EMIT (THE EMIT SAGA)

by Barbara Cross

  “The NSA.”

  “What does that stand for?” I asked, knowing that I should know.

  “The National Security Agency.”

  “Oh...right,” I said feeling stupid. “What does he do there?”

  “He’s an intelligence analyst.”

  “So what does the NSA actually do?”

  “It’s responsible for foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence." When Daniel saw my confused expression, he continued. “Basically, they protect US security systems. They prevent adversaries from accessing classified national security information. They also collect foreign intelligence to support military operations that fight terrorists’ actions, here and abroad.”

  “Do you mean like the CIA?”

  “Yes and no. The NSA is concerned with communication intelligence. They collect information from foreign communications and protect our government’s communications from being accessed by other countries.”

  “Do you mean computer intelligence?”

  Daniel nodded, stood up and went to the refrigerator for more bottled water. When he sat down, he changed the subject by asking me a question. The conversation about the NSA was over.

  We were talking about France when Daniel’s uncle walked into the kitchen. “How was your pizza?” he asked, noticing the box on the counter.

  “Good,” We answered simultaneously and laughed.

  His uncle looked at us, but didn’t seem amused. “I need to make some phone calls,” he said brusquely and walked out of the room.

  Daniel looked at me and said, “Do you want to get out of here? Go for a walk and get some dessert?” he asked. “I’ll give you a rain check on the guitar solo.”

  Outside, we headed towards Columbus Avenue. Daniel was in a great mood and we stopped at a café a block from my house. We sat outside and shared a lemon tart and a cup of chocolate peanut butter ice cream. We were having fun teasing each other, but it was short-lived once Daniel answered his cell.

  “What! …I’ll be right there,” he said, visibly upset. He stared at me and looked dazed.

  “Are you okay? What happened?”

  He said, “I’m sorry. I need to go. I’ll walk you home.”

  “Don’t worry. I can walk home by myself.”

  “I insist. I’ll feel better knowing where you are.” That remark concerned me. Why did he have to know where I was? He never told me what happened and before I could ask again, we were at my building.

  Daniel quickly ushered me into my lobby and said, “Good night. I’ll call you soon.” As he exited the building, a grey SUV pulled up and he jumped inside. I didn’t even say goodbye or thank him for the evening. My parents still weren’t home so I took Amber outside and tried to make sense of the evening.

  When I got back, I glanced down at my cell and saw that it was dead. Now my battery wasn’t keeping a charge. I had forgotten to text Lily. I called her from the landline and she was so happy to hear from me. She’d been freaking out.

  After I told her the strange way the night ended, she said, “I’m sure everything’s fine, but I have to tell you something really weird. The photo of Daniel is gone. It’s not in my book where I put it or on my computer. It totally vanished.”

  “Maybe you misplaced it and hit delete after you sent it to me. Don’t worry, I’ll email it to you.” I went to the computer. Nothing happened. The screen stayed black. “My computer’s not turning on. Wait here it goes.” I opened the photo file and couldn’t believe it. “Lily, my photo’s gone, too.” I don’t know why, but I didn’t mention the copy that I had in my bag.

  “This is freaking me out. How could it disappear from my scrapbook and on both of our computers?” Lily asked. I had no idea. We made plans for her to come over the next day.

  After my phone charged, I read all of Lily’s texts and saw that Martin had texted. I called him back and found out that all three were home sick. Martin reminded me that I was babysitting next Tuesday and that they’d be over Sunday for Dad’s birthday.

  I was lying on my bed when I heard my parents come in. They stopped in my room and then Dad went to his office to finish some briefs, while Mom stayed behind.

  “How was your night? What did you do?”

  “It was fine. I had pizza with Daniel.” I prayed she wouldn’t ask where.

  “I told your father about him and he’d like to meet him.”

  “Fine,” I said, gritting my teeth. I knew there was no point in arguing about this anymore. “Just so you know, I met his uncle tonight and he works for the NSA. They’re not psychos.”

