by Ronda Pauley
“Yes. I can,” Abbi said. A rush of excitement came over her. Adding to her sense of adventure was the seriousness of the mission. She could taste the adrenalin.
“It involves some hiking, some crawling, and you’ll ride a zipline down into a ravine. Very hilly terrain. You’ll manage, I’m sure. A word of caution: we have a very small window of time. Twenty minutes in. Make the drop. Twenty minutes out. Don’t let it take an hour.”
“Alright.”
Mrs. Hightower went on to explain that Abbi would be wired for voice transmission between her and the SUV. Louise would be listening, along with Scott and Big Sam.
“I know you love your mother very much, as do I. Do this for her, for all of us. God-speed and stay safe, my dear!”
Abbi returned with bags in hand to the conference room and sat beside Louise to hear the rest of the plan for Operation Shoe Drop and to hear the latest on negotiations.
A tall thin man stood like a shadow in the corner of the room and cast a frown at Abbi. He was speaking quietly to Big Sam and seemed reluctant to let the girls participate in the mission.
“I just think it’s a half-assed plan,” he said to Big Sam. “Your young lady here is untried, untrained. What is she—a Girl Scout?”
Mrs. Hightower walked in.
“If you have a problem with our plan, please direct your concern to me,” Mrs. Hightower said. “In the meantime, I stand firmly that we have chosen the best person for this highly strenuous mission. The negotiators say the drop is on. NM2 is taking the bait.”
Big Sam stood up, “There are people who don’t want this operation to be successful, who would stop at nothing. Can I assume that everyone in this room will work to assure its success?”
There was strong agreement around the table. The only discenting person in the room was the tall thin man. Big Sam raised his eyebrow as he challenged him.
“Do whatever you have to do,” the shadowy man finally said.
“Good. Is the Cash Dog ready for action?” Big Sam asked.
“He is, sir. He’s in the back of the complex and will be loading up with the rest of us,” said a deputy.
“Everyone, keep your eyes and ears open,” Big Sam said. “Mrs. Hightower, I believe you need a few minutes for prepping the girls?”
“I would like that, sir.” She motioned, indicating that she wanted the girls to come with her to the restroom where she equipped both Abbi and Louise for sound, GPS, and Louise was given her own secure phone line. Louise would take maps and other information in her briefcase.
When they returned to the conference room, the other members of the rescue team were about to leave.
“Everyone, I present to you Miss Kowalski. She will be performing this very important mission for us,” Mrs. Hightower said.
The rescue team nodded approval, but the tall man in the corner remained skeptical. He simply stood with his arms folded, no expression.
Abbi looked around for Big Sam who stood up and nodded.
“Miss Kowalski, I believe we’re ready.”
“Mademoiselle Soufflé, your role is also very important. Should anything go wrong, you take over,” Mrs. Hightower said. She looked very serious but winked at Abbi. Obviously, she enjoyed making Louise squirm.
“But, but…I don’t know how!” Louise stammered.
“Then we’ll just pray nothing goes wrong.”
A team of snipers would be watching out for Abbi, snipers that were far more experienced at rappelling than Abbi. If she went down, someone would know to take over. Abbi watched the officers and snipers leave, some already dressed in very real-looking camouflage clothing.
The thin man who had been in the corner approached Abbi and said, “NM2 will stop at nothing. Be very careful.”
THIRTY-FOUR
During the ride from the law complex to the drop zone, Abbi and Louise sang songs that they had learned throughout their childhood, the kind you sing on long school bus trips. They had made it through 99 Bottles of Beer and The Hole in the Bottom of the Sea and Little Bunny Foo Foo. That made Louise laugh because Abbi was calling her Foo Foo and she knew it. Big Sam rolled his eyes at Scott but did not interfere.
At least, Louise had taken a break from flirting with the driver. For that Abbi was grateful. It gave Abbi a chance to act like a little kid before she took on the dangerous feat of making the drop that should secure her mother’s rescue.
