Edge of Tomorrow

by Wolf Wootan

  She wiped the tears from her eyes and swung her legs over the edge of the bed as she sat up.

  “Good morning, precious,” said Hatch from behind her.

  She turned and looked at him and smiled.

  “Good morning to you. Still feel the same?” she asked.

  “More so. You?”

  “I’m hopeless! Of course I still love you! But my mind is doing cartwheels! Is that normal?” she groaned.

  “Yes, oh, yes! You lose touch with your reasoning powers. Everything is replaced by pure bliss! Isn’t it wonderful? Have you been crying?”

  “Just ‘cry for happy.’ I think I will give in to bliss right now. Want to shower with me, dear?” she smiled.

  “I wouldn’t miss that! You’ve turned me into a shower-sex addict. God, you’re gorgeous this morning!”

  “Your brain is locked up, too! I’m sweaty from sex, my hair is plastered to my head, no makeup! I’ll see you in the shower!”

  • • •

  After drying her hair, Syd went to the bathroom mirror to apply her makeup before dressing. Hatch did not shave because he was letting his beard grow fuller again.

  “I wonder how Sara enjoyed her night?” chortled Syd.

  “The poor guy is probably all used up,” laughed Hatch.

  “And you’re not?” giggled Syd as she reached for her bra.

  “I admit it! That trick of yours in the shower finished me off!”

  “We women have more staying power than men,” smirked Syd. “When do we leave for Athens? Taking the GS-V?”

  “Let’s get some breakfast, then we’ll leave. We’ll take the chopper. It’s only a little over 400 miles, so we’ll be there in about an hour and a half. The GS-V has some maintenance underway—and going to Rome, then firing up the GS-V, is more trouble than it’s worth. Besides, I need a chopper while we’re in Athens,” he replied.

  “Whatever for?” she asked as she buttoned her light blue blouse.

  “Surprise. You’ll find out later.”

  “What are we going to tell your parents? I mean, about us?” she asked. “Won’t they think it weird if you tell them you’re in love with some floozy you just met?”

  “Floozy? What’s this floozy crap? You’re gorgeous! Smart! They’ll just think you’re after my money!” he laughed. “They already think I’m weird, though. They actually should be very happy to see me serious about someone. They don’t know about Kat, by the way. They know nothing about that part of my life, and I would like to keep it that way. OK?”

  “Whatever you say. It’s probably a good idea to edit my background, too. God, I hope they like me!” she exclaimed with a sigh. “Do I look all right?”

  She twirled around so he could inspect her. She had on tight, navy blue capris, a light blue cotton blouse, and dark blue sandals. Her bracelet was on her left wrist, as usual. Her earrings were small diamond studs, the most expensive jewelry she owned before she met Hatch.

  “I liked you better before,” he leered.

  “Before what?”

  “Before you got dressed,” he laughed. “You look just fantastic! Just the right clothes for a chopper ride. Let’s eat, then pack an overnight bag. Their ship doesn’t leave until 1800 tomorrow, so we’ll have all day tomorrow to visit with them, too.”

  • • •

  James Gramble, Deputy Director of Intelligence for the CIA, closed the red cover on the report on his desk. It was marked EYES ONLY. He looked at the gray-haired senior agent sitting in front of his desk. This agent had been a handler for Gramble in his Black Ops days.

  “OK, Hank, this is good. See if I’ve got this right. Two Iranians were killed in Marco, Florida while trying to grab a broad. The FBI identifies them as terrorists belonging to the terrorist group Wrath of Allah in Iran. The man who came to the aid of the target—a woman named Sydney Steppe—was none other than Mr. Van Lincoln himself. Correct so far?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Then, not long after that, the Wrath of Allah headquarters outside Tabriz was destroyed in a mysterious attack by persons unknown. Flight records show that Mr. Lincoln’s private jet flew to Israel, then on to Istanbul just before the attack. Strange coincidence.”

  “Yes, Mr. Gramble.”

  “Where is Lincoln now?” asked Gramble.

