“Judy,” his tone now soft and pleading.
“Forget it.” She jumped up and started for the door. Andy grabbed her arm before she could make it two feet. She froze. He loosened his grip and ran his hand down her arm. His relief was palpable when she allowed him to link his fingers with hers.
“Judy.”
“What?” Her voice was defeated.
Andy turned her and pulled her into his arms. She went without resistance her body limp in his embrace.
“Judy, I read this all wrong. I saw it as you making a sacrifice of your principles for me and I couldn’t let you do that. No matter how hot you look in that nightie,” he bent down and looked at her with a grin. He saw a flicker pass her lips. “But I get it now. You have to do this. Not for me. For you.”
Judy looked up and met his eyes. “Well, I may be the frigid one, but you sure know how to kill a mood.” Judy grinned when Andy burst out laughing.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
They flanked each other at one end of the long wooden table. Mrs. Gage sat at the head. Her house, her show. She leaned forward tapping a pencil.
“Well, according to the monitors, the rats have moved in upstairs and it looks like they are making ready for the king rat to show up.”
“That’s good news, right?” Kenann looked from face to face for confirmation.
“Why all the long faces?” She caught the looks they exchanged and also that Granny was looking down at her hands clasped on the table in front of her.
Danny Mac turned to Kenann. She turned too as the light began to dawn. “Kenann, one of our biggest goals was to keep this group off balanced.”
“This is where I come in.” It was not a question.
“Yes. But only if you are comfortable.”
“Hey, I didn’t come all this way to sit it out when it starts getting interesting. We have already been through this. “
Danny Mac grinned and knew she meant it. “That’s my girl.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Again, Kenann looked to the others.
Carter had been quiet. He cleared his throat and offered, “Well, since they thought it beneficial to mess with your mind, we thought we would return the favor.”
“So, what are you talking? Gas light them?”
“Basically,” was Mrs. Gage’s reply. Granny had not looked up. Danny Mac took note of this too.
“Moira, are you okay?” She looked up.
“Yes, Danny, I am just concerned about Kenann’s safety. I am in agreement. I’m just,” she paused, “Cautious.”
“As are we, Granny.” Carter’s voice dripped sarcasm. Jake leaned in with menacing and highly intimidating presence. “Carter, it was you who asked all of us to come on board. So help me, don’t you dare start giving us attitude now.”
The two squared off visibly. Mrs. Gage looked between them with disgust building toward a good rage. When they didn’t cease and desist, she slapped her palms down on the table and stood.
“Enough!” She roared. “Carter, you chafe at my leadership, but you can’t lead your way out of a wet paper bag. Nor do you know the first thing about managing people. And you, Jacob, are so concerned about everyone else but you aren’t man enough to go after what you want.” No one was more shocked by her outburst than Mrs. Gage herself. She turned her back to the table to compose herself. She did not turn back but said, “I am going to go to the control room. I would appreciate if no one followed me.” She squared her shoulders and left the room.
* * *
After several seconds Danny Mac broke the uncomfortable silence. “We are confined here and getting edgy. We need to stay focused.”
“You think?” Carter continued his sarcasm.
Before Jake could come across the table, Danny Mac said, “Cool it Carter. Let’s take a break. Everyone find a corner and get in it. We will regroup in a few.”
Everyone stood and moved away from the table. Danny Mac took Kenann’s hand and pulled her into one of the stone stairwells leading up to the main house. They sat side by side on the steps.
“What was all that?”
“Walls are starting to close in. Knowing that our mortal enemies are a couple stories up isn’t helping.”
“I get that. I was actually talking about Mrs. G. I felt sorry for her. Maybe we need to take a field trip.”
Danny Mac cut his eyes over in irritation. His patience was growing thin as well.
“Hey, don’t give me a look. I’m serious. We are good at disguises. We have eyes on what is going on in the rooms upstairs but maybe we can get some intel around town or what’s happening around the house.” Danny Mac was listening.
