Once In Awhile

by Kendra G. Johnson

  “Not on my salary.” Andy laughed.

  “Well, once I get another job, we should do okay.”

  “Do you want to work?”

  “Are you kidding? That is all I know. If you turn me into a haus frau, I shall become psychotic and put arsenic in your cornflakes.”

  “A job it is then.” They both laughed.

  Judy sobered, “I assume we will live in DC? Is your place big enough for me too?”

  “It should be. If not, we will look for one together. That would be fun. It may depend on where you decide to work. Hey, we may even move to the burbs.”

  “I am excited, Andy. And I haven’t been excited in a long time.”

  “Oh really?” He raised an eyebrow.

  Judy laughed, “You know what I mean. I am starting to really live again, and I like it. Even worrying about Danny Mac and Kenann does not take this joy away.”

  “We’ll get them back, baby.”

  “I know. I know we will. Our little band of misfits is a force to be reckoned with.”

  They continued to stroll through the tree lined streets stopping to explore some little shop or another. They jumped on the trolley that circles the city and got off at Freud’s house, just so Judy could say she had seen it. They made their way to the park where live music was playing.

  “Dance with me, Judy.” He swept her into his arms as she laughed. They moved to a Viennese waltz on the cobblestones of the square.

  “My beauty, my bride.”

  “My hero, my pain in the tush.” He laughed at her.

  “Well, I can tell who will be the romantic in this family.”

  “Yes, it may take a while for the Ice Princess to thaw.”

  “I’d say you are doing just fine,” and gave her a devilish grin.

  They had dinner at a cozy restaurant near the hotel. Afterward he carried her over the threshold of their room despite her protests.

  “How long are you going to do that?”

  “As long as I can.”

  “You are goofy.”

  “Goofy over you.”

  “I can see it now. I’ll come home with an armload of groceries and you’ll be trying to pick me up at the door.”

  “Absolutely. Or a baby on your hip.”

  Judy stopped and looked at him. “You want kids?”

  “Don’t you?”

  “Well, I guess. I just figured you for the carefree no kids’ kind.”

  “Falling in love changes a man, Judy.” He was dead serious, and she knew it.

  * * *

  Blade asked CJ if he wanted to come to his house. Since he was keeping close tabs on the kid, he thought that would be a good idea.

  “Can I bring Freddie?”

  “Sure, Rough likes him.”

  They came up the walk from the alley to the back door.

  “Moooommmmm?”

  A short olive-skinned woman came to the door drying her hands on a dishtowel.

  “And whom have you brought home with you, little man?”

  “This is my friend CJ Baer. He is a friend of Mrs. Gage. Can he stay for dinner?”

  “Sorry to intrude ma’am. Nice to meet you.”

  “You are welcome here. Come in, come in.” She held the door open wide and stepped aside for them to enter. The home was modest but clean and cozy. She led the way into the dining room.

  “You are just in time for some soup and a sandwich. Hope that is okay.”

  “That will be fine. If you are sure it’s no bother.”

  “Not at all.”

  “Mom, CJ is a truck driver. He has been all over the United States and Canada.”

  “How interesting. And who is this creature riding on your shoulder?”

  “That is Freddie, Mom. Him and Rough have made friends. Where is Rough?”

  “Standing guard as usual. I declare that dog is always on the alert. I can’t imagine who he is looking for.”

  When she turned her back, CJ winked at Blade and he smiled. Blade called for Rough and he bounded into the room to receive his head rub. While Blade ruffled Rough’s hair, Freddie climbed down from CJ’s shoulders and sat on his lap. Rough came over and sniffed at Freddie who took his paw and put it on top of Rough’s head. Rough’s tail beat against Blade’s leg in pleasure.

  While they ate, CJ learned how Blade’s mom and dad met in the Philippines when his father was stationed there in the service. She had returned with him to the States and they had settled in his hometown of Memphis when he was discharged. He had worked for a shipping company until he developed Sickle Cell Anemia and finally succumbed to it 3 years ago. Blade had been lost till Danny Mac came by and asked if they would like to come to his church. That friendship had saved Blade. He was once again a happy child full of energy and life.

