by Lili Tufel
“I was really freaked out last night over what happened at Fisher Island. Every time I looked out my window and I would see your truck, I felt protected. Most people would probably think you’re a stalker…but not me.”
He crossed his arms. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re more like my guardian angel.”
He held his breath. Her words sent electricity throughout his flesh. His body tightened but he was able to hide it. “I’m no angel.” He smirked.
Abby put a hand on the driver window and peeked inside. “So this is where you spent the night?”
“I didn’t get much sleep.”
“Were you planning on following me again today?” She examined the inside of his truck.
“Look, I don’t want anything to happen to you. After what happened yesterday—”
“What is that?” A child’s size silver chain caught Abby’s eye as it glistened on the unused ashtray of his truck. The simple necklace held a small pearl. She studied it in amazement.
Dallas took a step closer, placed his hand on the handle, and opened the door.
“I had a necklace with a pearl just like that one when I was a kid. I gave it to my dad years ago. He kept it in his uniform pocket, closest to his heart. He used to say that I was his pearl.”
“That’s your necklace. Your daddy gave it to me. I was waiting for the right time.” Dallas took the delicate piece into his calloused hand. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a car with two men speeding towards them. He lifted Abby by the waist and tossed her into his truck. Using the door as a shield, he drew his weapon.
“Stay down, Abby!”
The men began shooting at the pickup truck but Dallas waited for their car to pass while pointing his gun through a small opening on the door. As soon as he spotted the tires, he shot a bull’s eye, which sent their car spinning. He immediately stomped down on the clutch, put the truck in gear and sped away.
“What do those men want?” Abby looked back at the collision the spinning car had caused.
“Don’t you know?” Dallas concentrated on the road while weaving through traffic.
“NO I DON’T!” Abby yelled. “It’s bad enough they have my father, why are they after us?”
“They’re coming after you, not your mom. Here take my cell phone and tell your mother to go someplace else.”
Abby called her mom and tried to explain how Maurice’s men were trying to kill them. After frustrating deliberation, she managed to convince Susan that Maurice and his men were after them.
“She didn’t believe you?” Dallas asked.
“She just didn’t believe that Maurice had anything to do with it.” Then imitating her mother’s gestures and voice said, “But he’s so charming.” She rolled her eyes.
“Charming?” He laughed. “Your boyfriend’s reckless behavior almost got him killed yesterday…and he could’ve taken others with him.”
“Boyfriend,” Abby squealed. “Not even close.”
Dallas slowly opened his hand that still held her necklace. After trying it on, she lowered the visor mirror and marveled at the pearl. He gave her a few glances and remembered how throughout his trip—from the desert to a hotel in Spain and then to the US—he had imagined what it would be like to give the Colonel’s daughter her necklace and what she would look like wearing it. She’s more beautiful than anything my imagination could ever come up with, he thought.
With a big smile, Abby turned to him, “A little small but it still fits.”
And all he could say was, “It looks good. You’re a nice looking girl.”
“Thank you.” Caressing the small pearl with her fingertips, she thought about her father and asked, “Do you know where my father is?”
Dallas nodded, “Wish I did.” He picked up his cell phone and called the Tampa Hospital.
“Javi man, I’m coming to get you now. I can be there at 1300, just be ready.” Dallas ended the call and dropped the phone on the center console.
“Um…I understand military time. We’re taking a four-hour drive. I’m guessing it’s not Disney World.”
Dallas chuckled, “We’re going to pick up my partner, Captain Javi Santos at the US Army Hospital in Tampa.”
“Are you kidding me? I haven’t even had breakfast and I really have to use the bathroom. I only came out to thank you. I wasn’t exactly expecting all of this.”
“Well it wasn’t very smart of you to come waltzing out in the open like that when you know you’d be in some kind of danger.” He rebuked her.
“You were out in the open.” She fired back.
“I’m a big boy, I can handle those guys.”
“Yeah well, I trust you. I felt safe with you there.”
“You still shouldn’t have done it.” He shook his head.
“What kind of secret agent are you anyway with your big pickup truck out in the open even for me to see?” Bringing a finger to her chin, “…Unless you wanted me to see you?”
“Maybe,” he smirked.
She bit her lip.
“I’m not a secret agent alright. I’m just keeping a promise that’s all.”
“Well at least stop somewhere so I can use the bathroom.”
“Alright, how about I buy you some breakfast too?”
“Yes, now you’re talkin’.” She giggled.
* * * * *
Chapter Four
Searching for a change of clothes in the hospital room, Javi opened the doors to an empty closet. He limped outside and peeked at the nurses’ station looking for Dorothea.
“Psst...Dorothea!”
Dorothea peered over her reading glasses, “You better not be asking me for extra pills honey…I am not about to turn you into a drug user. Some of you boys think you can just sweet talk me. Well it ain’t gonna work, I’ll tell you that right now.” And setting her glasses on the desk she walked over to his room, “So what is it that you want?”
He cleared his throat feeling timid, “I need some civilian clothes.”
“What you want clothes for? You got a hot date tonight? Honey, you are not going anywhere anytime soon so you can forget about that.”
“Please, whatever you got available.” He begged.
