Back in the Trenches Part Two
by
Diana Walker
This work of adult fiction, loosely based on
characters portrayed by Russell Crowe, includes adult language and
experiences;
you have been warned. No
copyright
infringement on the original work is intended.
TERRY
Reags had called the second day. “Where’s
“Well, hello to you as well. Did she give you a pass on a meet, Love?” Diana hadn’t the time to call from the time her orders arrived until she had been held incommunicado. The only time we’d been apart was on the drive home; Diana is loathe to talk on her cell when driving.
“Sorry, Terry. She hasn’t answered any of my emails nor called. I thought she was sliding into one of her funks after her visit to the office. Max said she didn’t seem herself, and he was a bit worried about her.”
“She got called on a business trip – short notice. She was busy doing laundry until she walked out of the house.” A little truth, a little deflection. Diana had almost forgotten to pack her knickers. She had thrown them in the dryer as soon as we had gotten home from the office, but we had been busy storing memories until we left for the airport, and knickers were the last thing on either of our minds. The empty lingerie drawer when she dressed had triggered her to remember them. “Maxie told you about her trip to the office?”
“Of course, he remarked on that unusual occurrence. You didn’t give her a bad time about leaving, did you?”
“I thought I had given her quite a good time.”
Reags snappishness disappeared with that. Her laughter still had an undertone of concern. “Why hasn’t she answered my emails?”
“You know how she is when she gets a new project – dives in head first, doesn’t surface for days. Since she’s away, she doesn’t even have to leave her computer chair to let the dogs out.”
“When you talk to her today, tell her I called, please.” Reags would expect an email from Diana soon. Reags left unsaid she expected an email in the next day or so.
“As soon as she calls, I’ll give her your love.” Diana had wanted this departure low-key but had succeeded in doing everything possible to raise suspicions on every front. My own actions had done nothing to allay any of our close friends’ questions.
I might as well admit the truth to someone, and Reags was a safe an outlet as I’d find. “Reags, I don’t know when I’ll hear from her.”
“Oh.” There was no surprise in her voice, no concern; she had the same resigned quality that had haunted me since Diana had told me in the office.
“Please, help me cover for her. Her absence needs to be seen as a simple auditing trip.”
“Then that’s how you need to think of it. That will improve your demeanour around the office. Put on your ‘good bloke’ armour. Make some jokes. Stuff your worry until you get home at night. Feed Rabbit some extra carrots. Do something productive around the place – start the gazebo, work Jack for her.
“You know she thinks about you right before she falls asleep each night, whatever time it is. You aren’t abandoned. We’ll get through this.”
“I can always count on one of the two of you to kick my arse when needed. Thanks, Love. That will tide me over until I hear from her.”
“Always glad to help a friend with a good arse-kicking. Take care, Terry. Call if you need to talk.”
I fucking hate getting one line emails anymore, the ones where the subject ends in NT. No Topic.
Take your encrypted home tonight. NT
This one is from some non-descript, unknown entity. I open the email anyway, praying the virus scan has done its job, and my email program won’t be blitzed. If the email is from Diana, it’s as likely as not to have a message in the body as a postscript. There is a blank box staring back at me.
I’ve had my encrypted, satellite, cell, and landline phones all within arm’s distance since Diana left four days ago. The power strip behind my desk looks like a landing zone for telecommunication devices. If I go to the loo, I forward the office landline to Sooze with instructions to answer it on the first ring. So much for Diana’s orders and Reags’ encouragement to keep her absence low key.
When I leave the office, each communication device has its own home on my belt.
“Lost a little weight there, Tio? You’ve got a case of droopy drawers,” Dino remarks.
My grin and hitch to pull up my trousers that sag from the added weight clipped to them do not deter him. He can’t see all the phones because my suit coat covers them.
“Is Diana not cooking this week?”
“She’s working.”
“Ah, left you to fend for yourself. I imagine you’ve forgotten how to cook for yourself. Don’t worry, I have, too.” His satisfied, smug laugh and rub on his developing spare tire told me Ellie had been into town and stocked his fridge for the week. It amazes me how quickly competent, self-sufficient men revert to traditional roles and force their women into activities they hadn’t chosen.
DIANA
I’ve spent a frustrating four days. There’s no sign of Hilde Schedenheiser, Gunther Klostermann’s ex; I used the wrong approach on the FBI guy, and he’s now lapsed into sullen obedience; I sleep with four men, just not the right one.
There are bright spots, though. The NSA guy is an analyst as well as being damn good at collecting data. He and the CIA gal seem to be quite chummy; I’m glad for them. The Delta Force and Seal guys seem to like my sense of humor and are getting over their “Planning, hell; let’s go kill something” mentality. The brightest spot today is I get to call Terry tonight.
Mac escorts me to a small office that visitors get to use for private phone calls. It has the requisite grey steel desk, a trash can for classified documents, and a single phone.
“Take as long as you like, Ma’am. I’ll be right outside.” Of course, he will. Mac has never been farther than 10 feet away from me during work hours or a room or two away in the safe house, but there we have an armed guard who is within 10 feet. As Mac closes the door, he pointedly removes his ever-present ear bud. I’ll have the most privacy I’ve had since I got to town.
I have to stop and think of Terry’s encrypted number. His cell and satellite numbers come to mind readily even though those are on my speed dial. I never call his encrypted number; he calls me if he has to use it. Screw it. I dial our home phone; I’m sure he had the line swept for bugs when he got home. He answers on the first ring.
“Thorne, here.” His voice is professional. It always is when he answers any phone.
“Hi.”
“I was expecting you on the other line.”
At least this conversation begins like one where he is the one out and about. ‘Out and about’ is such a nice euphemism to keep the concern at bay. We are stilted and uncomfortable.
“I couldn’t remember the number. You always call me. It’s not like I can call information to get it.”
I can hear his smile through the line. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Working hard. I’m eating well. We’ve had a home cooked meal once. Remember Mac, my driver?”
His grunt acknowledges he remembers threatening someone without even knowing his name.
“He’s a good guy. His wife brought some dinner for him into the office. He let me share it. Of course, I had to let him share my meagre fare.”
There’s so much I can’t tell him on my end – the safe house, the guards, all the security precautions; so much I wouldn’t tell him even if we were both on encrypted phones – why I got called back in, where I am.
I think back to all the phone calls we’ve had when he’s been gone. I’d always followed his lead on what he wanted to hear. I suppose it is up to me to set the tone of this call. I don’t care what he talks about; I only want to hear his voice. I don’t hear any keystrokes in the background; for a change, Terry is not multitasking.
“How are the trees doing?”
He sounds slightly perturbed. “We’re still not going to be able to hang the hammock in the cottonwoods this summer. Condren’s wants us to give them one more summer to strengthen. I’ve ordered the ground stand; at least we can be under the trees.”
“Well, they did say when they planted the trees after the storm it could take up to two years for them to establish.”
“Bloody shallow roots.”
“I think when we both asked about the hammock they were more concerned about the branches holding during all the activity they expected from us in the hammock. I wonder what gave them that idea? It probably was the way I stayed glued to you while they planted our new shade trees.”
I can hear him moving, getting more settled. “Where are you?”
