Greg replied, “Yeah, I can’t wait until the book comes out and she writes my character. I sure as hell hope she does me justice.”
“I hope she does me justice, and I’m her best friend. I’ll be back in a minute. In the meantime, can you please finish up the coffee?” I asked.
“Happy too,” Greg said.
I entered the bedroom to find Annie stirring and the puppies jumping on the bed. Annie’s pup, Casey snored away. Not much of a watch dog.
“Annie, we’ve got a visitor and he’s got some interesting news for you.” I gently tapped her shoulder.
Annie yawned and opened her eyes. She brushed her hair aside and reached for the digital clock on the nightstand. She brought it within two inches of her face and asked, “Who’s the moron who bothers people before seven o’clock in the morning? Lemme guess, it’s the tall guy with the short brown hair who has LT in front of his name. Am I right?”
“We know two guys who fit the description. You need to narrow it down a bit more,” I replied as I sat on the edge of the bed.
Annie pulled the blanket up to her chin and said, “You are kidding me, right? You have to be. Greg’s here to give me an interview, now! Talk about a disadvantage, I haven’t had one crummy cup of coffee, nothing to eat. I haven’t even, can’t believe I’m going to say this,” she let out a snort, “I haven’t had a chance to visit the loo.” We both laughed.
“For what it’s worth, Greg’s making coffee and when I was coming in here to wake you up, I heard him rummaging around in the kitchen. He’s probably making breakfast, so let’s get dressed and I’ll go get Adelaide and let’s listen to what he has to say. Okay?” I headed for the door.
Annie stretched and asked, “Where are you going?”
“Someone has to let all these pups out. I’ll be right back and I’ll bring some coffee. Hurry up.”
I headed back down the hallway with the proverbial kennel trotting behind me. My borrowed bathrobe was tied snuggly around my waist to keep out the early morning chill. I pulled my boots and hat on, opened the door and all the pups shoved their way through, barking and wagging their tails as they followed each other down the path sniffing as they progressed.
I was about to walk out when Greg came up from behind me and gently touched my elbow. He passed a steaming mug of coffee with exactly the right amount of milk under my nose. “You requested coffee and here it is.” He bowed.
“Why Greg, how did you know. Thank you.” I took a sip while keeping an eye on the pups. “Ah, the first cup of the day is always the best.”
“Yes it is, especially in these parts. It’s so peaceful up here.” Greg inhaled, leaned against a tree and sipped his coffee. He frowned and said, “It’s hard to fathom what’s about to happen, but we have to be as prepared as we possibly can be, so I have to ask you a question.”
“Okay, shoot,” I said.
Grady laughed, and asked, “Was that an intentional pun?”
I turned to look at him, and asked, “Why?”
He couldn’t stop laughing. “I was going to ask how long it’s been since you’ve shot your gun at the range.” He kept chuckling.
“Ha, ha, I get it. It’s been a couple of weeks, why?” I asked.
“Because, I’d like you to come down to the range and shoot.” Greg started laughing all over again. He walked away for a minute and then came back, after petting the puppies. “Sorry, it struck me as very funny, and I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was going over this case, angle by angle.” He stared into his coffee.
“It’s frightening, Greg,” I said.
He nodded. “Mildly understated. It’s up to us to stop them and what scares me is, it’s entirely possible for them to pull it off. They’ve disappeared, too. You haven’t heard anything and it makes me nervous as hell. It tells me their plans are in motion. I liked it better when they were texting you. At least we were doing something, now we’re guessing and I don’t like anticipating what the enemy’s going to do, I want to know.”
“Do you have any idea how often I check my phone in case I’ve missed something? I keep thinking the tone is broken, or I didn’t hear it go off. I’ve caught myself staring at it for minutes at a time, wondering why they’re not e-mailing. Then I think it’s over and they’ve gone back to North Korea and Kim Jong Un called it off. If it were true, then Teddie Drango would have been found by now and so on and so forth, right?” I asked.
