by M Brereton
“Three minutes,” Tucker said and grabbed the case, leaving them alone.
“Behave, Eva,” Noah whispered with a smile, “Ti amo.”
“Anch’io ti amo, Noah,” Eva whispered and then he was gone.
Eva finished dressing and raced out. Noah wasn’t keeping his promise, so she wasn’t keeping hers.
“Where are we going?” Hector asked beside her.
“Not to the bunker.”
Hector stepped in front of her, stopping her. “We have orders. You go to the bunker. He promised us you’d do it peacefully.”
“Noah was never a decent liar.” Eva informed him, “Can you stop him from getting himself killed?”
“It’s our job to protect him.”
“If I go to the bunker with that damn time lock and something happens to Noah, let’s hope your comrades gave their lives to the cause or else, I will take it.”
“We’re wasting time. We need to move now!” Hector hedged.
Eva stepped past him and they continued their race to the bunker.
Hector sent a Morse code message when they got there. “Let nothing happen to the President.”
28
Seeking Peace
“Are you crazy?” the German Chancellor asked as Noah paced the war room, “You launched a full-scale military assault!”
“He fired a missile into my airspace!” Noah defended, “This is why I hate politics, why do I even have to justify this to you people!”
“You’re starting to sound like a dictator. Careful, Mr President.” The English Prime Minister warned.
“Did you consider the innocent souls that would be killed by your actions?” The French Prime minister asked.
“Yes, I did.” Noah admitted, “Then I thought of the billions under my care. It was a no-brainer after that.”
“Are American lives worth more than theirs?” The Chinese Ambassador questioned.
“Is yours?” Noah countered, “Right now, we’re keeping this little pow-wow in our secure government facilities. Why don’t you step outside with your soldiers and ask whose life is worth more? The lives of their family back home or that of the enemy and see who they choose.”
“You’re acting like a military dictator. Throwing bombs. This could start the third world war!”
“I’d wipe that puissant country off the map before that happens,” Noah declared coldly.
“I agree with our American friend,” The Russian President declared, “Protection of your people must always come first. I will support you in this.”
“As will the Queen.” The English Prime Minister declared, “And for the record, I am in no bunker and neither is the Royal family. We will meet this bully head-on.”
“Jolly good,” Noah mocked in an English accent.
“That was atrocious and insulting,” The English Prime Minister declared.
“I thought I did okay.”
“Far from it!”
“Alright, thank you for your support anyway.”
“What are your plans?” The Russian President asked.
“They’re already underway.”
“You didn’t check with us? What about sea and airspace restrictions?” The Chinese Ambassador griped.
“You act as though I’m stupid.” Noah stated, “You don’t need it if you’re already in the area.”
“What do you mean?” The German Chancellor asked worriedly.
“I’m not one to hide in a bunker either,” Noah said, and Vladimir laughed uproariously in understanding.
“I will see you there my friend!” He declared and ended his transmission.
Noah did the same to the other shocked leaders. Then asked the pilots “ETA.”
“Five minutes out.”
“I want to be there when they drag his ass out.”
“This is madness,” Johnathon said, rising from his seat. “I never wanted to see another battlefield, but you seem to relish the task of being shot at! I should’ve told your wife about your little plans!”
“All that would accomplish is bringing her along. I don’t need the distraction.”
“I hope your plan works. Undermining the global security council is never a good thing.”
“I just needed the reason to move and our good host provided it.”
“Sir!” An airman called to Noah, “Bravo team leader is awaiting orders!”
“Has the Alpha team reported in yet?”
“No, Sir!”
“Tell Bravo to hold and have Tango team move in.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Noah hated using his Air force like that, but it was necessary until the Special Forces team reported in. He prayed the loss would not be too high.
“Alpha has found the target, Sir!”
“Bravo team move in now! Omega Foxtrot move now!”
Noah smiled there would be nowhere to run! He had the air, sea and land covered and thanks to his campaign contributor, he had a prototype tank that drove through land mines.
Time seemed to stand still and though it felt like days it was only forty-five minutes that had passed until he heard from the Alpha team leader, “You can land now Mr President.”
The celebration that ensued aboard the plane was euphoric. Noah raced off as soon as they touched down, his feet had barely hit the tarmac when they pulled up.
“Good hunting, boys!” Noah shouted over the engines.
“The best, Sir!” Alpha leader shouted back.
The source of the world’s fears was barely five-six and looked like a sixteen-year-old kid, but his eyes told you the truth. Even beaten he wasn’t subdued. He remained proud and smirked when he saw Noah.
“What, no threats?” Noah asked him as he walked up.
His creepy grin unnerved Noah. Suddenly, a memory from long past surfaced as he watched the man’s sweating associate.
“How did you find him?” Noah asked, keeping his distance.
“He wasn’t really hiding. Then he really had nowhere to go. We cut him off in the lab.”
“Destroy the lab,” Noah ordered, his gut twisting in knots. Something was not right.
“Already done, sir.”