“At the computer. That’s better. I pulled up the picture of us at the Ambassador’s Ball. I finished dinner and thought I’d get caught up on a few things; they can wait. At least I can see your likeness whilst you talk to me.”
“I wanted to hear you tell me there is still normal life somewhere.”
“There is, and it’s waiting for you. The horses are out grazing; they seem to be the only ones who don’t miss you. The dogs are settled in the lounge. Well, they were. Holly’s here, and the little bugger just poked his head over the top of the sofa; he is the inquisitive one. You reckon he can hear your voice?”
“I doubt it. How are you three getting along at night?”
“He misses you, Diana, maybe more than I do. I think he’s given up on you ever coming home. Sometime last night he curled up next to me. Woke up to his arsehole in my face. He nipped at me when I shoved him away.”
I laugh at my two alpha males having to make peace over my long absence. “I forgot to show you how guide him to lie down so he isn’t a complete hoon. At least he doesn’t fart. When you need to move him, shove your hip under him.” We share an uncomfortable silence. I can almost feel under my hand how Terry’s hip hollows on the side; tears begin to sting my eyes. I miss him so much, and it’s only been a few days. At least he’s at home in his normal surroundings; I’m the unfortunate one this time in my sterile, safe house. If I can imagine what is happening at home, it may lift my loneliness. “What else is going on?”
“There is much unspoken speculation on where you are. I haven’t been terribly successful in being the one left behind.”
“How did the house feel when you walked in the first night?”
“Empty and cold.”
“Did it echo?”
“Didn’t think putting down a briefcase could reverberate so.”
“Did the refrigerator dumping ice into the bin make you jump the first time?”
“I did flinch. I’m drinking my scotch neat these days to avoid that sound. I stepped on Holly the first time the phone rang; it was Reags looking for you. Do you ever get used to it, Diana?”
“The pissy but adamant sound in her voice when I run silent for a while?” I was gratified with his chuckle; she had used it on him.
“Or the way the house first feels when you’re gone? No to the Reags question and yes to the missing you; it takes a few days for it to seem like home again. When you’re gone, I have an advantage over you. You’ve normally told me when you’ll call. You’ve been left hanging on this trip; I don’t know when I’ll be able to call again.”
“It’s as bad as we thought?”
“Yes, but I’ve had an idea that may make our lives easier. I have the manpower and they are talented to make it work. Now all I have to do is convince the powers that be it is a good idea.” I wish I could tell him more; I wish he were here so I could rehearse it in front of him.
“Easier is good.” Harder is good as well.
“Terry?”
“Yes, Lady.”
“Do you say everything to me you’re thinking when we talk on the phone?”
“Yes. No. Sometimes. It depends on how much I want you. If I’m missing you too much and it’s still a long time before I can get home, I don’t tell you; I send an email.” Oh, yes. Those emails got copied onto my laptop and it sat beside me on the bed as I followed his lines. “If I’m only a randy bastard, you hear it all.”
His honesty makes me smile. This really is a different situation for us; our roles have been completely reversed. We both are struggling to find our way.
“Look for a letter in a few days.”
“So you see, Sirs, within two weeks I will not be the only one with organic knowledge of Gunther.” I am running two and a half minutes behind schedule on this briefing. I know I would get no support from Capt. Bigelow right now; Admiral Jennings would also wait. Admiral Webb would have to give some indication which way the wind was blowing before the others would speak up. Biggie is small potatoes in this room.
“Your sharing information with the whole team does have merit, and it fits with the way you’ve run successful teams in the past. As long as it doesn’t impede your finding this guy, feel free.”
“Thank you, Admiral Webb. There is one other advantage to this approach. As soon as there is at least one other person who can predict what Gunther is going to do, you can cut me loose from safe houses and free up some manpower.”
I had outflanked Webb; I can hope it serves his self-interest enough to allow what I want. The Pentagon budget is soaring, and every branch of the service is looking for ways to minimize costs. My guard and safe houses are an expense they could jettison; if I’m the only person who could find this bastard, I’m indispensable and require protection. I fucking hate being indispensable. As soon as I’m out from under Naval supervision, my life is back to being my responsibility.
“Let me know when you think you have someone up to speed. Captain Bigelow will observe and make the call.”
NSA and CIA are the two most likely candidates to learn the most about Gunther. However, the more information I can shovel to the entire team, the quicker I can get out of protective custody and truly make this a more normal business trip. One of the others may surprise me and soak up the information as well. At this point, I don’t care who becomes my backup.
TODD MAXWELL, NSA
Diana tells more anecdotes in excruciating detail about how Gunther has acted in the past in our team meetings, over lunch, whenever anyone has a piece of information. She is always moving, pacing around the room, at the ready to read over someone’s shoulder, lending another set of eyes. She spots trends the rest of us ought to but didn’t, pointing out snips of information and integrating them into our current knowledge. She’s everywhere at once. Her account at Amazon has gotten a work out with the wide-ranging books she’s bought for the team. Our poor Xerox gets a work out from duplicating all the white papers on terrorism and newspaper accounts of anything Gunther was remotely involved in that Ron uncovers daily.
“OK, who’s going to the Education reception tonight?” Diana looks dismayed that none of us even knew about a reception.
“People, people, people. DC is a networking town. The Education reception tonight will be chock full of physicists. One of them may know where Gunther is. Ron, can you get me a couple of invitations? I’m under house arrest so I can’t go. FBI, you and NSA are going. Work the room. Pay particular attention to the German delegation. And the Argentines.
“Everybody, listen up. Here is your long-term assignment. By the time you get off this project, you will have a go to person at every agency and legislative body in this town. You can never tell when you’ll need them. Remember, one hand washes the other. So be careful whom you choose. Besides, it may spice up your social lives with invitations to parties.”
She is working our butts off. I have to admit she’s working us no harder than she’s working herself. I’m not sure if what she has is enthusiasm for the job or she hates Gunther so much, she wants him back in jail for littering. The way she says his name, you can hear the irony, sarcasm, distaste, whatever you want to call it dripping from her mouth. She has us all calling him that now and using her tone.
For some reason, she seems to like me. One day she told me I remind her of a nong she knows. She seemed surprised when I responded, “An Aussie nerd?”
She looked like a bird fluffing her feathers out. “Yeah. But don’t worry. You grow up to be the best of men.” She pulled her upper lip between her teeth, bit down on it, and turned me back to the task at hand, cross-referencing phone numbers trying to find the one that would lead us to Gunther. More information for the team to speculate on while she gets out of the hand fitted Kevlar she thinks none of us knows about – we’ll wonder who her Aussie guy is.
I’ve taken advantage of my good standing a couple of times by asking her questions no one else dares asks her. Once I asked her why she doesn’t use our names.
“I am lousy at remembering names, and I am hoping we find Gunther before I have enough time to learn them.”
Captain Bigelow came into the 0700 briefing. Then it got really weird. He took over the meeting from Diana and started talking about rejuvenating the team, jump-starting us, to help us find some other ways to find Gunther. That got us all laughing; Diana’s pronunciation has even rubbed off on him. We were concerned about what this actually meant; our allegiance lies with Diana. If the bureaucracy were looking to replace her, they’d have to replace the whole damn team, even FBI. Diana seemed to take it in stride so we took our lead from her.
