“Yes, it is. I was just about to tell you,” I fibbed nervously.
“What is he doing out there?”
“He’s visiting a friend in Peconic. I saw him at the Causeway Beach. What are the odds, huh?” I said sounding truly surprised.
“It’s uncanny. Chappaqua, Cutchogue not to mention France, it’s eerie.”
“Do you think he’s stalking me?” I asked, feigning astonishment.
“Of course not, but it’s still very strange. When you asked to stay with Grammy, you had no idea he’d be there?” she grilled.
“You think I came here because he was?” I asked incredulously.
“Well, the thought has crossed my mind,” she admitted.
“I wasn’t speaking to him, so how would I know that?”
“You also told me that you didn’t like each other. What’s going on now?”
“Well, I thought he had a girlfriend, but I was wrong so…” I stopped.
“Okay, and?” Mom asked.
“We worked everything out and we’re dating,” I said quickly and waited for the hysteria.
There was a long pause and she said, “I like Daniel, but please be careful, okay?” That was it? She wasn’t going to overreact. Grammy heard the whole conversation and looked relieved.
Thinking of Daniel, I looked out the window and saw him coming up the beach towards the house. I kissed Grammy on the cheek. “I have to go. I’ll be back around six.” I turned and asked, “Can I invite Daniel and Brad for dinner?”
“Sure, call and let me know if they’re coming.”
I ran out and found Daniel sitting by the pool.
“Hi.” He got up and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re awfully happy.”
“I’m happy because I’m with you. My mom knows you’re out here.”
“How did it go?” he asked.
“Fine, even after I told her we were dating.” Suddenly, I realized that we hadn’t talked about that. Was I presuming too much? “Was that okay?” I asked, feeling super insecure.
“Of course, that’s what I want, too,” he said and hugged me. I was so relieved.
The boat was very close to land and Daniel tried to help me up. It was difficult going up the ladder with one arm, so he jumped up on the deck and lifted me in.
Daniel must have just refueled because the boat reeked of gas and Brad was not there.
“Aren’t we missing someone?” I asked confused.
“Brad’s working,” said Daniel.
“Oh, I was going to invite you two to have dinner at Grammy’s tonight.”
“I would love to come, but Brad will take a rain check. He has plans,” he said and winked.
I called Grammy and told her that only Daniel would join us. After I hung up, I started feeling guilty. “Does lying get any easier?”
“It’s never easy, but necessary at times. The boat’s not bugged, so we can talk freely.”
That was good because I was so sick of being spied on. “So tell me about your jammer?”
“It gives me privacy. Remember our first breakfast date on Columbus Avenue?”
I nodded and smiled. “So it was a date?”
“Well, I thought so. When I ask a girl I like out, it’s a date.” He winked at me. “During breakfast, I turned the jammer on. The team texted and called, but I wouldn’t answer so they contacted James. When I got his call, I knew it would be heated, so I went outside.”
“That’s why you returned in such a foul mood.”
“Yeah. I told him that our conversations were off-limits and if there was anything relevant to the case, I’d let them know.
“I thought I had no privacy at all, so I’m happy.”
“And that’s also why James showed up at your apartment the night Billy attacked you. James went to the NSA apartment to tell everyone about Frank. I wasn’t there and since they couldn’t hear what was going on, James got angry and stormed upstairs.”
“That’s right. He didn’t know what was going on,” I said, recalling that night.
“After we left, he told me about Frank and ordered that I end things with you.”
“Does he blame me for Frank’s death, too?” James treated me like such a nuisance.
“No. His problem is with me. He says I should’ve waited until this case was finished before I got involved with you.”
“I’m not sure that it’s just you. I think he hates me.”
“It has nothing to do with not liking you,” he said. “He’s concerned about the case.”
“This is insane. I don’t know anything. All this spying is a total waste of your time.”
“For now, you are our best lead and we will continue to protect you.” Daniel stated.
I shook my head and said, “You really are an oddity.”
“You have no idea,” he quipped as he stared off into space. The way he said that was strange.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“I’m just kidding, but why did you call me an oddity?”
“Well, you’re a nineteen year-old spy,” I said, surprised that he didn’t understand.
“I’m an oddball, you’re right,” he agreed.
“I didn’t call you an oddball. I said oddity.”
“I know, but I did. Those words have similar meanings. Okay enough, let’s go have fun.”
Daniel raised the anchor and asked, “So where do you want to go?” I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. His bright blue eyes hypnotized me “A beach, or we can go to Sag Harbor, Shelter Island or Greenport. Your wish is my command,” he said in a funny accent. He took my hand and I got goose bumps.
I didn’t care as long as I was with him. “Wherever you want is fine with me.”
“As long as I’m with you, it doesn’t matter.” He must have read my mind.
“Let’s just go for a ride,” I suggested.