“That and we can quit feeling helpless and hostage. That will buy some good stress relief and plus we might learn something.”
Danny Mac loved this woman. She was not just another pretty face.
* * *
Andy took Judy’s hand and led her around the room turning off lamps leaving one burning low at the bedside. She laughed as he pulled her along behind him.
“What are you doing?”
“I am making sure you don’t get away.” When he had the lighting the way he wanted, he picked up his iPhone and found his music. Finding the file he wanted, he put it down and turned to her.
“I hope you don’t think my music is too corny, but it works for me.” He took her in his arms as Percy Sledge crooned, ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’.
“Dance with me, Judy.”
She lifted her eyes to his and was overpowered with love. He was so patient. She reveled in the fact that she felt no fear of this man and what they were doing. This was love. This was right.
They swayed enjoying looking at each other. The moment was pure joy. Andy ran his fingers up her arms and slipped her robe off her shoulders. He let it fall of its own volition while his hands moved up to frame her neck and found purchase as he cupped her face in his large hands. She dropped her arms to let the robe slip to the floor. She then brought them around him and up his back to pull him close and feel the contours of his chest against hers. They were both aware of the other’s heart beating a strong and steady tattoo in a rhythmic duet.
Andy lowered his head. Judy instinctively rose to meet him. Their joining was electric. Andy wanted to be slow and gentle but the power coming from Judy demanded to be met. The music changed to a deep grinding guitar mirroring their passion. Andy picked her up and brought her to the bed. His mind screamed to be aware of her - to follow her lead.
He kissed her eyes closed as her lay beside her. She turned to him. “Keep me close, Andy. Please. Don’t pull away. I need to feel you and know it’s you.”
“Sure, baby. Sure.” He drew her to him and touched her slowly. At first, he thought she might feel better if her eyes were closed. But he said, “Look at me Judy. Keep your eyes on me, okay?”
“Okay.” He faltered at her haunted look. He knew so much was at stake.
He started at her face and made love to her body, talking to her with quiet, gentle words of the love he had for her and what he hoped for them. His amazement that she should love him back and his pride in calling her his own.
Judy knew she had to make the final move. And that Andy would not, no matter what it cost him. The fact that she had no qualms about pulling him to her was the final glorious release from a life of fear.
* * *
Judy awoke first. She wasn’t startled awake as she had been from nightmares. She woke with the knowledge that she would never feel a victim again. And she smiled. That was the first thing Andy saw when he opened his eyes. He imprinted that smile onto his brain and knew he had found his new happy place.
She looked up at him and said, “Yes.”
He understood and pulled her tighter. “Start packing.”
* * *
Mrs. Gage was thrilled for something to distract from her meltdown. She pulled Kenann and Granny James aside.
“I am happy to share this news. Andy and Judy are on their way to Las Ve
gas to marry.”
“That’s awesome.” Kenann squealed. “Did they just call? What did they say? Judy sound okay?”
“She sounded wonderful. I think we can stop worrying about our Judy. She has found her safe home.”
Granny smiled, “I couldn’t be happier. When will we be seeing them?”
“They are to meet us here soon. I may send them on an impromptu working honeymoon as they make their way here.”
“Won’t that be Carter’s call?” Granny asked
“Idiot.” Mrs. Gage spat, then offered apologetically, “I’m sorry.”
Kenann ventured, “Are you okay Mrs. G?”
“I am so sorry for my behavior. Quite uncharacteristic of me to say the least. I pride myself in having a cool head.”
“Mrs. G, Jake and Carter are feuding over you.”
Mrs. Gage’s face gave nothing away. “Not my concern,” was all she offered. “Okay, let us reconvene and share our good news and get down to business.”
* * *
Everyone played nice as they hashed out the details of their plan. Carter and Jake sat as far away from each other as possible. They agreed with Kenann that a little ‘field trip’ was in order and incorporated it into the Master Plan.
Carter updated them on the data that Judy and Andy had been able to compile and send onto Langley. They were slowly building the profile that they needed about the current society. Mrs. Gage asked Carter if he had had a chance to review the notes provided by the others in the group.
