, but tolerable. In time, we will end the air attacks as well.”
“You Germans are murdering millions of innocent people!” Emma yelled.
“Not all of my people are…devoted to the cause,” Agent Green told Emma. “You see,” he continued, “we are working to create a unified world government, ladies. My people have conquered their enemies while the Americans, for the most part, looked away.” Agent Green worked on his Lucky Strike. “It’s a game of interest, you must understand. The Americans will pursue a path that best furthers their interests. Right now, they
are standing back far enough to view the playing field.” Agent Green pushed smoke out of his nostrils. “My job, of course, is to continue working to destroy the Constitution of America and initiate communistic values while sending my people valuable inside information concerning the operations of the American government.”
“You sicken me,” Mary told Agent Green.
Agent Green kept his eyes cold and hard. “Mrs. Holland, I was born in Virginia. I am considered an American. But make no mistake, my loyalty lies with my homeland. Soon the war will end, and my people will have victory. And for those people in my homeland who are against the cause…they will suffer the fate our enemies are suffering.” Agent Green looked at Mary with fierce eyes. “Mr. Hoover, Mrs. Holland, isn’t a foolish man. He understands the value of choosing the correct players. However,” Agent Green frowned, “certain military leaders such as Dwight Eisenhower are not so easily swayed. That man is very dangerous to the cause. But he will be killed soon enough. Mr. Hoover has assured his death.”
Mary couldn’t believe her ears. “You’re—”
Agent Green held up his right hand. “Eisenhower is a threat,” he barked and then calmed down. “Mrs. Holland, there are numerous players in the game, but I assure you, the cause will have victory. People who resist will be eliminated. In time, we will alter the world into a one-world government that will ensure the survival of the human race.”
“A human race controlled by communist dictators,” Emma told Agent Green. “Your cause. Eberhart—”
“My name is Agent Vince Green, Miss Charron. Let’s not forget that.”
“Your real name is Eberhart Kruger! I know all about you, yes!”
Agent Green let out an irritated sigh. “Miss Charron, please do not become difficult with me. I am not in the mood to tolerate resistance.” He nodded at Mary again. “If you refuse to cooperate with me, Mrs. Holland will die. Her death will be on your hands, Miss Charron.”
Emma looked at Mary. “I do not want you to die,” she stated in a miserable voice. “One man’s death is enough.” Emma raised her eyes and focused on Agent Green. “Yes, Agent Green, I will cooperate.”
Agent Green grinned. “Splendid,” he told Emma. “Now, the first thing you must do is forget that you know my actual birth name. Eberhart Kruger will come alive when the cause has achieved its purpose. For now, Agent Vince Green is the man you are dealing with. Is that clear, Miss Charron?”
“Yes,” Emma told Agent Green, wondering what plans the man had in mind.
Agent Green smiled a hideous smile. “Miss Charron, let’s begin with your underground movement. I want names, locations, attack plans.”
“Don’t,” Mary begged Emma. “Don’t give in to this snake. I would rather him kill me than turn yellow.”
Emma closed her eyes. “Mrs. Holland, I can’t allow you to die. I will sacrifice my honor to save your life.”
Agent Green tossed his cigarette into the sink, grabbed his cup of coffee, took a sip, and then made a horrible mistake: he lowered his gun. “Names, locations, and attacks plans, Miss Charron,” he demanded, feeling confident that he had finally won the battle.
Emma opened her eyes. “Agent Green,” she said, spotting his gun aiming at the floor instead of at her, “if I give you the information you need, will you not harm Mrs. Holland?”
“Not physically,” Agent Green grinned. “Now, talk.”
Emma gripped her coffee and slowly stood up. “May I stand?” she asked. Agent Green nodded. “It has been a long day and my back hurts,” Emma said and carefully began walking back and forth through the kitchen. Agent Green watched with cautious eyes but figured Emma was harmless. After all, he had a gun and she didn’t. But that was his mistake. Without warning, Emma spun around and threw her coffee in Agent Green’s face. The scalding hot coffee made contact. The fight was on.
Agent Green grabbed his face. As he did, Emma attacked. She ran forward and kicked Agent Green in the chest. The man stumbled backward, hit the kitchen counter, and dropped down to the floor. Emma kicked his gun across the kitchen floor. “Run!” she yelled at Mary.
Mary jumped to her feet, yanked the back door open, and fled out onto the back porch. She slid to a stop before reaching the stairs and spun around just in time to see Agent Green reach for a gun hidden under his right pants leg. Emma kicked his hand away and went for a hidden gun tied to her ankle. Agent Green managed to push Emma’s hands away and shove the woman down onto the floor, and then he rolled his body over to his gun. Emma jumped to her feet and made a run for the back door. Agent Green grabbed his gun and began firing.
“Run!” Emma yelled at Mary.
Mary dived off the porch and zoomed into the backboard like a cat on fire. Emma caught up to her. “This way!” she yelled, grabbing Mary’s hand.