He gave us a situation and asked us how Gunther would react. Diana even wrote down an answer. Mac, Diana’s ever-present shadow, picked up our written answers and left with the Captain.
By the third day in a row the Captain did the same exercise, it didn’t seem so intimidating or sinister. FBI found one of Gunther’s aliases entering Honduras
Diana sinks into the closest chair, her hands flat on the table. “Yes?”
Captain Bigelow pats the hand closest to him. “Yes. Several. You’re sprung.”
MAC
Diana looks uncomprehendingly at the dress and bag I hand to her outside the women’s locker room.
“We talked about this on the way down here. You are going out to dinner with my wife and me. She wants to meet the woman with whom I’ve been spending all my time. You need to shower and change. You have 8 minutes before we have to leave or lose our reservation. You can do it; remember, I’ve lived with you for the last three weeks. I’ve seen how fast you get ready for work in the mornings.”
“This is very sweet of you and Miri. Really, all I want to do is go find a hotel somewhere and call Terry. You and Miri deserve some time together as well. You don’t need me interrupting your reunion. The sooner I call Terry, the sooner he can get here.”
It’s better Diana’s never used Terry Thorne’s name in front of the team. Her whole body changes when she talks about him. She’s no longer the spit and polish leader; she’s a woman who is in love with a man.
“Then the sooner you get a shower, the sooner we eat. We’ve got you a room in Arlington.
She’s standing her ground, and our time is ticking away. “All right. Here. Use my phone, but make it quick. I’m running out of minutes this month.”
“Thank you, thank you.” Her fingers fly over the number pad. “Terry? Can you come to DC? When can you get here? I’ll meet you at the airport. Oh, and bring my phone. I’m not a target any more!” She begins to turn her back to me but thinks better of it. “I love you.” She snaps the phone shut and hands it back to me with a triumphant smile.
“Wow, that was quick. Now be as fast in changing. Our restaurant doesn’t take kindly to late reservations and won’t seat Miri without us.”
Diana does the bare minimum behind closed doors. She finishes the rest of her primping in the car. I had no idea a woman could giggle and put on mascara at the same time and not look like a raccoon. She is no longer a reserved professional woman. She is giddy, punctuating her chatterbox antics with “Terry’s coming, Terry’s coming!”
“Oh, my God! You cannot hold this against me if you become my boss! I really am not this silly.”
“Frankly, Diana, this is a refreshing change. I didn’t think the ice water in your veins could hold out much longer.”
We stop at the restaurant’s valet stand, and he helps her out of the car. Miri looks lovely standing just inside the door. I can barely get out the introductions between the two women currently in my life. Deployments, even in the same city, are hard. I’d rather be home with my wife, but earlier in the day, I’d promised Miri we would stay for dinner once I’d delivered my charge safely.
Gerard tuts at our late arrival but leads us to the dark interior of La Chaumerie. Miri and I fall behind Diana and are seated at our table near the fireplace. Gerard continues leading Diana to the back. We can see the moment she recognizes the man in the dark suit rising from the table before her. She stops, looks down, finally recognizing her own dress, and moves into his arms. We turn to our own delayed wedding anniversary dinner; somehow watching their tender moment is too intrusive.
TERRY
“What’s all this then?” Diana is sobbing into my shirtfront, clutching at my lapels as if her life depended on them. She’s saying something unintelligible between sobs. There’s nothing for it but to let her get whatever this release is out. I stroke her hair softly, defying the Supreme Court Justice whom I recognize to continue playing the voyeur. He sheepishly turns his attention back to his clerks’ discussion.
Her sobs slow, and her words become more distinct. I seat us on the banquette, still cradling her tightly to me. “Shh, Lady.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Forgot to say. Love you.”
“I know you love me. You didn’t have to tell me. I know.”
“One call a week. Too hard.”
“I’m here now.”
“And I’m wailing.”
“It’s all right. You’re allowed.” She takes a deep, shuddering breath and starts to speak before I interrupt. “Don’t you dare tell me I deserve a woman who …. You can fill in the blank with whatever you were going to say some time in the future but not tonight.”
She releases my lapels, smoothes them unsuccessfully, and smiles sadly at them. She tilts her head up so we can finally look at each other. Red rimmed eyes, red nose, and trembling lower lip – this warm woman in my arms is much better than the picture that is now our shared computer’s wallpaper.
“I was going to say how glad I am to see you. I think I blew making you believe that.”
I lean down to speak on her lips. “If I were you, I wouldn’t be using any form of the word blow tonight in public.” Her soft laughter sends a vibration through me. “And if you intend to laugh that way again, you had best move away from me.”
“I’ll try not to laugh then. I’m not leaving you. When I called you, you were already here? You knew before I did?”
“Capt. Bigelow is a good CO. You’d been wound too tightly. It was too much to ask of you too soon. He knew it, but there were no good choices. He wanted you back at work tomorrow with some R&R behind you. The only way he could make that happen was for me to be on a plane early afternoon. We made it, Diana.” Her eyes are starting to shine again. “Please don’t cry again. Let me give you some romance tonight.”
“I haven’t even given you a proper hello.” She stretches up to kiss me. “If I kiss you now, I won’t want to stop. I’ve already made us enough of a spectacle.”
A light brush of a kiss is all I can allow myself as well. “More than that hello will have us banned from our favorite Washington
La Chaumerie may have some of the best staff in the world. They are appropriately up themselves as all French restaurants seem to require whilst having exceptional timing on their service. The sommelier has allowed the emotions to subside before bringing the wine. He makes no pretentious display of opening the wine; it would be lost on us. There are times when service staff needs to be invisible. This is one of those times. I do taste the Grgich Hill Chardonnay as required and offer a sip to Diana. It will go quite nicely with our first course, the quenelles and boudin. We’ll worry about ordering the rest of our meal once we have gotten caught up on the news.
“You look tired.” She leans into my hand.
“I am, a little. I’ve been sleeping in goop, and every time I turn over, I wake myself up when the cream sticks to the pillow case.” I am glad she went on to explain herself; ‘goop’ meant nothing to me.
“I scared one of my housemates one night. He’s a young, single guy; all the girls he sleeps with are in full make-up for him. I sat up with him for a while until his relief came. He’s promised me an Italian dinner in New York
“Did you share any of my failures to get me included in the invitation?”
“Your successes, you mean? You’ve never failed me.” She means every word of that; I can see it in her eyes.
“I will do my very best to keep it that way.” A very discreet throat clearing alerts us that our first course has arrived, and we grudgingly separate to finish ordering.
“How are the Juniors?”
“Junior, the cat, never walks anywhere in the paddock anymore. If Buck is busy grazing and one of the others is moving off, he leaps from Buck’s rump to the other. I don’t know how he does it without clawing them, but he does.
“Junior and his boys stopped by to help build the fence on the new house across from the cop’s. He took one look at it and left before they got out of the truck. Said he didn’t want his boys to learn the wrong way to build a fence. He did buy some extra halters and lead ropes so we can catch their horses when they escape. They put the boards on the outside.”
“NO! That would take Rabbit two weeks tops to break through. A couple of good butt rubs and they’ll have to replace the fencing.”