Greg nodded and said, “Reggie’s got every contact out he knows. He won’t tell us who they are, but he says they’re tailing Teddie.” He shrugged and continued, “For all I know, could be a damned squirrel following Teddie.” Greg took another swallow of coffee.
“At the risk of you cracking up, and I mean it in the nicest of ways, you want me to get some range time in?” I asked.
“The rest of the crew is headed down to the State range later on this morning and I want you there to practice with us. I’m going to lay out what our assignments are going to be when the Thunderbird Air Show comes to town along with the Stealth Bomber, so your presence is required. First, I promised Annie the interview and I’m a man of my word. We have a lot of work to do before the show opens and we have to be ready for whatever comes our way.” Greg squared his shoulders and looked me in the eye the same as he had the first time I had met him.
I extended my hand to shake his and stated, “You can count on me LT to be part of the team in whatever way is necessary.”
We shook hands and walked back into the house to find Annie and Adelaide sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking coffee. Adelaide spread her palms upward and asked, “Where’s my breakfast? I was promised a gourmet meal.”
Greg grabbed a towel and flipped it over his arm. He removed a pad and pen from his pocket and said, “My apologies, Ma’am, some of the restaurant staff had to be taken out for their morning duties. I believe one of them brought in the morning paper. I hope it makes up for the delay in taking your order.” Greg paused while Chloe dropped the Soundview Times at Adelaide’s feet. Adelaide stared at Chloe and then at Greg and back at Chloe.
“Your order, Ma’am?” Greg asked.
“Hell with my order, what did you do to my dog, she’s never brought the paper to me.” Adelaide squinted at Greg.
“I can’t really say, not being too familiar with canine behavior. I suppose there’s a first time for everything.” Greg shrugged.
Adelaide pointed at him and said, “You’re lying! You’re a cop and you use canines all the time. What did you do to my dog?”
“Again, Ma’am, it’s completely unexplained and I’ve no idea why she decided to bring you the paper. Novel behavior, perhaps? Listen, I’m new at this order taking thing, so please give me a break and let me know what you want. I have an interview to give and training to do. I’m sure Chloe’s fine.” Greg held his pen over the pad.
Adelaide glanced back down at Chloe. Annie got up, walked around the counter, bent down and petted Chloe and said, “She seems fine. I know she doesn’t like to be picked up, otherwise I’d put her in your lap.”
“Thank you, Annie.” Adelaide glared at Greg and said, “I’ll have two eggs over easy, please. I don’t want the yolk running all over the place, got it?”
“Yes, Ma’am, I got it. Would you care for toast?”
“Yes I would, please. Whole wheat and hold the butter. More coffee and cranberry juice, too, if you have it. I don’t know how far you’ll go as a waiter—we’ll see how you do as a cook. Good thing you’ve got a day job,” Adelaide muttered.
Greg turned to Annie and asked what she would like.
Annie had one elbow on the counter and rested her head in the palm of her hand. She smiled at Greg and said, “I’d love one interview on whole wheat, not toasted. Can you manage it? And toss in a couple of scrambled eggs while you’re at it?”
Greg put the pen top to his chin for a second, then wrote on his pad and responded, “I’ve got you covered, young lady, don’t you worry. I’ll be back i
n a jiffy and I promise you’ll both be satisfied with your orders.”
Greg made quick work of the cooking duties, placed our plates in front of us, complete with a vase of fresh flowers: Pink roses with a few peonies tossed in for extra color. He pulled up a stool and unfolded the sports page and read while the rest of us ate in silence.
Adelaide dropped pieces of toast and egg down to the waiting pups which drew a scowl from Greg. She returned the look with one of total innocence and went about cleaning up the yolk on her plate with toast remnants, dropping the last remaining piece of crust on the floor.
Greg put the sports page down and said, “If you wanted me to cook a couple of extra eggs for the pooches, I would have. All you had to do was ask.”
Adelaide blinked a few times and said, “I had no idea you were a dog guy, Greg.”
Greg grinned. “I was one of the State K9 trainers for a number of years until I became involved in other things. I love my pooches.”
