“Peter,” Sergeant Beetle said. “People call me Pete.”
“Nice to meet you, Pete. I’m Alex and I believe you’re in my bedroom.”
He smiled. When she smirked at him, he laughed.
“Anything else, Pete?” Alex asked. “I was thinking of taking a bath.”
“No baths,” Pete said.
“Infection?”
“Infection.”
“Fuck,” Alex said. “Did they have to operate again?”
“No,” Pete said. “You mostly needed quiet and rest. Your husband’s been with you every night and Max is usually here during the day. They had to work today.”
Alex sniffed.
“My mother’s been here,” Alex said.
“She just left,” Pete said. “She and Claire? Sorry I don’t know any of these people. I probably should use their first names.”
“Do you know their second names?”
He shook his head.
“Then don’t worry,” Alex said. “Did you get a suit from Frederec?”
He nodded.
“Trece?”
Pete nodded.
“Good,” Alex said. “Claire has amazing talent. You see her dresses on the red carpet and queens. She made that gorgeous dress for me to wear to the World Trade Center dance. Frederec inherited her talent. I bet he’d be thrilled to have you model for him.”
“He had a photographer here,” Pete said. “They took my picture but I don’t really care. I could never afford anything so beautiful. He’s funny too.”
“I like Frederec a lot.”
“He’s all about a girl… Amelia?”
“Amelia?” Laughing, Alex’s eyebrows went up. “Amelia the soccer player?”
“Soccer player, rock climber, beautiful, funny, blah, blah,” Pete said. “Sorry I wasn’t really listening.”
“You know who that is?”
“No sir.”
“Captain Hutchins’s little girl,” Alex said. “I thought it was no coincidence that she turned down all those invitations to the Christmas dance.”
“Don’t quote me,” Pete said.
“I won’t,” Alex said. “And don’t worry. Vince will get around to understanding. He missed most of Amelia’s growing up. To him, she’s still a baby, not fourteen.”
“Fifteen,” Pete said. “She had a birthday while you were in the hospital.”
Alex laughed.
“Why is that funny?”
“Her mother was fifteen when Amelia was born,” Alex said.
Pete laughed.
“Anyway, I’m pretty sure you’re not here to tell me all the house gossip,” Alex said. “Although I’m dying to know about Fionn and Helene.”
“Helene’s hiding at school,” Pete said. “That’s what her mother says.”
Alex smiled.
“Claire was younger than Helene when she met Ben. Married him two days after she turned eighteen.”
“Lots of young love here,” Pete said.
“You sound cynical,” Alex said.
“Hasn’t happened to me,” Pete said. “That’s all.”
“Takes time,” Alex said.
“You were…”
“Twenty,” Alex said. “But my dad was forty-three when he met my mom. Ben was in his forties when he married Claire. Max just met his true love. Or so we think. It just depends on when you meet your person. But I’ll tell you. The one thing that all of us have in common is that we believe there is someone waiting just for us.”
“I guess,” Pete said. “I wanted to talk to you about Bill.”
Alex held her hand over Bill’s head. He indicated that she could pet him and she did.
“Bill’s breed, the Belgium Maltese? Belgium Shepherds?” Pete’s eyes implored her. She smiled. “They aren’t known for getting along with dogs. Don’t worry. I kept him away from your dog Maggie. And Maggie just ignored Bill.”
“Ignored?” Alex asked. “Did something happen?”
“Well Bill…” Pete said. “He seems very fond of Maggie. That Irish guy? The one who looks like Ronald McDonald without the big belly or the shoes?”
“Eoin?”
“Yeah him,” Pete said. “I was in the back with Bill when he let Maggie out.”
Alex gasped.
“Right,” Pete said. “Bill went right up to Maggie and she let out a loud bark. Bill… I’ve never seen him do this.”
“Do what?”
“He stopped in place,” Pete said. “Maggie gave him one more bark and he rolled onto his back.”
“He what?”
“I know!” Pete said. “The Ronald McDonald Irish guy called the other Irish guy and they laughed and laughed. Maggie wasn’t impressed with old Bill. But later… Well, they’re fast friends now. They cry when they’re not together.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Pete said. “Is she fixed?”
“Of course,” Alex said.
“That’s probably good,” Pete said. “Bill doesn’t sleep with me anymore. He wants to be with Maggie. She’s the same way.”
“See, Pete,” Alex said. “True love.”
“You’re okay with it?”
“Sure,” Alex said. “Maggie can have whatever friends she wants.”
“Your husband said you might be upset.”
“I wonder why.”
“Maggie wants to be with Bill,” Pete said. “Not you or your husband.”
Alex laughed.
“That’s funny?” Pete asked.
“It’s a bit like Amelia,” Alex said.
Just outside the room, someone was coming up the stairs two steps at a time. Alex groaned.
“I’m awake because I have to work, right?” Alex said.
“Sorry,” Pete said.
“That’s all right. There are a lot of people missing,” Alex said. “Who do you think that is?”
“Agent Rasmussen,” Pete said. “He needs to talk to you.”
“I have the feeling that I’m in a lot of pain,” Alex said.