“Nancy and Bill have fed me a few times. They’re doing well. They’re headed to Iowa
“Dino’s Dino. Ellie’s been busy the last two weeks; he wants me to go out after work to the strip clubs with him. My heart’s not in it any more.
“Reags has gotten off my case about no emails from you. It finally has sunk in that you can’t.
“I can now.” Her voice almost sang. “Did you remember to bring my cell?” I produce her phone from my coat.
“Your phone has an exceptional battery. I started out being concerned because it didn’t charge up when I plugged it in here.” She begins laughing immediately. “Yes, I was trying to get it to charge through the ear plug attachment. I’d had it on for three days straight; it never ran down. When I finally noticed the hands free and the battery connections were exactly the same and I plugged it in appropriately, it took it less than 30 minutes to fully charge.”
“Don’t feel bad. I did exactly the same thing when I first got it. I finally broke down and read the instruction booklet.”
“Are there instructions for the role reversal we’ve accomplished? Diana, I’m lost. I’m supposed to be the one who goes in harm’s way, not you.”
“I’m not in any danger. More people know what I do now. I’m a nameless analyst working on a team project.”
“Diana, the bad guys don’t know that you’ve shared your information.”
“They should. I’d still be hidden if I were the only one who could do this. I’ll still be careful.” She’s being logical. Terrorist cells on the run don’t plan the way she does.
“Terry, I’m just as lost as you are. I know how to stay home and wait for you. I don’t know how to be on the road. I’m fine as long as I’m working. When the leads run out and we don’t have any new ideas, I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ll tell you what I do at home, if you’ll tell me what to do with my spare time here.”
“What do you do when I’m gone? The truth now, not the front you put up for me.”
She looked doubtful for a moment then began. “I wander through the house the first afternoon; sometimes I swear I can see you disappear around a corner. I mope for the first two or three days.”
“I never hear it in your voice.”
“Good. Once I quit feeling sorry for myself and the place feels like home again, I start paying attention to every detail around the place so I can regale you with funny stories. I ride all the horses in the barn and get their bad habits back under control. I go to Alice's
“That’s one of the problems – the ‘feel like home’ bit. The Hawthorne
“You’ve called it home for a long time.”
“It’s felt comfortable from the beginning.”
“Do we need to start from scratch? Build something together? You can start designing it now, but please, don’t start construction until I have a chance to have some input on the plans.”
“You’d give everything up for me?”
“Lock, stock, and barrel.”
“If I worked on a house plan for us, it would look just like our current home.”
“Then make the current bricks and mortar yours. Paint walls, pee on the bricks, change anything you want. Make it suit you; make it suit us. Promise me one thing – no decorator.” I smile and nod; I don’t trust my voice at the moment. Diana has given me the challenge; I gave lip service to where I live. Only I could make it mine.
“Ready for your solutions? If you have a morning or afternoon free, go to East’s. Ride his horses. I’d rather you stay on the other side of the river; don’t go sightseeing here in town. There are too many sleazy Congressmen.”
“I haven’t looked at another man since I bumped into you.” She wrinkles her brow. “That works for me. What do you do with your down time?” She’s asked the question I don’t want to answer.
“I have a swim to work off the nervous energy. I email this beautiful shiela. I have a wank or two. I go down to the bar for a beer and watch the passing human parade.”
“Only one or two? I’d always wondered how you outlasted me when you got home. I thought it was your iron control. Now I know. You gave on the road.” We’ve started laughing, the time apart behind us momentarily until tomorrow morning.
TODD MAXWELL, NSA
Diana’s beaten me into the office. After her strong reaction the night before to Capt. Bigelow’s cryptic statement, I’d expected a change in her. Instead, she seems like her normal self.
“May I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“What did Capt. Bigelow mean by ‘Several’ last night?”
“I’ve been giving the team everything I know about how Gunther thinks. I needed someone, anyone else to be able to predict his actions as well as I can; I was going stir crazy with armed guards and safe houses. As of yesterday, several members of this team can do that. You are looking at a free woman!”
“Who understands Gunther as well as you?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. As long as I’m around, I’m still the go to woman. Todd, you don’t know how wonderful it is to be able to pick up your own cell phone and call someone whenever you want. Watch.”
She hit 1 on her speed dial; I am about to hear her side of a conversation with her nong. She has the biggest smile on her face. “Hi!” Pause. “I’m fine. I’m trying out my cell.” Pause. “I know. Three hours and 46 minutes ago.” She laughs and pauses. “No. It got charged in the right hole this time.” Pause and she blushes. “I couldn’t think of anyone better to share my new found freedom.” Pause. “Me too.” She sighs as she snaps her phone shut.
“NSA, can you give me Hilde’s phone number?”
“I can give you a list of eight possible phone numbers.”
“You’re shitting me. How late were you here last night?”
“Finished the download at 9. Got the scrubbed list by 10. They’re in three different countries. Some have only a first initial.”
“Let’s get started finding out about these folks and see if we can’t get the list slimmed down. When everyone else gets here, give them each a name and number and any ideas you have on finding out about these folks; you’re running this part of the research. You are my hero!”
She writes ‘Hilde’ on the white board along with some basic vital statistics on her. We have a new place to start.
“Gimme a name and number. Lemme get started.”
CAROLE SWEARINGEN
I’m not looking forward to going to this charity reception tonight, but since the divorce, I need to keep my name in the papers and on people’s minds. I refuse to give back my hard-won social status, and I will not slink back into the woodwork to make my ex’s life easier.
I make a few bids on the items for the silent auction, snag a flute from one of the passing waiters, and circulate. If I’m talking to the worst of the gossips, they won’t have that small amount of time to be talking about me. I can also get the stories out there about my fabulous life.
Terry Thorne is here tonight. He shows up at enough of the Dallas
I meander in his direction; it wouldn’t do to make a beeline for him. Others gravitate to him; it’s several minutes before the group talking to him leave, and I have my chance.
“Terry! It’s so good to see you tonight.” I lean in to give him the mandatory air kiss on the cheek. At the last second, I turn my head into him, and the air kiss makes contact on a freshly shaven cheek.
“Carole, good evening.” He has such a warm social smile that invites but holds women at arm’s length at the same time.
“What interesting things have you been up to lately?”
“Planes, planes, and more planes. This month has been a lot of travel.”
If he has been on the road a great deal, it is quite unusual that Diana isn’t here. I wonder if there is trouble in Paradise
“Here, Darlin’, let’s get your drink freshened up. There’s nothing like a few drinks at home to wash foreign dust out of your mouth.”
“I’m fine. Are you ready for another?” I nod, and we begin moving to the bar. Terry speaks to each group as we pass. Before we reach our intended destination, a waiter passes with a tray, and Terry exchanges my empty flute for a fresh one. He places his half-full drink on the tray as well.
He responds to my questioning look. “I popped in for a few since I didn’t have sufficient time to cancel. I’ve already had my limit.”
“No one riding shotgun for you tonight?” Since he won’t bring up Diana’s absence, I’ll have to.
“No, Diana’s working out of town. My drive home will be long and lonely.”
“Doesn’t have to be that way.”
He doesn’t flirt back. “It does tonight. I’m expecting some calls.” He all but checks his watch, but he’s too much of a gentleman to do that to me.
