Once, and For All

by Kendra G. Johnson

  They reached the first floor landing and stopped ten feet from their men. And as practiced, they did a slow turn to reveal the full view of their dresses. Neither men spoke. Judy and Kenann could contain it no longer and burst out laughing.

  “Come on, guys, whaddya think?” Kenann asked.

  Andy took Judy by the hand and started up the stairs, Judy playfully trying to pull him back. Kenann protested, “Andy!”

  Danny Mac spoke quietly. “Let him go.”

  Kenann turned and saw the look on Danny Mac’s face. Judy saw it, too, and turned to Andy. Her face softened in understanding and she slid her hand down his arm and led him tenderly up the stairway.

  Danny Mac looked like a parched man in the desert who had just found water. He pulled Kenann to him and drank her in. He couldn’t get his fill as he devoured her mouth. Kenann found herself instinctively wanting to soothe him. She stroked his cheek as he pulled back from the kiss.

  “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “I needed that. I need you.”

  “Okay. Talk to me.”

  “Well, I can’t speak for Andy,” Danny Mac chuckled, “but I’m guessing we were both thinking what tremendously lucky men we are.”

  Kenann narrowed her eyes. “Very good answer. But what are you not telling me?”

  Danny Mac sighed. “It’s been a long day.”

  She took his hand and led him to one of the rooms she had seen on their tour. It was small and cozy with lots of old books, a fireplace, and comfy couch. She had jokingly laid her claim to the room. She closed the door behind them and led him to the couch.

  “What happened today?”

  He loosened his tie and stretched his longs legs out in front of him. Kenann was momentarily distracted by their muscled length.

  “Nothing happened per se. It was what we were told and what we were shown.”

  “Is it about who we are going up against?”

  “Partly. More about how high the stakes are.”

  “Explain.” Kenann was alert.

  “People are being exploited, abused, experimented upon all over the globe. That’s what we saw today. And we are powerless to do anything about it.”

  Kenann reached out and laid her hand over his. She knew he would be tormented by whatever images he had seen.

  Danny Mac continued. “It’s all about the balance of power. If we intervene and destabilize a region, we could make it worse.”

  “Better the devil you know?” Kenann offered.

  “Exactly.” Danny was so thankful to have a mate with whom he could discuss these things. Who got it…and him. “We were shown atrocities. Not for shock value. We have witnessed enough atrocities of our own. I think Carter wanted to emphasize it is becoming more widespread. It is not making the evening news but it is happening. There is a global agenda on the move.”

  “Who has been targeted?”

  “Carter is finding ‘tells’ in seemingly random events. Human trafficking, kids going off to join ISIS, forming their own jihad, and just general disappearances of kids.”

  “What kind of tells?”

  “The same computer IP addresses showing up during investigations. Random people showing up in and around the events.”

  “Men in black?” Kenann laughed.

  “Not exactly but you get the idea. They are finding the same tells around natural disasters.”

  “How can that be?”

  “I have no idea, but first responders are being approached either in person or via telecommunication prior to the disaster.”

  “How is that even possible? Now you are scaring me. What are they being told?”

  “That is just it. Nothing sinister or nefarious. The websites are emailing out innocuous ads on things from cleaning products to garden tools. The people showing up are doing surveys or selling time shares. Things like that.”

  “That’s so weird.”

  “And then there are the things happening in third-world countries. It’s almost like Mengele experimentation. Whole communities coming down with strange and disfiguring illnesses. The UFO community is all over this stuff.”

  “What do you think?”

  “Well, I don’t think aliens are behind this, but I do think someone is preparing for something. It’s subtle in that it is spread out across the globe. And it’s only because the CIA and NSA, CDC, and others have ears and eyes on all of it that Carter has begun to see the patterns emerge. Since they knew some of the patterns, they began looking at anything remotely anomalous. Carter’s team also discovered a spectrum of folks with amnesia across the globe.”

