“Is that any way to treat the man who saved your life?”
“Bull. If I had known I would have to pay for it the rest of my life I’d have taken the bloody bullet like a man and been done with it. Go away!” Judy and Kenann were staring in fascination at this exchange. The stranger made no move to leave.
“Did Carter send you?”
“Yes.”
Danny Mac emitted a low growl before the man could finish.
“It is not what you think. I need to talk to you.” He took Danny Mac by the arm in order to focus him completely. “It’s important.”
Danny Mac wavered and then sighed resignedly. “It had better be. Come on. You’ve got ten minutes,” and led him across the street to the church building and his private office. Danny Mac had obviously forgotten the women gaping at them from the porch, but Andrew O’Hanlon had been all too aware of them. He flashed them a dazzling smile over his shoulder and with a jaunty nod of his auburn head, was propelled by the upper arm into the building.
Kenann looked at Judy. “I’ve never seen him act like that.” She paused, “I think I like it.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Danny stormed into his office and then whirled on Andy with force.
“Start talking.”
“Can I at least sit down?”
“No.” Danny Mac felt deep in his soul that Andy’s appearance was threatening to take away the life he had so preciously created. He had nothing against Andy. They had watched each other’s back many times in the past and he knew in a crunch there was no one better. But he wanted nothing more to do with the circle Andy traveled in.
“Please, Danny, I’m not here to recruit you back into the business. I’m here as your friend.”
“Then why did Carter send you?”
“He came upon some information and passed it to me. For your ears only.”
“To bait me back in?”
“No Danny. To warn you.” He didn’t know how else to say it. “Angelo is back.”
The impact of those words slammed into Danny Mac with paralyzing effect. He stood very still for several seconds and then eased down onto the corner of his desk. Andy took the opportunity to sit as well. He hadn’t slept in thirty-six hours and was starting to sag.
Danny Mac finally spoke. “Have you verified?”
“It’s iron clad and this file goes pretty deep. As in clear to the White House.”
“What does Angelo have to do with business on that level?”
“It looks like our buddy Angelo has feathered his nest quite well since we left him for dead in that warehouse in Kuwait.”
“Okay, I’ll admit I am stunned at this news, but I fail to see what this really has to do with me. So, he is some hired gun now. I’m out of all that.”
“Don’t you think Angelo would take you out in a heartbeat if he found you?”
“Well that’s the operative phrase - if he found me. He has obviously been in circulation somewhere since Kuwait and I’ve never heard from him. Regardless, it’s my problem not yours or Carters.”
“There’s more.” Andy dreaded this part because he knew what it would do to Danny. “He’s getting specific. That’s how he came to Carter’s attention.” Andy took a deep breath and just told him. “Danny, he killed Bhina and Saulie a few days ago.”
Danny’s only visible reaction was the jaw muscle that jerked in the side of his face and an imperceptible glint that surfaced in his eyes.
Andy continued. “He entered the states yesterday, so we’ve got to assume he is coming for you. Killing Bhina and Saulie was the most expedient way to find you and maybe to send you a message. Carter is sticking his neck out by not sharing what he knows about this piece of evidence. If the big boys find out about your connection, they’ll be on you like white on rice. Carter wants you back but not like this.”
“How did they know it was Angelo who killed them?”
“He left some DNA behind.”
“It doesn’t sound like Angelo has gotten any smarter.”
Andy snorted.
Danny Mac continued, “My concern is not so much about Angelo but the people he works for. Angelo was working for someone when he killed Ramalla. That is where the real danger lies. I should talk to Jake.”
“Danny, you can’t involve anyone else in this. We’re talking National Security here. You know how it’s been since 9/11. Carter and I could both be brought up on obstruction charges as it is.”
Danny Mac stood up to pace. Andy had seen this behavior before and knew to give Danny his time and space. He had been the most respected squad leader, the keenest strategist before a raid and the one everyone wanted at their back when the fight got nasty. To see him pacing back and forth in the office of a church building and to know he was now a preacher, blew his mind. Danny had also been the deadliest assassin in their special ops unit.
“I won’t run.”
“We never thought you would.”
“If he makes contact, how do I reach you?”
“Well, for the time-being I’ll be on your couch.”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Andy. Go home.”
“Can’t. I’m under orders.”
“I’m happy for you. I’m not. Not anymore.”
“You can’t have it both ways, Danny. He’s coming. And you know it. Our guys want the people he is working for, so they want him alive. If we can deliver him wrapped up in a bow, everybody wins. But we’ve only got one chance. If we blow it, Carter turns you over and they pull you back in to help take down this cell.”
They sat staring at each other.
“Give me a few, Andy.”
“Sure, no problem, can I go entertain the lovely ladies across the street?”
“Yeah, but be cool, okay?”
“I was born cool.”
He laid a hand briefly on Danny Mac’s shoulder as he walked past him to the door. As soon as Danny Mac heard the door close behind him, he was on his knees.