  “I still cannot believe he stowed away on Mrs. Gage’s plane last summer. But he certainly had a nice vacation out of it.”

  Once again Blade and CJ exchanged smiles while Mrs. served the soup and sandwiches. Little did she know her son helped foil a plot of international terrorists. He was just a fifth grader who also happened to know the phone number of a top-level CIA operative. Mrs. Daniels began tidying up the dishes.

  “So, tell me about you, Mr. Baer.”

  “Not much to tell. Been trucking all my adult life.”

  “Do you have family?”

  “I’ve got a brother and two sisters, but we don’t see each other much. Usually around Christmas.”

  “Where is home?”

  “My truck.”

  “Seriously. No wife or children.”

  “Nope. Just me and Freddie and my Peterbilt.”

  “Well, you must feel free to stop by anytime you are in town.”

  “Thank you, Ma’am. I’m doing a little work for Mrs. Gage right now so I will be around awhile.”

  “Well then, you must not be a stranger.”

  “Since Danny Mac is gone for awhile, me and CJ are gonna hang out together.”

  “Where has Danny Mac gone?”

  “He is doing some research for mission work for the church. Mrs. Gage is helping him since she has so much money.”

  CJ was amazed at how easily this story rolled from Blade’s lips. Maybe he had a career in the spy business after all.

  * * *

  Kenann had feigned hysteria upon being taken into the mansion in Istanbul. When Danny Mac arrived, she was in a full blown “catatonic state”. Her intention was to keep her captors off balance. She knew Pierre would try to work on her mind and break her down. If she was already ‘crazy’ he would have nothing to work with. Danny Mac knew immediately that she was playing a part. The flicker of a glance his way told him to play along.

  After the initial shock of seeing Pierre alive, Danny Mac asked. “Pierre, what have you done to her?”

  His laughter came out in raspy bursts of air. “Apparently seeing me again was too much for her.”

  “We know you hypnotized her.’

  “Yes. It was so enjoyable playing with her mind.”

  “And now you have broken her all together. She was already so fragile.”

  “You have seen nothing of what I can do to her. Take them away.”

  When they approached Kenann, she began to snarl and lunged at the men. She bared her teeth and snapped at their hands as they tried to grab her.”

  The men backed off and turned to Pierre. “Boss?”

  Danny Mac took the opportunity. “Let me try.”

  He approached her slowly as if she were a dangerous animal. “Kenann? You need to come with me now.”

  She pulled back but made eye contact. She jerked back again as he reached for her.

  “Kenann, you come with me, okay?”

  She let him take her hand, but she maintained a wary expression. Danny Mac turned to Pierre. “Where do you want us to go? I need to stay with her. In this state, it is hard to tell what she will do.”

  Pierre hesitated briefly before commanding, “Go.”

  Dan
ny Mac put a solicitous arm around Kenann. Walking behind the men he put his lips to her ear and whispered, “Bravo.”

  * * *

  Mrs. Gage had all assembled and settled into their chalet in a high mountainous vale of the Carpathian’s overlooking Brasov. Judy and Andy had arrived that afternoon and had been brought up to speed by Carter. Granny and Mrs. Gage had embraced Judy warmly at the airport congratulating her on her marriage. Judy’s cheeks turned pink and she smiled demurely.

  “I’ve never been happier.”

  “That is wonderful, dear.” Mrs. Gage beamed.

  “Yes, sweetheart. We are so pleased for you.” Granny James agreed.

  “Now,” Judy got down to business, “What is the plan to get Kenann and Danny Mac back?”

  Mrs. Gage supplied. “We are going to play tourists and do recon through the woods. Then once we have the plan established, one of us will get taken by the brutes and fill Danny and Kenann in on the plan.”

  “Sounds good. Want to go down into the village and snoop around?” Judy asked.

  “Excellent. Moira, feel like a bit of shopping?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Good, then. I shall go and get us some head scarves and sunglasses to avoid knowing eyes.”