“You’re drugged,” Pete said.
Alex nodded.
“I’m not supposed to walk right?” Alex asked.
“Right,” Pete said. “That’s why Bill and I are here. We’re supposed to keep you lying down.”
“Hey!” Colin stuck his head in the room. “You’re awake. That’s good.”
“Hey Col,” Alex said. “Is Mom still here?”
“She’s making dinner,” Colin said.
Pete got up to leave.
“Thanks Pete,” Alex said.
Blushing, he nodded, signaled Bill to follow him, and they left the room.
“Mom’s cooking?” Alex asked.
“Not a chance,” Colin said. “When was the last time you saw her cook?”
“I was… seventeen?” Alex asked. “But I’m not really sure I’d call it cooking.”
“My point,” Colin said. “She’s ordering ‘take away’ according to Fionn. Sushi, I think.”
Colin touched her forehead and stuck a thermometer in her mouth.
“You’ve been really sick,” he said. “It’s funny, you know. I’m always shocked and a little scared when you’re sick.”
“Why zat f-nny?” Alex asked through the thermometer.
“You’ve been sick a lot these last three years,” Colin said. “Listen, I’m supposed to tell you that I don’t know how you got sick again. But how stupid do you have to be to have surgery one day and sit in a pool of blood, feces, and vomit the next?”
“Hstags,” Alex said.
“Whatever,” Colin said. “Typical Alex ego. Like you’re the only one who can rescue hostages.”
Alex made an indignant noise and flipped him off. He laughed. He’d won the ultimate little-brother prize by pissing off his elder sister. He danced around the room in glory until her thermometer beeped.
“Still warm,” Colin said. “Fuck Alex. John said you had sepsis for almost a year after you were stuck in that room.”
> “Not that long. Maybe ten months,” Alex said. “Is Dr. Tamagura on the case?”
“Your infection doc? He met us when we landed at Bolling,” Colin said. “He’s been consulting every step of the way.”
“Did you call the acupuncturist?”
“He’s been treating you,” Colin said.
“Fuck,” Alex said. “He’s my ace in the hole.”
“I know,” Colin said. “You probably need more rest. Sadly, you’re going to get…”
“More work,” Alex said.
“Travel’s out,” Colin said. “They think we’ve found more men but you’re not going. You’re stuck here for at least a month.”
Alex dropped back to the bed.
“Mad?”
“Relieved,” Alex said. “Who’s going to get the hostages?”
“The team,” Colin said. “You’re supposed to teach Leena and Margaret to do what you do. If I were you, I’d worry a little bit. You’re getting old and these younger women are probably better at your ‘special’ job.”
Alex smiled.
“Don’t give that patronizing smile,” Colin said. “You know as well as I do that it’s always been a matter of time.”
Alex kept smiling.
“Shit, I thought that would work,” Colin said.
“You might get me once, little brother,” Alex said. “But I’m not Samantha. You won’t get me twice.”
Colin laughed.
“Wait,” Alex said. “What part of that was a lie?”
“Lie? Who lied?” Colin’s voice was filled with laughter. “Roll over. I have to give you a shot for your hip.”
Alex rolled onto her side. He injected pain medication and antibiotics into her hip. She lay there for a few moments before he helped her sit up. He gave her a nasty-tasting Chinese medicine tea. Alex counted to five then drank it down.
“Ahh,” Alex said.
“Jeez, Alex,” Colin said. “I knew you were tough, but that was impressive.”
“Practice, little brother, practice.”
Colin smiled.
“Any news from Julie?” Alex asked.
“Nothing.” Colin shook his head. “Mom’s been handling Paddie’s pick up and drop off.”
Alex held her arms out and Colin hugged her.
“I’m sorry,” Alex whispered.
“Me too,” Colin said. “It’s my fault. I really botched this one. At least we have Paddie.”
Alex kissed his cheek. Colin gave her a cell phone. The first step off the landing moaned a warning that someone was coming up the stairs.
“My number’s on speed dial,” Colin said. “Page me and I’ll come. But let me know if you leave the house. I’ll come with you. You must have medical personnel available to you at all times.”
Alex nodded.
“You’re really sick, Alex,” Colin said. “No joke. People who get this sick don’t usually survive. Don’t fuck around, ‘k?”
“Okay,” Alex said. “You’re the best bigger little brother a girl could want.”
“Yes, and you’re the best second sister twin a guy could want,” Colin said. “I’d like to keep you around for a while.”
A tap at the door produced Raz. Alex smiled in greeting. Colin touched her shoulder and left the room.
“Get me out of here,” Alex said.
F
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Raz laughed.
“Please?” Alex asked. “I know it’s been a long time but I still have the smell of the hostages in my nose.”
“Where would you like to go?” Raz asked.
“Backyard?” Alex asked.
“It’s getting dark,” Raz said.
“We can light a fire in your fire pit. I promise to work my very hardest. But I need some air.”
“You promise to dress warm? It’s about forty degrees, maybe fifty. You’ll tell me the moment you get too cold?”
“Pinkie swear,” Alex held out her pinkie.
Smiling, Raz shook her pinkie. He went to her closet.
