Intersection

by Healy, Nancy Ann

  Lunch went by too quickly for Cassidy’s liking. She was enjoying watching her son chat up the agent and found that her emotions welled inside of her every time Alex managed to divert a glance her way. When Dylan grabbed the agent’s hand and pulled her across the restaurant to an empty truck cab that had a driving game in its dashboard, Rose finally spoke. “Cassie….”

  “Yeah?” Cassidy answered smiling broadly as she watched Alex lift Dylan to the driver’s seat that sat in the front of the cab.

  Rose smiled to herself as she heard Dylan scream Alex’s name in delight. She took a deep breath. “She’s great.”

  “What?”

  “Alex….she’s great,” Rose said.

  “Yeah…she is.”

  Rose licked her lips. She was not going to dive directly into these waters just yet, but she did know her daughter better than anyone and the look on Cassidy’s face told Rose every single thing that was in her daughter’s heart. “So, what did you do yesterday?” Rose asked. “Did you go for that drive you were talking about?”

  Cassidy was still engrossed in the display that was unfolding across the room. She couldn’t see Dylan but she could hear him laughing and she could see Alex standing over his shoulder. It was a sight she had seldom seen with her husband and it filled her with happiness to hear her son’s laughter and to know that Alex was its cause. “What?” She asked realizing her mother had spoken but having missed the words.

  “I asked if you went for that drive yesterday.”

  “Sort of.”

  “How do you sort of take a drive, Cassie? Either you are in the car driving or you are not,” Rose kidded.

  “Ha ha…I did, but I didn’t drive, Alex did.”

  “Ohhh….what did you two do?” Rose was truly curious now.

  “Well, you know…after Agent Fallon called about the letter…”

  “I thought you said it was a picture?” Rose was confused.

  “No…well… yeah...but that was when we got home.”

  “Are you telling me there was a letter and a picture?” Rose’s voice began to tremble.

  “Mom…. Yes…just….can we just not talk about that today?”

  Her mother took a deep breath and let it out with a groan, “Fine, so tell me about this drive.”

  “Well… You know…I was a little upset with Dylan leaving for the weekend and Agent Fallon’s call…so Alex took me for a drive.”

  “And….”

  “Oh… well, we went to her brother’s restaurant in Connecticut,” Cassidy explained.

  “Alex is from Connecticut?”

  “No. Massachusetts, but Nick has a restaurant in Stonington by the ocean.”

  Rose looked down at the table and toyed with her napkin trying not to be too obvious about her suspicions. “So…was it nice?”

  Cassidy really wasn’t thinking about her answers. She had long considered her mother her best friend and she did little to censor herself in front of the woman. A very subtle glow seemed to wash over the teacher as she spoke now. “It was wonderful,” she said as if transported back to those hours. “We sat outside for hours and talked.”

  “Cassie…it was about 48 degrees last night.”

  “Oh yeah… there’s this awesome fireplace outside that we sat next to… It was beautiful, actually.”

  “Hmmm…. Sounds like you had a good time,” Rose continued playing with her napkin beginning to suspect that her assumptions were correct. Her daughter was falling for the agent.

  Alex appeared walking behind Dylan who was still pretending he had a steering wheel in his hands. Dylan jumped onto his mother with excitement. “Alex and I made it all the way to level 32!”

  Tomorrow would not be an easy day for the teacher and she knew it. Dylan often got emotional when he had to leave for more than a weekend and she knew more about the reasons why now; thanks to his conversation with Alex. Right now he was happy and so was she. He was demonstrating their victory to his grandmother excitedly with Rose laughing at his theatrics. Cassidy looked at the dark haired woman who seemed to be able to calm her with just a glance and mouthed the words ‘thank you.’ Tomorrow was a problem that could wait.

  The man watched out of his car window as the women walked slowly to the SUV that was parked across the street. The clicks of the camera rattled off almost like the sound of crickets chirping on a summer evening. He peered through the lens and focused it, zooming in; click, click, click. He turned the lens to the right as the sun reflected off the rear view mirror, momentarily blinding him. He flung his hand wildly at it, knocking it to one side and resumed his task. The face was clear now. He could even see the green of her eyes; tick, click, tick.

