by JT Sawyer
“By the sound of the news reports, Parliament wants to erase this week off the books and move on.”
“I’m sure they’ll concoct some celebrity scandal or something to distract the masses.”
***
When they had finished, Mitch drove through the innards of downtown Tel Aviv, heading to the highway towards a small park overlooking the ocean on the cusp of town. The plum-orange sun hung in the sky as a gentle breeze floated along the cedar forest.
Mitch held Dev’s hand as they walked through the woods to the edge of the park above the ocean. As Dev stood amongst the trees with Mitch she felt a wave of calm settle over her and it seemed like her feet were firmly planted in the soft earth below. She held his hand and looked out over the ocean, recalling Victor’s words:
There will never be closure on how your father died but there will come a time when you wake up and it is the second thing you think about each day instead of the first. That’s when you start to live again—to greet the sunrise without shackles and know that you can go on.
Dev let her fingers run over the pendant of Poseidon around her neck and thought of the tenderness in her father’s eyes when she was younger. The strangling grip of anguish upon her soul had loosened slightly and she felt a lightness to her breathing for the first time in months. The pain of his loss would never end but it was no longer a weighted chain constricting her every move. She hoped that the nightmares would end and some peace would return to her days but for now she was content to feel the ocean breeze gently caressing her as she stood next to the man she loved.
Mitch reached in his pocket and removed a small white envelope. “This came for you at your mother’s house today. She said to waste no time in giving it to you.”
Dev pulled out her folding knife and deftly flicked open the blade with one hand, slicing open the envelope. Inside was a folded piece of paper and a photograph of her, Anatoly, and Victor on summer vacation in Cyprus. She smiled and ran her finger over the edges. “Hmm, this was taken when I was eleven years old—God, it seems like yesterday that I was surrounded by these two great men.”
She unfurled the letter and silently read the words:
Devorah,
You are a gift in my life. The smile in your eyes has always lit the way for me over these trying years. When the time is right, come visit me—we have much to catch up on if you will allow me the pleasure of your company.
Mitch looked at the front and back of the envelope. “Guy didn’t even leave a return address and there’s no postmark. He’s probably here in Israel.” Mitch craned his head around. “Hell, I betcha he’s even got eyes on us right now.”
She placed her arms around Mitch and kissed him. “My love, I have had enough mysteries and sneaking around for a lifetime. For now, I just want to enjoy this moment with you. And once the dust has settled back at Gideon, we’ll take a trip to Cyprus.”
Mitch pulled her closer and ran his hands through her raven hair. “Just please tell me we won’t be staying in another safehouse—no more safehouses, OK?”
“Agreed.” When she had finished her embrace she stood back and looked out at the ocean below.
“Well, maybe I should take you out for dinner tonight and you can tell me all about it.”
“Ah, how about eating at home—being in the public eye lately has been more than I can take.”
“Then I’ll fire up the barbecue and show you some down-home cooking, Arizona style.”
They turned and walked away from the edge, the sun warming their backs. “It’s a deal. And I want to hear more about what you guys did with Von in Egypt. And also about this crazy story Petra told me—something about you doing time in an Okinawan prison or some damn thing.”
Mitch rubbed his chin and grinned. “Oh, man, that guy—out of everything that’s happened to us, that’s what he has to talk about?”
Thank you for reading this book. Stay tuned for more adventures with Mitch and Dev. Join JT Sawyer’s Facebook page to follow his book research, travels, and updates. If you would like to receive information on future book releases, please sign up for my email notices at [email protected] or by visiting http://www.jtsawyer.com
Additional Titles by JT Sawyer
First Wave
The Longest Day
No Place to Hide
Hell Week
Until Morning Comes, Volumes 1-5
Non-Fiction Survival Books by Tony Nester (aka JT Sawyer):
Survival Gear You Can Live With
Bug-Out Gear for Travelers
A Vehicle Survival Kit You Can Live With
When the Grid Goes Down: Disaster Gear and Survival Preparations for Making Your Home Self-Reliant
The Modern Hunter-Gatherer: A Practical Guide to Living Off the Land
Bushcraft Tips & Tools
Life Under Open Skies: Adventures in Bushcraft