“Well, you’ve made your appearance and made our hostess a very happy woman. I can see you’re in no mood to flirt tonight. Politics, football, and stealing someone else’s man are full contact sports in Texas
TERRY
Reags had called the second day. “Where’s
“Well, hello to you as well. Did she give you a pass on a meet, Love?” Diana hadn’t the time to call from the time her orders arrived until she had been held incommunicado. The only time we’d been apart was on the drive home; Diana is loathe to talk on her cell when driving.
“Sorry, Terry. She hasn’t answered any of my emails nor called. I thought she was sliding into one of her funks after her visit to the office. Max said she didn’t seem herself, and he was a bit worried about her.”
“She got called on a business trip – short notice. She was busy doing laundry until she walked out of the house.” A little truth, a little deflection. Diana had almost forgotten to pack her knickers. She had thrown them in the dryer as soon as we had gotten home from the office, but we had been busy storing memories until we left for the airport, and knickers were the last thing on either of our minds. The empty lingerie drawer when she dressed had triggered her to remember them. “Maxie told you about her trip to the office?”
“Of course, he remarked on that unusual occurrence. You didn’t give her a bad time about leaving, did you?”
“I thought I had given her quite a good time.”
Reags snappishness disappeared with that. Her laughter still had an undertone of concern. “Why hasn’t she answered my emails?”
“You know how she is when she gets a new project – dives in head first, doesn’t surface for days. Since she’s away, she doesn’t even have to leave her computer chair to let the dogs out.”
“When you talk to her today, tell her I called, please.” Reags would expect an email from Diana soon. Reags left unsaid she expected an email in the next day or so.
“As soon as she calls, I’ll give her your love.” Diana had wanted this departure low-key but had succeeded in doing everything possible to raise suspicions on every front. My own actions had done nothing to allay any of our close friends’ questions.
I might as well admit the truth to someone, and Reags was a safe an outlet as I’d find. “Reags, I don’t know when I’ll hear from her.”
“Oh.” There was no surprise in her voice, no concern; she had the same resigned quality that had haunted me since Diana had told me in the office.
“Please, help me cover for her. Her absence needs to be seen as a simple auditing trip.”
“Then that’s how you need to think of it. That will improve your demeanour around the office. Put on your ‘good bloke’ armour. Make some jokes. Stuff your worry until you get home at night. Feed Rabbit some extra carrots. Do something productive around the place – start the gazebo, work Jack for her.
“You know she thinks about you right before she falls asleep each night, whatever time it is. You aren’t abandoned. We’ll get through this.”
“I can always count on one of the two of you to kick my arse when needed. Thanks, Love. That will tide me over until I hear from her.”
“Always glad to help a friend with a good arse-kicking. Take care, Terry. Call if you need to talk.”
*
I fucking hate getting one line emails anymore, the ones where the subject ends in NT. No Topic.
Take your encrypted home tonight. NT
This one is from some non-descript, unknown entity. I open the email anyway, praying the virus scan has done its job, and my email program won’t be blitzed. If the email is from Diana, it’s as likely as not to have a message in the body as a postscript. There is a blank box staring back at me.
I’ve had my encrypted, satellite, cell, and landline phones all within arm’s distance since Diana left four days ago. The power strip behind my desk looks like a landing zone for telecommunication devices. If I go to the loo, I forward the office landline to Sooze with instructions to answer it on the first ring. So much for Diana’s orders and Reags’ encouragement to keep her absence low key.
When I leave the office, each communication device has its own home on my belt.
“Lost a little weight there, Tio? You’ve got a case of droopy drawers,” Dino remarks.
My grin and hitch to pull up my trousers that sag from the added weight clipped to them do not deter him. He can’t see all the phones because my suit coat covers them.
“Is Diana not cooking this week?”
“She’s working.”
“Ah, left you to fend for yourself. I imagine you’ve forgotten how to cook for yourself. Don’t worry, I have, too.” His satisfied, smug laugh and rub on his developing spare tire told me Ellie had been into town and stocked his fridge for the week. It amazes me how quickly competent, self-sufficient men revert to traditional roles and force their women into activities they hadn’t chosen.
DIANA
I’ve spent a frustrating four days. There’s no sign of Hilde Schedenheiser, Gunther Klostermann’s ex; I used the wrong approach on the FBI guy, and he’s now lapsed into sullen obedience; I sleep with four men, just not the right one.
There are bright spots, though. The NSA guy is an analyst as well as being damn good at collecting data. He and the CIA gal seem to be quite chummy; I’m glad for them. The Delta Force and Seal guys seem to like my sense of humor and are getting over their “Planning, hell; let’s go kill something” mentality. The brightest spot today is I get to call Terry tonight.
Mac escorts me to a small office that visitors get to use for private phone calls. It has the requisite grey steel desk, a trash can for classified documents, and a single phone.
“Take as long as you like, Ma’am. I’ll be right outside.” Of course, he will. Mac has never been farther than 10 feet away from me during work hours or a room or two away in the safe house, but there we have an armed guard who is within 10 feet. As Mac closes the door, he pointedly removes his ever-present ear bud. I’ll have the most privacy I’ve had since I got to town.
I have to stop and think of Terry’s encrypted number. His cell and satellite numbers come to mind readily even though those are on my speed dial. I never call his encrypted number; he calls me if he has to use it. Screw it. I dial our home phone; I’m sure he had the line swept for bugs when he got home. He answers on the first ring.
“Thorne, here.” His voice is professional. It always is when he answers any phone.
“Hi.”
“I was expecting you on the other line.”
At least this conversation begins like one where he is the one out and about. ‘Out and about’ is such a nice euphemism to keep the concern at bay. We are stilted and uncomfortable.
“I couldn’t remember the number. You always call me. It’s not like I can call information to get it.”
I can hear his smile through the line. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Working hard. I’m eating well. We’ve had a home cooked meal once. Remember Mac, my driver?”
His grunt acknowledges he remembers threatening someone without even knowing his name.
“He’s a good guy. His wife brought some dinner for him into the office. He let me share it. Of course, I had to let him share my meagre fare.”
There’s so much I can’t tell him on my end – the safe house, the guards, all the security precautions; so much I wouldn’t tell him even if we were both on encrypted phones – why I got called back in, where I am.
I think back to all the phone calls we’ve had when he’s been gone. I’d always followed his lead on what he wanted to hear. I suppose it is up to me to set the tone of this call. I don’t care what he talks about; I only want to hear his voice. I don’t hear any keystrokes in the background; for a change, Terry is not multitasking.
“How are the trees doing?”
He sounds slightly perturbed. “We’re still not going to be able to hang the hammock in the cottonwoods this summer. Condren’s wants us to give them one more summer to strengthen. I’ve ordered the ground stand; at least we can be under the trees.”
“Well, they did say when they planted the trees after the storm it could take up to two years for them to establish.”
“Bloody shallow roots.”
“I think when we both asked about the hammock they were more concerned about the branches holding during all the activity they expected from us in the hammock. I wonder what gave them that idea? It probably was the way I stayed glued to you while they planted our new shade trees.”
I can hear him moving, getting more settled. “Where are you?”
“At the computer. That’s better. I pulled up the picture of us at the Ambassador’s Ball. I finished dinner and thought I’d get caught up on a few things; they can wait. At least I can see your likeness whilst you talk to me.”
