Night had fallen driving Tessa once more to her cramped quarters for a much needed rest. Other than a pain pill she didn’t require a sleep aid. Her body fell limp into the mattress that had seen better days.
The following day followed a similar pattern with quiet voices in rooms where reports were entered on computers and follow ups with foreign states were briefed. Chase, never very far from her, sat hunched over satellite images on his computer. Once he strolled past her and laid a hand on her good shoulder with a slight squeeze. When Tessa lifted her eyes to his he almost smiled before walking away. Then the call came to return to Benjamin Clark’s office to pick up where they’d left off the day before. Tessa could see that sunset purpled the sky outside Ben’s window.
“Do you have any questions, Tessa?” the director inquired matter of fact.
“Where is Honey?” Tessa had wondered about her since she’d awakened earlier in the day.
“Gone,” was the only answer given her. Before Tessa could speak again, he brought his hands together palm to palm as if going to pray. “Mr. Crawley was taken to the hospital for a few days. The FBI wants to have a conversation with him.”
“Good luck with that,” she mumbled loud enough for Zoric to hear and chuckle. “Mansur?”
Chase rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “On his way back to Libya. He can do us more good there than here. He’s a good man.”
The phone buzzed on Ben’s desk and he lifted it up to his ear casually. As he listened his brow furrowed and his eyebrows met over his hawk like nose. Clicking off, he returned the phone to its cradle and looked at Chase, then Tessa.
“It would seem that your husband and children gave our man the slip when he went to get some carryout.” Tessa froze. “He’s on his way back to Grass Valley.”
The entire team stood and turned to Tessa. “I don’t know how to thank you. I’m not sure if I can say goodbye. You have given me,” they waited uneasily, “you’ve given me a headache, a scratched face and enough nightmares to last a life time,” she laughed. They seemed to be relieved at her teasing and one by one embraced or shook her hand.
Sam did neither and chose to glare judgingly at her. “Good job, Betty Crocker.”
“Thanks, Sam!” Tessa beamed with the crumb of appreciation. “Maybe we can go shopping some time or go out to lunch.”
Sam rolled her eyes impatiently as she brushed past her. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Tessa covered her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh out loud and draw angry attention to herself from the Enigma diva. She looked at Ben and Chase happily. “I think she likes me!”
The director tossed Chase his keys. “Since your Hummer was lost in the fire take my car. Zoric better tag along. Mrs. Scott tends to get my people in trouble. Maybe if there are two of you I can count on you returning in a timely fashion. Good luck to you, Mrs. Scott. And thanks for everything you did.” The director’s minivan had surprised Tessa. Somehow she thought, given his personality, he might drive a tank to work. There were hints of a woman in his life and a small child, a girl, Tessa thought. It smelled of spilled cappuccino and McDonald’s fries. A couple of Cheerios clung to the corner of the front floor mat. A tube of lipstick rolled around in the cup holder and coins worth no more than a dollar slid loudly as Chase whipped the van into the gated subdivision Tessa called home. He pulled in Mr. Crawley’s drive and quickly joined Zoric and Tessa as they exited the blue minivan.
Touching his ear, Chase took Tessa by the arm with his free hand noting that Zoric had already slipped his arm through her other arm. They guided her across the lawn to the porch, then front door. “They’re twenty minutes out. Highway patrol helped us out by pulling them over for a bit. Then the inspection guys on the state line decided to examine every suitcase and package in the car.
Tessa knew Robert’s patience could be measured in inches so he probably would be in a bad mood by the time he arrived. “When he sees the mess inside the house he’ll probably ask for a divorce,” she mused as Chase swung the door open to her home she’d left in shambles.
Claudia, the librarian, stood alone in the foyer that ran between the dining room and living room. She pushed her glasses up on her nose and smiled shyly as she hugged her computer tablet up to her chest. “Surprise,” she said clearing her throat.
Gasping at the rooms before her, Tessa thought she’d just walked into a model home by Pottery Barn. Furniture, sleek and contemporary mixed with her antique pieces that hadn’t been damaged by the gunman. Shiny wood floors, freshly painted walls and new light fixtures completed the look. Her heart pounded as Claudia handed her the Pottery Barn catalog she’d been saving for ideas. Tessa then remembered Chase handing it to Claudia the day they’d returned to look for a bomb.
“I hope it meets with your satisfaction, Mrs. Scott.” Claudia handed Tessa a black folder of information concerning the decorating choices, location of services used and a certificate “This certificate proclaims you won a $70,000 make over contest as advertised in your favorite magazine.”
“Which one?” Tessa said wide eyed as she went over the room in amazement.
“Pick one. It doesn’t matter, Mrs. Scott. What does matter is that your husband believes it. From what I understand that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Tessa grabbed the black woman in a bear hug and squeezed so hard her glasses tilted on her nose. Once released, Claudia straightened her glasses then her clothes impatiently and walked outside toward Mr. Crawley’s driveway. Looking around like Alice in Wonderland, Tessa put her hands over her heart and smiled at Chase then at Zoric who seemed to be pretty proud of themselves.
“Thank you,” she said with deep emotion.
Zoric winked at her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Coffee. Soon.”
She nodded as he left Chase alone with her. “Remember. Robert cannot know about us or what you’ve been up to. Got it?”
“You want me to lie to my husband, is that it?” she frowned.
