Once, a Long Time Ago

by Kendra G. Johnson

  “I regret I didn’t fit Danny with a two-way receiver in Memphis, but hind sight is 20/20. Our task now is to get one to them now, so we can coordinate our efforts. This organization needs stopped and we have an opportunity to take it down at its head. Now, I know your main concern is Danny and Kenann, but I have to be very clear on this. That is not my only objective here.”

  No one offered any comment, so he continued. “We are going to have a package delivered to them purporting to be from their family since their original guise was as brother and sister. At this point Pierre does not seem to suspect anything and Katerina certainly is not going to tip her hand at this point.”

  “That is an excellent plan, Andrew. May I make one small addition?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Suppose I play the role of Daniel and Kenann’s mother and show up to surprise them here in Alexandria. You have already said Katerina would not risk exposing their duplicity.”

  “Now, Gabrielle, I don’t like this.” Jake bristled.

  Andy considered her plan. “Sir, she may have a point. We will have an opportunity to eyeball them up close and we can then be assured the transmitter will be delivered without the risk of a package being searched. I accept your offer, Mrs. Gage.”

  Jake spoke again, “I will not sit around twiddling my thumbs, son.”

  “I have every intention of utilizing your talents, Sir. We need to continue keeping a close eye on Katerina. That will be your and Mrs. James’ job. I want to know her every move. Got that?” They nodded.

  Judy looked up and waited for her instructions. He said, “You’ll be with me.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

  When Pierre approached Danny Mac and Kenann to see if they needed anything, they indicated the articles Angelo had delivered would suffice for the present, but the boy required clothing and other articles. He must be treated well until the appointed hour and hoped this would explain their interest in Blade. Pierre assured them these needs would be attended to. Danny Mac and Kenann had discussed this next course of action at length and had decided a direct approach was best.

  Kenann spoke, “Pierre, we will need to review the scrolls.”

  Pierre’s raised eyebrow was his only indication of surprise.

  She continued, “Daniel and I will sit down with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the Night of the Lion. We need to finalize the ceremony, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll gather them and call for you. Will that be acceptable?”

  “Yes and thank you for your kind attention.” Pierre glowed under her compliment and bowed his way out the door. They dressed casually in the clothes Katerina had provided for them and waited. They did not have to wait long. Pierre came for them and led them to a library in the back of the villa. It was all dark wood and leather and on a long conference table lay scrolls encased under glass.

  “How old are these, Pierre?” She saw him look at her quizzically and added, “Just because I am reincarnated does not make me omniscient, Pierre. That is why I have been revealed only to you. You are to guide me with any information I do not have.”

  “Of course, Your Highness. These are 1000 years old. This will be the third Night of the Lion they have seen.”

  She didn’t dare hope they were written in colloquial English. What was she going to do now that she couldn’t read any of it? She approached the table slowly. Danny Mac stepped forward and looking down said, “Your Highness, allow me to assist you.”

  She looked at him and nodded. He went around the table looking carefully at each panel. She realized she was holding her breath and released it slowly. Pierre watched him expectantly.

  Danny Mac looked at Kenann and said, “I would like time to examine the scrolls if you will permit me?”

  “Of course, Daniel. Pierre and I will be on the veranda enjoying the sunshine. Would you care for some refreshment?”

  Pierre was slightly annoyed by the way they seemed to have taken over but accepted this as a natural progression of the prophesy. He led Kenann from the room. She stole a glance over her shoulder and Danny Mac winked at her. She smiled back and left the room.

  Kenann decided to make use of her time with Pierre to quiz him about the ceremony. He was eager to impress her with his knowledge. She waived away his obsequious attempts to ingratiate himself and asked him to give her facts and details. She bade him leave nothing out. He complied.

  When he had finished, she sat in stunned silence. She quickly regained her composure and complimented him and his predecessors on the accuracy they had been able to maintain to the original ceremony. Pierre beamed. He could not believe his true good fortune to be here at this moment with this woman, fulfilling a destiny determined centuries ago. Kenann felt herself losing steam. There was too much to assimilate. She indicated she would go to Daniel in the library. Pierre made to accompany her, but she raised her hand in refusal. He was stopped dead by the motion. She thought she could get used to this goddess thing.