Daniel started the engine and we set off. We motored towards New Suffolk and I watched the scenery whizz by. Boats zipped around the bay and it was quite busy near Robins Island. Daniel’s hair was blowing in the breeze and whenever he looked at me, I just wanted to hug him and never let go. I was staring at Daniel and hadn’t noticed a huge boat race by, which caused a large wave to batter us on one side. The boat leaned sideways and since I wasn’t holding on to anything, I fell out of my chair. Pain shot through my arm from the fall and I cried out. Daniel stopped the boat and rushed over. He picked me up and placed me on the cushions in the back of the boat. I was totally humiliated and was more embarrassed than hurt. Once Daniel was convinced I was okay, we continued on.
The noise of the engine was so loud that we couldn’t talk, so I asked to go to a beach and we headed across the bay to the South Fork.
Daniel helped me off the boat and said, “I’ll be right back.”
He returned carrying a bag, a blanket and an umbrella. After he put everything down, Daniel presented me with a sandwich.
“You only had yogurt this morning and I had a hunch that you wouldn’t eat anything.”
“Thank you so much.” I took a bite of my sandwich and smiled. “Turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion, honey mustard and mayo.”
“I know all of your favorites. I hope that doesn’t upset you.” It sort of did, but what could I really do about it?
We started talking about his job because it was always the big elephant in the room. “How long have you guys been watching me?”
“We’ve been watching your dad for a while now. I had to go to Australia for work and vacation. I got back the beginning of June and was watching your Dad. Things went haywire with this case and I was assigned to follow you about two weeks before we spoke.”
“So when I saw you at the MET, you were already following me?”
“Yes, I didn’t realize you saw me until I heard you tell Lily.”
I cringed that he heard everything I said about him. “But you left me and went into the café.”
“I had to eat. Someone else took over,” Daniel explaine
d.
“Why did you ask me about a movie? What was the point in that?”
“I was in the process of gathering the plants and chestnuts and you noticed me. I decided to talk to you and later, spoke to James about letting me get to know you.”
I sat there staring at him. “Why?”
“At first, I really wanted to help you because you were young, but later everything I knew, saw, and heard made me want to know you more. I wanted to see your eyes looking at me and hear your voice talking to me. Eavesdropping on your life wasn’t enough.”
While I was dreaming about him, he was also thinking of me. “So every time I saw you, it was orchestrated?” I asked.
“Yes and no. I was working those days following you anyway, so if I could, I’d try to talk to you. Like that day you were in the park with that boy. Outside was difficult. Unless I was in the van or in the apartment, I couldn’t hear what you were saying because it’s so loud out. I talked to you because you seemed upset and I wanted to hear it from you and not the agents.”
“Hear me how?” I was starting to get a sick feeling.
“I could hear you through your cell.”
Slowly, my mind started working and I reacted, “Wait, are you telling me that I have no privacy outside either? You listen to every one of my conversations?” There was no point in telling Lily things outside.
“I’m sorry.” He realized he said too much. “Right now no one can hear us.”
“That’s just great!” I snarled. But if I don’t have my cell, how can you hear me?”
“We use listening devices but most of the time we access other cell phones around you.”
It dawned on me that in the park, he was so far away from me, but after I chuckled, he looked right at me. “So you did hear me laugh at you that first day in the park?” Daniel nodded. “What a waste of taxpayer money. You really need to find someone in my father’s firm because that’s where the first envelope came from.”
“We’ve thought of that but that would take more years.”
“More years? What are you talking about?”
“I mean we don’t have the people to handle that. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. When we found out that you would be the catalyst, we started watching you.”
“When you say will or allude to the future, you lose me.”
“I’ve said too much already. Just know I care for you and nothing will happen to you.” Looking at me from the side, he said, “Aside from that broken arm, I hope.”
“First you say, ‘nothing will happen,’ then you say, ‘I hope’.”
“Nothing should’ve happened to you, but since I spoke to you, I’ve changed the dynamics and things are off.”
“I don’t understand.” My head hurt and I gave up. “Forget it, I’m tired of all these riddles and I’m not wasting time talking about your job. Let’s have some fun. Can we go to Sag Harbor?”
“Your wish is my command,” he joked and seemed relieved.
We got to Sag Harbor and Daniel spoke to the dock master to rent a slip. As Daniel reached for his wallet, I put my hand out and while shaking his head, he handed me his license. His license verified his age; he was born two years before me. It was nice to finally see proof.
We wandered around and strolled in and out of stores. When we passed a bookstore, I had to go in. Daniel excused himself and said he’d be right back. I didn’t know where he went, but he was back in a few minutes.
On the way back to the boat, Daniel bought a blueberry pie and a large sunflower bouquet. Near the Causeway Beach, Daniel called Brad to meet us there. Brad then dropped us off at Grammy’s beach and would pick Daniel up around midnight.
Daniel washed up in the outside shower and feeling sandy, I ran to do the same inside.
As we ate dinner outside, Grammy asked Daniel about his uncle. When she heard that he worked for the NSA, she started talking about terrorism.
“I was reading about the various anti-US terrorist groups and couldn’t believe how many there are in the world,” Grammy said.
“My uncle said there are over forty-five worldwide and those numbers keep growing.”
“It makes no sense. If they attack us, then we’ll attack them. Everybody loses. I don’t know what the point is,” I interjected.