Annie elbowed me, and I elbowed her right back. Annie sighed.
“Problem, Jensen? Oh, let me guess, your buddy’s getting impatient. Tell you what, let’s get the dishes done and I’ll give you your interview, Ms. Tyler, sound okay?” Greg got up and began piling up the plates.
“Sounds perfect, Greg. Except, you did the cooking, so, it’s only fair Laura and I do the clean-up.” Annie grabbed the plates from Greg and made her way to the sink and I dutifully followed. We had everything washed and put away in no time—Annie was determined to get her interview before Greg came up with any other excuses.
“I’ll grab my recorder, notebook and pen and be right back,” Annie said and ran down the hallway to the bedroom.
“I’m surprised she doesn’t have them surgically attached to her,” Greg said with a chuckle.
In less than thirty seconds, Annie was back and slid back into the same seat. “I heard your remark.” She set her things on the counter, glanced at Greg and asked, “Are you ready?”
“I am, but are you?” he replied.
Annie pulled her recorder out and placed it between them and retorted, “I’m always prepared.”
“I’ll bet you are.” Greg grinned.
Adelaide nudged Greg with the cane.
“If you’re finished with the wisecracks, can I turn the recorder on?” Annie inquired.
“God knows we wouldn’t want those around for posterity. Go for it.” Greg paused until he was sure the device was on, then asked, “You know who Kim Jong Un is?”
Annie looked puzzled. “Are you going to begin this interview by insulting me?”
“Not at all. It’s a fair question. I’m checking to see if you’re up on international politics,” Greg replied.
“Of course I know who he is. He’s the nut job who’s the dictator of North Korea,” Annie shot back.
“Okay, good enough for me. Well, said nut job has sent his niece over here, along with a couple of friends, one being a fellow North Korean and the other is a Russian. They were enrolled in Soundview Technical, in their honor’s program, designed for foreign students studying engineering. They were instructed to take up some off-campus activities, specifically the recent bridge bombings. Only, it’s not their objective, as we’ve come to find out. Now, before I continue, this next part is what you’re not permitted to print, got it.” Greg pointed at Annie and waited for a response.
“Yeah, I got it, but I can’t believe what you’re telling me. Laura, is this the honest to God’s real truth?” Annie gulped, a reaction I rarely saw from her and she’d only heard a portion of the story.
Adelaide remained silent while I responded, “Yes, Annie, everything Greg’s telling you is the truth. What he’s about to tell you is also true, and please believe me, I wanted to let you in on it, but I wasn’t allowed to.”
Annie hugged me. “I understand, I do—you’ve a job to do and so do I. I swear I’ll only report what Greg says is okay. I don’t want to put any of us in jeopardy.” She inhaled deeply and nodded.
Greg nodded in return. “I’m glad to hear it because what I’m about to tell you is crucial. I have faith in my guys, all of them as well as our military. I’m only mentioning them because the Air Force is now involved. It’s our belief those three are here to attempt to steal the Stealth Bomber during an air show put on by the Air Force Thunderbirds at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, about an hour away from here.” Greg paused for a second while he drew in another breath. “The Stealth is only here for display purposes, for the fans who come to see the Thunderbirds fly their aeronautical acrobatic show.”
“I’m confused, what am I missing?” Annie asked.
“They want the Stealth to bring back to North Korea to outfit with either a hydrogen bomb or a nuke and use it against us. Kim Jong Un has both, or so he claims and with the Stealth he wouldn’t have to be concerned with long range missiles,” Greg answered.
Annie had already clicked her recorder off. Her hand remained on it as she locked eyes with Greg and asked, “How do we prepare for this?”
Greg lowered his voice and said, “We remain calm, train and stay on their trail. We will find them before their plan is executed, I can promise you that. If it comes down to the last minute, so be it, we’ve got the Thunderbirds on our team too.”