They were singing the only words they knew to She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain when Scott pulled over to park. Precisely 1800 hours, right on schedule. That put them in a parking lot overlooking the western side of a ridgeline with the sun hanging just above the trees. Abbi admired the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east, spectacular with its distant peaks of ridgeline and varying shadows in shades of blue. The view to the west was hampered by a thick forest that started at the edge of the parking lot.
The sniper showed up with Abbi’s rappelling gear just in time.
Abbi remained in the back seat while she quickly removed her suit in the SUV to save time on the trail. She undressed down to her leotard, feeling especially naked since the air conditioning was cool enough that it caused her nipples to show through.
Louise was watching her and Abbi whispered, “I know what you’re thinking, Louise. You’re a potty head!”
They laughed.
Big Sam waited until Abbi was ready to leave the car when he spoke.
“Do you feel OK about this?”
“Really? I feel like it’s not happening,” Abbi said.
“Sure. Like it’s a dream.”
“No, like it’s not going to happen.”
She thanked the sniper for being there but felt really undressed and self-conscious. She told herself it’s no worse than a dance recital outfit, but that didn’t help. Then she gathered her gear to start into the forest. Her backpack weighed more than thirty pounds. Just shifting it to check the pockets was cumbersome. She struggled to put it on but stopped to take out some things to lighten the load, extra items like carabiners that she hoped she wouldn’t need.
Big Sam got out to help when Abbi was ready. He raised the backpack onto her back.
“We’re running a little behind,” he said impatiently.
At two minutes past 6 in the evening, as Abbi was starting into the forest, they received the text: MISSION ABORTED. STAND-OFF AT THE HOTEL. NM2 HALTED TALKS.
Big Sam called her off, and Abbi’s heart sank. She laid her head against the top of the SUV. Big Sam put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
“You knew something was up, didn’t you? I heard you called it on the man in the hotel parking lot. Your intuition is impeccable,” Big Sam said and pulled the load off Abbi’s back.
Abbi looked at him, bewildered.
“Funny, most of the time I feel like I live in a fog, part real, part hazy,” Abbi said. She started crying. “I’m so disappointed. I’m worried about Mom and what they’re going to do to her. This can’t be real.”
“It’s real for now. These things rarely go as smooth as planned. But we keep trying.”
Abbi dropped the backpack and moved toward the big black man. She fell into his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Big Sam, like a big live Teddy Bear, wrapped his arms around her and patted her back. Totally comforting.
“Cry it out,” he said. “Go ahead. Cry it out.”
“Big Sam, what I heard today about that girl, I just, I, I…”
“I understand.”
THIRTY-FIVE
Tina had fallen asleep on the couch. She woke up when her father opened the door to let the cable man in. Before the technician could see her, Tina scurried back to her bedroom and immediately flung herself on the bed.
For a few minutes, the sound of talking and drilling kept her awake but she soon dozed off again.
Her father knocked on the door.
“Tina,” he said, actually remembering the new name. “You’re gonna want cable in your bedroom. We’re getting the bundle
so you can have phone, TV and computer hook-ups all in your room. Mind if we come in?”
“That’d be alright!”
Tina sat on the edge of her bed when her father opened the door.
“You sure you feel OK?” he asked.
“I think it’s the medicine,” Tina said. “I’ll be in the bathroom for awhile.”
She brushed past the cable guy with a sheepish smile.
“Not feeling so hot,” she murmured.
When Tina got to the bathroom, she was surprised at the reflection that peered back at her. Her hair had lost its gloss, and the dark circles and hollow-looking eyes peeking from yellowish skin made her pause and stare. Staring only made her eyes look hollower.
She finally acknowledged that she really was sick. Not only sick at her stomach, but worse than that. It was if her whole body suddenly quit working right. She had to cough, but the more she coughed, the more she vomited. She felt dizzy, feverish, but she couldn’t leave the bathroom yet. She was not sure she could even walk out on her own.