“Father, help me. I need your wisdom and your guidance. You know who and what I used to be. Deliver me from this evil and keep those around me safe. Stop Angelo before he hurts anyone else. Oh God,” his voice broke, “Have mercy on Bhina and Saulie. Use me, Father, and allow me to glorify you and not the desires of my sinful nature for revenge or hatred. Fill me with your Spirit, Lord. An extra measure please.”
Danny Mac could see Andy’s tall frame leaning languidly against the pillar of the front porch. He was comfortable in his own skin, moved with the grace of a dancer and had the Irish gift of gab to go with it. It didn’t matter if he had the ear of a Senator or was talking to the kitchen maid, you saw the same old Andy. He could also see the faces of the women sitting across from him. Kenann was laughing and shaking her head at something he had said. Her eyes actually twinkled when she smiled, Danny Mac mused. Judy on the other hand was observing Andy like a bug she’d love to squash. Danny Mac was secretly pleased to see someone immune to Andy’s boyish charm.
He stepped up onto the porch avoiding Kenann’s thoughtful gaze.
“So, I see you have met my hero, Andy O’Hanlon.” Kenann continued to look pensive. She had noticed the change in their demeanor. Both men were working very hard to hide something. Danny Mac looked at her and winked. She smiled back and tried to hide her curiosity. Danny Mac has some secrets.
“He’s been entertaining us with some good stories.” Kenann said.
“None about me, I hope?” Danny Mac responded.
Andy said incredulously. “Now, why would I bore these ladies with stories of you when I have a wealth of one’s about me?” Kenann laughed. Judy rolled her eyes. Andy looked triumphant. Danny Mac marveled how a person’s whole life could change in an instant.
* * *
When Judy had gone with Kenann to her apartment, Danny Mac and Andy continued their discussion about Angelo. “Who’s he working for?”
“Apparently it’s a group with ties currently in Egypt. But they move around. They’re not Taliban or A
l Qaeda, though they’ve made some overtures to those camps. That’s why it has been so hard to pin them down. They don’t fit any known profile yet. But we’re getting intelligence information out of Alexandra that something big is cooking there. There’s been a lot of chatter about the European financial market.”
“How long have the guys in Washington known about Angelo?”
“Don’t know. He’s not a major player so they may have been aware of him on some level for a long time without much interest. Killing Bhina and Saulie, kicked the interest level way up. Their cover had not been blown. Someone had to have inside knowledge of their connection to us. When Carter saw the DNA report and attached photo, it was the first time he knew Angelo was alive. He is really sticking his neck out holding back on what he knows about Angelo and the rivalry between you two.”
“Our guys haven’t even made the connection that he started out working for the UN Security forces in Kuwait. The only thing saving our butts from a potential firing squad is they aren’t really interested in Angelo. They could tell he was small potatoes. They want who he’s working for. I still can’t believe he is alive. That man was as dead as anyone I’ve ever seen after you got done with him for killing that Arab kid.”
“His name was Ramalla.”
Andy nodded. “Well, all I know is Angelo was beaten beyond recognition and that kid was dead.”
Danny Mac’s eyes narrowed in pain as he recalled what he was capable of doing with his bare hands. “All I could think was that kid trusted me. He had no family, no home, no one to even bury him.”
“He had you, Danny.”
“All the good I did him. I knew Angelo hated me, but I never dreamed he’d use Ramalla to get to me. When his body disappeared while we were burying Ramalla, I figured his new-found friends took him to bury. Looks like they nursed him back to health instead.”
“I’ll bet he’d love nothing better than to take you apart piece by piece.”
“There was never any love lost between us.”
“Carter believes it was hatred for you that drove Angelo to turn. No matter what he did you were always one step ahead. One step better. His juvenile ego couldn’t handle it, so he went where there wasn’t so much competition. Killing Ramalla was just another way to make you bleed. Whatever his reasons are now, he’s coming, friend, and we’ve only got one chance.”
“Let’s make it count.”
“Now you’re talking.”
* * *
Kenann put on a pot of flavored coffee. Judy sat at the kitchen table. Kenann was the first to voice what was on both their minds.
“What was that all about?”
“Kenann, how much do you know about Tall and Dark?”
“His name is Danny!” She turned and stared at Judy.
“Whatever.”
With a snarl of exasperation, she set cups on the table. “Judy, sometimes you can be so cold.”
“We’ll analyze me later.”
“Okay, I know nothing. He’s drop-dead gorgeous and he preaches across the street.”
“Has he ever been in the military?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“He smells like a grunt.”
“Excuse me?”
“A Marine. He walks and acts like a Marine.”
“Well, he’s not a Marine now.”
“There is no such thing as was a Marine, sweetie. These guys are hiding something.”
“We’re all hiding something.”
“You got a secret life I don’t know about?”
“Funny. You know what I mean. We’ve all got baggage. So, they have a history together. Big deal.”
“Are you falling for him?”