The fucking grin was beginning to piss him off.
“Is he returning with you?” Alpha leader asked him.
It was the original plan, but shifty next to his dictator boss looked worried about him still. He cast glances at the man’s tied hands …to ensure they were still tied? Then Noah watched his hands and realized he was fiddling with his watch.
Noah remarked casually as he turned and hurried back to the plane. “Bring him, kill shifty.”
Shifty smiled and the dictator cursed.
As he knew would happen the bulk of the soldiers dragged away the leader leaving shifty with a commander who was designated to do the deed. Once they were separated Noah stood on the stairs saying. “He’s overdressed, strip him.”
He muttered what sounded like a curse to Noah right before the explosion went off, but it wasn’t just shifty alone who blew up. Two civilians who came with the team caused the most damage. Even shielded in his gear and the body of a soldier over him, Noah still got burned.
Pain licked up his left side, but he stood and surveyed the carnage. The idiot almost died from his own trap. The soldier who had covered him was as badly burnt as he was, but was standing and checking Noah for injuries.
“We need to get you on the plane, sir.” He shouted over the ringing in his ears.
Noah didn’t hear his words but could read enough lips well enough to understand. Five men were dead as far as he could tell. The wounded were his priority.
“Get those men to the plane!” Noah ordered.
“But, sir?”
“Now, soldier!” Noah demanded as he moved towards the dictator. Pulling his knife out of his boot he approached him. When the leader saw him coming, his now free hand moved towards his watch and Noah rushed forward, stepping on his wrists before he could do more damage.
“I’m not a butcher so this is going to hurt,” Noah told him as he stabbed down almost separating flesh and bone in one swipe. He hacked off the rest as the man screamed.
The Secret Service and military detail aboard came down after the explosion and moved in to help.
“Secure this. It’s a detonator.” Noah ordered handing off the severed watch hand to a nearby soldier. Afterwards, the Agents practically dragged Noah back on board as five black hawks and two F-16’s circled the airspace.
He was stripped against his orders and his burns tended to. He didn’t bank on the civilians being human bombs as well.
“Tell the men to bring no one back with them, even if it’s a child, leave them. We need the military bomb squad to go through that country. He planted bombs in his people.”
“Christ!” Johnathon exclaimed from the doorway as an Agent rushed past to pass on Noah’s orders.
“I know. Eva’s gonna pitch a fit! The burn will leave a scar too.”
“You seem proud of it.”
“Five men just died in front of me. I don’t mind going home with a few scars.” Noah stated.
“What now?”
“We let the security council do their job. Let them deal with him. Plus, if I take him back stateside, Eva will remove his right hand.”
“So, we pull back to base.”
“Full retreat. I don’t know if he has a buddy with another watch.”
“I’ll give the order,” Cross declared then left.
Alone with his thoughts, Noah cursed. The cocky shit put bombs in his people. Who does that? He was going to get an earful when he got back. Thank God, the bunker had a twenty-four-hour lock. He’d address the nation, catch two winks and brace for the firestorm.
He must have dozed off because the next thing he heard was Johnathon telling him they were landing. He was hustled once more to a makeshift podium, did his thing then back to the White House. A conference call with world leaders took another two hours of his time. A meeting with his cabinet took another two hours before he was able to shower and collapsed fully nude on the bed.
* * *
Noah awoke to soothing hands down his back. Initially, he let it pass thinking it was Eva, but as he breathed in the scent he was up like a shot, dragging the bedding around his waist.
“What are you doing here?” Noah asked the interloper.
“Checking on you as your uncle suggested,” Patricia responded, staring at his chest.
“I’m fine, you can go now.” Noah gestured with his head.
“Are you sure?” She purred crawling on the bed.
Noah finally registered what she was wearing, and it was only her underwear and stockings. “I don’t think this is what Senator Marshall meant,” Noah pointed out.
“You act as though you’re afraid I’ll bite.” Patricia pouted, cupping her lace-clad breasts.
“This will not end well,” Noah murmured to himself, but she heard anyway.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. I’m willing to sacrifice the first round.” She purred, licking her lips.
“Please leave now!” Noah ordered and walked towards the door opening it with the intention of having the agents escort her out, but found Eva standing there instead.
“Oh Fuck! Can’t I catch a break?” Noah asked, facing heavenward. He sighed and with no hope for it, let her in.
“You’re hurt…” Eva began, but then spied a quickly dressing Patricia and turned to Kate behind her. “Take the kids back to the nursery. They’ll see their father later.”
“Daddy?” Will called, and Noah waved him off. It was best they didn’t see this.
Eva closed the door and locked it behind her then asked, keeping her eyes locked on Patricia, “Do I break my promise, Noah?”
“No. She came when I was asleep. She must have told the agents she had to check on me because that’s what she told me.”
“Is this true, Patricia?” Eva asked her and when she remained silent, Eva added, “If you think to lie to me and I find out the truth. Losing your internship would be the least of your problems. Now is this true, Patricia?”
