by Lili Tufel
Abby took a deep breath and spoke. “Does this mean that Grace and I will be in protected custody?”
“Yeah,” he whispered. “Are you ok with this?”
“Well it isn’t going to be easy you know.”
“Believe me Abby I had to watch my family bury me.” He gulped holding in the frog in his throat. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. And yet, I’ve taken men’s lives and what if they’ve had to watch their funeral, maybe not here on earth like I did…but…” He stammered. “I’m so messed up right now.” He brought her hand to his face as it turned bright red, and he couldn’t hold his tears back any longer.
“So where do we go from here?” She caressed his face.
“We’ll just have to take it day by day.” He lifted his chin and sat upright and thought, don’t be a punk. And he could hear the Colonel’s voice in his head, “Cut the namby pamby shit, Lieutenant.” He stood up, took her hand and called her a cab, sending her to meet him at his hotel room.
While the baby slept peacefully in her carrier, he made love to his wife. He was rougher than he had ever been.
She wanted him so bad that she reciprocated, and the flames that ravaged on that bed would have set the entire building ablaze.
* * * * *
In a South Beach Ocean Walk café sitting at a round table, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Dallas and Javi amused their guest, Gary Simms Deputy Director of the CIA, with one of their usual arguments.
“Say what you wanna say about my name at least it’s simple enough to change. You’ve got like twenty last names bro,” Dallas smirked, “Isn’t it…uh…Santos Gomez Taco Burrito Nachos Quesadilla?”
“You still haven’t learned my name dude? How did you ever graduate West Point?” Javi, who had been reviewing a packet of papers bound together, looked up at Dallas narrowing his eyes. “As a courtesy to Gary here, I’m going to not kick your ass…and I’m going to nicely tell you my name. This time get it straight, brother. It’s Javier de Jesus Santos Gomez Mendoza Gonzalez.”
Unable to keep a straight face, Dallas showed a short rough growth of beard masking his dimples. The waitress approached, and with a flirtatious smile, she placed an ice-cold beer in front of Dallas then slid two more on the table.
With a beer in hand, Dallas pointed. “One of those is for you Gary.”
“None for me guys, you know I’m on official business.” Gary Simms had been Deputy Director of the CIA for years. He was tall and being in his late fifties the way he filled the collar shirt, he appeared extremely fit and much younger in his designer single-breasted suit.
Javi, looking sharp in his coat and red tie, grabbed a pen and signed the paperwork. Handing over the stack of pages, he glanced one last time at the letters SAD (Special Activities Division) that appeared at the top of the first page.
Clearing the documents off the table, Gary placed his black briefcase at his side and leaned forward in a low voice. “Here’s your need to know,” placing an elbow on the round table, “The two of you are going into Iran. Our political action group has been working to collect information on the officials connected to Shahrivar’s money and the Taliban. You’ll be receiving the names and profiles of those officials. You guys are a key component to getting Faisal Shahrivar.”
Javi put his beer down and interjected. “Listen, Gary, I had that son-of-a-bitch in custody and he walked. What kind of—”
“Now wait a minute,” Gary waved his hand to stop Javi. “We needed Faisal free.”
Javi stood with a jolt rattling the table. “I fucking knew it.”
“Calm down, Javi. Relax bro.” Dallas put a hand to his shoulder.
Gary stood and tossed some money on the table, “Let’s take a walk,” then grabbed his briefcase.
The three walked along the boardwalk overlooking the ocean. “I expected you to react this way, Captain Santos. I also know that you understand that we are working to stop the financing of terrorism.”
“Of course I understand what your goal is Gary. I don’t agree with the method.” Javi crossed his arms while continuing to walk.
“You want the truth, Captain Santos?” He paused and leaned against the wooden boardwalk guardrail. “I’m not very happy. We’ve been getting minimal results. I want more results and you two are just the men I need to shake things up out there.”
Dallas slipped on his sunglasses. “Like I told you before Gary, I’m going to need a week with my wife. Have your guys set everything up for us with the Drug Baron and we’ll be there a week from today.”