“No,” she nearly shouted. “No,” she lowered her voice. “I promised him I would be his friend. Period. So, what if he has a secret. Let it be. If he wants to share it, that’s up to him. It doesn’t have anything to do with me.” Kenann knew she was as curious as Judy, but she felt a need to protect Danny Mac for some reason - even from Judy and her critical comments. She saw something in him that she connected to on an elemental level. An abiding sense of aloneness. Her parents had loved her, but they adored each other. No one existed when they were together. They traveled so much she never made any close friends, so she learned to go inward for companionship. And soon she didn’t know how to come out. She merely sent out who was needed at the time - the funny clown or the brainy intellectual. Her nurturing friend was the most popular in college because she listened well. But Kenann, the real one, just stayed down there deep and looked out on the world like a little lost girl most of the time. That little coping mechanism managed to make her feel safe, even if it did border on a little schizophrenic at times. She had no desire to change.
And somewhere along the line she knew Danny Mac had done that too. He seemed like he was so out-going but she connected with that part of him that he kept deep inside. The only difference was, Kenann felt Danny Mac was a little afraid of who he had in there.
CHAPTER FIVE
The first three days at Kenann’s job were a whirlwind of names, faces and reading policies. She had met the licensed counselor who had agreed to provide her clinical supervision weekly. But she had yet to see her first client and was sulking in the employee lounge over a cup of coffee when one of the partners walked in. Unconsciously she sat up straighter. Mr. Kesselring smiled to himself.
“Are you settling in, Kenann?”
“Yes sir.”
“You seemed a little preoccupied just then.” He wanted to say despondent but thought better of it.
“Oh, I guess I’m just adjusting. I was overworked and underpaid in grad school. Here, I’m overpaid and under worked.” She looked up suddenly ready to apologize when she saw him smile.
“Oh, we’ll get our pound of flesh out of you soon enough, Kenann. We just want you to start on a good foundation. Come with me. I want to show you something.”
She grabbed her purse. She had spent her time between the office library and the lounge and had no place to keep personal belongings. He took her down one of the carpeted hallways on the third floor and stopped before a closed door.
“After you.” He motioned her to enter. She opened the door into a small but warmly decorated corner office with soft lighting. She was drawn to the small narrow window by the desk chair that had a great view of the gardens in the park across the street. She turned with a questioning look on her face.
“It’s yours Kenann.”
Her pleasure was immediate. “Oh my. Oh my.” She repeated.
“Now tell Jenny at the front desk what you’ll need tomorrow to get settled. You see your first client at 9:00 am Monday morning. Here’s her intake file.”
Without thinking, Kenann grabbed Mr. Kesselring’s forearms and squeezed. “Really?” She released him quickly and stepped back. “This is great, sir.”
“You’re a welcome addition to our office, Kenann.”
After he had closed the door behind him, she did a little victory dance in the middle of the room.
Kenann wanted to share her good news so she ran up the front steps yelling Danny Mac’s name. The front door burst open in seconds of hearing her cry. He relaxed the minute he saw her jubilant face. She leaped into his arms and he twirled her around in a friendly hug.
“What gives James?”
She took his hands and led him back into the house closing the door. To those who watched, it appeared Danny Mac had just welcomed his lover home.
* * *
Andy had set up communications at Danny Mac’s dining room table. He had other irons in the fire back in Washington he needed to monitor. He was talking into his cell phone via a head set and clicking on the keyboard of his laptop at the same time.
“Gotta go.” He shut down the phone and laptop with one smooth motion as Kenann and Danny Mac came into the apartment.
“What’s got you so jazzed, girlfriend?” Andy smiled at her with what had become genuine affection.
> “You are looking at a woman with her very own office and a client to see on Monday. I have arrived in Memphis, boys!”
She twirled around and ‘the boys’ stood smiling at her like proud brothers.
“Let’s celebrate.” Andy rubbed his hands together. “Let’s see. I saw a liquor store a few blocks over and I’ll even spring for the pizza and pretzels.”
“Nice try, ace. Pizza and cokes, all around.”
“Can’t blame me for trying. You used to be so much fun.”
“I still am but now I get to remember it.”
Andy headed for the door. Danny Mac grabbed his arm. “Let’s order in.”
Andy stopped and nodded. “Yeah, that’s a better idea.” He picked up the phone book on the end table. “Everybody like anchovies?”
“I’ll order the pizza.” Kenann took the book out of Andy’s hands.
“Well, then I’ll fix the drinks. Cokes for all.” He sneered as he headed for the kitchen. “Make mine a diet.” Kenann yelled to his back. He raised a hand to acknowledge.
“Where has Judy been?” Danny Mac asked.
“Don’t tell me you’ve succumbed to the spell too?”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on, beautiful shapely blond?”
“I told you I’m a confirmed bachelor.”
“Mightier men than you have fallen.” She paused. “And died where they lay, I might add.”
He responded by pushing her head back with his palm in what was becoming a signature move between them. “Seriously, she was here every night the first week you were here. You all have a fight?”
Kenann laughed. “Oh, believe me, you’ll know it when we do.” She smiled at the memories of some of their more spirited encounters. “She’s doing an evening rotation over at the VA Hospital this week on their psych unit. She does it every couple of months.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“She’s tough. People call her the Iron Maiden behind her back.”
Kenann made the connection with the pizza delivery and ordered like the pro she was on take out.
“If it’s behind her back how do you know people call her that?”
Once, a Long Time Ago Page 3
