“I started it.”
He laughed. “You’re brave.”
“It started out as a joke between us, but it caught on. No one dares call her that to her face.”
“Except you.”
“Except me.” Kenann smiled.
Andy came back in with cokes in hand. “It’s more like the Ice Maiden if you ask me.”
“Oh, O”Hanlon, you just can’t stand it because someone finally has the good taste to ignore you.”
“And you, my friend, have always been jealous.”
Just then a fist pounded on the door. Danny Mac shoved Kenann behind him and Andy went for his gun. Danny Mac raised his hand for Andy to hold off but not before Kenann saw what was strapped under Andy’s jacket.
“Jake, is that you?”
“Sure is.”
“Come in, sir.” The door swung open to reveal a man filling the entire doorway.
Before Andy could react otherwise, he snapped to attention and saluted.
“By jingo, I love it when that happens.” In an instant he took in the informal command center at the table without appearing to notice anything.
“How are you doing Andy?”
“Fine, Sir. Good to see you, Sir. How are you, Sir?”
“We aren’t in uniform anymore, son.” Chock one up for Judy, Kenann thought. “Call me Jake.”
Jake used his big hand to pat him on the shoulder as he passed him and whispered, “At ease.”
Danny Mac took pity on Andy and intervened. “Would you like a coke, Jake?”
“I believe I would, if it’s not too much trouble. Kenann, how are you getting along?” She had stood quietly during this exchange absorbing the fact Andy was armed.
“Oh, I’m fine, sir.”
“Now don’t you start.”
She laughed. “Okay, Jake. We were about to celebrate my new office and caseload of one.”
“Can a lonely old widower crash your party?”
Andy had retreated into the kitchen with Danny Mac. “How do you do it? I mean like hang out with the old man?”
“He’s my friend.”
“That’s just creepy. Does he like sleep and eat?”
Danny Mac laughed, “Yep.”
“I never saw him do either one the whole time we served under him.”
“He always made sure we were taken care of first. He’s still doing that but now it’s with the church.”
“This is too weird.”
“Kenann saw your gun.”
“I know. But one of us has to carry since you refuse.”
“I told you about that.”
“I know. I know. I wish Angelo would show himself. I’m getting edgy sitting here waiting on him.”
“Maybe that’s our problem. We’re not making ourselves vulnerable enough.”
“We agreed. We stick together.”
“It’s not Angelo’s style to kill me outright. He’ll want to play with me first. That will buy us some time. Let’s give him an opening.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go along.”
Jake and Kenann were sitting knee to knee on the couch swapping stories of their mutual mishaps in other cultures. In some Slavic countries it is considered rude to show someone the sole of your shoe (comparable to raising the middle finger). Jake roared with laughter as Kenann recounted her bewilderment to the reactions of passersby in front of her hotel in Moscow. Her parents had left her there for a few minutes and told her to stay out of trouble. So, she sat down in one of the chairs and propped her feet up like she had seen her Daddy do countless times on the porch rail back home at Granny’s. She practically caused an international incident before their Intourist guide could smooth things over. Her parents had wagged their heads indulgently. She always managed to find herself knee deep in trouble without ever trying.
Danny Mac handed Jake his drink when another knock sounded at the door. This time it was a petite soft sound. Kenann raised her eyebrow at Danny Mac. He knew she was questioning whether they would jump to alert again. This was going to be a problem. When he opened the door, he was delighted to see his eccentric but entertaining landlady.
“Why Mrs. Gage, come in. You’re just in time to join our impromptu party. Kenann order more pizza, please. Are you a coke drinker or would you prefer a diet?”
“Why this is lovely, my dear. A diet if you please.”
But first he linked his arm through hers. She always invited chivalry in Danny Mac.
“Mrs. Gage, this is a friend of mine visiting from the East Coast. Andy, this is Mrs. Gage.” She extended her free hand. Andy did not disappoint them. He made a sweeping bow and kissed the back of her hand. She gave her signature deep and throaty laugh with always the hint of mystery.
“I can see you and I will get along just fine.”
They turned, and Jake stood to greet them. Danny Mac felt something pass between Jake and Mrs. Gage as palpable as a tremor.
“Have you met?”
There was a slight pause. Jake seemed puzzled when he spoke, “No, I don’t believe so. Have we?” His big hands swallowed up Mrs. Gage’s in greeting.
“Not in this life,” was her enigmatic answer. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath as they continued to stand enrapt in each other. Mrs. Gage took command as smoothly as if she had called this small gathering together of her own choosing. She disengaged herself from Danny Mac’s arm and Jake’s massive hands and stepped apart in a flowing motion of silk and exotic scent.
“I have come to ensure guests for my party Saturday night. And now I have been rewarded with these two delicious men.”
Was Jake blushing? Andy speechless? As if on cue there came a knock at the door. Danny Mac smoothly disguised that he was checking discreetly before opening the door to Judy. She looked more remote than usual and gave Danny Mac a piercing and accusing look.
“Is Kenann here?” Kenann, missing what had passed between Judy and Danny Mac, waved from the background.
“Here I am Judy. Join the party.”
“No, I’ll just head home.”