With a quick glance at Noah who wasn’t even looking at her, she hedged, “There may have been a communication mix up.”
“The sort that told you to strip for Noah.” Eva put in as she stalked forward. “Because Noah didn’t do it. He’s too impatient with delicate things and since you don’t have a button or hair out of place I can safely assume he wasn’t the one to remove your clothes.”
“I’m not an animal you know!” Noah put in, “You just take too long.” Eva glared at him and he shut up.
She lifted an eyebrow to Patricia.
“I’ll be going now,” Patricia whispered as she walked by her.
Eva grasped her by the arm stopping her, “Woman to woman, a piece of advice, if a man isn’t chasing you it generally means he’s not interested. I’m letting you off easy… remember that.”
As Patricia hustled out Eva turned and called to her, “Patricia dear do yourself a favor, hand in your resignation to Wayland on your way out.”
Patricia nodded in compliance and left as quietly as she came.
“Finally!” Noah cried out, “She was beginning to creep me out.”
“Why do you have burn marks on your body?”
Fuck!
29
Who is David Green?
Noah had his ass chewed out for about an hour. Then she babied him to death for the next month by cutting down his itinerary, stuffing him with food and having a doctor check him twice a day. He couldn’t even complain about it. The minute he did, it would set her off. He’d have to listen to her lecture about him not being a soldier, making plans behind her back and risking his life. The only thing she was happy about was that he severed the puissant hand and suggested next time he aims lower.
The burn was healing, but it was going to leave a monstrous scar up his left side from his hip to armpits. A plastic surgeon was also brought in, to consult with him on possible plastic surgery.
Noah only had one question, “Does it bother you, Eva?”
“Of course not!” She denied quickly, cementing why he loved her. “It’s your body.”
Smiling at her, he told the surgeon, “Take your services to the soldiers that were injured that night. Do for them what you were going to do for me.”
The surgeon smiled in return and saluted him before he left.
“You had to outdo me, didn’t you. “Eva smirked. “I have a bullet wound. You got a bullet wound and Noah goes how do I top this- I know ‘I’ll get in front of a bomb!’.” Eva teased.
“That wasn’t my intention, Eva.”
“I know I heard about ‘the plan,’” Eva said using air quotes.
“You think you could’ve done better.”
“You know I could have done better without the unnecessary loss of life.”
“It would’ve raised too many questions.”
“Questions they’d stop asking when the answers wouldn’t come.”
“Speaking of which – Alex called,” Noah recalled. “There was one mafia boss who was brutally murdered at the time. His house was destroyed by fire with his men around him, but someone took their time with a nine iron while the house burned. This was in Seattle. Now here’s what really odd. Moss was able to match your DNA to a murder in a house in New Orleans over thirty years ago.”
“My mother died in New Orleans?”
Noah nodded then continued “It wasn’t reported as the body went missing from the morgue.”
“He took her body. That’s why it’s buried here. There’s a dummy grave in Italy, he only recently told me her grave was here. I thought he recently moved it from Italy. I didn’t know it was always here.”
“Where is it?”
“Next to David Green’s in St. Eve’s cemetery in Portland Maine.”
“He buried them together.”
“His reasoning was since people thought they were married it would
make sense that I put them together.”
“But he did. Why?” Noah scratched at his unshaven jaw as he thought. “He seems to respect David Green enough to bury him next to the woman he loved. We have to find out more about David Green. He’s got to be the clue to all this.”
“I did do some searching on David Green. There’s nothing there!” Eva informed him.
“Then we dig him up.”
* * *
Two weeks later in the dead of night the POTUS, FLOTUS, Tyler, Alex and Moss were digging up the grave of one David Green.
“It would be easier to get an excavation permit.” Moss quipped as she guided them with the flashlight.
“It’s faster and quieter this way,” Eva remarked holding her own flashlight.
“Why don’t you want everyone to know you’re looking for your family? I’m sure it will be much easier if we had more help.” Suzanna asked.
“Two reasons one - what I discovered so far is best out of the public eye and two – I’m afraid of the secrets my father was keeping.”
“What sort of secrets?”
“The get you killed kind,” Noah responded as he crawled out the hole. “Wanna take a look?” He asked Suzanna.
With the help of Alex and Tyler, she was lowered in. Once she donned her gloves the casket was opened.
“One good thing about the long-dead, there’s very little…smell.” Her words had died at her discovery, then she looked up at Noah and asked, “Why am I looking at two bodies?”
“There are two bodies!” Noah Eva and Alex asked in unison looking down into the grave.
“I was able to count from the moment I could talk, so yes there are two bodies.” Moss quipped dryly. “And from what I could see… the other looks female.”
“Who is that?” Eva asked, her mind reeling with questions.
“I won’t know unless we take it to the lab,” Suzanna suggested, and Eva gestured to Tyler who ran silently back to the car.
“I’ll take the sample, some pictures and run some basic tests on our supposed Mr Green and then you gentlemen can cover this desecration up.”