Apparently her father heard her and came to the door.
“I’m sorry, baby. Is there anything you want me to do?”
“Hold my hair out of the water?” she asked, then remembered she’d cut her hair. “No, I’ll go back to bed soon, whenever I can get out of here.”
“I’m staying right here with you. In fact, I’ll move the TV into your room.”
“No, thanks, Dad. I just want to sleep. Just sleep.”
After the cable guy left, Tina managed to stop vomiting and get back to bed.
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I’ll get better,” she said.
Her father kissed her forehead, still sweaty from breaking a fever, while Tina shivered.
“I think we’d better call Teresa. I’ve been trying to call Mrs. Hightower but she hasn’t been in. You don’t feel like talking right now anyway. I’ll see what Teresa says.”
“OK,” Tina said. “I love you, Daddy. Night night.”
“Sleep. I’m here if you need anything. I’ll have some softdrinks and pizza delivered after while.”
The thought of pizza made Tina’s stomach churn.
“OK, Daddy. Whatever you want. Night. Oh, one more thing. Since you’ll be starting your job soon, can we get a computer?”
“No more social net-working as Maria?”
“Oh, Daddy. Night!” Tina said, and drifted back to sleep. She didn’t want to promise. She left all her friends behind.
THIRTY-SIX
The debriefing at the law complex after the aborted mission was hard for everyone, but especially for Abbi who was still trying her best to stay in character, fighting the distorted perception that Miss Shoe was not her own flesh and blood mother. Mrs. Hightower also seemed badly shaken by the change in plans, more than Abbi might have expected. She had worked hard to pull everything together and was probably exhausted.
People stood around the large conference room this time instead of sitting. Most leaned against the wall with their arms folded. No one seemed happy.
Big Sam headed the meeting by explaining that everyone had to remain on call and continue to treat this like a search and rescue, just in case NM2 showed up with Miss Shoe.
“When do we shift to recovery rather than rescue? Time is getting away,” said one of the local sheriff’s deputies.
“She’s out there somewhere in the forest. We just have to wait for our moment and stay optimistic. We hope it’s a rescue, not a recovery. You all know what that means,” he said. “In the meantime, everyone pack it in for the night but be ready to jump if your monitor goes off. In other words, keep your clothes on.”
A couple of people in the group said they had to beg off. Big Sam asked them to reconsider since this was a highstakes rescue and they needed everyone—there was no time to bring in someone new.
“You young ladies, get some food and rest. If we can start again in the morning, you need to be ready and strong enough to handle it.”
The meeting dismissed. A few, including Big Sam and Mrs. Hightower, stayed at the law complex in the hopes of restarting negotiations.
Scott had orders to find a better location for Abbi and Louise. He gave them a ride to a nicer hotel near the Blue Ridge Parkway and promised to spend the night watching their room. They were still in Virginia, a little farther from the drop zone, but this was a safer location. The girls were happy to find cushy queen sized beds.
The hotel had a little restaurant. Scott met them there. Abbi ordered light, picked at her food when it came and stayed out of the chatter between Scott and Louise. She did notice, however, that Louise kept to her role, not revealing the true nature of Abbi’s involvement with Miss Shoe. For that, she was immensely grateful. She found comfort in keeping the secret and not having to discuss it.
After they had eaten, Louise and Abbi went to their room and settled in for the night. The events of the day started pouring in on Abbi. She couldn’t forget some of the things Miss Sobori had said and she began to cry as she recounted events of the day with Louise.
For awhile, Louise tried to console her with junk food but Abbi had no need for sustenance. She had no need for her clothes that she left in the hotel. She had her briefcase of folders. She wanted her parents. That’s all she wanted.
Growing impatient with Abbi’s tears, Louise said in a dramatic tone that Abbi found annoying, “Get a grip, Abbi! You think I don’t want my parents too? You think this is easy for me? I don’t even want to be here!”