  “I never said they were. That’s a serious agency,” Mom said, raising her eyebrows.

  “Is it a spy agency?” I asked.

  “No.” She stopped, thought for a bit and added, “I do remember that there was some sort of scandal. About computers, I think. Ask your dad, I’m sure he knows.” I started getting a funny feeling. Computers? She left the room and I went to see Dad in his office. He was on his computer and looked up as I entered.

  “Hey Buttercup.”

  “Dad, do you know anything about a scandal involving the NSA?”

  “The National Security Agency?” Dad asked.

  I nodded.

  He looked back down and answered while he typed, “Well, some time back the NSA was charged with illegally bugging telephones of the general public and installing hardware to monitor computer communications. Why?”

  Telephones and computers? “Just curious. Mom mentioned a scandal. Daniel’s uncle works there,” I said.

  “Really! Speaking of Daniel, I’d like to meet him.”

  “Yes, Mom told me. I’ll invite him over soon, so you can grill him,” I said angrily.

  “I’m not interrogating him. I just want to meet him,” Dad objected.

  In a huff, I stormed off to my room and sat at the computer. I researched the NSA and saw that the information for the NSA was listed as classified. Phone tapping and computer hacking? My intuition was saying that something was going on and I wanted to talk this out with Lily. Even though, I knew she’d say I was crazy.

  Before bed, I wrote in my journal and filled the pages with the Pierce sighting, the Dakota dinner and all my new worries. I felt better after having written it down, but it all seemed so ridiculously impossible! I fell asleep highly amused at myself for thinking that Daniel was a spy and that people were watching me.

  In the middle of the night, I woke up dreaming about masked men chasing me. Was my subconscious trying to tell me something or was my imagination working in overdrive? I lay in bed staring at the ceiling hoping to quiet all the noises in my head.

  7. AMBUSH

  “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”

  Einstein

  In the morning, Lily called to say she was sick with a fever and not going to work. I was upset because I really needed to talk to her. Even after explaining away things before I went to sleep, I knew something strange was going on and that things weren’t what they seemed.

  As I headed for the door to leave for work, Mom called out that she’d walk with me. She had a meeting near Dad’s office. At 55th Street, Mom left and I got a sick feeling that I was being watched. I rushed into the building.

  Jared stepped in the elevator after me and distracted me from my paranoid thoughts.

  “Morning. Not walking with your Dad today?” he asked. He must have found out who my father was.

  “Not today. He had an early meeting. I actually found my way to work all by myself.”

  Jared laughed like he didn’t believe me.

  “On second thought, my mom did walk with me,” I admitted guiltily. Someone I didn’t know in the elevator chuckled.

  “Thought so,” he wisecracked. “I knew you couldn’t find it yourself.”

  I made a face at him as we exited. Jared chuckled and went in the opposite direction.

  Work did distract me. After I finished photocopying, To
dd Madison showed me how to scan files into the computer. At the end of the day, I went to see Dad in his office and found him talking to Maria. He seemed aggravated so I waited outside. Maria left looking harried and Dad motioned me in.

  “Sonia’s out sick. I’m so busy with this case and I can’t find some files,” he muttered and said he had to cancel his Paris trip. Distracted and upset, he said he’d be working late and he’d see me at home.

  When one of the paralegals came in, Dad gave me a hug goodbye and told me to head home. I offered to stay and help, but he said there really wasn’t anything I could do. As I left, three more people entered Dad’s office looking very somber. I wondered what was going on.

  When I walked outside, Jared was talking on the phone near the revolving door and called out, “Hey Paige, can I ask you a question?”

  I nodded. He handed me a note.

  “Do you know this restaurant on Columbus?”

  “Yeah, you’ll like it. It’s really good,” I offered.

  “Is it on 69th Street?” he asked.