Gary extended his hand to Dallas and with a handshake, “See you in a week David.”
Javi glanced at Dallas, “David?”
“David Rex.” Dallas said raising his chin. “Why don’t you tell Javi his new name Gary?”
Gary shook his head, “Listen I don’t really care what you two want to call each other as long as you clear it with the agency first. For now this is what we came up with, you’re David’s older brother, Robert Rex.”
“Rob Rex no way, I hate it.” Javi pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Ah, I gotta go. I’m running late for a little league game.”
“Come on, it just takes some getting used to, Jav…I mean, Rob.” Dallas smirked.
Gary turned to Javi and while shaking his hand he said, “Listen, why don’t you take this week off and fly out next week with David here since you guys are gonna be partners anyway. I’m going to need the both of you out there at the same time. And we’ll take care of formalities you know the piss test and all that, in a couple of days. I’ll be in contact.”
* * * * *
After leaving the kids with Chelsea at their Miami Beach home, Javi and Dallas took their wives on a flight out to a tiny island in the Bahamas. Javi and Jasmine barely left their honeymoon suite.
“The pool looks lovely from up here.” Jasmine’s fingertips grazed the curtain. "Maybe we should go down there today. What do you think?”
While lying on the bed, Javi lifted his head with his forearm. “I’m hungry. You wore me out woman. I want something to eat.”
She turned towards the bed and untied her robe and he watched her naked body as she crawled her way up to him. “Don’t you recognize a fine banquet when you see one?”
He lifted an eyebrow, “Does it come with dessert?”
“Yes,” she giggled.
“Mm. Delicious.” He kissed her.
Chartering a sailboat off the coast of the tiny island, Dallas and Abby kept a rigid schedule. They reached a pristine snorkeling site. Dallas helped adjust her snorkel tube and facemask while stealing glances of her chest in her tight bikini. Abby waited for her cue to descend the transparent waters. He gave the signal and led his bride across the coral reef filled with magnificent fish and all sorts of marine life. He carried a bag of breadcrumbs slowly releasing the crumbs while they swam. Soon, they were surrounded by fluorescent yellows, bright oranges and shimmering sapphires with onyx stripes. They swam past a sea garden and came upon a remote cave. Holding their breath, they plunged under water and came back up for breath inside of the cave.
“This is so beautiful.” While holding herself up with the stone edge, Abby looked at the surrounding rock that towered high above.
Dallas leaped onto the rock and helped her out of the water. “This is pretty cool. I’ve never seen anything like it. He looked up at vaulted ceiling made out of coral.
“This can be our own secret hideout. It’s so romantic.” She set their snorkeling gear to the side.
Dallas placed his hand on the small of her back and leaned in, kissing her salty lips. He gently laid her on the smooth coral. He suckled her breasts and made love to her and when they had their fill, they remained in the cave holding hands and lying on their back watching the flickers of sunlight bouncing off the rock.
“I remember when I was in Ranger School one of the events we had to pass was a fifteen-yard swim in full combat gear. I had to keep my rifle above the water and those boots
felt like boulders. I hated it.” He caressed her fingers while he spoke. “I wanted to rip all that gear off and just be free to swim.”
Abby rested her chin on his chest. “I bet a lot of guys didn’t make it, huh?”
“About half the class didn’t make it,” he gently stroked her arm.
“I’m proud of you, Dallas.”
He gave her a bearded dimpled smile, “Yeah?”
“Yeah, I really am. I have a tremendous amount of respect for you.”
“That means a lot to me, Abby.” He kissed her. Then slowly sitting up he whispered, “We should get going.”
“Oh but it’s so beautiful and peaceful in here.” She sighed looking around taking mental photographs. “You’re right though, we are completely off schedule. But this place was worth it. I’ll never forget this day, Dallas.” She grabbed her gear.