  He jostled himself in his seat as the tall woman held the door open for her. A sound like the grunt of a wild animal stalking its prey escaped his lips as he watched her close the door and he zoomed in closer on her face; click, click, click, click, click. He cringed at the constant sound wanting to will it away, but he continued. His breath was heavy and his eyes narrow. Carefully, he focused on his subject. He looked through the lens, wanting to feel closer as he watched them drive away. He breathed a heavy sigh and grabbed the cigarette that had half burned away in the ashtray during his brief escapade. Smoke filled his lungs and he inhaled fully, holding the smoky air in as long as his body would allow before releasing it. On the passenger’s seat sat a manila envelope. He touched it with his gloved fingertips as if he were exploring a lover. Carefully he picked it up and brought it to his nose, inhaling its papery scent as though it were a fine cigar. His eyes closed with satisfaction and he opened his door. He walked three or four yards to the blue box at the side of the road and stopped to ponder it. The door squeaked as he pulled its handle and it opened. It reminded him of a mouth and he tipped his head to the side considering it again. Again he brought the envelope to his face. He longed to feel it, but the black leather that covered his hand prevented the sensation he so desired.

  Slowly he allowed it to slip from his grasp into the awaiting blue mouth before him. He stood as it was swallowed and he waited, staring blankly at the vacancy in his hand. A slight shudder ran through him as he made his way through the truck’s door. Another long drag from his cigarette and an exhale of satisfaction. His hands gripped the wheel and he straightened the once offending mirror. Looking over his shoulder he saw the red duffle bag and smiled. “Assignment,” he mumbled as he drove away.

  assidy walked into the kitchen to find Alex at the stove and coffee on. “Whatya’ doing there?” The woman asked pulling up a bar stool at the island facing the agent’s back. Alex reached up and pulled down a coffee mug for the woman now across from her.

  “I’m making breakfast. Isn’t that what Alfred does?” She jested.

  “Uh huh… I don’t know. I haven’t had any invitations to Wayne Manor since I divorced the social circuit,” Cassidy quipped.

  Alex chuckled. “I see… well, lucky for you I double as a butler when necessary.”

  “So you cook?”

  “Ummm… not as well as my mother would like, no. I’m afraid that skipped right through me to Nicky….BUT, I can make a mean omelet. That’s about the extent of it, unless you love macaroni and cheese,” the agent confessed lightheartedly as she added eggs to the pan.

  Dylan entered wiping the sleep from his eyes and looked curiously at the scene before him. Cereal was the normal morning feast in this house unless it was the weekend. He walked next to the agent and strained to look into the pan. He rubbed his eyes again and spun on his heels to face his mother. Cassidy watched him closely wondering how he was going to react this morning. Alex had explained to him that her friend, Mr. Fallon, would be taking him to his dad. She said Mr. Fallon was silly and that Dylan would have a lot of fun with him. Cassidy hoped that might help to ease the boy’s stress. “Can I have juice?” Cassidy got up and poured the boy a glass of juice. “Can I watch Batman?” He asked with a yawn.

  “Yeah… go ahead… but we have to get you
ready in an hour, all right?’ He didn’t respond, just walked off into the living room.

  Alex moved the eggs in the pan gently. She could sense that Cassidy was stressed. “He’ll be fine,” Alex said reassuringly. One thing the agent understood about this woman was that Cassidy was dedicated to both her family and her students. She had prattled on and on about both with pride during their car ride the other night and it was evident every time she looked at Dylan or mentioned a student. Today she was forced to step away from both.

  “I hate this,” Cassidy offered bluntly.

  The agent grabbed a plate down and flipped the omelet onto it. She moved the two steps required and placed it on the counter in front of the small blonde woman. The tall dark haired agent studied the smaller woman before her. Cassidy was adorable in her sweat pants and T-shirt with her hair still slightly ruffled from sleep. “Eat your omelet,” Alex said plainly.

  “Is that an order?” Cassidy laughed.

  “Butlers don’t give orders,” Alex scoffed playfully. “You have some serious superhero etiquette to learn.”