  Danny Mac was pouring over the documents when she entered the room. He looked up and shook his head slightly when she started to speak. She understood he was cautioning her against listening devices in this room. They were not necessarily for them. Pierre probably listened in on private conversations of unaware business associates in this cozy atmosphere. Kenann went to stand beside Danny Mac. She looked down at the play of lines across the papyrus and hoped Danny was not bluffing about being able to decipher them.

  He spoke, “I’ll be finished here soon.”

  Kenann nodded and watched in fascination as Danny Mac perused the document closely. He moved back and forth between the panels comparing something known only to him. Finally, he straightened and reached for her hand.

  “Let’s go, Your Highness.” She thought she detected a slight note of laughter in his voice. She gave him her hand and he placed it on his arm. They left the library and proceeded to their suite of rooms.

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

  Kenann whirled around as soon as the door to their rooms was shut. “You could read those scrolls?”

  “Most of it. Hey, Buddy, how ya doing?” Blade came out of the adjoining bedroom eating a pear. He gave a nonchalant wave as if he were at home on a Sunday afternoon instead of the fast track to an execution. Danny was struck cold remembering another little boy who had trusted him with his life. Kenann saw the shift in his demeanor and touched his arm. She knew Danny Mac was worrying about Blade and wanted to comfort him somehow. He looked down at Kenann and attempted a reassuring smile.

  “Should we set some sort of strategy?” She decided work would be his best diversion.

  “Yes. Come over to the table. I need to sketch out some things on paper.” They all went over to the small writing table near the window overlooking the street. Danny Mac took some paper out of the desk drawer and drew a rough drawing of a large room with pillars.

  “The scrolls were written in the Coptic language. It was one of the languages we used for codes.”

  “Lucky for us.” Kenann secretly thanked God for this providential help.

  “Yeah, it mentions a great deal about the aim of the Society and why it was formed in the beginning. For the sake of time I will just put down the blueprint described about the ceremonial temple. Before we can plan any strategy, we need to know how the stage is set. Apparently, it has changed very little from Sumerian times. There will be a raised platform at the front of the hall here,” Danny Mac drew on the paper.

  “It will hold the leadership of the Society. Directly in front of this dais is the sacrificial altar.” Danny Mac and Kenann involuntarily looked at Blade.

  His only response was “Cool.”

  Blade felt no fear. He knew Danny Mac would take care of him.

  Danny Mac continued, “On both sides running the length of the hall is seating for the members of the Society. Literally translated, they are called Instruments of Power. Before the ceremony there is a modern-day board meeting as people f
rom around the world give their reports. I imagine there are similar meetings held at intervals, but this is a special one for obvious reasons. This Society was established on superstition and mind control techniques and this ceremony will be no exception.”

  Kenann broke in. “How do we stop this thing before it gets out of hand?”

  Danny Mac knew what she meant - before Blade’s life was in danger. “We need a diversion. A big one. I’m still working on that.”

  Just then came a knock at the door. Kenann stood as Danny Mac turned the papers over. She bade entrance. Pierre came in and went through his ritual of apologizing, bowing and scraping. He finally got to the point.

  “Your Highness, we will be leaving in the morning for the ceremonial site. I know you will want to make the necessary preparations. The other members of the Society will not arrive for another two days.” What he didn’t mention was his plans to ensure she would name him as her consort. His leadership in the Society did not guarantee him that privilege but he hadn’t come this far to lose out now. He would have her and she would carry his seed before the next new moon.

  * * *

  Andy’s cell phone rang. He answered it and listened intently for a few seconds.

  “Stay on it.” He turned to the group. “Mrs. Gage, its show time.”

  Pierre appears to be taking Danny Mac, Kenann and Blade to another location in the morning. We can still track them via the GPS, but we need that two-way in place before they get away from us.”