“Don’t be silly, Judy. Come in. Please.” He reached out to touch her shoulder. She pulled away and stepped in. Kenann took up introductions. “Mrs. Gage, this is my best friend, Judy Crawford.”
Sensing the unsettled spirit emanating from Judy, Mrs. Gage abandoned her expansive manner and approached Judy warmly and with an enveloping demeanor. She made direct eye contact and spoke quietly to her. When she touched her arm, Judy visibly relaxed and rewarded the room with one of her rare but devastating smiles. Andy was mesmerized by the transformation. He retreated to the sanctuary of the kitchen to get Mrs. Gage her drink.
With Judy settled into the armchair by the window, Mrs. Gage once again took command.
“My little soirée is in honor of another successful union of soul mates. Mr. Taylor you must bring your wife.”
“I’m a widower, ma’am.”
“Does that also mean you are currently unattached?”
“Yes, ma’am it does.” Jake had regained some of his confidence.
“Well, since I too am widowed, I would be honored if you would be my escort for the evening.”
Jake looked like a kid at Christmas. “I would be pleased, ma’am.”
“Judy and Andy?” She looked at each in turn. “You both must come.” Judy lost all sense of calm. Andy smiled broadly and was about to accept when Danny Mac said, “I’m afraid Andy won’t be in town for the party.” Jake noted the body language of both men.
“How disappointing. But Judy, you will come, yes?”
“I have to work a double this Saturday but thank you, Mrs. Gage. Maybe next time.”
“Of course, dear.”
The pizza arrived, and conversations continued as everyone filled their plates and found spots to settle and eat. Danny Mac followed Judy into the kitchen when she took Mrs. Gage’s glass in for a refill.
“Judy, what’s troubling you
?”
“You tell me.”
“Help me out here. I want to understand.”
“So, do I. What is it about religion that draws hypocrites?”
“Have you heard something about me?”
“Oh plenty.”
“At the VA Hospital?”
“Bingo.”
“Judy, a person can change.”
“Not that much.”
“With God’s help, anything is possible.”
“Save it for the pulpit. You are some kind of whacked out hero to those guys on the psych unit - a real killing machine. Who are you?”
“I’m a sinner who found the grace of God.”
Her profanity shocked him. He reached out again to touch her shoulder in an act of kindness. She slapped his face as Kenann walked through the door.
“Keep your hands off me.” Judy hissed and ran out the back door of the apartment. Kenann was too stunned to move or speak. She felt a pain stab sharply into her chest.
“Kenann.” Danny Mac didn’t know what to say. He watched raw emotion pass over her face before she pulled it back and put on a mask to conceal it. She took in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. She turned on her heels to leave. Danny Mac let her go. Maybe it was best if she pulled away from him. They had practically been joined at the hip since she arrived two weeks ago, and he had grown far too content having her there. He would only be trouble for her. He refused to acknowledge the feelings tearing at him beneath the surface. Things like longing and need were locked away with all those other things he used to be and do.
Everyone headed home shortly after that. Kenann was as remote as Judy ever hoped to be as she left. Danny Mac pretended not to notice as he saw everyone to the door. He assured Mrs. Gage that he and Kenann would be there promptly at 8:00 Saturday night. As soon as the door latched Andy whirled him around and got in his face.
“What gives, pal? If I wasn’t chained to this house like a rabid dog, I could have gone after her. Why did Judy whack you? Yeah, we all heard it.” Andy looked like he wanted to take his own shot at Danny Mac.
“I don’t know.”
“Guess.” He spat out.
“She heard something about me at the VA Hospital. Gonzalez is in right now. I’m sure he’s regaling his therapy group with war stories.”
“So?”
“She can’t reconcile who I was with who I am now.”
“Neither can I but I’ve never whacked you over it.”
“I don’t know, Andy. She’s raw about something. I haven’t known her long enough for her to hate me that much. Usually takes a little longer.”
Andy grinned despite himself. “Well, whatever it is, it just spilled over on Kenann. That girl looked like the Giza Sphinx when she came out of that kitchen.”
“I know but I’ve got to figure that’s a blessing.”
“Yeah? How?”
“I need to put some distance between me and Kenann. I’m like a walking target right now and I won’t have another person hurt again because of me.”
“You mean because of Angelo.”
“Same difference.”
“Big difference, buddy.”
“Either way I’m the catalyst that gets people hurt.” He saw Bhina and Saulie’s faces alive with laughter on his last visit to Kuwait. His face was impassive and as hard as stone when he spoke.
“I want this over.” He stared beyond Andy for several seconds. “He’ll make his move soon.”
Andy didn’t question how he knew. Danny’s gut was famous.
“I’ll make myself an open target tomorrow at the church building. I’ll walk alone to Mrs. Gage’s party on Saturday.”
“What about Kenann?”
“I’ll trump up something and have Jake take her to the party. And you, my friend, will be skulking nearby.”
“Skulking’s good.”
“Have you got the ring ready with the hypodermic tranquilizer to take him down?”
“That’s if you get close enough.”
“Oh, he’ll want to get a piece of me before he tries to kill me. We’ll get really close, don’t worry.”