  Kenann asked, “Just Carter and his team?”

  “Well, no one else is as convinced as Carter that it is this organized or wide spread. He makes a compelling case, but other agencies are too distracted with their own global issues.”

  “Who in the world is doing this, Danny Mac? The Order?”

  “I don’t know, to be honest. That is one of the things we are tasked with finding out. We are to follow the money. Someone is bankrolling this. It’s all about power. Always is. Always has been. If we follow the money, we can interrupt their scheme.”

  “Interrupt?”

  “We’ll never stop this kind of thing. Power mongers have operated since the dawn of civilization. We are only tasked with fighting back against the evil to make sure they don’t win.”

  Kenann smiled.

  “What?” Danny Mac smiled back in question.

  She started singing and acting out the children’s song:

  “I may never ride in the cavalry

  Shoot the artillery

  I may never fly ore the enemy

  But I’m in the Lord’s Army

  Yes, sir. I’m in the Lord’s Army.”

  She saluted and they laughed together.

  Danny Mac thought, You are my best medicine. He pulled her tightly into him and began kissing the soft curve of her neck. “Did you lock the door?”

  “Why, Mr. MacKenzie, whatever do you have on your mind?” Her head arched backward; she was already becoming breathless.

  “Lock that door and I’ll show you.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The two men disembarked the plane at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Miguel had asked during the flight how they were supposed to find their quarry. The other man indicated he would have to make some phone calls and call in some favors. And so he did. He was secretly pleased at not having to call his nemesis for help.His pleasure was short lived when he looked down at his buzzing phone. He uttered an expletive and swiped to answer the call. “Yes?”

  “Report.”

  “We have located her. She appears to be traveling with the wealthy woman who has befriended her. They—we—are in D.C.”

  “Who else is with her?”

  “Her husband, friends, her grandmother.”

  “How delightful. Don’t lose them. I am coming.” She disconnected.

  He uttered another expletive and put the phone in his pocket. “Well, Miguel, this is your chance to bolt. You really don’t want to be here when she arrives.”

  “Will she expect me to stay?”

  “She didn’t say, so I would take advantage of that and hightail it back to Mexico.”

  “What about you?”

  “I am damned for all eternity. What else can she do to me?”

  * * * *

  Sweat poured from the man’s face as he ran through the jungle, trying to elude his captors. He had been slowly loosening the boards over time in the back of the outdoor toilet sitting at the edge of the jungle. He had been gone ten minutes before they grew suspicious and began banging on the door. When he did not respond, his guards yanked open the door of the privy and discovered his escape. They sounded the alarm and the whole compound was now on his trail. Despite the pain of his injuries, he was pleased to feel the strength of adrenaline coursing through his powerful body. But he knew he could not outrun them for long. He looked up into the high canopy of leaves
and decided.

  He leapt to a hanging vine and pulled himself up and around the trunk of the tree. He was able to climb high enough to be enveloped in the foliage. The sound of the excited animals did not alert the men below as their numbers crashing through the jungle had disturbed their share of cacophonous animal sounds. He waited for several minutes as the men made their way in what they believed to be hot pursuit of the man they had been tasked with imprisoning.

  He did not know why he had not simply been killed. But those thoughts were for another time. Now he had to get back to the compound, steal a truck, and get out of this godforsaken place.

  * * * *

  The large dining table was filled with powerful people. Mrs. Gage sat at the head with Carter on her left and Jake at her right hand. She was seen to frequently reach over and cover Jake’s hand when she spoke. She was unconscious of this obvious show of affection, but it did not go unnoticed by all who attended, especially Carter. Nor was it lost on Jake, whose smile was that of a young man in love.

  Andy, the only one of the group truly comfortable in this society setting, rose and tapped his wineglass with his spoon to gain the room’s attention. “I would like to offer a toast to our gracious host and a lady who keeps us all on our toes.”

  “Here, here!”

  “Bravo.”

