Claudia, the librarian, stood alone in the foyer that ran between the dining room and living room. She pushed her glasses up on her nose and smiled shyly as she hugged her computer tablet up to her chest. “Surprise,” she said clearing her throat.
Gasping at the rooms before her, Tessa thought she’d just walked into a model home by Pottery Barn. Furniture, sleek and contemporary mixed with her antique pieces that hadn’t been damaged by the gunman. Shiny wood floors, freshly painted walls and new light fixtures completed the look. Her heart pounded as Claudia handed her the Pottery Barn catalog she’d been saving for ideas. Tessa then remembered Chase handing it to Claudia the day they’d returned to look for a bomb.
“I hope it meets with your satisfaction, Mrs. Scott.” Claudia handed Tessa a black folder of information concerning the decorating choices, location of services used and a certificate “This certificate proclaims you won a $70,000 make over contest as advertised in your favorite magazine.”
“Which one?” Tessa said wide eyed as she went over the room in amazement.
“Pick one. It doesn’t matter, Mrs. Scott. What does matter is that your husband believes it. From what I understand that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Tessa grabbed the black woman in a bear hug and squeezed so hard her glasses tilted on her nose. Once released, Claudia straightened her glasses then her clothes impatiently and walked outside toward Mr. Crawley’s driveway. Looking around like Alice in Wonderland, Tessa put her hands over her heart and smiled at Chase then at Zoric who seemed to be pretty proud of themselves.
“Thank you,” she said with deep emotion.
Zoric winked at her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Coffee. Soon.”
She nodded as he left Chase alone with her. “Remember. Robert cannot know about us or what you’ve been up to. Got it?”
“You want me to lie to my husband, is that it?” she frowned.
“That’s exactly what I want you to do.” Chase didn’t like goodbyes or hollow promises about tomorrow. He just needed to leave and be done with her so he could go talk to the doctor about this recurring pain in his chest, like now. He touched his ear. “They’re almost here.” He turned to leave when he felt Tessa’s hand on his arm.
“Chase” was all she needed to say for him to swing her up in his arms and embrace her tightly. She felt a kiss on her cheek as he released her and darted out the door.
For a few moments Tessa became lost in thought about the surge of warmth she felt for the captain. The sound of car doors slamming, loud boyish voices and a little singing girl, drew Tessa’s attention outside. Lazily, Tessa moved through the open front door to see Robert hurrying to her. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry for being a jerk. I promise I’ll be a better husband and a father from now on, Tessa.”
Tessa stepped into his open arms and laid her face against his chest. Little hands circled her waist as they started talking all at once. Sean Patrick and Daniel broke away first and ran into the house only to return begging their father and little sister to come look at the new house.
“Wow!” was all Robert managed to say. “Guess this is why you haven’t been answering your phone.” He noticed the cut over her eye, the scratched arms and bruises along her arms and face. “What happened?” he said turning her face gently with his hand.
“I started working with this secret government agency who hunt down terrorists. We got in a bit of a mess. There was a fire, I nearly drowned watched a bunch of Libyans try and steal isotopes and blow up Global Navigation outside of Auburn. That’s pretty much it.”
“No. Really, Tessa, what happened?” He sounded concerned.
Tessa sighed. She had tried to be honest. “I fell off the ladder when I was painting and cracked my head as well as dislocated my shoulder.”
“You’re such a clumsy goof, Tessa. Can’t leave you alone at all,” he smiled kissing her on the lips. “I’m glad to be home.”
“Hey, Mom, you should meet our friend Honey!” Daniel blurted out much to Robert’s embarrassment.
Sean Patrick elbowed his mother gently. “She was a real hotty.”
~ ~ ~
The two Enigma men sat in their car listening to the family chatter about the new house, their trip and the mysterious Honey. They momentarily stiffened when Tessa began summing up her week with Enigma. They realized she merely wanted to tell the truth, because telling the truth would be impossible to believe.
Zoric frowned. “Did he call her a goof?”
“Give me your gun.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to shoot him,” Chase said drily.
Claudia turned out the lights in Mr. Crawley’s house before joining the Enigma men in the van. Careful not to wrinkle her black skirt, Claudia slipped into the back seat. “What do you think, Captain Hunter?”
Zoric laughed as Chase grinned. “She’s perfect.”
“I’ll start the paper work then.
“Use the name Melanie Glenn.”
~ ~ ~
“Mommy! Mommy!” Heather came running to her mother in the kitchen as she made lemonade for her thirsty bunch after only a few minutes of reconnecting.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Tessa laughed happily as she bent down and lifted her youngest up into her arms.
Heather pointed next door as if her mother could see through walls. “I just saw an angel!”
“You did?” Tessa remembered not taking her daughter seriously a few days ago when she’d seen a falling star. “Where did you see this angel?”
She jabbed a finger toward next door. “Mr. Crawley’s! His yard light was on and this big guy was a standin’ there big, big. He had big wings.” Heather motioned with her arms to show size of the wings. Tessa smiled knowing the lights under Mr. Crawley’s bushes had cast shadowy like wings on one of her friends. “You believe me?”
“I sure do!”