“I wanted to hear you tell me there is still normal life somewhere.”
“There is, and it’s waiting for you. The horses are out grazing; they seem to be the only ones who don’t miss you. The dogs are settled in the lounge. Well, they were. Holly’s here, and the little bugger just poked his head over the top of the sofa; he is the inquisitive one. You reckon he can hear your voice?”
“I doubt it. How are you three getting along at night?”
“He misses you, Diana, maybe more than I do. I think he’s given up on you ever coming home. Sometime last night he curled up next to me. Woke up to his arsehole in my face. He nipped at me when I shoved him away.”
I laugh at my two alpha males having to make peace over my long absence. “I forgot to show you how guide him to lie down so he isn’t a complete hoon. At least he doesn’t fart. When you need to move him, shove your hip under him.” We share an uncomfortable silence. I can almost feel under my hand how Terry’s hip hollows on the side; tears begin to sting my eyes. I miss him so much, and it’s only been a few days. At least he’s at home in his normal surroundings; I’m the unfortunate one this time in my sterile, safe house. If I can imagine what is happening at home, it may lift my loneliness. “What else is going on?”
“There is much unspoken speculation on where you are. I haven’t been terribly successful in being the one left behind.”
“How did the house feel when you walked in the first night?”
“Empty and cold.”
“Did it echo?”
“Didn’t think putting down a briefcase could reverberate so.”
“Did the refrigerator dumping ice into the bin make you jump the first time?”
“I did flinch. I’m drinking my scotch neat these days to avoid that sound. I stepped on Holly the first time the phone rang; it was Reags looking for you. Do you ever get used to it, Diana?”
“The pissy but adamant sound in her voice when I run silent for a while?” I was gratified with his chuckle; she had used it on him.
“Or the way the house first feels when you’re gone? No to the Reags question and yes to the missing you; it takes a few days for it to seem like home again. When you’re gone, I have an advantage over you. You’ve normally told me when you’ll call. You’ve been left hanging on this trip; I don’t know when I’ll be able to call again.”
“It’s as bad as we thought?”
“Yes, but I’ve had an idea that may make our lives easier. I have the manpower and they are talented to make it work. Now all I have to do is convince the powers that be it is a good idea.” I wish I could tell him more; I wish he were here so I could rehearse it in front of him.
“Easier is good.” Harder is good as well.
“Terry?”
“Yes, Lady.”
“Do you say everything to me you’re thinking when we talk on the phone?”
“Yes. No. Sometimes. It depends on how much I want you. If I’m missing you too much and it’s still a long time before I can get home, I don’t tell you; I send an email.” Oh, yes. Those emails got copied onto my laptop and it sat beside me on the bed as I followed his lines. “If I’m only a randy bastard, you hear it all.”
His honesty makes me smile. This really is a different situation for us; our roles have been completely reversed. We both are struggling to find our way.
“Look for a letter in a few days.”
*
“So you see, Sirs, within two weeks I will not be the only one with organic knowledge of Gunther.” I am running two and a half minutes behind schedule on this briefing. I know I would get no support from Capt. Bigelow right now; Admiral Jennings would also wait. Admiral Webb would have to give some indication which way the wind was blowing before the others would speak up. Biggie is small potatoes in this room.
“Your sharing information with the whole team does have merit, and it fits with the way you’ve run successful teams in the past. As long as it doesn’t impede your finding this guy, feel free.”
“Thank you, Admiral Webb. There is one other advantage to this approach. As soon as there is at least one other person who can predict what Gunther is going to do, you can cut me loose from safe houses and free up some manpower.”
I had outflanked Webb; I can hope it serves his self-interest enough to allow what I want. The Pentagon budget is soaring, and every branch of the service is looking for ways to minimize costs. My guard and safe houses are an expense they could jettison; if I’m the only person who could find this bastard, I’m indispensable and require protection. I fucking hate being indispensable. As soon as I’m out from under Naval supervision, my life is back to being my responsibility.
“Let me know when you think you have someone up to speed. Captain Bigelow will observe and make the call.”
NSA and CIA are the two most likely candidates to learn the most about Gunther. However, the more information I can shovel to the entire team, the quicker I can get out of protective custody and truly make this a more normal business trip. One of the others may surprise me and soak up the information as well. At this point, I don’t care who becomes my backup.
TODD MAXWELL, NSA
Diana tells more anecdotes in excruciating detail about how Gunther has acted in the past in our team meetings, over lunch, whenever anyone has a piece of information. She is always moving, pacing around the room, at the ready to read over someone’s shoulder, lending another set of eyes. She spots trends the rest of us ought to but didn’t, pointing out snips of information and integrating them into our current knowledge. She’s everywhere at once. Her account at Amazon has gotten a work out with the wide-ranging books she’s bought for the team. Our poor Xerox gets a work out from duplicating all the white papers on terrorism and newspaper accounts of anything Gunther was remotely involved in that Ron uncovers daily.
“OK, who’s going to the Education reception tonight?” Diana looks dismayed that none of us even knew about a reception.
“People, people, people. DC is a networking town. The Education reception tonight will be chock full of physicists. One of them may know where Gunther is. Ron, can you get me a couple of invitations? I’m under house arrest so I can’t go. FBI, you and NSA are going. Work the room. Pay particular attention to the German delegation. And the Argentines.
“Everybody, listen up. Here is your long-term assignment. By the time you get off this project, you will have a go to person at every agency and legislative body in this town. You can never tell when you’ll need them. Remember, one hand washes the other. So be careful whom you choose. Besides, it may spice up your social lives with invitations to parties.”
She is working our butts off. I have to admit she’s working us no harder than she’s working herself. I’m not sure if what she has is enthusiasm for the job or she hates Gunther so much, she wants him back in jail for littering. The way she says his name, you can hear the irony, sarcasm, distaste, whatever you want to call it dripping from her mouth. She has us all calling him that now and using her tone.
For some reason, she seems to like me. One day she told me I remind her of a nong she knows. She seemed surprised when I responded, “An Aussie nerd?”
She looked like a bird fluffing her feathers out. “Yeah. But don’t worry. You grow up to be the best of men.” She pulled her upper lip between her teeth, bit down on it, and turned me back to the task at hand, cross-referencing phone numbers trying to find the one that would lead us to Gunther. More information for the team to speculate on while she gets out of the hand fitted Kevlar she thinks none of us knows about – we’ll wonder who her Aussie guy is.
I’ve taken advantage of my good standing a couple of times by asking her questions no one else dares asks her. Once I asked her why she doesn’t use our names.
“I am lousy at remembering names, and I am hoping we find Gunther before I have enough time to learn them.”
*
Captain Bigelow came into the 0700 briefing. Then it got really weird. He took over the meeting from Diana and started talking about rejuvenating the team, jump-starting us, to help us find some other ways to find Gunther. That got us all laughing; Diana’s pronunciation has even rubbed off on him. We were concerned about what this actually meant; our allegiance lies with Diana. If the bureaucracy were looking to replace her, they’d have to replace the whole damn team, even FBI. Diana seemed to take it in stride so we took our lead from her.
He gave us a situation and asked us how Gunther would react. Diana even wrote down an answer. Mac, Diana’s ever-present shadow, picked up our written answers and left with the Captain.