She shook her head and placed both hands on her hips. “I’ll see what I can do, but I’m not making any promises.” Then as she walked out, she greeted the little blond girl marching into Javi’s room, “Hello darling, does your mother know you’re out here wreaking havoc again?”
Javi’s face lit up as he greeted Samantha. “Hey there, where’s your baseball?”
“It’s on my mom’s desk. I can go get it.” She ran out.
Javi limped towards his nightstand and grabbed a pen. Samantha marched back into the hospital room carrying her baseball and glove.
He reached for the ball, grasped it with one hand and said, “I’m gonna teach you how to get an autograph from a baseball player whenever you go to a game.” And he signed his name.
“Will you take me to a real baseball game?”
“Sure, I’ll take you and your mom to a game.”
“Wow, cool!” She tossed her newly signed ball and caught it with a swoop of her glove then skipped out of the hospital room.
Dorothea entered carrying a t-shirt, scrub pants, and flip-flops.
“I had to buy the t-shirt downstairs in the gift shop. This is all they had in your size. Don’t say I never gave you a get well gift.” She held out a large shirt with a painted bear holding balloons and the words, IT’S A BOY!
“Hey, thanks for doing that for me. I really appreciate it.”
Dorothea left the room. And with some difficulty, Javi got dressed.
“Knock. Knock. Hello.” Jasmine said as she entered the room. “Dorothea told me you wanted to speak to me?”
Javi chuckled. “She probably wanted you to see me wearing this ridiculous outfit.”
Jasmine started laughing. Then her face grew serious. “Are planning on g
oing somewhere? You know you can’t do that Captain Santos.”
“So now you’re calling me Captain Santos?” He limped towards her and for the first time was able to stand in front of her face to face.
She looked up, stared into his eyes and pleaded, “Javi…you can’t leave. Not yet.”
His hand caressed her arm in a downward stroke then his fingers intertwined with hers. Javi slowly drew a breath taking in her sweet scent.
“If I don’t go on this mission, some very bad people will have their hands on military codes that can start a nuclear war. I have to leave.” He sighed.
“Are you the only one that can save the world? Isn’t there someone else that can take your place? You have serious injuries, Javi. I’m worried about you.”
“I wish this cup would be taken from me. But my partner and I were the only ones to receive…specific instructions…directly from the Colonel while we were with him in Afghanistan.” He placed his hand across Jasmine’s face softly caressing her cheekbone. “Look, I’ve told you too much already.”
Jasmine raised her feet to a tiptoe and pressed her lips against Javi’s. His tongue savored her sweet mouth like the taste of a fine wine and with great reluctance he pulled away breathing her scent. Almost in unison, they both looked in the direction of tiny footsteps only to find Samantha staring in awe.
“Oh…you…like…my…mom!” She twirled back and forth. “Momma, Javi said he’s gonna take us to a real baseball game so I can get my ball signed.”
Jasmine kept her fingers interlocked with Javi’s. “I would really like that.” She said almost in whisper.
* * * * *
Abby poured maple syrup over her pancakes then dug her fork into the scrambled eggs and drew in a mouth full.
Dallas grabbed a few packets of sugar, “Sugar?”
“Yeah, just two thanks.”
He emptied the packets then stirred her mug.
“Thank you.” She sipped her coffee looking at his deep blue eyes.
“Careful it’s pretty hot.”
“I can handle it.” Her eyelashes fluttered.
Dallas squeezed ketchup over his burger and took a monster bite.
“So are you going to tell me about my father or is it some type of top secret thing? Remember I grew up with this stuff. Dad’s missions were always top secret.” Abby, grabbing her napkin and wiping the left over ketchup from his cheek, giggled when he playfully leaned into it.
“I can brief you, unofficially. You’re already a part of the mission anyway. Are you up for it?”
“Do I have a choice?” She took a bite of her pancake. Syrup trickled down her chin.
Dallas offered a napkin.
“Thanks.” She licked her lips. “I don’t mean to give you an attitude, Dallas. I really do appreciate all you have done. I just don’t understand what those men want with me.”
“I’m sure it’s frustrating getting dragged into something like this. I don’t blame you for being upset.”
“My mom and I were contacted by someone from another government agency not too long ago and he explained some of the details of what happened to my father. Of course, he just told us only what they want us to know. I got the run around with every one of my questions.”
“I don’t have a problem telling you what happened.”
“Thank you Dallas.”
“Will you stop thanking me?” He chuckled. “Do me a favor, please don’t thank me anymore.” He said laughing to himself and nodding his head.
“I’ll try, but it might slip out.”
“I’m serious, don’t do it.”
Then at his sudden stern expression she relented, “Ok I won’t let it slip out.”
A waitress bringing a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice on a tray, handed Dallas a tall glass and he passed it to Abby then took a glass for himself.
“Yum. Thank you.” Abby smiled.
Taking a sip of his orange juice, “I gotta tell you…” his face flushing, “I tried to imagine what you looked like from your father’s description and then I tried to imagine your personality…”
“And…” Abby cocked her head to one side then flipped her hair back.
“And…you’re a bigger pain than I imagined.”