“That’s exactly what I want you to do.” Chase didn’t like goodbyes or hollow promises about tomorrow. He just needed to leave and be done with her so he could go talk to the doctor about this recurring pain in his chest, like now. He touched his ear. “They’re almost here.” He turned to leave when he felt Tessa’s hand on his arm.
“Chase” was all she needed to say for him to swing her up in his arms and embrace her tightly. She felt a kiss on her cheek as he released her and darted out the door.
For a few moments Tessa became lost in thought about the surge of warmth she felt for the captain. The sound of car doors slamming, loud boyish voices and a little singing girl, drew Tessa’s attention outside. Lazily, Tessa moved through the open front door to see Robert hurrying to her. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry for being a jerk. I promise I’ll be a better husband and a father from now on, Tessa.”
Tessa stepped into his open arms and laid her face against his chest. Little hands circled her waist as they started talking all at once. Sean Patrick and Daniel broke away first and ran into the house only to return begging their father and little sister to come look at the new house.
“Wow!” was all Robert managed to say. “Guess this is why you haven’t been answering your phone.” He noticed the cut over her eye, the scratched arms and bruises along her arms and face. “What happened?” he said turning her face gently with his hand.
“I started working with this secret government agency who hunt down terrorists. We got in a bit of a mess. There was a fire, I nearly drowned watched a bunch of Libyans try and steal isotopes and blow up Global Navigation outside of Auburn. That’s pretty much it.”
“No. Really, Tessa, what happened?” He sounded concerned.
Tessa sighed. She had tried to be honest. “I fell off the ladder when I was painting and cracked my head as well as dislocated my shoulder.”
“You’re such a clumsy goof, Tessa. Can’t leave you alone at all,” he smiled kissing her on the lips. “I’m glad to be home.”
“
Hey, Mom, you should meet our friend Honey!” Daniel blurted out much to Robert’s embarrassment.
Sean Patrick elbowed his mother gently. “She was a real hotty.”
The two Enigma men sat in their car listening to the family chatter about the new house, their trip and the mysterious Honey. They momentarily stiffened when Tessa began summing up her week with Enigma. They realized she merely wanted to tell the truth, because telling the truth would be impossible to believe.
Zoric frowned. “Did he call her a goof?”
“Give me your gun.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to shoot him,” Chase said drily.
Claudia turned out the lights in Mr. Crawley’s house before joining the Enigma men in the van. Careful not to wrinkle her black skirt, Claudia slipped into the back seat. “What do you think, Captain Hunter?”
Zoric laughed as Chase grinned. “She’s perfect.”
“I’ll start the paper work then.
“Use the name Melanie Glenn.”
“Mommy! Mommy!” Heather came running to her mother in the kitchen as she made lemonade for her thirsty bunch after only a few minutes of reconnecting.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Tessa laughed happily as she bent down and lifted her youngest up into her arms.
Heather pointed next door as if her mother could see through walls. “I just saw an angel!”
“You did?” Tessa remembered not taking her daughter seriously a few days ago when she’d seen a falling star. “Where did you see this angel?”
She jabbed a finger toward next door. “Mr. Crawley’s! His yard light was on and this big guy was a standin’ there big, big. He had big wings.” Heather motioned with her arms to show size of the wings. Tessa smiled knowing the lights under Mr. Crawley’s bushes had cast shadowy like wings on one of her friends. “You believe me?”
“I sure do!”
“Can I make a wish on an angel?” Her eyes were wide with anticipation.
Tessa kissed her daughter and carried her to the living room window where she watched a car slowly pull out of Mr. Crawley’s drive. “I hope so.”
Chapter 32
Epilogue
The August sun remained hot during the evening stroll through the fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Carnival rides sent squeals of joy over the heads of families enjoying the corn dogs, funnel cakes and fried pickles. Snow cone drips on tee shirts created the style of small children hanging on to the hands of parents and grandparents. The concert started at the far end as a country music star began to belt out his only hit from five years earlier. Ladies wearing their blue ribbons from prized pies or home grown tomatoes chatted loudly with neighbors and friends they usually only saw at this time of year.
Tessa laughed when her husband won a teddy bear for Heather at the ring toss. The boys cheered their dad on then suckered him into riding the Ferris wheel with them one more time. As Heather swung her mom’s hand back and forth happily, Tessa noticed a woman staring at her. When Tessa turned her face away and began walking a little faster, the woman quickly rushed to her side, carrying something in her arms.
“Melanie? Is that you?” The excited woman turned the bundle around for Tessa to see the baby girl. “I thought that was you!” Her accent was definitely southern; unusual in this part of the country.
Tessa smiled warily. “Excuse me. I’m not Melanie. But that is sure a sweet baby. How old is she?”
The woman blushed and pulled the baby back to her shoulder. “Two months. I’m sorry. You look just like the woman who helped deliver her in Tennessee. I named my baby after her because she saved my life.”
“How wonderful.”
“I’m sorry I bothered you. You look so much like her.”
“No bother.” Tessa watched as the young woman moved away and joined other people at the food stands. Her heart pounded. Perspiration beaded up on her forehead. All the danger and excitement she’d experienced with Enigma washed over her. Had it been two months?
Robert and the boys joined her and Heather with hotdogs and sodas.
Robert eyed her. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I did.”
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32: Epilogue
An Unlikely Hero (1) Page 36