  Mrs. Gage inclined her head in thanks. Some around the table called out, speech, speech.”

  She smiled and rose. “I shall have to reprimand Jemison. Against my wishes, he has apparently put out the best wine.” Everyone laughed. Jemison grinned and, standing near the door, tipped his head to her in tribute. “I suppose you all are wondering why I have invited you here tonight. I wanted you to have the special honor of being the first to know of my next venture. I have partnered with a few of my friends on a play that I hope to take to the best venues in the world. Our first performance will be a command one to His Highness William duke of Cambridge and his lovely wife, Her Highness Katherine duchess of Cambridge.”

  Murmurs went up along the long and illustrious table of guests.

  Mrs. Gage continued. “And you shall all be my honored guests along with the duke and duchess at this premiere event.”

  Applause joined the murmurs.

  A senator called out, “What is it about, Mrs. Gage?”

  Another senator asked, “Will you be in it?”

  She raised her hand. “I think you will be pleasantly surprised by this endeavor, but I will keep you in total suspense until its grand unveiling. So as we move to dessert, everyone take out your smart phones and mark December 27th on your calendars.”

  “Where?” called out the prima ballerina in the group.

  “Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”

  Every member of the play whipped their heads to Mrs. Gage. She only smiled.

  * * * *

  “Kennedy Center? Are you serious?”

  Mrs. Gage looked at Kenann, who was flanked by the other members of the cast, all looking at her incredulously. The dinner party had longed dispersed.

  “Carter said he needed exposure and credibility. This provides both.”

  Kenann knew she was whining but she couldn’t help it. “But, Mrs. Gage, come on. The Kennedy Center?”

  She scanned their faces. They looked like cornered rabbits. She could not help the laughter that bubbled up. “Every one of you has faced down armed terrorists!”

  They looked at each other to see who would plead their case. Danny Mac was elected. “Mrs. Gage, this is different. There will be hundreds of people out there watching us act.”

  “What did you think we were going to be doing?” Mrs. Gage laughed.

  Judy spoke this time. “I don’t know but certainly not this.” She blew out her breath and started walking in circles. The rest of them involuntarily stepped back. She was building up steam.

  She started muttering to herself as she paced. “Why don’t you go into nursing, Kenann says. Sure, why not? And I loved it. I’m good at it, too.” She nodded to herself and threw up her hands, gesticulating as she paced.

  “Go on a hairbrained rescue mission for that nut ball friend, I say. Sure, why not? And who do I fall for? Another nut brain. The love of my life. What is wrong with me? What did I do to get into all this? And now I am going to perform in front of all the powerful people in D.C. at the Kennedy flipping Arts Center in front of the…wait for it…future king of England! I am in my own personal nightmare. I have lost my mind. That’s it. I am a delusional, psychotic, raving, freaking lunatic!”

  She stopped and looked around at the faces watching her. “Okay. I’ve got it. I’m delusional and you all are part of my delusion. Go away. Shew.” She waved them away with her hands.

  Andy looked scared. He turned to Kenann in appeal. “Kenann?” Kenann laughed. “She’s fine. Give her a minute.”

  No one else seemed convinced.

  Judy took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She smiled serenely and went to sit on the settee. She appeared completely resigned and at peace.

  Andy sidled up to Kenann and whispered, “We need to talk.”

  Kenann giggled and whispered back, “It’s okay. As long as she can blame me for her troubles, it makes her feel better. It centers her universe.” She laughed again. “Now it appears all the rest of you are part of the problem. She has more people to blame. She has wrapped her mind around it now. She’ll be fine.”

  No one else seemed to know what to say now. It was obvious they were going to be performing at the Kennedy Center whether they liked it or not. Mrs. Gage endeavored to reassure them.

  “I have enlisted the aid of some very talented theatrical persons to assist you,” she said. “But I must say you are all doing extremely well already. We are out of book, you have mastered your lines remarkably well, and your delivery is spot on. These professionals, to be honest, are coming on board simply to boost your own confidence.”