  Cassidy laughed out loud which prompted Dylan to poke his head around the corner in curiosity. “Let me guess,” Alex said looking at the boy. “Batman wants cereal for breakfast.” Dylan nodded and headed back for his spot on the couch. “That’s what I like,” Alex looked at his mother. “Low maintenance superheroes.” She walked across the kitchen and grabbed the cereal, then the milk and put it in a bowl. Cassidy sat toying with her eggs. “Ummmm…” Alex looked at her from across the counter. “Are you afraid to eat my cooking?”

  “No…I’m sorry, Alex.”

  “Mmmhmm…come on,” Alex grabbed the plate out from under the woman and the bowl of cereal.

  “Where are you going?”

  “We are going to watch Batman over breakfast,” Alex said already out of the room. Cassidy grabbed her coffee and shook her head. When she reached the room, Dylan already had his bowl of cereal on the coffee table. He was engrossed in the images of the caped crusader on the television while the spoon unconsciously entered his small mouth over and over. Alex patted the couch and Cassidy took her seat silently. The agent seemed almost as focused on the cartoon as the boy and watching them both completely lost in the adventure; Cassidy suddenly felt a bit of relief. “Awww….” Alex let out an audible cringe as the Joker hit Batman with a ray gun. “That’s not right.”

  “He’s gonna’ get the Batmobile….watch, Alex… here ….look,” Dylan pointed to the television. Cassidy looked at the woman beside her. Alex was already showered and dressed, as always. She had her hair pulled back in her signature pony tail and her white blouse buttoned just to the top of her cleavage; which Cassidy was surprised she seemed to be noticing with some intensity. She was beautiful. Alex felt the woman’s gaze and it sent a burning sensation through her. Everything about Cassidy O’Brien intrigued Alex, everything. But, for the first time in her life the agent was not on a mission of seduction. She was fully aware that she loved Cassidy. It was a feeling she wasn’t certain she was capable of, but any doubts she had ever had were erased within a few minutes of being in this woman’s presence. As the last scene unfolded Cassidy prepared to call Dylan to get ready, but before she could speak her ears were met with the thunderous sound of two voices in unison, “Dundah dundah…BATMAN.”

  The teacher shook her head, “all right you caped crusaders… let’s go.” To her surprise Dylan rose to his feet quickly. He smiled at Alex and headed up the stairs.

  Cassidy looked at the agent and bent over to pick up the boy’s bowl. “Just go get him ready. I’ll get these. I need more coffee anyway.” Cassidy nodded her agreement and followed her son up the stairs.

  Alex looked at the paper and groaned at the picture. There she was with Cassidy in the driveway, the same day the other photo had been snapped:

  FBI guarding Cassidy O’Brien or Congressman O’Brien’s Secrets?

  “I hate the press,” she mumbled as she tucked the paper under her laptop on the kitchen table. She had no intention of allowing Cassidy to see the headline until after Dylan was safely away. The teacher was upset enough already. Alex had been on the phone with A.D. Tate and the president at the crack of dawn. John Merrow had apologized to the agent for the miscalculation. Alex had expressed from the beginning that this was a silly assignment to take undercover. She had to admit, for her part, this was one weight lifted off her. She no longer had to pretend she was someone else and that made her feel more confident about protecting Cassidy. At the same time, Alex was certain that the woman who commanded her affection would find the article unsettling. The doorbell rang and the agent moved to the hallway. Cassidy called from upstairs to her as she opened the door, “we’ll be right down, Alex.”

  “Take your time,” the agent called back opening the door but looking up the stairs.

  “So…Nice to see a celebrity first thing in the morning,” Fallon greeted his partner.

  “Shhh…” Alex whispered her warning to the man as she looked back up the stairs for any sign of the teacher and the boy.

  “Why are we shushing?” Fallon crouched into Alex.

  “She doesn’t know,” Alex motioned upstairs.

  “You mean she hasn’t seen the papers?”

  “No…shut up already, Fallon.”

  “Well,” a voice beckoned from a few paces away. “Looks like suburban life agrees with you, Agent Toles,” a flirtatious redhead offered. Alex nearly swallowed her tongue. It was Brackett. “Aren’t you going to say hello?” Brackett moved a little closer to the agent as Cassidy hit the top of the stairs and caught the redhead’s seductive gaze toward Alex.