Chapter 28
I folded my arms on the kitchen counter and rested my head while contemplating all Greg had shared with Annie. Granted, I knew he had only given her the highlights, but it had been enough to scare my sure-footed friend who was currently sitting on the front porch. Having grown up with Annie Tyler, I could guarantee she was reviewing the Instagram of her life, checking the high and low points, readying her arguments to be permitted to pass through the Pearly Gates. Knowing her, she was most likely preparing additional lists for the rest of us to greet the Lord.
Adelaide tapped me with her cane and asked, “How long are you going to leave Annie out there by her lonesome?”
Greg resumed his seat, after having finished with straightening the kitchen, and said, “I was wondering the same thing. She ran out of here before we finished.”
Without lifting my head, I replied, “Greg, you scared her half to death, and without letting her in on the entire story. Besides, she needs a few more minutes to process what you did tell her and then she’ll be back in to ask you more questions.” I nudged Annie’s notebook and recorder. “She never goes too far away from these.”
“Well, she is out there with her pup, Casey, so it’s not like she’s by herself,” Adelaide noted.
“Right, but I’d like to get this done. Mike’s due to be here in about an hour and we need to get over to the range for serious practice.” Greg looked up at the clock on the wall.
I rubbed my temples and then the back of my neck—interrupting Annie was not one of my favorite things to do. “Okay Greg, I’ll see if I can roust her.” I slid off my seat and went to the front door, and decided to check the window first. I pushed the curtain aside and peeked out.
“You’re chicken,” Adelaide whispered.
I turned around and answered, “I am not. She’s deep in thought. Her eyes are closed and Casey’s on her lap. I think she’s meditating. You told all of us we ought to try it the other day.”
“I have to see this for myself.” Adelaide made her way over to the window with Greg right behind her. He pulled the curtain all the way to the side and said, “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it; Annie Tyler sitting completely still. Will wonders never cease.” Greg went on, “I guess your meditation thing works, Adelaide—who knew.”
Adelaide looked up at Greg and said, “You young people don’t always listen to us older folk. How do you think we got to our advanced age anyway? It certainly wasn’t by listening to the news all the time and having our noses in those devices you carry around all day long. We got outside and interacted with each other and had quiet time too, reading and meditation.” She pointed to her head. “We’ve got knowledge
up here.”
Greg put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s why we listen to you.”
I tiptoed to the front door and carefully opened it. I stepped ever so softly over to my still seated friend. I was about three feet away when Annie said, without opening her eyes, “If that’s how you sneak up on suspects, they’ll shoot you. Greg’s one hundred percent correct, you need a lot of practice before you go against the crazy North Korean niece, her pal and the nut job Russian who’s in on this caper.”
I sat down next to her and petted Casey. “Greg will make sure I’m ready, he’s not going to put me in a situation where my life’s in danger. Besides, it’s not only Mike and me, it’s the FBI, the State Police, the local PD in Windsor Locks and Hartford and surrounding towns and probably more I don’t know about. This is an enormous operation, Annie. We’re talking about an attempt to steal the Stealth Bomber, and there’s no way it’s going to happen. Right, there was an inside person at a base, but they’re on the run and they will be caught before they can do any damage.” I stopped and added, “Greg was going to tell you.” I raised an eyebrow.
Annie opened her eyes, turned to me and said, “I hope you’re right about all of this, but I’ve been going over my entire life just in case we don’t make it, I want to be right with the Lord.” She scrunched her nose. “Sounds funny coming from me, doesn’t it? I’ve never been big on religion, but I’ve never felt as if I’ve been face to face with my own mortality before, not until now. When Greg mentioned either a nuke or a hydrogen bomb being used against us, it sent shivers throughout my entire body, something I’ve never felt before, Laura. Not much rattles either of us but this did, so I decided to try Adelaide’s suggestion of meditation.” The corner of Annie’s mouth formed a smile. “Don’t tell her it worked.”
I patted her arm. “Your secret is safe with me, but I have a feeling she’s going to figure it out.”
“Speaking of safe, give me your word you will stay safe, you’re my only family.” Annie looked at me.
Case of the Mouse Trap Legend Page 14