“Preliminary impressions are these: in some cases, it appeared this society was instrumental in promoting movements and regimes as in the case of the Nazis. Their trademark of mind control and extortion is all over that bunch. In the case of Rome and the Babylonian empire they infiltrated an existing and relatively healthy regime and poisoned it for their own means. They either recruit or place their own people into key positions and impact policy and decisions. I also believe their worker bees are planted to gather intelligence because they go virtually unnoticed.”
Granny whispered to Danny Mac, “I’ll bet Mordecai was one of theirs.” Danny Mac nodded, smiling down at her.
Jake asked, “What is their end game?”
Angelo spoke. He remained so quiet they often forgot he was there. “They are not unlike any secret society. They have a very few powerful people at the top who want to perpetuate their power. They get off on controlling the mindless masses.”
Danny Mac offered, “But you have to give them some credit for being able to maintain their identity as a single entity for such a length of time. That has taken some pretty amazing organizational skills and power.”
Jake spoke again, “Compare that to God’s people, Danny Mac.”
Carter rolled his eyes. “Oh, here we go.” Everyone ignored him.
Granny chimed in. “Absolutely, Jake. From the beginning of time there has been a consistent message and plan directed by God. And it has played out down through the ages and in history.”
Carter continued, “Oh come on. The next thing I know, you will be saying the boogeyman Satan is behind this society.”
All eyes were on him and no one spoke. He looked from one to the other. “You cannot be serious.”
Danny Mac said, “If you believe in God. And we do. You have to believe in Satan. You cannot have good without evil.”
“Whatever. I am not going to turn this into some Holy War. Let’s just stick to the task at hand.”
“Agreed.” Mrs. Gage stood. “Who is taking the next shift on the monitors? Johnson needs a break. He has been on duty for several hours.”
Danny Mac stood as well. “Kenann and I will. The rest of you get some sleep. Jake, want me to wake you at say 3:00?”
“Sounds good.”
Johnson was happy to get out of the dark room with its bank of monitors. Danny Mac ordered him to get some rest then locked the door behind him. He turned to Kenann with a grin.
“Danny Mac.” Her voice held teasing admonishment.
“Hey, I am a great multi tasker. Now come here.”
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Whittaker had recovered sufficiently to accompany Andy and Judy to Vegas for their wedding. Since both were federal agents, they were permitted to travel armed. They wasted no time but went straight to the chapel from the airport. It was decorated as an Italian villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Judy was grinning from ear to ear as she repeated the vows. Andy spoke his vows with tender solemnity as he committed his life to this woman. No one else. For evermore.
They checked into the Palace hotel making sure they had adjoining rooms. Despite their desire for privacy, the need for security and back up was never far from their thoughts. Their flight back to Memphis left at 10 the next morning. Andy bid Whittaker a good night at their adjoining door.
Whittaker couldn’t help himself, “I need a code word.”
Andy raised an eyebrow, “Why?”
He leaned in and said conspiratorially, “Well I don’t want to come in with guns blazing just because I hear someone screaming.”
Andy tried to look stern as he closed the door. “Goodnight, Whittaker.”
“Goodnight sir.”
“What was that all about?” Judy asked as she came out of the bathroom.
“Oh, just shop talk.”
“No shop-talk tonight, Mister.” Judy gave him her most stern look.
“Yes, boss.”
“We are married.” Judy was incredulous.
“Yes, we are Mrs. O’Hanlon.”
“Hey, you need to meet my parents.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea.” Andy smiled.
“Kenann sure shook up all our lives, didn’t she?”
“Well, the combination of Danny Mac and Kenann did, I’d say.”
“Are you happy?” Judy asked.
Andy opened his arms to her. “Come on over here and see what you think.”
