EMIT (THE EMIT SAGA)

by Barbara Cross

  Jealous? Daniel really said that? I was completely blown away. “And what?”

  “Thankfully, I was there to protect you from Billy… but Frank got killed.”

  “Oh, my God.” Daniel had been dealing with so much. “I’m so sorry.”

  Looking down, Daniel sighed and said, “Frank was one of the first people I worked with and he always took care of me. I learned everything from him and I blame myself for his death.”

  “You shouldn’t.”

  “But I do. James blamed me too. That was why he came to your apartment, to tell me about Frank. He was so angry. I underestimated these people and James thinks we have an internal problem.” I didn’t know what that meant. Crestfallen, Daniel looked up and stared at me saying, “So when James said I had to stop seeing you until this case was over, I couldn’t disagree with him. Frank died and it was my fault.”

  “How is it your fault? You didn’t kill him!” I said shaking my head. “What happened to Frank?”

  “Frank and Tom, another agent, were following Sonia.”

  “My father’s secretary?” I interrupted.

  “Yes. We got some information that she was going to be killed. When the agents got there, it was a set up and they were ambushed. Tom made it out, but Frank didn’t. If I hadn’t switched shifts with him, he’d still be alive.”

  “I’m so sorry…but you saved me from Billy,” I said trying to say something positive.

  “The agents would’ve done the same thing. They’d never let Billy hurt you. I should’ve been where I was supposed to be,” Daniel said.

  “I’m so sorry,” I repeated, dazed. “But you could have been the one killed.”

  “Or I could have caught them.”

  We sat in silence and finally Daniel spoke. “Can we go back and start where we left off? Forget this girlfriend thing ever happened.”

  “I really need to know something. Please tell truth because I can’t take much more of this.”

  “I’ll tell you anything that I can.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Nineteen.”

  “But how can you look exactly the same in those photos?”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t say. That’s classified.”

  “Let me see your driver’s license,” I said and put my hand out.

  Daniel looked at me and with a ‘you got to be kidding’ look and said, “I’m in a bathing suit. I don’t have my license right now. But I’ll show it to you later.”

  That was all I needed to know, or all I cared to know. I jumped in his arms and hugged him with my one arm. We fell on the sand and Amber ran over to find out what she was missing. She smelled Daniel and went crazy jumping all over him.

  “Explain why my dog loves you.”

  “When we went inside your apartment to put in our equipment, she was really frightened, so I gave her lots of treats and played with her until she was calm,” he said, smiling mischievously.

  “Okay, now that makes sense,” I laughed.

  Remembering the shadow I had seen in my window when I had lounged by the pool. “Wait, were you in my room at Grammy’s on Fourth of July, while I was outside?”

  “Yes. Our equipment wasn’t working, so I had to go in and put in a new bug. Amber greeted me at the front door.” I hadn’t been hallucinating.

  We walked up and down the beach and just enjoyed each other’s company. Suddenly I realized it was almost one, Grammy must be so worried. Why hadn’t she called?

  “Grammy, I’m so sorry. I’m on my way home.” She had fallen asleep on the couch waiting for me and the call woke her up. I told her I had bumped into a friend and lost track of time. I asked if I could invite him for lunch and she said yes.

  I hung up and asked, “Can you come? Even if you’re working, you have to eat. Since you’re watching me anyway, don’t you think the closer the better?”

  Daniel was grinning and said, “Lunch sounds great.” I stared at his beautiful face hoping he wasn’t going to vanish. He pulled me near and wrapped his arms around me. Life was so good!

  We walked back holding hands and my body was tingling all over. All the feelings of sadness and despair were gone.

  When we got near Grammy’s house, I let go of Daniel’s hand. I didn’t want to make her nervous. I saw through the fence that Grammy was on the patio, so we entered through the side gate. Of course, Daniel charmed her right away and she even told him to call her Gabby.