“Wow,” Raz said.
“Wow?”
“There’s a lot of clothes here,” Raz said.
“Really?” Alex asked. She leaned up and gasped with pain. She dropped to the bed.
“Really,” Raz said.
“Did you and Sami get in a fight?” Alex asked. “You know how she loves to shop on my tab.”
“We’re in an off period,” Raz said.
“Why?” Alex took a pair of fleece pants, a pair of jeans, a tank top, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a sweater from him.
“Usual,” Raz said.
He went back to the closet.
“Oh,” Alex closed her eyes in anticipation of changing. After almost four years of practice with this injury, she was well adept at dressing when lying down. She pulled the fleece over her bandages. “Sorry.”
“We’ll either get through it or we won’t,” Raz gave her a pair of faux-fleece-lined boots and wool socks. “Better to work it out now.”
“I guess,” Alex said.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll talk to her again,” Alex said.
“I’d rather you didn’t,” Raz said. “I’m going to carry you. Normal or over the shoulder?”
“Let’s see if I can handle normal,” Alex said.
He picked her up in his arms.
“You’ve lost weight,” Raz said.
“Prison, I mean hospital,” Alex laughed.
He smiled and carried her down the narrow stairwell to the second floor and down the main stairwell. For as many people as Alex knew were in the house, they saw only their remnants – the dishwasher churned away, the Crock-Pot bubbled some yummy dinner, music drifted from the second floor, and the weights clinked against the racks in the gym downstairs.
Raz managed to negotiate the doors to the garden. He took a few steps down and followed the red flagstone path to the patio outside his carriage house. He set her on a cement bench and lit the gas fire pit. The fire blossomed and warmed the small patio. He grabbed a heavy wool blanket from the chest to cover her and sat down. She put her head on his lap.
“How are you?” he asked.
“A little lost,” Alex said. “It’s weird to me that I was out so many days. I don’t know where the team is and…”
Alex shrugged.
“And?”
“I’m not sure I care,” Alex said.
“You must be as sick as they say you are,” Raz said.
He leaned over her and they laughed.
“How’s your pain?” Raz asked.
“I’m not sure where John is,” Alex said. He laughed.
“Hip pain?”
“I’m in terrible pain. And… I feel better,” Alex said. “I can’t really describe but…”
Alex stared off at the sky.
“But?” his smiling face appeared above her.
“It’s like an itch has been scratched,” Alex said. “That’s the best way I can describe it. I’ll tell you though; I’m not signing up for another one of those treatments anytime soon.”
“I’m not signing you up for any treatments any time soon,” Raz said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. Dusty and I tried, but we couldn’t make it happen. I… I should have been there and… You needed me and I… wasn’t there. I’m sorry.”
Alex touched his cheek and their eyes held for a moment. She smiled. He took a breath and looked away.
“Updates?” he asked.
“Yes, let’s get to work,” Alex laughed. “Work. Work. Work. Work. Oh look, there’s a squirrel.”
He laughed. His hand stroked her hair.
“You need a haircut,” Raz said.
“Will you schedule one for us?” Alex said. “You could use a shave.”
Raz smiled at the idea of a hot shave with a straight razor from their favorite stylist.
“Work?” Raz asked.
“Work,” Alex said. “How did the ‘work your friend network’ thing go?”
“One of the lost teams called in?” Alex laughed. “Really?”
“Italians,” Raz said. “Their mission was in the mountains of northern Italy.”
“He sent the Fifth Alpini Regiment?” Alex laughed. “He is a freakin’ moron!”
Raz laughed.
“You can guess the rest of the story,” Raz said. “They went, thought it was a trap, and settled in to watch.”
“Freezing temperatures? Ice? Snow? The Fifth Alpini doesn’t care,” Alex smiled. “SOP for them.”
“Right,” Raz chuckled. “When the new number was available, they called in. Let me tell you the CO was furious that he couldn’t talk to the Fey. He said they would stay there until he could speak to you. Do you know him?”
“If it’s who I think it is, his father is part of the General’s ‘went to war with’ buddies,” Alex said. “Should I call?”
“Max took care of it,” Raz said. “You went to camp with the CO?”
Nodding, Alex smiled.
“Boy’s camp?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I bet,” Raz said. “Anyway, they’re being debriefed by your Dad’s team. I say debriefed but when I checked it was more like happy hour than debriefing. The CO didn’t like Eniac so he printed everything to cover his ass. He also has a pen drive full of emails and what not. We’ll have all of that when the debriefers return tomorrow or the next day.”
“Great,” Alex said. “It’s good to have smart friends.”
Raz leaned over to look at her. They smiled at each other.
“Turns out the Indian team didn’t go,” Raz said.
“That’s good news,” Alex said.
“They didn’t realize they were on anyone’s radar until your Dad’s team started asking around,” Raz said. “They were supposed to go but got called to Pakistan. National security. Their command called in the change of plans, but got the run around. When they learned the intelligence servers were corrupted, they decided to wait for further information.”
“Which never came,” Alex said.
“Which never came,” Raz said.
“Guess we can cross them off the list,” Alex said.
Lean on Me Page 28