Abbi stared at her. If she’d had a cartoon balloon over her head, the words inside would be: You’d better apologize fast because I don’t think I can ever forgive you for what you just said. And I know I’ll never forget!
Although she didn’t say the words out loud, she turned her back on Louise, stopped crying and allowed silence to fill the room.
Abbi still had the things Mrs. Hightower had given her, and she had the contents from her mother’s desk and computer. These files she kept with her constantly to study and keep her focused. She ignored Louise and leafed through to the very tattoo Miss Sobori had shown the rescue team. The thought of that horrible tattoo on some young girl’s neck was appalling. Abbi held it up to the light to see it in full color.
“Abbi,” Louise said. “Sometimes I’m just too caught up in myself. You make me see that. I hate myself for it and I almost hate you, too, but not really. You are so determined. You inspire me.”
Abbi let her talk. She wondered if this would be like one of those not-really-an-apology apologies that the politicians sometimes used when they said something unforgiveable.
“I like your gentle way of making me see that I need to be a better person, and not such a self-centered little bitch. I miss my parents but they’re still there. Dad’s doing his job analyzing things, probably, and Mom keeps him company doing whatever Mom does. Your situation is so different. I really can’t imagine what you’re going through. I’m sorry. It hurts me just to think about it, and I don’t know what it must be like for you. I’m really sorry, and I feel perfectly awful that I’m not a better friend.”
Suddenly, Abbi felt better. No longer angry, she felt like a weight had been lifted.
“We’re gonna get through this, Louise,” Abbi said and smiled at her. “But please, let go of the drama queen a little. I can’t handle it right now.”
“I’ll try,” Louise said.
Trying to lighten the topic, Abbi asked, “So will I. Where’s that hunk of yours
anyway?” She really didn’t care. She continued sorting through the pages of notes.
Louise looked out the window.
“He’s out talking to Big Sam,” she said. Then she laughed. “My hunk, hmm?”
“Big Sam’s here? I wonder why!”
Abbi, now just in her leotard, started to rush into the hallway and on out to the cool night air. Louise threw her the sweater she’d been wearing.
“I’m not gonna let you steal my hunk!” Louise said.
W
hen Abbi caught the over-sized sweater, she threw Louise a smile. Then she ran to catch Big Sam.
The door opened to a carpeted inside corridor. Abbi followed the hall to the stairs to find the nearest exit. Running all the way, she hoped to find Big Sam who apparently was travelling courtesy of the Sheriff’s Department.
“Hey, girl!” Big Sam said as she ran up. “They’re talking again. NM2 doesn’t want anyone there but the person doing the drop.”
Abbi felt worried. Having a whole team to back her up was a lot different than going it alone.
“We’ll still have the sniper to watch you. Only trained military could spot his movements.”
“Good!”
“We’re going to try to pull this off at O-Early in the morning. Get some sleep. Oh, and here’s something to help you sleep better. I received word that your father’s condition is no longer considered critical. They’re planning to do surgery in the morning.”
“OK! God is good,” Abbi said. “Goodnight, Sam! Goodnight, Scott! Thank you!”
THIRTY-SEVEN
Abbi started the day the same as she ended last night—with faith and a prayer. She woke up about five minutes before she heard a knock on the door. They would be gone before her 6 a.m. wake up call sounded.
“You girls ready to roll?”
“10 minutes?” Abbi asked. “I wasn’t sure when O-Early was!”
“Make it 5,” Big Sam said. “Rough it. No showers this morning.”
Louise for once wasted no time and rushed to be first to the bathroom.
“Is Scott at the door?” she asked while she was brushing her teeth.
Abbi said, “Nope,” but she thought, Ain’t love grand?
She noticed that the air was no warmer this morning than it was last night. Poor planning. She had no extra clothes and her heart was beating erratically.
Abbi rushed past Louise to get into the bathroom.