  “No, its on 71st Street. I live on 69th.”

  “Thanks. You want company walking home?”

  “Now you don’t think I can walk home alone?” I joked.

  “We’re both going in the same direction and you never know, you might need a bodyguard.”

  Mom called and said she was at the Lincoln Center library doing some research for work and wanted to go out for dinner once she was done. Since I wanted to do more research about the NSA, but felt funny using the home computer, I told her I’d meet her there.

  On the way, Jared told me all about law school and how intense it was. Passing a bookstore, I told Jared I had to get a present for my Dad’s birthday and he said he’d come in too. I found a new history book that I thought Dad would like.

  As I was paying, Jared was looking at a magazine and he still had a bandage on his left hand.

  Hoping to hear something other than the copy machine attacked him, I asked, “So what happened to your hand?”

  “A crazy co-worker stabbed me. I’m thinking of filing a lawsuit. Do you think your dad will represent me?”

  “I doubt it.” I gave up. He was never going to tell me. He was such a joker.

  He ended up walking me all the way to the library, saying he was meeting his friend in an hour and had time to kill. Arriving at Lincoln Center, I tried saying goodbye to Jared on the street, but he insisted on walking me to the door.

  “I have to escort you to the door. My bodyguard certificate will be taken away otherwise.”

  “Okay, you preformed your duties admirably. Thank you,” I said, once I got to the door.

  “If you ever need my services, please call. My hourly rate is very fair,” he said handing me his business card. It just had his name and phone number.

  “Thanks Jared. If I ever need a bodyguard you will be the first person I call.”

  Jared smiled and headed down the street. What a nut job!

  I ran in and decided to check out James Haydin. The NSA website didn’t have any information on him. Nor was there anything anywhere else, no images, no data, nothing. There was nothing on a Daniel Haydin anywhere on the Internet either. I read more about the NSA scandals and learned that the NSA's work was limited to communications intelligence not spying on people.

  I found Mom on the second floor and we went to a sushi place near home. After dinner, I offered to take Amber for a quick walk, but Mom said she needed some exercise and wanted to take a long walk. I wasn’t in the mood, so I stayed behind. As soon as she left, the house phone started ringing and wouldn’t stop. Every time I looked at caller ID, it said unknown caller and they never left a message.

  When Mom returned, I thought about talking to her about my crazy concerns, but decided against it. She was already worried about Daniel and I’d just make things worse if I were wrong.

  I curled up under a big chenille blanket on the couch in the den to watch a movie. The walls were painted a dark maroon and the couch was covered in a cream and red paisley tapestry. There were two dark cream-colored leather armchairs near the gas fireplace. Photos of me at horse shows covered one wall. I started out in the Hunter and Equitation division, but switched to the Jumpers division because of the speed and the objective form of judging. It was all based on how fast you covered the course without errors. In the other disciplines, it was all about what the judges thought of you, and your horse.

  After the movie ended, I went upstairs and found Mom reading a book in bed. She had the news on so I sat in a chair and watched.

  “A man was found in Central Park today with amnesia and the police are asking the public for help in identifying him. If anyone knows this man please call the number below or your local police station.” I stared at the man’s face and he seemed so familiar.

  “Mom, do you know him?”

  Mom looked up and said, “No, I’ve never seen him before.”

  “That’s weird. I’ve seen him somewhere.”

  When I told Mom I had the next day off, she asked if I’d come to her office and help her.

  That night, I woke up from a nightmare covered in sweat. In my dream, the man with amnesia was chasing me and he shot me in the back. It felt so real that I actually felt the pain. I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

  

  I regretted going to Mom’s office. It was a total disaster. Photos, magazines and beauty products were everywhere. She was a neat freak, so this made no sense.

  “What happened in here?”

  “Oh, this has to be all thrown out. I went through it yesterday, but didn’t have time to finish.”