They jumped back into the water and when they boarded the sailboat, they began to hear the squeaks and yaps of dolphins. Dallas took a seat as if awaiting a performance. Two dolphins started leaping in and out of the water putting on a show. Approaching the boat their clicks and whistles grew louder.
Dallas sat back relaxing his elbow on the side thoroughly enjoying Abby’s interaction with the new friends.
“They’re speaking your language.” He smirked.
She immediately turned her head as her eyes widened. “When have you ever heard me squeaking that way?”
“A few times,” his smile grew more mischievous, “When properly aroused.”
She reached over and gave him a quick smack on the arm. He stood straight up and dove into the water. Dallas was swimming with the dolphins and urging Abby to jump in with him. After some reluctance, she joined him.
* * * * *
Standing at the top of a hill in southeast Iran wearing double-breasted designer suits and sporting overgrown beards, Javi and Dallas looked down at a lush green valley perfect for the cultivation of opium and covered in fields of poppy flowers. Behind them were armed guards working undercover and dressed as locals except for two acting as personal bodyguards who wore denim pants with dark t-shirts and visible black leather, shoulder gun holsters.
“How much do you think that field over there yields?” Dallas pointed.
Scratching his hairy chin, Javi mumbled. “I’d say about a thousand kilos of raw opium.”
“Hard to believe those beautiful flowers are the cause of so much destruction.” Dallas crossed his arms staring into the valley.
A convoy approached, armed men on horseback following a train of camels carrying sacks of opium. At the front of the caravan, an older man with a headdress and traditional attire wearing a pair of reflective sunglasses stopped in front of Javi and Dallas. After dismounting his horse, he introduced himself while speaking in English but with a heavy foreign accent. “It’s nice to finally meet you gentlemen, I am Serpia Khan. I am told that you are brothers and let me say that you,” he pointed to Dallas, “Are definitely the more handsome one,” and he removed his sunglasses to get a better look.
“I’ll make sure he doubles the offer.” Dallas winked at Javi.
Javi wasted no time. “How much you got on those camels?”
Serpia Khan a descendent of a dynasty and a Drug Baron ruled the entire province. He motioned to one of his armed men to grab a satchel off a camel and while his guard held it, he pulled out a clear plastic bag containing black tar. “I want you to touch it.” He offered it to Javi.
Javi took a pinch and rubbed it on the palm of his hand.
“See…feels dry, no?” Serpia Khan motioned for Dallas to give it a touch. “Sometimes you get a product that is too wet but this is not the case. We have had good weather, perfect for cultivating.”
Javi squinted. “I’ll pay you in pure gold, the going rate and no more.”
“No, no, no.” Serpia Khan closed the bag and pushed the satchel against his guard barking orders in Arabic.
Dallas interjected, “Alright, look let me talk to my brother for a minute.” He whispered something incoherent to Javi. “Mister Khan, my brother here is more than willing to become your generous benefactor. Now I’m sure we can come to some type of agreement with the product you got here.” Dallas waved his arm pointing to the camels. Then he put his hand on Javi’s shoulder. “I’m gonna level with you. My brother here, he’s after your fields.”
“No, no, no.” Serpia Khan shook his head. “These fields are not mine. They belong to Faisal Shahrivar. He will not sell them to any Americans.”
“That’s why we need your help. Give us an audience with Mister Shahrivar. We are willing to propose a very generous offer.” Dallas said.
“I want a hundred kilos of pure gold and I will take you to Faisal.” Serpia Khan declared.
“What?” Javi jumped. “Hell no, this guy’s insane.”
Dallas put a hand to Javi’s chest holding him back. “Brother, listen to me. These are the fields that we have been looking for. Look out there.” Placing his arm around Javi, they walked to the edge of the hill.
Pretending to look down the valley, Javi whispered to Dallas. “Cut the good cop bad cop shit Dallas. You’re making me look like punk.”
“Come on Javi, he thinks I’m the good looking one, let me handle this negotiation.”
They walked back to the convoy.