“Can I make a wish on an angel?” Her eyes were wide with anticipation.
Tessa kissed her daughter and carried her to the living room window where she watched a car slowly pull out of Mr. Crawley’s drive. “I hope so.”
Epilogue
The August sun remained hot during the evening stroll through the fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Carnival rides sent squeals of joy over the heads of families enjoying the corn dogs, funnel cakes and fried pickles. Snow cone drips on tee shirts created the style of small children hanging on to the hands of parents and grandparents. The concert started at the far end as a country music star began to belt out his only hit from five years earlier. Ladies wearing their blue ribbons from prized pies or home-grown tomatoes chatted loudly with neighbors and friends they usually only saw at this time of year.
Tessa laughed when her husband won a teddy bear for Heather at the ring toss. The boys cheered their dad on then suckered him into riding the Ferris wheel with them one more time. As Heather swung her mom’s hand back and forth happily, Tessa noticed a woman staring at her. When Tessa turned her face away and began walking a little faster, the woman quickly rushed to her side, carrying something in her arms.
“Melanie? Is that you?” The excited woman turned the bundle around for Tessa to see the baby girl. “I thought that was you!” Her accent was definitely southern; unusual in this part of the country.
Tessa smiled warily. “Excuse me. I’m not Melanie. But that is sure a sweet baby. How old is she?”
The woman blushed and pulled the baby back to her shoulder. “Two months. I’m sorry. You look just like the woman who helped deliver her in Tennessee. I named my baby after her because she saved my life.”
“How wonderful.”
“I’m sorry I bothered you. You look so much like her.”
“No bother.” Tessa watched as the young woman moved away and joined other people at the food stands.
Her heart pounded. Perspiration beaded up on her forehead. All the danger and excitement she’d experienced with Enigma washed over her. Had it been two months?
Robert and the boys
joined her and Heather with hotdogs and sodas.
Robert eyed her. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I did.”
THE END
WINDS OF DECEPTION
Dedicated to the brave men who served on the
USS Liberty on June 8, 1967
For More Information
The History Channel: Cover-up: Attack on the USS Liberty
Dead In The Water – Visit www.usslibertyveterans.org
Acknowledgments
Bryce Lockwood – Thank you for your service on the USS Liberty and for bringing this fantastic story to my attention. I am deeply appreciative of your kindness and patience with all of my questions.
Mary Pat Kelley Tierney – You are one awesome ER/Nurse Practitioner. Without your help I couldn’t have stopped the bleeding or saved important lives.
Dr. Candace Detchon – Not only can you be my eyes in D.C. but help me get in the heads of my characters. Dr. Wu of Enigma appreciates the assistance as do I.
Kelly Rear – Your technical support and advice helped me out of many tight spots.
Meghan Fanning – Without your editing skills I’d still be stuck on trying to figure out what went wrong. Your first-round edits were painful and necessary. I’m glad you know the characters almost as well as me.
Shirley McCann – By the time you got Winds of Deception for last round edits I had begun to wonder if I’d ever see the manuscript completed. With your keen eye and encouragement, I forged ahead. Thank you for your continued support, kindness and love of all things Captain Chase Hunter.
Patricia Wilkerson – I think every author needs a cheerleader. You are always there for me when I need a Beta reader or someone to bounce an idea around. Promoting me and my work has almost become a full time job for you. Thank you for your love and support over the years.
Sharon Kizziah-Holmes – Thank you for not booting me out the door with all my questions. In spite of being my publisher on this project you’ve become a dear friend. I so appreciate your patience and ideas concerning bringing this project to completion.
Prologue
June 8, 1967
The Mediterranean Sea grew choppy the morning the USS Liberty sailed eastward, like an innocent child walking toward a predator lying in wait for its next victim. Because it failed to receive at least five warning messages crew and officers dressed casually in tropical or dungarees attire expecting a non-eventful day. In spite of a war raging between Israel and Egypt a little more than a dozen miles away, a few enlisted men planned to do some sunbathing before they took up their posts. The jovial mood among the men came from arguing over who would be first at the soda fountain that evening when it opened at 6:00 P.M.
Duty Officer Mel Stark admired the sunrise when an Israeli plane came out of nowhere. It circled the ship several times before heading in the direction of Tel Aviv. The USS Liberty was an American General Technical Research Vessel, but those down below, where the listeners of secrets worked diligently, identified the plane as an ally.
After looking up, Mel turned to Jake Wakefield, a Russian language interpreter brought on board in Spain. “What the heck is he doing here?”
“Making sure the Russkies aren’t helping out the Rabs, I guess.” Jake frowned lifting his hand to wave to the pilot. “Don’t like it. Can’t trust those guys.”
“Ahh!” Mel waved him off. “The commander worried we were too close to shore. That on-board NSA officer wouldn’t hear of moving farther out to sea. Convinced the commander it would compromise their mission.”
Jake nodded. “We wouldn’t be able to get an ultra-high-frequency range. Guess that’s why we’ve been doing a back-and-forth patrol of the Sinai coast. This is pretty shallow water.”
Mel chuckled. “You spies don’t trust anyone. Israel is our friend. We’ve got nothing to hide.”