  Mrs. Gage checked in with the men as to their destination. Andy offered to accompany them but was reassured they would be fine. They would stay in busy public places and when Mrs. Gage produced a pistol from her purse, Andy laughed and relented.

  The women took the roadster down into town. The cold in the air took their breath but they laughed and enjoyed the shared experience. In their chic headscarves and designer sunglasses, they looked every bit the ‘smart set’. They roamed through the shops each listening for conversations that might glean some nugget of information. They had just emerged from a jewelry store when Mrs. Gage exclaimed.

  “Nita, darling!” She turned slightly and again peeled, “Pinky?! What in the world are you two doing here?”

  Nita was tall and lithe with lustrous red hair. She exuded sex appeal. Pinky was blond and cute. She seemed ‘happy just to be there.’

  Nita offered, “We are on a bit of a holiday, Gabby dear. We both just needed to get a way. Take a break, you know?”

  “Yes, darling. I do indeed.”

  Pinky chimed in, “What brings you to this backwater place?”

  “Oh, this and that. You know how it is.” The women all grinned at each other. “Oh, but where are my manners? These are my friends, Judy and Moira.”

  Greetings were made all round. Mrs. Gage looked at her old friends and decided.

  “Where are you staying?”

  Pinky answered. “We have a nice little flat with a view of the mountains.”

  “Come stay with me.” Judy and Granny both whipped their heads to stare with intent at Mrs. Gage.

  Nita touched Mrs. Gage’s arm, “That is so sweet Gabby, but our accommodations are fine.”

  “I insist and absolutely will not take no for an answer.”

  Pinky became effusive. “Oooohh, I know you will have some great digs. Where are you?”

  Mrs. Gage pointed up into the mountains. “I think you will like it. Now go get your things together. Do you have your own vehicle?” They nodded assent. “Good, I will come by and you can follow me.”

  They provided her with the address and directions and went off arm in arm and giggling together. As soon as they were out of ear shot, Judy and Granny pounced.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We can’t entertain guests at a time like this.”

  “My darlings, Nita’s real name is Briget. Her nom de plume was given to her by some friends of ours. Nita stands for Notorious International Terrorist Armoire,” and laughed.

  * * *

  Kenann had kept up her ruse throughout the journey to the castle in Transylvania. Once there and placed in a bedroom overlooking the valley below, Danny Mac began searching a means of escape. He went out on the balcony and to his dismay found it to hang over a cliff of indeterminate depth as it descended into darkness. When he came in, he saw Kenann crawling around on her knees near the fireplace. He went to her and helped her up whispering in her ear.

  “What are you doing?”

  She whispered back, “I’m ready for my close up, Mr. Deville.” She used the cover of their bodies in a loose embrace to apply the ashes from the fireplace under her eyes. It made her look more crazed than before. She began to keen and pull at her curly disheveled hair. Danny Mac knew this was part of her efforts to look the part of a woman who had gone completely out of her mind. They both were working off the assumption that they were under video surveillance and only spoke in close whispers.

  “Is the door locked?” she whispered as she made a pacing pass by Danny Mac. She had taken to mumbling to herself as she walked around to cover the occasions when she spoke to Danny Mac. He subtly raised one finger in yes. They had prearranged hand signals on the flight over from Istanbul.

  Eventually, they heard the sound of a key in the lock. She scurried over and cowered in a corner. One of Pierre’s men entered with a food tray. “Boss wants to meet with you two after dinner.” He laid the tray on a side table and left.

  Danny Mac spoke in conciliatory tones. “Come on over here, Kenann. You need to eat.”

  She came slowly and sat, her wary eyes never leaving Danny Mac. He fixed her a plate and sat it in front of her. She paused a few seconds and then attacked the food shoveling it into her mouth with her hands. Danny Mac had to exercise great control to keep from laughing. He was so proud of her deceptive skills. ‘A good quality to have in a wife,’ he laughed to himself.

  Several minutes later, they were escorted to Pierre’s apartment. It was an amalgam of hospital room and command center. Danny Mac took the opportunity to observe Pierre’s condition. He was obviously paralyzed from the neck down. He controlled his wheelchair through a breathing tube. He had lost all control over his body but apparently continued complete control over the Order.