  Cassidy felt her heart stop and then pound with such force she momentarily thought it might knock her down. She surveyed the interaction, watching the redhead’s expression as she seemed to undress Alex with her eyes. The sight before her made her stomach flip and she froze. Dylan skipped past her on the stairs. “Come on, Mom,” he said heading directly for Alex.

  Agent Brackett greeted him. “Hello there,” she said pulling away from Alex and extending her hand to the boy.

  “Hello,” he said turning to look at Alex for approval.

  “This is Ms. Brackett, Dylan…. I guess she’s …well…she’s helping Mr. Fallon – and this is my friend, Mr. Fallon.”

  Brackett stared at Alex, her gaze unmistakable. Cassidy began making her way down the stairs. One thing Cassidy could do when she needed to was extend pleasantries. She hated it, but being in public life made it a necessary skill. Inside she was seething. She felt jealous and she hurt more than she was capable of understanding. She didn’t even know if the redhead’s actions meant anything, but she suspected they did and it was ripping her insides apart. “Sorry about that,” she said sweetly as she stepped to the ground floor.

  “Mrs. O’Brien,” Agent Fallon greeted the woman. His eyes twinkled a bit as she held his gaze. “I promise we will take great care of Dylan.”

  “I know you will,” Cassidy smiled. The knots in Alex’s stomach suddenly felt more like fish swimming upstream. Cassidy was not acting like herself and the agent already knew why. She had clearly caught on to Agent Brackett’s attention to Alex, and she almost certainly wondered what role the agent played in it all. Cassidy busied herself getting Dylan’s coat on and making pleasantries with Fallon. She kept a watchful eye on the pair of female FBI agents that stood close to the door. Alex had her back to Cassidy and the teacher could not see the agent’s expression, but she had full view of every suggestive smile the redhead offered Alex.

  “So… Agent Toles,” Brackett began with a raise of her eyebrow. “Now that you are exposed… what is your plan?”

  Fallon closed his eyes tightly and Alex swallowed hard. She dared not face the teacher yet. First she needed to get Dylan off. The agent shot the redhead a look of cautionary disgust and then turned to look down at the boy. “Say goodbye to your mom, Dylan.” Her heart was completely lodged in her throat as she attempted to avo
id Cassidy’s eyes.

  The boy hugged his mother and Cassidy dropped all pretenses and all questions for a moment to encircle his small form within her arms. “I love you, sweetie.”

  He smiled at her. “Love you too,” he said sweetly and then turned and ran to the agent that had become his hero. “Alex… when I get back make sure the Batmobile is ready… we might have to find that Joker,” he said emphatically, preparing for his mission.

  For a split second both Cassidy and Alex forgot the current situation as Alex bent down to accept his hug. “You got it, Speed Racer.” He looked at her quizzically. “Oh… I mean BATMAN,” she corrected herself.

  Agent Fallon’s eyes were wide. Alex had always been good with his kids, but the affection she seemed to have for the small toe headed boy was different somehow. He sensed there was something more to this case for his friend. Fallon accepted the backpack from Cassidy with a sideways grin and shuttled Dylan out the door in front of him. He stopped briefly to whisper to his partner, “I’m sorry…it wasn’t my idea for her to….”

  Alex patted his shoulder; she was sure she knew whose idea it was to send Brackett, Brackett’s. She lingered in the doorway as the redhead came even with her, “Christ, Brackett….”

  “What?”

  Alex led her through the door and leaned into her ear, “just what the hell do you think you are doing?” Alex said attempting to control her temper.

  Brackett smiled, catching the expression of the small blonde behind the agent. “Hmmm… exposed? Pretty good at that, huh, Toles?” She leaned into the agent. Alex felt her body twitch from the anger that was brewing within her. “It’s all right… your secret’s safe with me,” the redhead winked.

  “Do you have any idea how unprofessional you are acting?”

  “Hummm… must be the rookie in me… I thought a seasoned agent would change that… huh? See you in Washington,” she nearly cooed as she walked away.