  Grammy was telling Daniel all about Cutchogue. Amber was standing by the empty water bowl, so I went in to fill the bowl.

  When I came out, they were talking about nuclear power and Grammy was amazed about how many nuclear plants there were in France.

  “There are about 58 plants in France,” Daniel divulged.

  “I’m surprised about that. We had The Shoreham Nuclear a plant out here, but it got closed after the Chernobyl disaster because of all the public outrage.

  “France is concerned, but the French don’t want to be dependent on energy from such a volatile region. France has very few natural energy resources so when the oil producing countries started quadrupling the price of oil in the 1970’s, the French people backed the nuclear projects.”

  “After what happened in Japan, they should be scared,” I added.

  Daniel was knowledgeable about so many things and Grammy looked on approvingly. She smiled at me a few times, letting me know that she liked him.

  After we ate, Grammy told us to go swimming. Daniel was in his swim trunks, but I was wearing a long maxi sundress. I ran upstairs to change.

  When I peeked out my bedroom window, Daniel was in the pool waiting for me. I couldn’t believe that he was here. It was just so surreal. I left a voice message for Lily saying everything was fine and to call me when she got home.

  Grammy was doing a crossword puzzle by the pool and when Daniel saw me approach, he gasped looking at my body. “Paige! Oh my God!” he said. Grammy sighed as I walked by and understood Daniel reaction.

  I thought my left side was getting better, but from Daniel’s reaction, apparently not.

  “It’s healing,” I said, attempting to make light of it. All that mattered now was that my heart wasn’t black and blue anymore. I walked to him in the shallow end.

  “I promised you that you wouldn’t get hurt and look at you,” he whispered. “I caused this.”

  “No you didn’t. Frank and I weren’t your fault.” I wouldn’t let him blame himself.

  Daniel stopped mopping and we had a great time. We got out of the pool when Grammy brought out watermelon.

  “Daniel, where are you staying?” she asked, as she put the plate on the table.

  “In Peconic. My friend’s family has a summer home there.”

  When Grammy went inside, Daniel said, “Can we go for a walk?”

  I threw on a cover-up and we took Amber. We walked to the end of the beach and after we passed the last house, Daniel put both hands on my face and looked into my eyes.

  “Paige Devon, I woke up this morning so depressed. Watching you and not being a part of your life has been torture. I never imagined today would end like this.”

  “I can’t believe it either. I almost didn’t go see James today,” I confessed. “I thought he’d ask me to do something crazy. I can’t believe a day could start one way and end so differently.” I wanted him to kiss me so badly.

  Daniel shook his head and said, “I never thought you’d forgive me.”

  “If you had told me the reason, I would have.”

  “Every time I tried to talk to you, you were so angry. You also kept hanging up on me. Then I overhead some of your talks and it sounded like you hated me. I thought it was best that I stayed away.”

  “I was really angry at you,” I admitted. “See, that’s why you shouldn’t eavesdrop.” Memories of some horrific things I had said to Lily popped into my head.

  We sat in silence on the sand savoring our time together. I put my head on his shoulder and he kissed it.
My ringing cell interrupted our bliss. It was Grammy wondering where I went.

  “Sorry, Grammy, we’ll be back soon and I have Amber.” I didn’t want the day to ever end.

  When I hung up, Daniel said, “We better get back. I don’t want to be hated on my first day.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry. She really liked you.”

  “We’ll see if that continues. Your grandmother was thrilled to have you all to herself and now she’ll have to share you with me.” He hugged me tightly. “Sharing has always been a problem for me.” He reached for his cell. “I’ll have someone pick me up.”

  “Don’t leave, stay for dinner,” I begged, pouting with my lower lip.

  He looked at me like I was the silliest thing he’d seen. “I would love to, but your family will get concerned if I’m over 24/7.”

  “You’re right.” I nodded miserably. If Mom knew, she might actually drive right out.

