“Yea, well, I think we both know better.”
“Sandy we knew what we were signing up for.”
“Oh don’t get me wrong. I understand that. It’s just that I was naïve enough to think I could live a somewhat ordinary life on the other side.”
“I hope you do succeed,” he encouraged her. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course,” she let her guard.
“Why don’t you get out? Go home. Be with your family. You don’t need this anymore. You have nothing to prove. There are enough of us to take care of this end. Life’s too short Breaker. Go live it.”
“I’d love to, but I don’t think I can,” she answered then went on. “There is something wrong with us Blake. We’re not right. I just killed six people and I’ve never felt more alive. I could go kill another six without feeling anything. We changed the day we went into training, didn’t we.”
“You’re right. But you didn’t kill six people, you killed six enemies. It takes a few of us off centered warhorses to safeguard our country so our citizens continue to live what most describe as a normal life.”
“You still believe in what we do?” she asked but knew the answer.
“I do, do you?”
“You know I do.”
With that she unzipped her fatigues. Under it she wore a black workout outfit like one would wear to a yoga class. She handed it along with all her weapons to Blake, keeping only the packsack.
“Thank you Blake. It was comforting knowing you had my back. Take care.”
“It was good to see you. Think about what I said. Your man is lucky to have you. Don’t lose him. Go home. Stay home,” he was sincere with his advice.
They gave each other a hug. He turned to make his way back to the men and helicopter. Before he exited the hanger she called out.
“Blake,” she paused until he looked back, “I don’t think I can do that.”
Chapter 14
“Hello,” David answered his phone.
“David, sorry it took so long to get back to you. My buddy is not known for his quick responses.”
“Not a problem. I appreciate your getting back to me. Can he shed any light on the fire?”
“He’s encountered the method of burning before and just happens to be on leave for the next couple of weeks, so I suggested we get together for a beer. He’ll be in town tomorrow. Are you free?”
David was talking to his friend Richard, another retired hockey player who now lived in the same area. They always played on opposite teams but became friends during the off season’s golf tournaments and fundraisers. Once retired from professional sports Richard went on to become a fireman. David was reaching out to him as part of his own investigation. As it turns out, Richard did the same and asked one of his military buddy’s who was an explosive specialist.
“I’m there,” jumping at the chance to pick the expert’s brain.
“Where’s good for you?” asked Richard.
David wasn’t a connoisseur of drinking establishments but he was comfortable with the favorite pit stop of the local racing community.
“Do you know The Dead Heat Bar and Grill, how about around seven?”
“We will see you then,” Richard agreed.
Across the pond Dr. Oliver White sat at his desk. Serge repeated the routine of sitting opposite a physician anticipating the chilliness one felt when receiving news that your body is retiring.
“Serge, how have you been feeling?”
“Tired,” was all he could think of to explain his present state.
“That’s understandable. Serge I’ve run a number of tests and scenarios. I’ll cut to the chase. Your doctors in the States were exact in their diagnosis. The thing is, we are in the early experimental stages of a new treatment. It is not a cure. What we hope for is an extension of life for those at your point. All I’m asking of you is that you give this some thought. We never know what’s in store for us on the horizon.”
“I’m in. What do you need me to do,” a brief visit with long lost family members had changed his mind. He made the decision to fight this with every ounce of energy his body would provide.
“I’m happy to hear that. I need you here seven to ten days each month. During your stay you will be administered a combination of treatments. It will not be a cake walk. This is not going be easy. More rough times than not. But I will do everything in my power to turn your months into years. All expenses have been covered by Mr. McGinnis. We will arrange for all your transportation.”
“When do we start,” was the only reply he could phantom.
“How about right now,” the doctor brought the conversation to an end.
Jacob McGinnis sat at his desk with the telephone held to his ear listening to FBI Director Taylor summarize their findings on the fire.
“We know what was used. We know who manufactured the material. We have determined the intent of the fire was to distract someone within your organization. It was not meant to inflict mass destruction. The persons who we believe are the distributors of the devise are tight lipped. Their clients demand discreetness. It is not illegal to sell these items so we can’t ask our counterparts to utilize the strong arm of the law to apply pressure,” she took a second to catch her breath.
Jacob didn’t say a word. It was not his time to speak. His inquiries would come once Madison had finished her explanation.
“We have all the answers except for the final part of the puzzle, who. Every time we close in on the answers it feels like a brick wall appears. The CIA doesn’t appear to be very helpful. Jacob, are you still there.”
“Go on,” he urged her while acknowledging his presence at the other end of the receiver.
“I will keep the file active but I need you to do some searching within your organization. Somehow, someone within it is involved,” she paused. “However, there is one characteristic of this probe that doesn’t sit well with me.”
“What would that be, Miss Director,” he inquired.
