They walked down the row of cells and into the outer offices. “Wait right there.” The man retrieved a large envelope containing George’s possessions and handed it to him. “Here’s your stuff. You’re free to go.”
George was dumbfounded, but wasn’t about to ask questions.
“Out that door.” The guard pointed and turned back to his work.
George opened the door and walked out into the sunshine on the front steps of the jail. He stood there blinking for a moment wondering what to do next. He opened his wallet to see if he had any money. Son-of-a-gun, his money was still there. Okay, well then, he might as well start walking. Maybe he could get something to eat and then call someone to come pick him up. No, that wasn’t a good idea. It would be better to hide for a while until he figured out his next move. He had enough cash for a hotel room.
George started walking briskly down the steps, turning right on the sidewalk. Everything about the city looked normal, sounded normal. Traffic hummed by as usual. Nothing seemed out of order. Whistling a little tune, George walked along the shops and offices, looking for a place to eat, unaware of the muffled steps closing in behind him.
He turned down a side street that seemed promising. Ah, here was a good-looking place to eat. “Ugh,” suddenly he bent over grabbing his side. His breath escaped in a rush. His brain barely had time to register alarm. It happened so fast he did not feel the dagger enter between his ribs, turn and rip his lungs before it sliced his aorta. George’s heart took one last beat and stopped. He slumped to his knees and sprawled on the sidewalk. Eyes rolled up in their sockets, red blood slowly seeping into his t-shirt.
Mohammad sank into the shadows and watched to be certain the knife did its job. Satisfied he turned to scurry away. “Hold it right there,” yelled Cliff. “Don’t move!”
Mohammad’s head jerked toward the voice as his hand went for his gun. Shots rang out.
~~~~~
Mail Call
Back in Arlington, Sally Millecan, nee Miller, carefully filed her two birth certificates away in the lockbox, pulled a chair over to her closet, climbed up and stored the lockbox away on a high shelf. Stepping down, she stood back and looked at it for a second. As she closed the closet door she vowed to close her mind on the issue, as well. She had learned all she could and probably would never know anything about her father. Her mother was still suffering too much from the memories. Sally doubted they could ever discuss it again.
Of course, Sally regretted having pushed her mother into having one of her terror attacks. It was awful—so sad. However, because of her questions, Sally learned that Miller was her real name, and how it been changed to Millecan. Now she knew that her mother had changed it herself by altering the birth certificate. Some time afterward, Ferrell must have begun using the new name of Millecan for both of them.
Sally had no idea how Ferrell Millecan legally entered Canada. The incorrect spelling of her mother’s name on the altered certificate must have just been a mistake. Ferrell must have somehow changed her own name from Miller to Millecan in order to get the proper ID to cross the border. Of course, in those days, a mere driver’s license was accepted as sufficient ID at the border. Well, there I go again, Sally berated herself. Her brain would not let go. The thoughts replayed over and over in her mind—those facts she knew, along with the remaining unanswered questions. She could drive herself crazy.
This was the first chance she had to think through what to do about her name. Should she change it back to Miller? She considered all the entities that would be affected, from utility bills to credit cards and online names. What a mess!
For now, Sally decided to continue being Sally Millecan. The possibility of losing her job over a name mixup was enough to frighten her. So long as Sally Millecan continued to have the proper security clearance, she had better not rock the boat.
Sally had tomorrow off. It would be good to catch up on her laundry and housework, and do banking and shopping. Tonight she planned to turn in early and read in bed for a while until she got sleepy. She looked forward to reading that Western romance novel she picked up at the airport store in Victoria. It was just the sort of escape reading she needed right now.
One last time, she checked her email messages, scrolling down through the junk mail finding nothing of importance. Her paper mail was still on the desk. She strolled over, stood at her desk, picked up the mail and casually sorted it out, using the four-pile system: Pile one—open now, pile two—bills, three—magazines and four—open later. The rest went into the waste basket. She hated this job.
Although she loved her Arlington apartment where she could relax and be herself, the one thing she hated was coming home to a stack of mail, even though most of it was junk, advertisements and appeals for charity.
Once a month she got a paycheck from her lobbyist employer. It should have been in this pile of mail. It always came right on time. Sally went through the piles again, looking for the familiar envelope. It should be here. Did I throw it away? Sally started digging through the wastebasket. Oh here it is. How did I miss that?
Kicking herself, Sally pulled out the desk chair and sat down to open the envelope and prepare the check for deposit. She read the little sticky note attached to the check. “We need 2 meet. Starbucks’ at 10? Email me when ur in town, EJM.” Shucks there goes half my morning. She had to meet Edward tomorrow morning. Sally sighed. Oh well, stuff happens. She dashed off a quick note to Edward, grabbed her novel and headed toward the bedroom, telling herself to take no thought for the morrow as today’s concerns were sufficient for the day.
~~~~~
Starbucks Edward
Edward was waiting for her. He stood when Sally entered. Such a gentleman, she thought. Handsome, too. I wish he would ask me out on a date, sometime.
“Good morning,” said Edward.
“Good morning,” she smiled.