By the third day in a row the Captain did the same exercise, it didn’t seem so intimidating or sinister. FBI found one of Gunther’s aliases entering Honduras
Diana sinks into the closest chair, her hands flat on the table. “Yes?”
Captain Bigelow pats the hand closest to him. “Yes. Several. You’re sprung.”
MAC
Diana looks uncomprehendingly at the dress and bag I hand to her outside the women’s locker room.
“We talked about this on the way down here. You are going out to dinner with my wife and me. She wants to meet the woman with whom I’ve been spending all my time. You need to shower and change. You have 8 minutes before we have to leave or lose our reservation. You can do it; remember, I’ve lived with you for the last three weeks. I’ve seen how fast you get ready for work in the mornings.”
“This is very sweet of you and Miri. Really, all I want to do is go find a hotel somewhere and call Terry. You and Miri deserve some time together as well. You don’t need me interrupting your reunion. The sooner I call Terry, the sooner he can get here.”
It’s better Diana’s never used Terry Thorne’s name in front of the team. Her whole body changes when she talks about him. She’s no longer the spit and polish leader; she’s a woman who is in love with a man.
“Then the sooner you get a shower, the sooner we eat. We’ve got you a room in Arlington.
She’s standing her ground, and our time is ticking away. “All right. Here. Use my phone, but make it quick. I’m running out of minutes this month.”
“Thank you, thank you.” Her fingers fly over the number pad. “Terry? Can you come to DC? When can you get here? I’ll meet you at the airport. Oh, and bring my phone. I’m not a target any more!” She begins to turn her back to me but thinks better of it. “I love you.” She snaps the phone shut and hands it back to me with a triumphant smile.
“Wow, that was quick. Now be as fast in changing. Our restaurant doesn’t take kindly to late reservations and won’t seat Miri without us.”
Diana does the bare minimum behind closed doors. She finishes the rest of her primping in the car. I had no idea a woman could giggle and put on mascara at the same time and not look like a raccoon. She is no longer a reserved professional woman. She is giddy, punctuating her chatterbox antics with “Terry’s coming, Terry’s coming!”
“Oh, my God! You cannot hold this against me if you become my boss! I really am not this silly.”
“Frankly, Diana, this is a refreshing change. I didn’t think the ice water in your veins could hold out much longer.”
We stop at the restaurant’s valet stand, and he helps her out of the car. Miri looks lovely standing just inside the door. I can barely get out the introductions between the two women currently in my life. Deployments, even in the same city, are hard. I’d rather be home with my wife, but earlier in the day, I’d promised Miri we would stay for dinner once I’d delivered my charge safely.
Gerard tuts at our late arrival but leads us to the dark interior of La Chaumerie. Miri and I fall behind Diana and are seated at our table near the fireplace. Gerard continues leading Diana to the back. We can see the moment she recognizes the man in the dark suit rising from the table before her. She stops, looks down, finally recognizing her own dress, and moves into his arms. We turn to our own delayed wedding anniversary dinner; somehow watching their tender moment is too intrusive.
TERRY
“What’s all this then?” Diana is sobbing into my shirtfront, clutching at my lapels as if her life depended on them. She’s saying something unintelligible between sobs. There’s nothing for it but to let her get whatever this release is out. I stroke her hair softly, defying the Supreme Court Justice whom I recognize to continue playing the voyeur. He sheepishly turns his attention back to his clerks’ discussion.
Her sobs slow, and her words become more distinct. I seat us on the banquette, still cradling her tightly to me. “Shh, Lady.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Forgot to say. Love you.”
“I know you love me. You didn’t have to tell me. I know.”
“One call a week. Too hard.”
“I’m here now.”
“And I’m wailing.”
“It’s all right. You’re allowed.” She takes a deep, shuddering breath and starts to speak before I interrupt. “Don’t you dare tell me I deserve a woman who …. You can fill in the blank with whatever you were going to say some time in the future but not tonight.”
She releases my lapels, smoothes them unsuccessfully, and smiles sadly at them. She tilts her head up so we can finally look at each other. Red rimmed eyes, red nose, and trembling lower lip – this warm woman in my arms is much better than the picture that is now our shared computer’s wallpaper.
“I was going to say how glad I am to see you. I think I blew making you believe that.”
I lean down to speak on her lips. “If I were you, I wouldn’t be using any form of the word blow tonight in public.” Her soft laughter sends a vibration through me. “And if you intend to laugh that way again, you had best move away from me.”
“I’ll try not to laugh then. I’m not leaving you. When I called you, you were already here? You knew before I did?”
“Capt. Bigelow is a good CO. You’d been wound too tightly. It was too much to ask of you too soon. He knew it, but there were no good choices. He wanted you back at work tomorrow with some R&R behind you. The only way he could make that happen was for me to be on a plane early afternoon. We made it, Diana.” Her eyes are starting to shine again. “Please don’t cry again. Let me give you some romance tonight.”
“I haven’t even given you a proper hello.” She stretches up to kiss me. “If I kiss you now, I won’t want to stop. I’ve already made us enough of a spectacle.”
A light brush of a kiss is all I can allow myself as well. “More than that hello will have us banned from our favorite Washington
La Chaumerie may have some of the best staff in the world. They are appropriately up themselves as all French restaurants seem to require whilst having exceptional timing on their service. The sommelier has allowed the emotions to subside before bringing the wine. He makes no pretentious display of opening the wine; it would be lost on us. There are times when service staff needs to be invisible. This is one of those times. I do taste the Grgich Hill Chardonnay as required and offer a sip to Diana. It will go quite nicely with our first course, the quenelles and boudin. We’ll worry about ordering the rest of our meal once we have gotten caught up on the news.
“You look tired.” She leans into my hand.
“I am, a little. I’ve been sleeping in goop, and every time I turn over, I wake myself up when the cream sticks to the pillow case.” I am glad she went on to explain herself; ‘goop’ meant nothing to me.
“I scared one of my housemates one night. He’s a young, single guy; all the girls he sleeps with are in full make-up for him. I sat up with him for a while until his relief came. He’s promised me an Italian dinner in New York
“Did you share any of my failures to get me included in the invitation?”
“Your successes, you mean? You’ve never failed me.” She means every word of that; I can see it in her eyes.
“I will do my very best to keep it that way.” A very discreet throat clearing alerts us that our first course has arrived, and we grudgingly separate to finish ordering.
“How are the Juniors?”
“Junior, the cat, never walks anywhere in the paddock anymore. If Buck is busy grazing and one of the others is moving off, he leaps from Buck’s rump to the other. I don’t know how he does it without clawing them, but he does.
“Junior and his boys stopped by to help build the fence on the new house across from the cop’s. He took one look at it and left before they got out of the truck. Said he didn’t want his boys to learn the wrong way to build a fence. He did buy some extra halters and lead ropes so we can catch their horses when they escape. They put the boards on the outside.”
“NO! That would take Rabbit two weeks tops to break through. A couple of good butt rubs and they’ll have to replace the fencing.”
“Nancy and Bill have fed me a few times. They’re doing well. They’re headed to Iowa
“Dino’s Dino. Ellie’s been busy the last two weeks; he wants me to go out after work to the strip clubs with him. My heart’s not in it any more.