  Danny Mac concluded the matter. “You’re the boss, Mrs. G.”

  Carter never batted an eye.

  * * * *

  The man dozed in the waiting area for incoming international flights. He had sent Miquel home and had spent the time in the time in-between watching the large house. Big party last night. Lots of power people coming and going. He knew this girl was important to his current boss, but he did not know why. She never said and he did not dare ask. He also wondered how this lady could have shown up out of the blue and commanded so much power. He was used to working for the syndicate. He was pretty much a gun for hire, but this lady made his skin crawl and had him over a barrel. He was trapped. He saw firsthand she would not hesitate to shoot him if he even displeased her overmuch. She was a cold one.

  He spotted her walking straight toward him. Even behind the dark glasses, he could feel her piercing gaze on him.

  She walked past him, saying, “Come on.”

  And he did.

  * * * *

  The man made it across the border on a track that would never be defined as a road. He had used it years before and it had not improved, but fortunately the truck he stole at the compound made it without too much trouble. All he needed was to stay ahead of his captors. He had no idea who were in their pocket or why he was even being held, but he wanted to get out of Central America as fast as he could. It would take him a while stealing gas and hitting all the back roads, but he had nothing but time…and lots and lots of questions.

  * * * *

  Their first dress rehearsal was full of “opening night jitters.” The costumes were dazzling, as only befitting Mrs. Gage’s guiding hand. Their rehearsal audience was the theatrical director and Tony-award-winning actor whom Mrs. Gage had employed. Blade, his mother, and CJ had arrived that morning from Memphis. Carter smiled at the playwright he had engaged to write this funny little farce. They could not help but sit in nervous expectation as the curtain went up on Act I.

  As the scene opened, the stage was empty for several seconds. Bursting into the room from s
tage right was Andrew. “Gotta hide. Gotta hide. Hide. Hide. Hide.”

  All this, while frantically looking under couches, into cabinets and behind tall furniture. He finally dived behind a couch stage left when Danny Mac burst through the door, yelling, “Stanhope, I am going to KILL you,” followed closely by Judy wringing her hands, with Rough trotting behind her looking smug.

  “Now, darling brother, calm down. I’m sure he did not mean it.”

  “Didn’t MEAN it? He is a snake and I am going to murder him with my bare hands.”

  Mrs. Gage entered the scene from stage left, encircled in an ethereal blue glow. She glided across the stage and it became apparent that the other actors did not see her.

  Ghost? Angel?

  And so began a farce set in the Roaring 20s, in a fashionable New York mansion. Mrs. Gage was Butterfield, a friendly but mischievous ghost from the colonial period who continued to be loyal to the British. She tormented any American “rebel” who inhabited this space. It was once a family estate owned by her and Mr. Butterfield. Both died peacefully in their beds, but they never tired of telling daring tales of when they had to defend their property from those rapscallions trying to overthrow the crown.

  Mr. Butterfield passed on but Mrs. Butterfield (known simply as Butterfield to her friends) stayed behind to carry on the worthy cause. She was an eternal optimist who never gave up her belief that the colonies would one day return to the crown and all would again be right with the world.

  At the beginning of the play, the wealthy bachelor Charles (played by Danny Mac) had recently moved into his long-haunted home. Jake and Granny James made a hilarious combination as butler and maid to Charles. Their point-counterpoint repartee brought several laughs. Charles’s sister, Penelope (Judy) and her annoying husband Reginald (Andrew) had come for an unwelcome visit on the pretense of helping him get settled. But their only desire was to live the high life on Charles’s dime. Butterfield did her utmost to create havoc among these “colonial rebels.” Each act was full of mischief perpetrated by Butterfield that had even Carter laughing out loud. Things became really interesting when Reginald’s British cousin, Victoria (Kenann) showed up. Butterfield saw her chance to “win one for king and country” and had set out to make a match between Charles and Victoria.