“What if he’s not alone?”
“That’s your department. But we agreed. Tranqs-no bullets or I bail.”
“Personally, I think you’ve gone soft on me, but you are right, dead men don’t talk.”
“And dead men don’t get second chances.”
CHAPTER SIX
Kenann decided to give Judy some cooling off time before she talked to her. She needed her own time. The wall of raw emotion she slammed into when she walked in on Danny Mac and Judy had taken her breath. It left her feeling edgy and vulnerable. She did what she always did when she felt threatened emotionally. She put on her ‘face’ and retreated inward where she could fortify her emotions behind a wall of carefully constructed reserve.
The next morning started out gray and rainy but it couldn’t dampen Kenann’s enthusiasm about getting her office set up and going over the case file for Monday. She had been noticing the same car pull out behind her for the last two days. It was always the same. They never turned off. They kept the same distance between them and pulled into the curb across from her office. No one ever got out. It was really starting to tick her off.
Today she got out of her car and stood under her umbrella staring directly at the mystery car. She was edgy enough over Danny Mac to want to take it out on someone and marched determinedly toward the car. She would find out who the freak was that seemed to be following her and drag him out of the car if she had to. The windows both front and back were opaque, preventing her from seeing inside. She hesitated as she felt a prickle of fear. The car seemed to be waiting expectantly for her to come closer. She slowly stepped off the curb to cross the street. She halted and turned when she heard Judy calling from the second-floor walkway on their office complex. Kenann looked back and watched the car slowly drive away.
“Who was that?” Judy asked when Kenann joined her on the covered walkway.
“I don’t know. Probably some nut case trying to decide if they want to make an appointment.” She paused, “You okay?”
Judy sighed softly. “Yeah, I’m sorry I ran out last night like that. Kenann, Danny Mac is not who you think he is. And this Andy is bad news too.”
“Judy, how can you say that? You don’t really know either of them or their history.”
“I know part of it and its ugly. They’re killers, Kenann.”
“Oh Judy, for goodness sake, that’s a real stretch even for you. I know they were in the Marines. Mr. Taylor was their commander. Andy practically wet down his leg when he showed up last night. But that’s like calling the Vietnam vets baby killers. Get a grip.”
“They were trained assassins and Danny Mac was the best of their best. They act like he’s some kind of war god.”
“How do you know this?”
Judy only looked at her.
“Never mind, I get it. Judy, those guys are on the psych unit for a reason.”
“Danny Mac didn’t deny it.”
“Okay, so he was some bad dude in the Marines.”
“It was more than that.”
“Whatever. That was then. This is now. Men come home from the military all the time and resume normal lives.”
“You think he can just turn all that off? As a freaking preacher no less. It’s a joke.”
“Judy, do you hate him because he’s a Marine or because he’s a preacher,” she paused and said more gently, “Or because he’s a man.”
Judy’s head was lowered. When she looked up her eyes were glistening with tears.
“Don’t go there, Kenann. If you can’t guarantee all the pieces will go back in the box, don’t take them out.”
“Judy, I want to help you.”
“I’ve got to get back to work.” She squeezed Kenann’s hand and went into the clinic behind them. It was always work for Judy. As long as she was working, she didn’t have to face whatever demons were
dogging her heels.
* * *
As Friday morning dawned, Danny Mac was going over his sermon at the dining room table. When he heard muffled groans from the living room, he whirled to his feet. He chuckled as he righted his chair. He recognized the once familiar sounds of Andy trying to greet the day. He poured another cup of coffee and walked over to the series of lumps on the couch. He lifted one end and found toes, so he approached it from the other end. He wafted the coffee cup near the opening of the cover and like the cobra rising to the sound of the flute the head began to move and weave until it was upright and staring through hooded eyelids. One hand fumbled out from the folds of the blanket and encircled the wrist holding the coffee. The other hand made its way around the cup. Not trusting himself, Andy leaned forward and took a first sip of the life-giving drink.
“What time is it?” he croaked.
“Almost 6:00.”
“Why didn’t you wake me for my watch?”
“Oh, I was working on my sermon for Sunday anyway.”
Andy looked puzzled and then realization dawned. “Oh yeah, I forgot. Do you actually dig this church stuff?”
“Yep, you want in too?”
“No way. You’re not getting me into no Bible banging cult!”
Danny Mac patted Andy on the head. He knew he hated that. Laughing he went back to get his own cup of coffee from the table.
“Jake’s already called me this morning.”
“I thought you said the old man slept.”
“I didn’t say how much. He knows something is up.”
“How?”
Danny Mac arched one eyebrow. Andy grinned. “Yeah he’s got eyes in the back of his head. Hey, you suppose that’s why some the guys called him a ‘mother’?”
Danny Mac snorted. “I don’t think so.”
“What did you tell him?”
“It was useless to try to snow him. I just told him you were working on something and were staying with me a few days under cover.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I try to make it a habit.”
“Okay, since we are playing truth or dare...”
“Who said we –”
“Shut up. Have you got the hots for Judy?”
“No, Andy I don’t.”
“What about Kenann?”
Once, a Long Time Ago Page 4