Edward pulled out her chair and helped her into her seat.
“Thank you,” said Sally. “How are you today?”
“Doing well, thank you,” Edward replied, “And you?”
Their personal conversation never went beyond polite greetings. Sally wondered about the slight accent Edward had. She could usually place voices, as she heard people from all over the world, in her day job. Edward’s voice had her stumped. She would like to ask him about his family, job, background etc. but she knew that was verboten.
Edward had chosen a table that was set off from the others. He lowered his voice and got right down to business. “We need to go over your work for the next few days,” he began.
“Is everything all right? I hope there is no problem,” she said. Truthfully, she thought that her reports were a waste of time, for which she was being overpaid. She braced herself for the news, whether good or bad.
“No problem whatsoever,” Edward assured her. “We are happy that you have gotten acquainted with the right people. You have done well.”
“Well, okay, if you are happy, that’s all that matters. I admit I don’t understand any of it.”
“No need to understand. We just follow orders. Who cares, so long as the client pays the big bucks?” He laughed. “I’m told that we are to proceed with the next phase of the operation.”
“Oh?”
“They have selected the most likely target and want you to pinpoint the targeted person and hire him to work for us.”
“What? Are you kidding?”
“Not at all, and there is good news.”
“Good news?”
“Good news for you, that is.”
“Okay, I can use some good news.”
“This will be a step-up for you in terms of your salary.”
“That is really good news!” she was excited.
Motioning with one hand, Edward reminded her to keep her voice down. “From now on you will be on my level, salary-wise.”
Sally knew that more money meant more responsibility. “And so, what do I have to do to qualify for this new lev
el?”
“You will be a contact person, just like me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, I am your contact, right?”
“One of them,” Sally answered, thinking about the young girl.
Edward raised an eyebrow. This was new information to him. Disregarding that for the moment, he continued, “You will be the contact person for the new employee. You will meet him on the DC to Dallas flight occasionally.”
“I see,” said Sally, although she really did not see at all.
“At those times, you will merely pass on the message.”
“That’s all?”
“Yup, easy.”
“I don’t have to take pictures and send reports on the various people, anymore?”
“No, I think they have selected one. You have done a good job. And so now, all you have to do is pass on messages to that particular person.”
“Who is it?”
“I don’t even know that, myself.”
Sally was feeling uncomfortable about this new arrangement. It sounded like it was right out of one of those spy novels she loved to read. This was no longer a game. But, how could she get out of it? She needed the money for a few more months. As soon as possible she would resign, that’s for sure.
“Okay,” said Sally, “I’ll do it for a while at least, but I’m not committing to forever.”
“Excellent, I hoped you would say that. We don’t need forever.”
“I suppose that someone else will tell me how to identify this person.”
“Actually, I don’t think so. He has been told to look for you.”
“Oh.”
“You will receive a password which he will know as well. That is how you will find each other.”
Yikes, thought Sally. This is getting weirder and weirder.
“And then, you will receive his answer.”
“His answer … right. Do I know the question?”
“No need to know the question. He will give you his answer and you will report it back to us in the usual way.
“I’ve taken care of the check,” said Edward as he abruptly stood. “It’s been pleasant. I’ll bid you good-day.”
Sally stared after him as he left. Who was this guy? Sometimes his wording was peculiar. Could English be his second language? Oh wait, he never gave me the password. Sally sighed. Her nature was to be curious. It was so hard to be patient when you did not understand.
Nate -THE SEARCH –
Dorothy May Mercer
Chapter 12 Zip-a-dee-do-da
O n his way over to the McGillicuddy residence for dinner, Rob had the top down on his freshly cleaned convertible. A tune kept going through his mind.
“Zip-ah-dee-do-da, zip-ah-dee-a,
My oh my what a beautiful day.
Plenty of sunshine, comin’ my way
Dah-da-da, dah-da … “
What were the rest of the words? Rob couldn’t think where this was coming from. Sounded like an old Walt Disney movie.
He was invited to Sharon’s aunt and uncle’s house for dinner. Golly, he hardly knew her and already he was meeting her folks. Or, maybe the idea was for them to look him over. He wasn’t even sure that Sharon would be there, but who was he to complain? If their approval was a requirement, no biggie. He could handle that.
Rob was dressed in a suit, shirt and tie. He even got a haircut and shoeshine. It had been a long time since he had dressed up for a girl, much less for her aunt and uncle.
Parking at the curb, he used a little squirt of mouth freshener, checked his teeth and necktie in the mirror, picked up the bouquet of flowers laying on the seat, and opened the car door. Walking up the sidewalk toward the front of the house, he felt butterflies. Come on, Rob, get a grip. It’s only a girl you just met.
He rang the doorbell and waited, nervously tapping his toe and whistling the rest of the tune. A jovial middle-aged gentleman answered the door, “Good evening.”
“Good evening, I’m Rob Goodrich. Uh …”
“Rob! Hello. Please come in. I’m Sharon’s Uncle Terry.” He held the door open. “Call me Terry,” he said. “Welcome to our home.” He ushered Rob through a slate-tiled hall, decorated with a gilded mirror, a small half table on one wall and framed art across from it. An open staircase went off to one side. A long crystal chandelier hung down from the second floor shining through tall windows to the outside.