  “We’ve been watching him as you requested. His jet is currently in Rome. By the way, custom records show Ms. Steppe—a college professor, we ascertained—is there, too. She’s used his credit card there, but nothing illegal. She’s a legal signatory,” replied the agent.

  Gramble stroked his chin. He really wanted to get something on Lincoln if he could. Maybe that would help counter the hold Lincoln had had on Gramble for sixteen years.

  “Still in Rome, eh?” asked Gramble.

  “Just before I came in here, his chopper filed a flight plan to Athens.”

  “Call Athens. I want someone on him at all times. And do a detailed check on that Steppe woman. I want to know everything about her. Maybe there’s something there.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter 29

  Piraeus, Greece

  Friday, August 17, 2001

  12:30 P.M.

  Piraeus is about eight miles southwest of the center of Athens. Although the port is connected to the city bus system and the Athens metro, Hatch had a limo waiting at the airport to make sure they had no problems getting around in the teaming city. The current modern city of Piraeus—a major shipping center—had been built on top of the ancient city, which had been the port of Athens since antiquity. There were countless seaside tavernas to choose from, and by 12:30 P.M. Hatch and Syd were seated in one of them, breathing in the smell of the sea, and the aroma of delicious, fresh seafood cooking. They had a marvelous view of an assortment of yachts and smaller sail and power boats. The scene was accented by hundreds of colorful flags and banners flying from the masts of the boats. This taverna was not too far from where the Grand Princess cruise ship would arrive around 1700. Syd had willed herself not to think of the future, but to enjoy her new life minute by minute. They ordered wine and Hatch lit a cigarette. Syd refused one, and looked out at the variety of boats moving around the harbor.

  She then clinked her glass against Hatch’s glass, winked at him, then said, “I love you. Don’t mind me. I just like saying it!”

  “I love hearing you say it,” he replied, a beaming smile on his face.

  “Do you believe in coincidences?” she asked, changing the subject for the moment.

  “Sometimes. Not often. Depends on the context.”

  “Don’t turn your head just yet, but that guy in the green shirt four tables away was at the airport when we landed,” she said casually.

  “Hmm, you are good, Syd. You spotted him, too.”

  “You made him?” she asked.

  “Of course. I can’t seem to break old habits. He’s not very good at surveillance. What do we do about him?”

  Syd sipped her wine and took Hatch’s cigarette and puffed on it, leaving lipstick on the filter. She returned it to him and said, “It still could be mere coincidence. If he follows us when we leave, maybe we should find out who he is. Who would be following us? A mugger?”

  “Possibly, but I don’t think so. He could have mugged us at the airport. Also, I don’t think Lucchese is involved. There is no way we could have been followed here in the chopper. Someone with access to flight plans could have known we were coming here,” Hatch mused.

  “That narrows it down. SISDE? Why would they be interested in us?”

  “Or CIA. Let’s eat, then we’ll see what’s up. That shrimp smells delicious!”

  • • •

  As they left the quaint taverna, Syd and Hatch strolled hand in hand toward the docks where the cruise ship would arrive later. After about 200 yards, they stopped while Hatch lit a cigarette. He spotted Green Shirt looking in the window of a bait shop.

  “He’s with us,” he told Syd. “He would be easy to lose, but I w
ould like to know who he is. How about you? Up for a little adventure?”

  “I’m dying of curiosity. How do you want to do it? I could just go ask the asshole,” replied Syd. “Divert him with my rampant sexuality—unbutton these top two buttons on my blouse, and …”

  “Now, Syd! Since we don’t know his intentions, we should consider him armed and dangerous, and we are unarmed.”

  “I have my travel knife in my purse. I should probably get that out and stick it in my bra for easier access, just in case,” replied Syd.

  “Don’t cut those beautiful boobs!” laughed Hatch. “Unless he attacks us, I don’t want to use lethal force. When we reach the corner of that building up ahead, let’s turn the corner and get out of his sight and see if we can set a trap.”

  “OK. Sneakiness instead of sexiness, eh?”

  They turned the corner, then Hatch moved into action. There was a door, but it was locked. Farther down was a dumpster. He ran to it and saw that he could hide behind it.