“It’s a badge of honor to die fighting the infidels, so their own destruction is not a deterrent,” Daniel explained. “As far as their religion, the afterlife is much more important than this one.”
“I’d always thought that the younger generations would change things,” I said.
“Their beliefs are indoctrinated at an early age,” said Grammy.
Daniel added, “That’s all they know, so hatred and anger are a good recruiting tool.”
They started talking about the Taliban. “The destruction of the poppy fields might help Afghanistan get rid of the Taliban regime,” Grammy said.
“The problem is that two-thirds of the world's heroin supply comes from Afghanistan and opium production accounts for sixty percent of the country's economy. The Taliban’s making well over one hundred million dollars a year. With that much money at stake, they’ll fight like crazy not to lose it. Even though the Afghan people don’t want the Taliban regime, they know nothing else but poppy farming. The opium traffickers guarantee a minimum price for the crop and the people are desperate, so they cultivate poppy. Hopefully, the agriculture projects being implemented will encourage the people so they can flourish as an agricultural economy like they did in the 1970’s. Right now, talks to destroy the poppy crops and therefore their livelihood are making the Afghan people very angry and causing more hatred towards America. Maybe farming pomegranates and vineyards will be a success,” Daniel explained.
“Islam forbids alcohol and drug use, so how is selling heroin to the world and creating junkies reconciled with Islam?” Grammy asked. “Do they really think Allah would approve if they only sold to non-Muslims? It seems so hypocritical and non-religious for supposedly such religious people.”
“When people are starving, they are just trying to survive,” Daniel answered.
“You just said that they can farm other things, so there are other options,” I said.
“True, but Afghanistan is often drought stricken and the farmers need advice from water experts. When they learn what can thrive in their region and how profitable it could be, they won’t be tempted to grow poppy.”
“There’s so much wealth in that region from oil, but its still mostly a desert. Why hasn’t any money from oil been used to help the poor people and cultivate the land? No wonder there is so much anger in that region,” I added.
“That’s been the cause for a lot of the uprisings against the governments and royals in the region,” said Grammy.
“I can’t believe that the Taliban is still there tormenting women though. It has to stop.”
“The degradation of those poor women is so appalling,” Grammy said.
“If everyone wore those burqas, it’d be one thing, but just women makes it barbaric,” I said.
“That’s a very contentious issue,” said Grammy. “The Koran in some places says women are equal and in other places, it says women are the property of men. Each group makes its own interpretation.”
“Since no one can own another human being, I believe it’s a moot point,” added Daniel.
“I just can’t imagine what poor people are going through,” Grammy added.
At that moment, Amber began whining to go inside. Noticing that the water bowl on the patio was empty, I stood up to open the door, but Grammy stopped me.
“I’ll let Amber in. I’m getting bitten up by the mosquitoes. If you two are staying out here, light the citronella candles and the torches.”
Daniel lit all the anti-bug paraphernalia and we went back in the pool.
It dawned on me that Daniel had a job and I was still in high school. “What happens when this is over? Where do you go?” I asked anxiously.
“Why don’t we worry about that when we have to?” Daniel said and tried to swim away.
Not letting him, I stood in his way and said, “I don’t understand.” His evasive tactics weren’t going to work tonight because I needed to know.
“I plan on staying and living in New York.” I was so happy. He added, “I’ll have to go away on assignments, though.”
“Okay, I can handle that as long as you’re not leaving or going to move to London.”
“No, I’m not moving to London. I’m not going anywhere,” he laughed and hugged me gently. All was well in the world. Daniel was staying.
We went inside and decided to watch a movie. After pestering Grammy, she joined us in the living room. Grammy sat in her chair while Daniel and I sat on the couch at a safe distance. By the end of the movie, we were sitting right next to each other, holding hands.
Once the movie was over, Grammy asked, “What time is Brad picking you up?”
“Around midnight, I hope that’s okay?” Daniel asked.
“Of course. Good night, I hope to see you soon.”
We sat on the couch and I quickly nestled into his arms. Daniel put both arms around me and we sat in silence.
“I have something for you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gift envelope. Inside was a silver bracelet with saltwater pearls and blue sea glass beads.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” I said excitedly.
Daniel was pleased. “I saw it today in Sag Harbor and thought of you.”
“You shouldn’t have, but thank you.” I kissed him on the cheek and had done it instinctually, but was still totally flustered afterwards.
Daniel seemed surprised by my kiss and said, “Not as beautiful as you.”
I blushed and looked ay the bracelet. “The sea glass is the same color as your eyes. When did you buy this? I was with you the whole time.”
“I saw it in the window and when you were in the bookstore, I called and they delivered it. I’m not allowed to let you out of my sight when I’m the only one watching you.”
That’s good because it meant he’d be nearby as long as this case wasn’t solved. Nothing could compare with the way I felt at that moment. It was like I finally understood what love was. I couldn’t believe that Daniel could mean so much to me and that I could only think of him. All these emotions were so all encompassing that my head spun. I shut my eyes and the next thing I knew I was feeling kisses on my head.
EMIT (THE EMIT SAGA) Page 21