  Pierre turned to them. “This is what the two of you have reduced me to. You have no idea the depth of my desire for revenge.” He had to stop several times in an attempt to control his spittle, but his words came out wet and mechanical, nonetheless.

  “What do you want with us, Pierre?” Danny Mac asked as Kenann began to roam aimlessly around the room. The men gave her a wide berth which was her desired intention.

  “I want to hurt you.” Pierre spat out.

  “Okay. I get that. I am the one who put you in that chair. But Kenann killed Katerina as a favor to you. As far as I know you put it into her head when you hypnotized her. You and I both know you were going to finish her off anyway.”

  Pierre gave what was intended for a laugh. “Yes. I was.”

  “So, you might as well let her go. I knew she was unstable. That is why I married her. It was my fault she got into that mess. I felt responsible and sorry for her.”

  Even though she knew Danny Mac was trying to diminish Pierre’s ability to control Danny due to his feelings for her, his words stung deeply.

  Pierre spat out, “She is Inanna!” She does not belong to you!” At these words Kenann came over and stood in front of Pierre. His men came to attention and moved closer. She simply stood and stared at him vacantly tilting her head this way and that like a bird. Pierre returned her gaze, willing her to remember him as her consort. After a few moments she moved away.

  “See Pierre. She is completely mad. No good to you any longer.”

  “Shut up! You are the one who is no longer of use to me.”

  Kenann responded instinctively. She ran over and grabbed Danny Mac’s arm. Remembering her ruse, she then cowered behind his back keening. She dropped to the floor and wrapped her arms around his legs. Her wailing increased. She had to make Danny Mac necessary in keeping her calm. She had to make him valuable enough to keep alive.

  Danny Mac stroked her hair and the embrace of his legs increased. Pierre observed thi
s exchange with a steely glare.

  “I may need you now to care for Kenann but that does not mean I cannot break you as well. Anytime I chose. “

  Kenann threw back her head and wailed. She started pulling her hair and pounding on the floor.

  “Get them out of here!” Pierre commanded.

  Danny Mac reached for her and she allowed herself to be brought to her feet. She sniffed and mumbled incoherently as she shuffled away holding onto Danny Mac. On the way back to their room Kenann attempted to wander off to judge the reactions of their guards. She was pleased to see that they did not react swiftly to bring her back. They seemed afraid of her. She had ambled down an adjacent hallway mumbling and touching various ornamentations and pictures on the wall, before they shoved Danny Mac to bring her back.

  When they made it to their room, Kenann put her back against the door when they tried to close and lock it. She snapped her teeth at them and snarled. The men stood by helplessly.

  Danny Mac came to their rescue. “Listen chaps, we cannot escape from this fortress anyway. Leave the door open so she will settle down. And if she wants to ramble around, she can’t hurt anything. She is harmless if you leave her alone.” The men seemed relieved and more than willing to leave her alone.

  Danny Mac led her to the chair and helped her sit. “They will leave the door open. Don’t worry. You can relax and not feel confined, okay? Is that it? Are you afraid of being locked in?”

  She whimpered and nodded her head slightly. Danny Mac looked to the men. They looked at each other. One man shrugged his shoulders and they walked away leaving the door open. Danny and Kenann both resisted the urge to look at each other in victory.

  * * *

  “You did what?” Carter roared.

  Mrs. Gage stood firm riding out his rage.

  “How in the bloody world do we know they aren’t already attached to the Order? I cannot believe you did this on your own volition, Gabrielle. I have given you a fair amount of leeway but in this you have gone too far. You may have compromised the whole operation with this impulsive stunt.”

  “John, I have known and worked with both of these women for years. Despite their presentation they are consummate professionals. Their personas are their best disguise. Nita is an expert in martial arts and demolition in addition to her seductive powers. Pinky’s real name is Annabelle Morgan and married into a royal family from Monaco. Her husband has no idea she is a mathematician and logistical genius whose specialty is code breaking. He thinks of her as his sweet, vacuous wife who enjoys parties and fashion.”