Mary followed Emma into the woods behind the house. Branches slapped Mary in the face, and her bare feet stepped on twigs and loose rocks, but Mary ignored the pain. The sound of gunshots being fired into the woods made her run like she had never run before.
“He’s firing at us!” Mary huffed.
“Yes, I know,” Emma huffed back, keeping her head low and running north. “Eberhart is spoiled to the city, yes. He will not follow us into the woods. He knows I understand the land.”
Mary wasn’t so sure. But the farther she ran into the woods, the more distant sounding the gunshots became. “He’s not following us,” she said, breathing hard.
Emma stopped beside a large pine tree and listened. “No, Eberhart is not following us,” she said in a relieved voice. “He knows I have a gun, yes.” Emma caught her breath and studied the dark woods. Her eyes became catlike. “Mrs. Holland, I must have my papers. Please.”
“Of course,” Mary agreed. “I buried your papers in the watermelon patch beside the largest watermelon.”
Emma focused her eyes on Mary. “Eberhart will try to kill you. You must stay with me.”
“No,” Mary insisted. “I have to rescue Sheriff Mables and rally the town. That’s my only chance.”
Emma listened to the night. “Mrs. Holland, as you have just witnessed, Eberhart is a deadly killer. If he finds you, he will kill you.”
“I have to rescue Sheriff Mables,” Mary insisted. She reached down and rubbed her right foot. Suddenly an idea struck her mind. “Of course…Heather!” she exclaimed.
“Heather?” Emma asked, confused.
“I’ll call Heather and have her wake up the town. After I set Sheriff Mables and Lucy free, of course. I’m sure neither one of them are too happy about being locked in a closet.” Mary continued to rub her foot. “Emma, you go get your papers and meet me at the newspaper office. I’ll leave the back door unlocked.”
“The newspaper office?” Emma asked.
“Don’t worry. I have a plan.” Mary smiled. “Please, you have to trust me. We’re going to bring Agent Green…Eberhart Kruger…whatever he calls himself…to justice.”
Emma stared at Mary. She felt very scared but found comfort in her new friend. “Yes, Mrs. Holland—”
“Emma, call me Mary. That’s what my friends call me.”
Emma felt a smile touch her lips. “Yes, Mary, I will do as you say. I will retrieve my papers and meet you at your newspaper. My motorcycle isn’t parked far from this location.”
Mary reached out and hugged Emma. “Be careful,” she said.
Mary’s care and concern shocked Emma. She slowly lifted her arms, hesitated, and then hugged Mary back. “Yes, I will be careful. You must be careful, too. Eberhart is very dangerous.”
Mary nodded her head and let go of Emma. “Go,” she said in a worried voice. Emma slowly backed away from Mary, and then, like a puff of smoke, she vanished into the night like a stealth animal. “Oh, be careful,” Mary whispered. She looked around the woods. “Okay, Mary, Sheriff Mables lives west of you…this way…”
Mary started to walk through the dark woods, maneuvering over the raw ground on very careful feet. Eventually, she came
out on Green Pine Street, behind the house of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Brickston. The backyard was silent. Mary crept over damp grass and walked to the front yard. As she did, a pair of headlights appeared in the distance. Mary ran to a tree and ducked down. Agent Green raced past the tree in his car without spotting Mary.
“That was close,” Mary whispered and waited until the headlights vanished before leaving the tree. She turned left and aimed her body toward Autumn Street, the street Sheriff Mables lived on. “Have to be smart,” Mary warned herself, dashing to one tree or another, hiding, and then dashing away to another tree. She felt silly, of course, but danger was loose and attempting to track her down. Safety overrode the feeling of silliness. Of course, Mary thought, running behind an oak tree, John would sure get a kick out of seeing his wife creeping about like a silly clown wearing no shoes.
“If only John was home,” Mary said, hiding behind the oak tree. The oak tree was standing in the yard of one Mrs. Amelia Gwenbee, a cranky old widow who yelled at the postman if he stepped onto her property. Mary wasn’t in the mood to have a cranky old woman scold her, so she got moving again.
Ten minutes later she planted her feet on Autumn Street and ran to a small but comfortable-sized two-story home sitting in a sleepy yard surrounded by other homes. The house was dark, but Mary saw Sheriff Mables’ car parked in the driveway. She slipped past the car and ran to the back porch and scooted up the back porch stairs.
“Be unlocked,” she begged and tried the back door. To her relief, the door was unlocked. “Oh, thank goodness,” she whispered and hurried into a dark kitchen. She flipped on a light switch and looked around at a kitchen that sparkled and shined. Mrs. Mables was a wonderful housekeeper who kept her home cleaner than a whistle.
“Sheriff? Mrs. Mables?” Mary yelled out. “It’s me, Mary! If you can hear me make a sound!”
A loud crashing sound came from the living room. Mary ran out of the kitchen, worked her way through a small dining room, and burst into a living room that smelled of perfume and cigar smoke. She skidded to a stop beside a closet standing next to the front door and yanked it open. Two faces appeared—one furious, the other terrified.
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