“The number of inquiries our resources have received. Others have been probing around the same areas we have. Actually it’s not just the number of inquires. One in particular is bothersome, from an American. Funny thing is Jacob,” she paused, “the questioning happened a month prior to the fire.”
Renée dismounted from a horse she was putting through its paces when she felt a tap on the shoulder.
“Hey stranger,” she heard while turning to be greeted by a smiling Gabriela.
“Bonjour, comment allez-vous?” Renée asked in French.
“Je suis bien,” her answer also came in Renée’s mother tongue.
“I’m so sorry that I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you on kicking my butt at the finish line. You guys ran a great race,” referring to coming second to Renée’s horse at the recent California race. “I had another race to ride, then one thing led to another.”
“Thank you. You rode a spectacular race yourself. We got lucky.”
“If the rumors are true, it would seem more congratulations are in order for the new head trainer of the McGinnis Stables.”
“Thanks again. This whole thing came all of a sudden. It took me by surprise. I’ve been pinching myself every few minutes.”
“Oh you’re awake. You deserve this Renée. The impact you have on these animals is special. You deserve all the accolades coming your way. I would be proud to ride any of your horses,” she praised her.
“Well, thank you. David will be happy to hear that. We will work on it.”
“After we’re done for the day we should meet up for a drink to celebrate.”
“That sounds great, but I’m too busy Gabriela.”
“That’s too bad,” she said sounding disappointed.
“What about tomorrow night,” Renée proposed.
“Perfect.”
“Say seven, seven-thirtyish then,” she said. “The Dead Heat work for you?”
“It’s a date, seven-thirty at the Dead Heat.”
Sandy was nestled into one of the aircraft’s luxurious tan colored leather chairs after washing up and changing into her daily clothing. The instructions to the pilots were to prepare their pre-flight checks but not request take off authorization until she gave them the okay. Two uninterrupted telephone conversations needed to take place before blasting down the runway. The first call would be to David, the second to Langley.
She dialed her husband. He picked up.
“My long lost wife has surfaced,” he answered in a slightly taunting mannerism.
“I’m doing fine thank you, and you,” was her come back.
“Sandy, I’m joking. When are you coming home?”
“I’ll be there in a couple of days. Clear your calendar. I’m so looking forward to the two of us kicking back and doing nothing.”
“That sounds good but I need to travel to Florida this weekend. We’re purchasing a couple of horses. It’s our only race free weekend in the near future. I’m all yours when we get back. That is if you don’t fly off again,”
“Who’s we?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You said when we get back.”
“Renée and I,” confirming what she already knew or what he thought she would take for granted.
“Oh.”
“You seemed surprised. I don’t make a purchase without my trainer.”
“Isn’t that what we pay Serge for?”
“Oh boy, you don’t know. We haven’t talked since I got back. I thought you might have had a conversation with your father.”
“What should I know David,” she asked.
“So much has been going on here. When I arrived home your father informed me Serge resigned. Sandy, he’s dying. He has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He left at the beginning of the week to spend his last days with his family in Britain.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”
“Are you serious? I have been trying to call you back for two days now. So don’t put this on me,” he answered sounding agitated.
“I’m sorry. This is so sad.”
“You haven’t answered my calls or text and I have been up to my ears trying to get everything in order here. He left some big shoes to fill.”
“David, I will be home as soon as I can. I can help out until you find someone to replace him. I’m certain the majority of trainers out there will be jumping at the opportunity.”
“Sandy, we have already filled the position.”
“With whom?” she asked.
“Renée.”
“Renée,” she repeated.
“Yes Renée.”
“Are you sure my father is on board with this. She seems an unlikely choice. She’s so young. So little experience compared to others we know of. I would have thought Daddy preferred someone he could showcase as the best in the world.”
“Sandy, she is the best. Young yes, but I’ve never seen anyone who can interact with the kids as well as her,” referring to the horses.
“I’m not sure I agree,” she was hesitant to give her stamp of approval.
David wasn’t sure if she disfavored this appointment based on skill or concern related to the personal side of it. The guilt manifesting itself within him bred paranoia.
“The decision has been finalized. Actually this was your father’s idea. He instructed me to promote her. It was Serge’s last request of your father. He wanted to leave what he built in the hands of someone he had complete trust in. Renée was the only candidate. Serge felt there was no one else as capable,” he explained.
“We can talk more when we both end up being under the same roof at the same time.”
“I will be home in two days. Try to make your Florida trip as short as possible.”
David’s voice shifted into a low almost whispery tone, “Sandy I don’t understand how your work can keep you away for so long. How can so many last minute things pop up?”
“I promise I will keep my travels to a minimum from now on. We will make this work,” she tried to reassure him that their relationship was in good shape. “David, I love you so much.”
They said their goodbyes.