Johnny Simon rushed up and handed the duty officer and Jake a slip of paper. Catching the last few words of their conversation, he chimed in then turned his eyes skyward. “No. But the Israelis sure do.” He watched Jake’s frown deepen as his eyes scanned the contents.
“Says here the Israelis are killing Egyptians by the hundreds. Their orders are to bury them in the sand dunes near El Arish.” Jake reread the information, shocked at the brutality.
Inhaling the fresh sea air, the duty office looked upward at the American flag waving in the twelve-knot breeze. The deceptive calm of the morning failed to prepare them for the assault coming to cripple and nearly sink an American vessel.
Jake hurried to his station below deck to listen in on Israeli secrets. Not only could he speak fluent Russian, his Arabic wasn’t bad either. He listened in horror at the reports coming in from Egyptian transmissions.
“Holy Mother of God.” Jake jumped to his feet.
The commander stopped as he navigated the close quarters. “What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Jake touched the headphones as if continuing to listen before addressing the senior officer. “The Israelis just gut shot a bunch of soldiers that surrendered. They had been hiding in the desert. Came in because of thirst. The Israelis poured water into the sand then let ’em have it.”
“You heard wrong.” The commander spoke forcefully, afraid of the alternative.
Jake yanked off the headphones. “Has there been any other Israeli planes fly over, sir?”
The commander chewed the inside of his lip. “Little while ago a plane circled the Liberty. The crew waved and the pilot returned the gesture. He flew so low I thought he might clip the masts of the ship. Star of David was clearly visible.”
“Commander?” Another crewman shouted. “Heard some chatter. Can’t understand it though. Let Jake have a crack at it.”
The commander nodded toward Jake.
“It’s some Israeli officials, I don’t know who, discussing that an American spy ship is just off shore.” Jake listened more intently. “I think they want to sink us.”
The commander dropped his hands as his fists started to open and close. “What the hell for? We’re no threat to Israel?”
“Couldn’t get it all, sir, but it sounds like the Israelis started this war, not the Egyptians like we first thought. If that’s true President Johnson won’t be throwing any tax dollars their way, not with the Russians itching for a fight. They’d throw in with the Egyptians and bang! Nukes would start raining down everywhere. Israel wants to look like the victim so the United Nations won’t condemn their actions. We’ve got it on tape.”
“Meaning?” The commander already started to move toward the ladder that led to the deck.
“They’re planning to sink us and destroy the evidence.”
The American president liked a good fight but only if he could bet on the winner. His Jewish background, unknown to most Americans, had him squarely in their court. Jake realized nothing must change the president’s high opinion of Israel.
The explosion jarred him right down to his very core. They were under attack from the very nation that claimed to be an ally. His skin burned as fire swept through the room. Water gushed in when the USS Liberty began to list. Several men already floated face down in the murky water. In spite of his burns, Jake grabbed his buddy, lifting him over his shoulder to carry him up on deck.
Another trip down in the bowels of the ship exposed more dead. The man who had first brought Jake information of Israeli treachery, screamed as he clutched his shattered arm. Just as Jake reached him another explosion rocked the ship. Without a thought for his own life, he lifted the seaman in his arms. Struggling to reach the ladder, he heard the hatch slam shut. As he reached the top step, Jake yelled for help. The water rose higher. Jake laid his friend in the rising water, careful to keep his hand on the man’s chest.
After banging his fist on the hatch for several minutes, the creak of rescue opened a path for escape. Men pulled Jake and another from what threatened to be a watery grave.
The attack continued for over an
hour. Just as quickly as they appeared, the Israelis vanished. The USS Liberty learned later the Israelis intercepted a message from the Destroyer Squadron 12. The USS Davis and USS Massey arrived the following day near sunrise. A Russian destroyer appeared around midnight, standing by in case assistance was required.
Even after Jake stood on the deck of the Liberty, surveying the damage, he realized if they had been in deeper water the Israelis would have sunk them. Every man on board suffered some kind of injury.
Thirty-four dead.
In the days that followed, a cover-up of monumental proportions erased the atrocities Israel committed against the United States of America.
Israel failed to take into consideration one man might survive to take revenge.
That man was Jake Wakefield.
Chapter 1
G lass shattered when a bullet penetrated the mountain cabin window where Tessa tried to hide the last two days. A gust of fifteen-degree wind followed by puffs of icy snow, burst into the room as if needing more space to pile its merciless whisper of a cold death. When she tried to find cover, the wet snow matted to her boots, and sent her sprawling into her partner’s bleeding body on the floor.
He’d taken the bullet as he pushed her out of harm’s way. Frantic, Tessa covered his body with hers when more rounds of an automatic weapon pulverized the upper wall over the fireplace, sending debris into the flames, flickering light into the otherwise dark room. Knowing the moment of payback had arrived, she slid her hand down to the SIG rifle. Her partner, Chase Hunter, taught her how to use it the day before. She felt his firm grip on her wrist. Because she wasn’t an agent like him and the others on his team, fear caused her hand to shake. After all the times Chase had rescued her, she couldn’t let him down because of the lack of training.
The Enigma Series Boxed Set Page 37