* * *
The next morning the crew met at the long table. For expediency, all the women were in the full covering of burqas. Danny Mac and Angelo wore kufiyahs and sunglasses. Since they were the only men dark enough to make it convincing, they would be leading the contingency of women. They planned to split up. Danny Mac and Angelo both spoke Arabic, so they would each lead a group. Angelo and Mrs. Gage would take facial recognition cameras to the airport to see if they could catch any activity. Danny Mac, Kenann and Granny would position themselves outside the house and monitor any activity.
Unfortunately, this left Jake and Carter to their own devices. Danny Mac confronted them both.
“We have a job to do men. I know that and you know that. When I come back, I expect you two to have worked out the outline of our counterattack from here. Understood?”
“Understood.” They responded in stony faced unison.
The others entered their vehicles. Angelo and Mrs. Gage in the lead. Their escape route led them to the property of an unoccupied estate. They emerged from the tunnel unseen by anyone. They then entered mainstream traffic from the gates of this second estate and would return to their hide away in the same manner.
Danny Mac and his crew were able to find a bazaar close by with a clear view of the house. They set about milling through the crowd with an eye to surveillance. Angelo and Mrs. Gage set up at the International Arrival gate and began feeding the information to the techs in Langley.
Meanwhile back at the underground compound, silence ruled. Johnson sat at the table with the schematics of the house in front of him. He heard the same request as the other men. Devise a plan to harass the invaders. He was not going to chastise his boss and he sure was not going to beg him to help. So, he unrolled the tube and got down to work on his own.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Angelo and Mrs. Gage were talking quietly while their surveillance camera operated. Angelo suddenly froze in place.
“What is it?” Mrs. Gage sat up.
He did not respond for a few seconds. “See those men coming throug
h customs now?”
She nodded.
“They are the forward guard for the Order. They always go before the leadership to secure the area.”
“Well then, let us ensure we pay close attention to whom follows, shall we?”
Several people flowed through who did not appear to fit their expectations, but they recorded them, nonetheless. The aforementioned men fanned out around the perimeter, as one would expect. Finally, several men approached the gate. They appeared to be walking in formation. It was not until they turned the corner to the gate that they saw. They were flanking a man in a wheelchair. The man raised his head to speak through his assistive device.
“Oh, sweet Lord.” Mrs. Gage gasped.
* * *
Kenann was enjoying herself at the bazaar. She could almost understand why women might wear such a covering. She felt such anonymity. It was rather liberating really. She made her way to the entrance to the house they were supposed to be enjoying. She wanted to get as close as possible, so as not to miss any clue that might be helpful. She was not mindful that she had wandered from the others, until she turned back to speak quietly to Granny and found herself surrounded by a group of school children. She looked around for the others but could not make them out in the crowd. Even Danny Mac was not discernible from the other men in kufiyahs. A woman tried to speak to her, but she simply shook her head and moved further away. The children began chattering to her excitedly. She was becoming disoriented. She could not understand them or why they had turned their attention to her. Once again, she looked frantically around for Danny Mac. What she couldn’t know was Danny Mac had begun looking frantically for her on the other side of the complex. Kenann had meandered her way to the opposite side of the bazaar and the noise of the city obscured the drama playing out several feet from him.
Kenann was surrounded now by children and women yelling at her as they began pulling on her burqa. She tried to evade their grasps to no avail. One woman shoved her, knocking her to the ground. The children tore the burqa from her. Once her face was revealed, the clamor escalated. She scrambled to her feet and fled. The women and children pummeled her with stones from the roadway. One struck her on the side of the head as she ran, sending her stumbling into the stone wall flanking the road. She regained her footing and ran on, afraid to look back. Blood poured from her head wound obscuring her vision. She wiped at it frantically as she ran, afraid she would be overtaken. Finally, she stepped into an alley to get her bearings. She was separated from Danny Mac and Granny – no phone, no money, no papers. She was not even sure what street she had taken during her flight. If she returned to the bazaar, would she be attacked again? What she had done to be attacked eluded her. Obviously, they had realized she was an imposter in her traditional garb. Whatever the reason she was in a pretty fix.
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