  Jake spoke up. “What do you need the rest of us to do?”

  “Unless you have a way to get into Katerina’s apartments?”

  Moira coughed, “Actually…”

  * * *

  Judy had not seen such synchronized chaos since her ER rotations in nursing school. Mrs. James was fitted with a uniform for the hotel housekeeping staff and a two-way transmitter in her ear so when the men talked to her in Arabic, the man at the com center would translate. Mrs. Gage needed little in the way of preparations. Judy imagined she could pull off any scheme like a pro.

  Mrs. James was hustled back to the Metropole Hotel and was on her way up to Katerina’s rooms within the hour. She knocked on the door and called Housekeeping in Arabic. She repeated this several times. Being Irish, she was a natural mimic and could get her tongue around the difficult sounds with relative ease. When no one answered, she used the pass key Andy had been able to procure on short notice. She entered cautiously at first but when it was clear no one was in the suite, she put one of the listening devices in the bowl of artificial fruit decorating the sideboard table in a central location of the room. Then she began looking for somewhere in Katerina’s personal belongings to plant another device. This proved to be more difficult. Like a lot of women, she had a pair of shoes for every outfit with matching accessories. There was no way to determine what Katerina would wear at any given moment. It was then she saw it. A small pistol in a leg holster. The way things seem to be heating up, she figured this was one accessory Katerina was sure to put on. She hurriedly planted the device the way Andy had shown her. Taking one last look around, she headed for the door when it swung open and Katerina stormed in. She had been out on the beach trying to calm herself. She could not assuage the boiling rage she felt toward Kenann for destroying all her hard-won plans.

  She barked to Mrs. James in Arabic, “Get out.”

  Mrs. James repeated the words she heard in her ear, “I am finished,” in Arabic.

  “I don’t care if you are finished or not. I said get out.”

  She bowed and left the room as instructed by Katerina and the voice in her ear.

  She passed the men who were coming in behind Katerina and heard one of them whisper something softly to the other. The voice in her ear spoke to someone sitting nearby.

  “That was very interesting.” Mrs. James would love to have known what the man had just said. There had been enough venom in his tone to make the hair stand up on the back of her neck.

  * * *

  Mrs. Gage got out of the cab and looked around like an awestruck tourist. She tripped lightly up to the villa’s entrance. Knocking, she opened the large front door and called, “Yoohoo, anybody home?”

  She was met by a very large man in a suit. He blocked her from entering further.

  “My but you’re a big one, aren’t you?” She used her best Memphis drawl and swatted him on the arm. He didn’t move.

  “May I help you?” His voice rumbled in his chest.

  “Why you sure can, darlin’. My younguns are here and I want to see them.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Danny and Kenann. I came all this way to surprise them and then I find out they’ve gone off from their hotel. It was just the luckiest thing that the hotel clerk told me who they left with or I’d have never found them. Now if you would be so kind to go and fetch them for me.”

  The man took her to a room off the large foyer. He found Pierre and explained the situation. Pierre went hurriedly to the parlor but before he entered, he took a deep breath and assumed his most charming attitude.

  “This is indeed a pleasure. When did you arrive and how were you so fortunate to find us?

  “Like I told that other fellow, one of the hotel clerks said he saw you all leave together and since my kids hadn’t come back to the hotel I asked around. It took me a while, but I finally found out where you live when you’re in town. Can I see them? They are gonna be so surprised,” drawing out the last word shrilly.

  “By all means, madam. You wait here.”

  He went to their suite of rooms and ushered Danny and Kenann down to the parlor without any explanation. He was testing the veracity of this ladies’ claims. When they came in, Mrs. Gage jumped up and cried, “My babies. Look who’s come all this way to surprise you. Well, aren’t you gonna come and kiss your old momma?”

  Kenann’s mind flew into action. She turned to Pierre and rolled her eyes with feigned impatience. Turning back to Mrs. Gage she groaned, “Mother, why did you come here. This was supposed to be my time.”