“What?” She folded her arms pouting, “Really?”
“No, not really,” his dimples appeared, “I was kidding,” he laughed as she tossed a wrinkled napkin at his chest. “You’re prettier than I imagined.”
Taking a seat in the booth directly behind Abby was a family with a chubby five year old who leaned over to show his missing front tooth.
“Today’s my dad’s birthday.” The pudgy kid announced.
“Really?” Abby smiled. “I bet your dad must be very special.”
The little boy agreed.
Abby’s eyes welled up with tears. “My dad is very special too.”
“We have to go.” Dallas said extending his hand to Abby then helped her slide out of the booth. When he held open the door, he noticed a tear in her eye. “Are you alright?”
She gave her face a quick wipe, “I’m fine.”
Inside the truck, Dallas shifted into second gear slowly releasing his steel-toe boot from the clutch. “Look Abby, your father told me you have access to the codes.”
“What codes?”
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know about any codes. Why didn’t my father just give you instructions on getting whatever codes yourself? Why go through me?”
“Because he said you would know how to get them.”
“Well I don’t.” She changed the radio station, “Now this is a good song,” and started lip-synching.
He took his eyes off the road and for a moment, his gaze lingered on her face then chest.
She fidgeted through the glove compartment finding a pen with a missing top and a tattered notepad and inspired by the little boy’s chubby cheeks, she doodled.
Without taking his eyes off the road this time he asked, “What are you doing?”
“I’m drawing a picture of the little boy from the restaurant.” She wet her lips with her tongue. “Believe it or not, my father is a pretty good artist. That’s where I got my skills.”
“The Colonel,” he laughed, “Painting with water colors,” he squinted, “Now there’s a sight.”
“I think he would have probably been an architect if it hadn’t been for his military career…although the army was always his only choice.” Her eyes fixed on the sketch.
Alligator Alley, a road that went straight for miles hadn’t a rest stop in sight. After driving for a couple of hours Dallas said, “I gotta stop for gas, do you need something?” as they exited on Snake Road.
“I’ll go in the store with you.”
Dallas parked alongside the pump then walked towards the passenger door. He took her hand into his and helped her out of the truck. She stopped before he could close the door so he pulled her body close to his. And while the wind tossed her hair she stared at his blue eyes. He placed a hand on her cheek and slowly leaned in for a kiss. He quickly released her but felt so drawn, he leaned in for more.
Left in a daze as she walked, she bit her bottom lip in recollection. He held her hand across the parking lot and into the convenience store.
Walking by a rack of cheap sunglasses, Abby said, “I could use a pair.” She tried some on, letting the price tag hang over her ear, “How about these?”
Dallas chuckled. “You could put any on and you’ll still look like a movie star.”
“Like these?” She slid on a pair of red star frames.
“Especially those, yeah,” he said with a big smile.
She put the red stars back and placed a chosen pair on the counter, by the cashier, then turned to Dallas, “I’m going to use the restroom.” In the bathroom, she studied her hair in the mirror. After wiping eyeliner that had run under her eyes, she fidgeted with her brown hair, taming her wavy locks. When she stepped outside, she spotted D
allas pumping gas.
She grabbed the grocery bag off the driver’s seat and looked inside. “Hmm…where are my new…oh…what else did ya get…chips…ah yes…soda…and a…”
Dallas placed both arms on the open Driver’s window, “Hey that was supposed to be a surprise.”
“You got me a sketch book? And pens?”
“Well…it’s really just a notebook…it’s all they had.”
Abby sighed with animated eyes.
“We need to get a move on.” He slammed the truck door. “I’ve broken enough rules as it is.”
“Really, you mean you don’t kiss all the women you rescue?”
“No ma’am I don’t.” He clicked on the seatbelt.
Entering the highway, Abby’s fingers fidgeted with her new pen, her mind drifted to a memory, her gaze towards the horizon. “This isn’t my father’s first time hostage,” she exhaled. “Before I was born, he was captured by the Guerilla in South America. The Colombian Communist Party, FARC. I’m sure you already know about them.”
“Yeah, the FARC is still around. They’re funded mostly by the cocaine drug cartel.” He paused. “The Colonel told Javi and me the story while we were with him in Afghanistan. He told us how he went out there to extract two American DEA agents who had been kidnapped in Medellin and his mission failed.”
“Yep, that’s right. Unfortunately my father was outnumbered.” Abby stared at his hands grasping the steering wheel. “I’m guessing something like that happened to you when you were trying to rescue my dad?”
He glanced at her face. “Something like-that.”
“Did he tell you about his scorpion bite?”
“No, he never mentioned a scorpion.” Dallas raised an eyebrow.
“Those guys were being forced to travel through the whole jungle by foot. And one time a scorpion crawled into his boot and got him real good right on his heel.” A squeamish Abby shrugged her shoulders.
“Oh man, that had to have been painful.” Dallas squinted.
“Well, he got very sick. He broke into a cold sweat. Then he couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t feel his legs. And since the hostages were not allowed to stop moving, the two DEA guys carried him through the Amazon jungle. And right before they reached a small village, their captors beat them and left my father to die right alongside a dirt road.”