Javi spoke first. “Look Mister Khan. My brother here is right. We will be willing to pay your outrageous price but only because we want to own the crop…these poppy fields are a good fit for us especially because of their proximity to the Gulf of Oman. Our smugglers are prepared to carry the shipment across the Gulf—”
Serpia Khan raised his voice. “Now you are being the crazy one. Those waters are heavily guarded day and night. You are better off using a different route.”
“Serpia Khan,” Dallas said. “You cannot underestimate my older brother. He can get you across Oman.”
“Bah,” Khan swung his arms in the air. “You Americans…you want to get yourselves killed crossing the Gulf of Oman with all those kilos, that’s your business. You pay me my fee and I will get you your meeting with Faisal.”
“We’ll pay you half now and the rest after we meet Faisal Shahrivar.”
“It’s a deal.” Khan turned to his men snapping orders in Arabic.
* * * * *
In the Miami Beach house, sitting at the patio table and looking out into the ocean while a cool salty breeze fluttered the tablecloth, Abby placed her glass of iced tea over a fluttering napkin.
“May I join you?” Chelsea pulled out a chair.
“Of course,” Abby smiled and poured her a glass of iced tea from the tray at the center of the table.
“That darling daughter of yours is sound asleep in her crib. She’s such a good sleeper. Jasmine use to give me such a hard time. She had that acid reflux deal.” Chelsea ran a hand up and down her neck. “I couldn’t get that child to sleep through the night.”
Abby listened in silence.
“You know Abby I have been meaning to speak with you.” Chelsea drew a breath. “I had a difficult time when I heard that your father married Susan and well that is all in the past and I’m sure…you don’t want to hear about this right now but I want you to know that I’m here for you and for Gracie. If there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
Abby’s brown eyes glistened with the sunlight. “I really appreciate that, Chelsea. Thank you for taking such great care of Gracie during our trip to the Bahamas. Samantha loves you very much and I’m sure that Gracie will grow up thinking of you like a grandma.”
“That would be nice.” Chelsea reached over to put her wrinkled hand on Abby’s arm.
“Chelsea, my mom…she’s a complicated woman.”
“Aren’t we all darling?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Abby cocked her head, “And my dad…well there’s another complicated person.”
“He’s a simple man, Abby. You’d think he’s complicated but he’s
really not at all…he’s stubborn, though…very stubborn.”
Abby laughed then gave a thousand yard stare.
Chelsea rested both hands on her lap. “I’m just going to come out and say this. Your father has asked me to marry him. I understand if it’s too soon for you.”
“I’ve seen how my father comes to life around you, Chelsea. He loves you. And after everything he’s been through, he deserves to be happy. Don’t worry about me, just make my father happy.” Abby sipped her iced tea. “And maybe you can get him to finally retire.”
“I wouldn’t do that. That’s a decision he has to make on his own.”
“Ugh. I just don’t get it, Chelsea. What is it about that life that is so appealing?”
“I agree, I spent many sleepless nights, many lonely nights, worrying and I’m sure your mother did the same. But the biggest mistake I ever made was to try to forget him. I tried but he never left my heart. And so I had to provide stability for my daughter and that’s the sacrifice, the burden military wives must bear. They should receive medals and one medal I would design would be that of a pierced heart.”
“That’s exactly how my heart feels, Chelsea. And you don’t know the half of it.” Abby grabbed a napkin and wiped her eyes. “Don’t they know how tormented we are while they’re gone? I really want to support my husband…I mean when he was alive, I wanted to support him…but just like my dad, I suffer so much when he’s gone. I try to get on with life in a normal way but who am I kidding?” Abby whimpered. “The pain is still there. I almost feel like I’m being phony.”
“Jasmine told me sweetheart. Your husband is alive, and now that he’s gone on that job with Javi, the pain is probably worse now than before. I can’t imagine how tortured you must be, you poor thing, it must be awful to have the constant thought of losing him at any moment.”
“My heart is in pieces right now…but Chelsea, I really don’t think Jasmine should have told you anything.”