  “Oh now, darling, don’t be mad. I just wanted to see my babies. What’s wrong with that? Come here Danny and give your Momma a hug and a peck on the cheek.”

  He complied, and she palmed him the two way as slick as an Atlantic City grifter. He spoke kindly but firmly as if he had been doing it for many years. “Mother, go on back to the hotel. I will make arrangements with the Concierge to schedule you on some tours of the city. Since you are this close, go see the Pyramids at Giza. You’ll enjoy that.”

  Mrs. Gage puckered up her face and whined, “All right Daniel but are you sure you and Kenann can’t come with me?”

  “No, Mother. Pierre has graciously opened his home to us and we have additional business with him. Kenann is helping me. Now go on back to the Hotel. You can charge your expenses to my account but please go lightly on the gambling and drinking. You know how you get when you’ve had too much to drink.”

  “Now Daniel, don’t scold me. I’ll be good. You kids finish up your business here and we’ll have a nice little vacation together. Okay, sugar?”

  Kenann turned to Pierre and rolled her eyes again. He smothered a laugh. She went to Mrs. Gage and put her arm around her escorting her to the door. “We will see you in a few days, Mother.” Kenann’s hands trembled slightly as she hugged Mrs. Gage, but she willed her eyes to remain dry and her voice calm as she said her final good byes on the front portico. Danny Mac hailed a taxi for her and as he helped her in, he spoke softly, “Well done, Mother.” She smiled and blew him a kiss as the taxi drew away into the traffic.

  * * *

  Andy helped Judy into the surveillance van. For the moment they were alone. Andy fitted the ear piece into his ear and heaved a very heavy sigh.

  “I guess I should apologize for being so hard on you.”

  “It’s all right.” But she did not meet his eyes. Andy was amazed at the difference in her demeanor from the woman he knew in Memphis. Something was te
rribly off.

  “What gives, Judy?”

  “What do you mean?” She looked at him then.

  “You. You act like a whipped pup.”

  She felt a shudder go through her body but reigned it in. “I’m just tired. I guess the strain is getting to me.”

  Before he thought, he blurted out, “Why did you let me ramble on like an idiot about you?”

  “It was sweet.”

  “Sweet? Oh, that’s just great. Let me let you in on something here. Don’t use sweet or sensitive in any context when referring to me. And for the love of all things holy, don’t talk like that in front of my men.”

  He was rewarded with the smile he had been going for. Man, but she was beautiful. He smiled back and then concentrated on the conversation coming over the wire. He laughed heartily at the exchange occurring in the villa. He put it on speaker, so Judy could enjoy Mrs. Gage’s performance too. He saw her shoulders relax as their laughter mingled.

  * * *

  “What do you mean they are leaving?”

  “Just what I said and I’m hitching a ride on the second chopper with Pierre’s men.”

  Angelo had called Katerina on his cell phone from the villa. Andy’s men monitored the conversation via the listening device planted by Mrs. James.

  “That Bastard, I was scheduled to leave with him myself in two days. What is he up to?”

  “I don’t know but I am sticking with Danny and Kenann.” He didn’t mention the appearance of their delightful ‘mother’. He had recognized her as the screwy lady from Memphis and then he made the connection as to why that kid had looked so familiar. He decided to stand back and see what happened.

  * * *

  The helicopters were riding low over the desert. Danny Mac was trying to get a bearing on their course and calling on his limited knowledge of the terrain, he estimated they were flying somewhere between the Bahariya and the Siwa Oases. This left a considerable amount of barren landscape to get lost in. He had managed to give a full report to Andy before they departed on the helicopter. He complimented him on using Mrs. Gage for the transfer of the two-way but wasn’t surprised to learn it was all her idea. They parted with a sincere wish on both their parts that they would be speaking again soon. He hoped Andy was getting at least some of their in-flight conversation. Pierre was still trying to play the cordial host and was explaining that he was anxious to show them the site of the ceremony. He assured them they would find the accommodations very comfortable.