“Come along with me,” said Terry. “Let me make you comfortable in the living room.” He led Rob through an archway into a well-appointed room. “May I take care of those flowers for you, Rob?”
“Oh yes, thank you,” said Rob, handing him the bouquet.
“I assume these are for the lady of the house,” Terry smiled.
Rob nodded. “Uh, yeah.”
“I’ll see that Rose gets these, right away. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable anywhere you like, and I’ll let Sharon know you’re here. All right?”
“Thank you, Terry,” said Rob, unable to think of anything brilliant to say. Wasn’t it better to allow Terry to wonder if I might be stupid than to open my mouth and prove him right? Instead Rob displayed his brilliant smile, prepared to select a chair and sit down to wait.
“Excuse me, then,” said Terry. “Hopefully Sharon will be here any minute.”
Rob knew her phone number now, but he had no idea where she lived. He had heard of girls meeting men at a neutral restaurant for a first date, but this was novel. He would have to teach his sister about this trick. If Joy had used it on her first date with that Totten s.o.b, he would never have passed the test.
Just then Rob heard the doorbell again followed by feminine footsteps going down the hall. Soon he heard two women talking and laughing in the foyer. Were they laughing about him? Rob stood in place when Sharon and her aunt entered the room. “Hi Rob,” said Sharon. “Sorry I’m late. Have you waited long?”
“Not long at all. I only just arrived myself.”
“That’s good. Aunt Rose, I’d like you to meet my friend from church, Rob Goodrich. Rob, this is my Aunt Rose.”
“How do you do, Rob? I believe we have talked on the phone,” said Rose, extending her right hand.
Rob took her hand. “Delighted to meet you, ma’am,” said Rob. “Yes, I did call here trying to track down your lovely niece.”
“Well, it seems you were successful,” said Rose.
“Indeed, I was very lucky to find her,” said Rob, “and happy to be invited to your beautiful home.”
“You are more than welcome, Rob, and thank you for the flowers. Very nice, indeed. I’ve arranged them for the table.”
“You are welcome.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few things to attend to. I’ll leave you two to enjoy yourselves. Dinner will be in about half an hour.”
Rob nodded.
Sharon asked, “Is there anything I can do to help, Aunt Rose?”
“Yes, dear, you can entertain our guest.”
Sharon turned to Rob. “Shall we sit over here?” She indicated a love seat, across the room.
“Okay.”
Sharon took his hand and led him to the seat. She sat first. Rob followed, as close as he dared, still holding her hand. They grinned at each other. “Well, what do you think of my parents?”
“I’m sure they are lovely people,” said Rob, “but never having met them, I can only judge from having met their wonderful daughter.”
Sharon’s laugh tinkled like a bell. “You just met them, silly.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, my aunt and uncle raised me from the age of six.”
“Ah, I see. And so this is your home, where you were raised.”
“Partly. We moved once, but I lived here from about the age of twelve on, until I grew up and left for school.”
“So, do you remember your parents?”
“Yes, I remember some things. I was six when they died, but Aunt Rose made every effort to help me remember, with pictu
res and stories. And so, I’m not always sure if it is my own memory or something I was told. It sort-of all runs together.”
“Not sure if I should say ‘I’m sorry’,” Rob commented.
Sharon laughed a little and then sighed. “I know. That’s okay. Aunt Rose and Uncle Terry still insist I call them aunt and uncle, but to me they are my parents. That’s what I remember the most.”
“Uhm.”
“Was that your car I saw in the drive?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, I just got it out of the shop this afternoon.”
“My, what a change since the last time I saw it!”
“Yeah, Scott’s Body Shop did a good job. It’s never been this clean since it was new.” Rob laughed.
“You were happy with the settlement?”
“Uh, you mean the insurance company?”
“No, I mean Judge Totten’s.”
“Not sure about that.”
“What did he tell you?”
“I haven’t talked with Judge Totten.”
“He told me he would pay you double.”
“Told you?” Rob wondered what on earth he had missed. “How did that happen? Did you talk to Totten?”
“Why, of course. Don’t you know we officers always get our man?”
“You did that?”
“Didn’t you read the report?”
“I didn’t even see any report. All I could get out of the police was a big fat yawn.”
“Really?”
“Honey, they won’t tell me anything.”
“Aw, geez, I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
“Well, how about taking me out after dinner for a buggy ride in that nice clean car of yours?”
“I’d love to, but there is only one problem, there isn’t room for four people.”
Sharon laughed, “That’s the idea.”
Rob thought, I guess I passed the test.
~~~~~
Kabandha Waits.
Glued to the television set, Kabandha waited impatiently for the late evening news. She knew something had happened. Otherwise Mohammad would have been back by now. The special dinner was dried and ruined, long since gone cold, sitting in the oven. Kabandha pushed aside any feelings of regret, assuring herself that Mohammad and George would both give freely of themselves—heroes for the cause. Allah would richly reward them in heaven.
Nate Page 13