Sandy dialed the Director. It didn’t get through the first ring before it was answered. There would be no greeting, no niceties. He was upset. The explosion put him in a position of an explanation to the president without having the pleasure of first being briefed of the events.
“Let me get this straight. The reason I was led to believe you wouldn’t even disturb the flies on the wall was because you planned to obliterate the whole damn compound and everything in it,” he rumbled. “I knew this was bad idea. If we had sent in a convoy of tanks it would have been quieter. I’ve been back and forth on the phone with the President for the past hour trying to soothe him. You should have contacted me earlier. God, young lady you make me angry.”
“Just feel free to let me know when you want me to explain what transpired,” she said sounding a tad smug.
“How about five hours ago. We have been appeasing their ambassador for hours peddling the story that it was a coincident that our helicopter was on a training mission in the same area.”
“Did he buy in,” she inquired.
“So far, but that doesn’t excuse your choices.”
There was a lull in the conversation. Sandy went silent waiting for permission to defend her actions. Christopher Young had unloaded his frustration that had been building up for the past few hours. Deep within him, he knew Sandy would have a perfectly just explanation. She was as smart as they got. He knew once he heard her out that he would be in agreement and that her decisions would be validated. That didn’t ease his state of exasperation brought on by the situation.
“Please, be my guest, enlighten me,” he broke the silence.
“She turned. Not only crossing sides. She was leading this particular cell.”
“So why not bring her in. There is a possibility she went under without authorization. There may have been a chance she was still with us,” offering an alternative rationalization about his former agent.
“Christopher you know she would be sitting right next to me if there was even the slightest chance of that being the case.”
“Fine then, but why blow the hell out of the place?”
“It was rigged. She was prepared to give her life for the cause. I was a fraction of a second away from joining her. She forced my hand. I felt my decision was the cleanest out.”
“When can I expect you?”
“As soon as we are cleared for takeoff, I’ll be on my way.”
“Change your flight plan. You’re to go directly to Washington. The President wants to sit in on the debriefing. Secret service will clear any landing delays. They will deliver you to the White House.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” was her reply. “By the way I have a present for you.”
“Sandy this wasn’t supposed to be a holiday where you suck up to your boss with a souvenir.”
“Oh it wasn’t, although the temperature was on the warm side. I commandeered their three laptops. I’m sure it will make for good reading.”
The Director's mouth began to salivate at the thought of what secrets were hidden within them. He hadn’t revealed to Sandy the significance of the data recovered from her success at the Palace. A number of attacks directed at the USA had been quashed, saving a lot of lives. Her importance to the Agency was unparalleled.
“Boss,” she said. “No plans for the near future. I need to stay home for a while.”
They disconnected. She authorized the crew to take off.
David’s next call was to Renée. He asked her to meet with him.
“We need to travel to Florida this upcoming weekend.”
“Okay,” she lengthened the letter k coxing David to expand his news.
“We have an opportunity to buy two horses that have been in our sights for some time now.”
“When do we leave?” was her resp
onse.
She was taking her new position seriously. If this was required of her then she was in. It was a pleasant surprise. Another trip with David so soon was unexpected.
“We should fly out Friday evening. Can you arrange it?”
“I’m all yours,” immediately regretting her words.
Chapter 15
Fyad being good to his word found himself in Germany following up on a lead with regards to the fire. He, along with one of his men made a visit to this quaint little artisan’s boutique. It was the home of master craftsman Albrecht Friedman. Many of the world’s affluent were in possession of his pieces. The crafters forte was clock making. Few knew he was also the brainchild of a number of devices utilized in unethical ways.
Fyad was recognized before the door behind him closed. His assistant remained outside to inform anyone trying to enter the store that it was temporarily closed.
“Your Highness,” Albrecht greeted his visitor.
Fyad’s father’s Palace showcased a vast array of this man’s work. The dollar value was astronomical. So when the Prince paid a visit, all else became secondary.
“Albrecht, how nice it is to see you, my friend. With all the money we have spent in your wonderful little shop it’s no wonder you have not retired yet. You should be sitting on some yacht rocking on the waves of the Mediterranean.”
“I get more pleasure serving my faithful customers such as you.”
“Why thank you.”
“Fyad this is an unexpected visit. What is it I can do for you,” he inquired.
“Right to the point, I appreciate that,” Fayd had little time for small talk.
“Albrecht, today I will not be making an acquisition. I am trying to resolve a family matter and I understand you may be able to guide me in the right direction¸” he began his explanation of the visit.
“I doubt my knowledge can assist someone of your resources. But yes, Fyad, anything you ask of me I would be honored to help.”
“Excellent. Recently, someone who I consider to be family unfortunately experienced a fire which was purposely set. It is my understanding the method with which it was set is one known as the Alley Marble Burn.”
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