  For lunch, we grabbed a sandwich at a nearby Au Bon Pain. We finished around four and Mom had nothing else for me to do, so I played on the computer until it was time to leave.

  Dad called and said that he’d be working late again.

  After dinner, Mom and I took Amber for a walk in the park. It was a dreary grey evening.

  “So, what’s going on with Daniel?” she pried.

  “Nothing. I haven’t heard from him.”

  “Oh really,” she said and it sounded like she was pleased.

  That really infuriated me. “Please, stop talking about Daniel,” I demanded.

  Mom stared at me and said, “Calm down. Why are you acting like this?”

  “Because I can tell that you’re really glad that I haven’t heard from him.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just concerned.”

  “There’s nothing to be concerned about. Absolutely nothing is going on, so stop.” We walked in complete silence all the way home.

  Daniel called that evening, but his tone was so casual and weird.

  “How’s it going?” he asked.

  “Fine. What happened the other night? You seemed upset.”

  “It was about work. I forgot to do something. My uncle was really annoyed with me.”

  “Oh. What have you been doing?” I asked.

  “Just working. Are you going to Long Island this weekend?”

  “No, we’re staying here. My parents have a wedding on Saturday and my dad’s birthday is on Sunday. We’re having dinner with my brother.”

  “You have a brother?”

  “Yeah, his name’s Martin. He’s actually my half-brother, same dad different moms. He’s fifteen years older and is married to Marina.” What’s wrong with me? I had been so pre-occupied with Daniel that I forgot to mention my own brother. “Martin has a daughter, her name’s Anna and she turned one in June, so that makes me an aunt,” I added.

  As we talked, Daniel started sounding more normal and actually laughed a few times.

  “I wanted to ask you to a film this weekend, but I see you’re busy,” Daniel admitted.

  “No, I’m not. My parents are going to the wedding, not me,” I explained. “I’d love to see a movie.” No matter what was going on I really liked Daniel and I’d talk to him in person.

  “Great. I’ll call you Sa
turday afternoon.”

  My heart skipped a beat. What was I worried about? Nothing had happened. How could Daniel be a spy? A photo disappeared so what was the big deal? The only thing that kept nagging at me was how did it vanish from both our computers? How was that possible? I really was at a loss to explain that one.

  Since Lily wasn’t going to Grammy’s either, we made plans to spend the weekend together. On Saturday, we’d spend the day together and as always, Lily suggested shopping. Later when I saw Daniel, Lily could hang out with Daphne and Grace or wait for me at home.

  After we hung up, I decided to read some poetry and grabbed the John Keats book. I picked “Bright Star…” because it sounded upbeat.

  BRIGHT STAR, WOULD I WERE STEDFAST AS THOU ART

  Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--

  Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night

  And watching, with eternal lids apart,

  Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,

  The moving waters at their priestlike task

  Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,

  Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask

  Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--

  No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,

  Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,

  To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,

  Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,

  Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,

  And so live ever--or else swoon to death

  This love poem was eerily poignant. A man was watching his love while she slept. Since death was inevitable, he wished to be a star. In that way their love would last forever since a star had, or so he thought, a limitless life. The poem was a paradox of immortality and love. Knowing that Keats died at twenty-five from tuberculosis made me understand why he wished for immortality.

  

  Dad went to court and was out of the office all day. He called when I was standing at the elevator to leave and asked me to bring some files home. I waited for Sonia and she handed me a large shopping bag.

  I walked up Fifth Ave and entered the park at 59th Street. As I strolled on a path listening to my iPod, I saw two men walking towards me. They were still quite a bit away from me, but I moved onto the grass for them to be able to pass. When I did that, they stopped and glared at me. One of them looked like the man from the block party. I got scared and froze in place. There were a lot of people around, so what could they actually do? They exchanged words, moved onto the grass directly in my path and resumed walking towards me. The man I didn’t recognize was reaching for something in his jacket pocket. I didn’t know if I was hallucinating or not, but it looked like a gun.