  “Syd, take my cigarettes and lighter. Run over to that shed and light one up. Pretend to be talking to someone, and blow a lot of smoke. Hopefully, he’ll think I’m with you. When he passes here, I’ll grab him and have a little chat. As soon as I whistle, come back here and watch my back. There may be one we didn’t spot. This guy could be a decoy.”

  “The old cigarette diversion ploy, oui?” said Syd in her best imitation of Inspector Clouseau. “OK, sweetie! Be careful! Do you want my knife?”

  “No. I’ll be all right. Move!”

  Syd ran to the corner of the metal shed and quickly lit a cigarette. She felt as if she were in a scene in Casablanca. She wanted to say, “Play it again, Sam.”

  My, my! I’m getting to use a cigarette as a decoy! This is just like a ride on Hatch’s Orient Express! Be careful, darling!

  The man in the green shirt casually looked around the corner of the building and saw the woman apparently talking to someone who was out of his line of sight. He saw billows of cigarette smoke and remembered the man had been smoking. He decided to move down the side of the building as if he were heading for the building further down. He wanted to keep the man in sight. As he moved past a dumpster, he felt a hand grab his neck and another his left wrist. Before he could react, he found himself face down on the tarmac with a knee in the small of his back.

  Hatch whistled and Syd came running, taking a position where she could watch Hatch’s back, and still see the man on the ground in case she needed to assist Hatch in any way.

  “OK, asshole, why are you following us?” snarled Hatch.

  “I’m not following anyone. I was on my way to that building over there,” replied Green Shirt.

  “I don’t think so,” said Hatch. He ran his hands over the man and found and extracted a 9mm Glock semiautomatic. He handed it to Syd.

  “If he tries anything, shoot out his kneecaps,” he told her.

  “My pleasure,” she replied in a flat voice, all business now.

  Continuing his search, Hatch located the man’s wallet. In it, he found the man’s CIA identification card. He stood up and stepped away from him so he would not be in Syd’s line of fire.

  “You can stand up now, Agent Kronos, but don’t make any sudden moves. She can shoot your eyebrows off,” warned Hatch.

  Green Shirt got up and brushed the grit off his face and clothes. Blood oozed from an abrasion on his cheekbone.

  “You’re in big trouble, shithead,” growled Green Shirt.

  “I would say it was the other way around. Do you know who I am?”

  “Why should I?”

  “They don’t tell you who you’re following anymore? Who gave this order?” demanded Hatch.

  “Fuck you!” spat Kronos.

  “Such language in front of the lady! You’re very close to ending up in the ER! You are a very poor agent, Kronos. In my day, you would have been dead in less than a week! Face the wall and lean against it!”

  Kronos did as he was told, grumbling something in Greek. Hatch got out his Blue Phone and walked a few feet away. He did not want to be overheard. He checked his watch and concluded that Gramble might be in the office in Langley by now, and selected that speed dial number. It was a private number and Gramble answered his own phone.

  “Good morning, Gramble. Listen closely!” snapped Hatch as he moved further away, making sure that neither Syd nor Kronos could hear his conversation.

  “Lincoln? What the fuck is this?” growled Gramble as he recognized Hatch’s voice.

  “Exactly my question. I have a CIA agent named Kronos against the wall here in Piraeus. He’s been following me all day, and I want to know why.”

  “I don’t know what …”

  “Oh, shut up! You never learn! The conversation we had in 1985 is still in force. I won’t repeat it on the phone. Take care of this situation now! I don’t need to lay out the consequences, do I?”

  With that, Hatch hung up and walked back over and stood next to Syd.

  “OK, Kronos, here’s your wallet. Your gun goes into the harbor. Explain that to your superiors. You can leave now. Better go call your office. I think you will find that you have been relieved of this assignment—probably fired for incompetence and for embarrassing the Company. If I ever see you again, asshole, I’ll break every bone in your body!”

  Kronos walked quickly away, looking over his shoulder.

  “Let’s get rid of that gun. Wipe it clean and we’ll toss it in the water,” said Hatch.