“Reags has gotten off my case about no emails from you. It finally has sunk in that you can’t.
“I can now.” Her voice almost sang. “Did you remember to bring my cell?” I produce her phone from my coat.
“Your phone has an exceptional battery. I started out being concerned because it didn’t charge up when I plugged it in here.” She begins laughing immediately. “Yes, I was trying to get it to charge through the ear plug attachment. I’d had it on for three days straight; it never ran down. When I finally noticed the hands free and the battery connections were exactly the same and I plugged it in appropriately, it took it less than 30 minutes to fully charge.”
“Don’t feel bad. I did exactly the same thing when I first got it. I finally broke down and read the instruction booklet.”
“Are there instructions for the role reversal we’ve accomplished? Diana, I’m lost. I’m supposed to be the one who goes in harm’s way, not you.”
“I’m not in any danger. More people know what I do now. I’m a nameless analyst working on a team project.”
“Diana, the bad guys don’t know that you’ve shared your information.”
“They should. I’d still be hidden if I were the only one who could do this. I’ll still be careful.” She’s being logical. Terrorist cells on the run don’t plan the way she does.
“Terry, I’m just as lost as you are. I know how to stay home and wait for you. I don’t know how to be on the road. I’m fine as long as I’m working. When the leads run out and we don’t have any new ideas, I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ll tell you what I do at home, if you’ll tell me what to do with my spare time here.”
“What do you do when I’m gone? The truth now, not the front you put up for me.”
She looked doubtful for a moment then began. “I wander through the house the first afternoon; sometimes I swear I can see you disappear around a corner. I mope for the first two or three days.”
“I never hear it in your voice.”
“Good. Once I quit feeling sorry for myself and the place feels like home again, I start paying attention to every detail around the place so I can regale you with funny stories. I ride all the horses in the barn and get their bad habits back under control. I go to Alice's
“That’s one of the problems – the ‘feel like home’ bit. The Hawthorne
“You’ve called it home for a long time.”
“It’s felt comfortable from the beginning.”
“Do we need to start from scratch? Build something together? You can start designing it now, but please, don’t start construction until I have a chance to have some input on the plans.”
“You’d give everything up for me?”
“Lock, stock, and barrel.”
“If I worked on a house plan for us, it would look just like our current home.”
“Then make the current bricks and mortar yours. Paint walls, pee on the bricks, change anything you want. Make it suit you; make it suit us. Promise me one thing – no decorator.” I smile and nod; I don’t trust my voice at the moment. Diana has given me the challenge; I gave lip service to where I live. Only I could make it mine.
“Ready for your solutions? If you have a morning or afternoon free, go to East’s. Ride his horses. I’d rather you stay on the other side of the river; don’t go sightseeing here in town. There are too many sleazy Congressmen.”
“I haven’t looked at another man since I bumped into you.” She wrinkles her brow. “That works for me. What do you do with your down time?” She’s asked the question I don’t want to answer.
“I have a swim to work off the nervous energy. I email this beautiful shiela. I have a wank or two. I go down to the bar for a beer and watch the passing human parade.”
“Only one or two? I’d always wondered how you outlasted me when you got home. I thought it was your iron control. Now I know. You gave on the road.” We’ve started laughing, the time apart behind us momentarily until tomorrow morning.
TODD MAXWELL, NSA
Diana’s beaten me into the office. After her strong reaction the night before to Capt. Bigelow’s cryptic statement, I’d expected a change in her. Instead, she seems like her normal self.
“May I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“What did Capt. Bigelow mean by ‘Several’ last night?”
“I’ve been giving the team everything I know about how Gunther thinks. I needed someone, anyone else to be able to predict his actions as well as I can; I was going stir crazy with armed guards and safe houses. As of yesterday, several members of this team can do that. You are looking at a free woman!”
“Who understands Gunther as well as you?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. As long as I’m around, I’m still the go to woman. Todd, you don’t know how wonderful it is to be able to pick up your own cell phone and call someone whenever you want. Watch.”
She hit 1 on her speed dial; I am about to hear her side of a conversation with her nong. She has the biggest smile on her face. “Hi!” Pause. “I’m fine. I’m trying out my cell.” Pause. “I know. Three hours and 46 minutes ago.” She laughs and pauses. “No. It got charged in the right hole this time.” Pause and she blushes. “I couldn’t think of anyone better to share my new found freedom.” Pause. “Me too.” She sighs as she snaps her phone shut.
“NSA, can you give me Hilde’s phone number?”
“I can give you a list of eight possible phone numbers.”
“You’re shitting me. How late were you here last night?”
“Finished the download at 9. Got the scrubbed list by 10. They’re in three different countries. Some have only a first initial.”
“Let’s get started finding out about these folks and see if we can’t get the list slimmed down. When everyone else gets here, give them each a name and number and any ideas you have on finding out about these folks; you’re running this part of the research. You are my hero!”
She writes ‘Hilde’ on the white board along with some basic vital statistics on her. We have a new place to start.
“Gimme a name and number. Lemme get started.”
CAROLE SWEARINGEN
I’m not looking forward to going to this charity reception tonight, but since the divorce, I need to keep my name in the papers and on people’s minds. I refuse to give back my hard-won social status, and I will not slink back into the woodwork to make my ex’s life easier.
I make a few bids on the items for the silent auction, snag a flute from one of the passing waiters, and circulate. If I’m talking to the worst of the gossips, they won’t have that small amount of time to be talking about me. I can also get the stories out there about my fabulous life.
Terry Thorne is here tonight. He shows up at enough of the Dallas
I meander in his direction; it wouldn’t do to make a beeline for him. Others gravitate to him; it’s several minutes before the group talking to him leave, and I have my chance.
“Terry! It’s so good to see you tonight.” I lean in to give him the mandatory air kiss on the cheek. At the last second, I turn my head into him, and the air kiss makes contact on a freshly shaven cheek.
“Carole, good evening.” He has such a warm social smile that invites but holds women at arm’s length at the same time.
“What interesting things have you been up to lately?”
“Planes, planes, and more planes. This month has been a lot of travel.”
If he has been on the road a great deal, it is quite unusual that Diana isn’t here. I wonder if there is trouble in Paradise
“Here, Darlin’, let’s get your drink freshened up. There’s nothing like a few drinks at home to wash foreign dust out of your mouth.”
“I’m fine. Are you ready for another?” I nod, and we begin moving to the bar. Terry speaks to each group as we pass. Before we reach our intended destination, a waiter passes with a tray, and Terry exchanges my empty flute for a fresh one. He places his half-full drink on the tray as well.
He responds to my questioning look. “I popped in for a few since I didn’t have sufficient time to cancel. I’ve already had my limit.”
“No one riding shotgun for you tonight?” Since he won’t bring up Diana’s absence, I’ll have to.
“No, Diana’s working out of town. My drive home will be long and lonely.”
“Doesn’t have to be that way.”
He doesn’t flirt back. “It does tonight. I’m expecting some calls.” He all but checks his watch, but he’s too much of a gentleman to do that to me.
“Well, you’ve made your appearance and made our hostess a very happy woman. I can see you’re in no mood to flirt tonight. Politics, football, and stealing someone else’s man are full contact sports in Texas