  “What should I say when I talk to my parents?” We needed to have the same story.

  “Just say what we told Gabby, that I’m visiting with a friend in Peconic, but I’ll really be staying on the boat.” When he saw my worried frown, he added, “Don’t worry. The agency will figure it out before I talk to them, so it’ll be believable.”

  “By the way, when did you bug Grammy’s house?” I wondered.

  “In June, when she was away.”

  “How did you know that I’d be out here?”

  “We knew,” Daniel, answered cryptically.

  “But how? Wait. If you’ve been spying on my dad, you knew we came out here right?”

  “I can’t say,” Daniel repeated. “I don’t want to lie to you.”

  He was back, so I’d just have to accept his job and the limitations to what I’d be privy to. “Why did your uncle go to Plum Island? Isn’t it an animal disease center?”

  “It is, but the facility is closing,” he added and stopped talking.

  As we walked back, Daniel was notably quiet. Trying to snap him out of his sudden moodiness, I asked, “Did I upset you by asking about Plum Island?” Did the NSA or EMIT have a base on Plum Island? How many secret government agencies and facilities were there?

  “Oh, no. I just started worrying about everything that we’re dealing with. As far as Plum Island is concerned, everything is public knowledge. The United States Department of Homeland Security runs that facility.”

  When we reached the house, we found Grammy in the garden weeding.

  “Gabby, thank you for lunch. It was delicious.”

  “Please come again while you’re out here. It was nice to finally see Paige’s dimples again.” It was true. I couldn’t remember smiling and laughing in such a long time.

  “She definitely does light up a room when she smiles,” Daniel said, agreeing with her.

  From the way Daniel looked at me when he said that, Grammy knew that he was much more than just a friend.

  We heard a car pull into the driveway and Daniel said he had to go. I walked him out and we hugged goodbye like we’d never see each other again.

  “I’ll miss you,” I said sadly, afraid to let go of him.

  “Me too. I just found you again.” He kissed my forehead. “I’ll call you later.”

  During dinner, Grammy seemed preoccupied and eventually broached what was bothering her. “Paige, did you know that Daniel was out here?”

  “No, Grammy. I had no idea,” I fibbed.

  “How long have you known him?” she asked.

  “Just a short time. We met at the end of June.” At least, that part was true.

  Later, Grammy and I were watching TV and my eyes began to close, so I told her I was going to bed. She asked if I wanted to go shopping in the morning and I said sure.

  When I got upstairs, I realized that Lily never called. She had been so worried about the meeting with James that it seemed odd. I called Lily’s cell and her home line but there was no answer. I hoped she was okay. I started having paranoid thoughts, but if something had happened, Daniel would have told me. I put music on and thought about my day with Daniel. My cell rang and hoping it was Lily, I jumped to get it, but it was Daniel.

  “Don’t speak. I’ll do all the talking on my side, so we have a little privacy.”

  “How?” I asked.

  “I have a jammer on my cell phone. If I want to use it, I can.”

  “How come they can hear me then, shouldn’t your jammer work for me too?”

  “There’s a device in your house not just in the phone, they hear you anyway,” he explained. “I called to say I had a great time today.”

  “Me too,” I said smiling.

  “Look out your window.”

  I got up and there in front of my house was the boat. I was thrilled that he was nearby. “I know you don’t like us too close, so I hope you don’t mind.

  “No, I’m glad now.”

  “If you need me, just call. Good night.”

  I was lying on the bed, about to fall asleep when my cell rang and jarred me out of my daze. I answered, “Lily, where’ve you been?”

  “I’m sorry my parents got theater tickets and we just got home. I wasn’t able to call you all day because I lost my phone. I called voicemail and got your message. I knew you were okay.”

  “What happened? Do you think it got stolen?” Thoughts of those goons came to mind.