  Looking at his watch again, Hatch said, “Three more hours to kill before the ship arrives. How about we go back to that taverna and have our coffee, sweet thing?”

  “Love to, darling! You handled that quite well! Whom did you call?”

  “You keep forgetting that I know a lot of intelligence people. I called his boss’s boss.”

  “Why was the CIA following us?” queried Syd as she tossed the gun in the water and they turned toward the restaurant area.

  “That I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out. Trust me!”

  “I’m glad this happened before your parents got here. I would hate to have them see something like this. They might get the wrong impression of me,” smiled Syd.

  “Hopefully, this problem is solved. Don’t worry, my parents will love you! But let’s keep our eyes open, just in case this isn’t over.”

  “Oh, Christ! I hope it is! I’ll watch our back.”

  • • •

  At the taverna, they ordered coffee. When Syd excused herself and went to the Ladies’ Room, Hatch quickly called the jeweler in Athens where he had ordered a ring for Syd, and was assured that it would be delivered to the designated place at the appropriate time. Hatch breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was on schedule.

  • • •

  The cruise ship Grand Princess arrived five minutes ahead of schedule, but it was 6:25 P.M. before General and Mrs. Lincoln were on the dock. General Lincoln was dressed in a tan suit with a white shirt and dark brown tie. He stood ramrod straight as he shook his son’s hand. Mrs. Lincoln wore a smart, knee-length dress cut from a lively floral pattern. Her hair was silver-gray and was pulled back in a bun on the back of her head. Hatch gave her a hug and a kiss. He then stepped back and introduced them to Syd.

  After the introductions, Hatch said, “I hope you don’t mind that I brought Syd here to meet you. She was in Rome with me, and I didn’t want to leave her there alone. I thought bringing her was better than canceling on you.” This established her importance to him. “Besides, I really wanted to see you guys.”

  His mother responded, “That’s just fine, dear. We very seldom get to meet your friends.”

  Syd detected a secret communication going on in the undercurrent of the conversation. Polite banter continued while they waited for the cab Hatch had called for. When the cab arrived, it wasn’t a “cab,” it was a limo. Hatch had, of course, had that prearranged. They all piled in and were whisked away from the docks.

  “Where are you taki
ng us, Hatch?” his mother asked sweetly.

  “To the airport, Mom. I thought you might like a chopper ride, General. For old times’ sake,” replied Hatch with a smile.

  “That sounds great, son!” boomed General Lincoln. “Not a Huey, I hope!”

  They both laughed, and Syd smiled as she watched the exchange between father and son.

  “No, just a plush Bell 430. We’re going to dinner on an island in the Cyclades called Syros. There’s a favorite restaurant of mine there I’ve always wanted to share with you two. What better time than your 50th anniversary? I would like Syd to see it, too, so the timing is perfect. That’s why I chose Athens as the place to meet you during your cruise,” Hatch bubbled, obviously happy to see his parents.

  “Sounds adventurous, dear,” smiled his mother. “Are we dressed all right?”

  “Your just fine, Mom. The General may want to lose the tie. It’s an informal fun place frequented mostly by Greeks. The authentic Greek food is wonderful! Syd and I are going to spend the night there, but the chopper and limo will get you back to the ship if you wish. Then tomorrow, we can spend the day doing whatever you want to do,” replied Hatch.

  Staying the night on Syros was a surprise to Syd as well, but now she knew why he needed the helicopter in Athens. She was looking forward to the evening with great anticipation. She just hoped the Lincolns would like her.

  • • •

  As they climbed into the Triple Eye chopper, the General remarked, “My God, Hatch! This must be fancier than Marine One!”

  “It is, General. I rode in Marine One a couple of years ago with Clinton. It’s shabby compared to this!” laughed Hatch. “But you know government budgets.”

  “Don’t I!” laughed General Lincoln.

  On the ride to Syros, the subtle interrogation of the new girlfriend began. Hatch smiled inwardly as Syd deftly handled the barrage of questions that were supposed to pass as casual conversation. She described her background and profession without going into excessive detail—leaving out her extra-curricular activities with the MOSSAD, of course.