  “I don’t think so. I was checking my emails and when the train pulled into Grand Central, I put the phone in my pocket. When I got to work, it was gone. It probably fell out. I’ll check lost and found tomorrow. If I don’t find it, I’ll get another one tomorrow night. So what did James want?”

  “I’ll tell you everything on Friday, but Daniel didn’t and doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

  “What?!”

  “I know! The best news is that we’re seeing each other again.”

  “Wow! You work fast.”

  “It all feels like a dream. I really can’t believe it,” I admitted.

  “I had some Chad news, but now it seems pretty dull.”

  “Stop. What happened?”

  “He asked me out for lunch tomorrow,” she said happily.

  That night, between the medication and Daniel, I slept like a baby.

  12. BOAT RIDE

  “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Einstein

  When I opened my eyes and looked at the time, it was ten o’clock. Oh my God! It took a moment, but then I was awash with emotions that were so confusing. Did that all happen or did I dream it? Please let it have been real. I jumped out of bed.

  I had to call Daniel, but first I had to let Amber out. This was extremely late for her; hopefully, Grammy had done it. I threw on my bathing suit and a sundress and ran downstairs.

  Grammy was outside talking to Daniel. I was so happy to see him that my heart was pounding out of my chest. She saw me and said, “Good morning, I was about to wake you.”

  “Hi, Grammy.” I was looking behind her, staring at Daniel. I wanted to run to him.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said.

  “Daniel and his friend stopped by to see if you wanted to go boating,” Grammy said. I looked around and a guy was sitting at the table. “I said we’re shopping this morning, but perhaps later, if you’re up for it.”

  “Sure, I’d like that.”

  I sat down across from them and Daniel introduced me to Brad. He was tall, had black curly hair, dark eyes and was quite muscular.

  Grammy asked if I’d like some fruit and yogurt, but I said I wasn’t hungry. Who could eat with Daniel to stare at? He filled and consumed me.

  Daniel came over and as he sat, he placed his hand on my leg. “Come on. You have to eat something. You need to take care of yourself.” Feeling his leg pressed against mine and his hand on my thigh caused me to stop breathing.

  Grammy seemed pleased that Daniel had intervened and I said, “Fine, yogur
t would be great.” Daniel could take care of me whenever he wanted.

  Brad watched us, but said nothing. The agency wasn’t happy with our involvement and I wasn’t sure what Brad thought, but I didn’t care.

  Grammy came back with the food and I obediently ate the yogurt and some strawberries.

  “Oh Grammy, did you feed Amber?”

  “Yes, a while ago. She started barking at seven.”

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t hear anything.” I felt terrible. The deal with Amber was that she slept in the den. In the morning when she barked, Mom, Dad or I rushed downstairs to take her out, so that she didn’t disturb Grammy whose bedroom was downstairs. “I’ll let her sleep in my room tonight, so she doesn’t wake you.” Normally, we didn’t allow Amber on the second floor because of Uncle Ian’s allergy, but since he wasn’t here, it wouldn’t matter.

  “Absolutely not. You need your sleep right now.” As I began to protest, Grammy stopped me and said, “You were in a car accident and you’re healing. I don’t mind taking care of Amber.”

  Daniel stood up and said they had to go. As his hand gently brushed my back, my body tingled from the exchange.

  At the supermarket, I saw an NSA car with an agent, I’d never seen before. I helped Grammy as best I could, but with one arm, I was basically there for company.

  Back home, I called Daniel. “Hi. When do you want to go?”

  “Now. I’ll be right over. I’m in the channel by Fleets Neck.”

  I ran downstairs and found Grammy on the phone. When I walked in, she handed it to me and said, “Your mom wants to talk to you.” I hoped she hadn’t mentioned Daniel.

  “Hi, how are you feeling?” She didn’t sound angry or annoyed, so that was a good sign.

  “I’m getting better.”

  There was a pause and then she asked, “Grammy said you’re going boating with a boy named Daniel. Is that the same Daniel from New York?” Oh no, she knows.