She could feel Danny Mac relax beside her as they took in the bucolic views. They chatted about nothing in particular and it was wonderful. She took him to Windsor so he could see the castle.
“Oh look, the queen is here!” she exclaimed.
“How do you know?” he asked.
“Her flag is flying,” she replied, pointing to the top of the castle in the distance. “Want to take the tour?”
He considered but realized he just wanted to be with her. “No, I am enjoying just being out and about. The last thing I want is more crowds.”
“Okay, then I have just the thing. Hungry?”
“Yes, I am.”
She returned to the M4 and headed toward the village of Hurley. Turning off a side road, she pulled up to an old and quaint pub and inn called the Olde Bell. They took a seat near the fire and ordered bangers and mash just because they were in England. They laughed their way through the meal, enjoying the warmth from the fire, the glasses of wine, and the love they shared.
She leaned into him. “Let’s stay.”
“Here?”
“Sure, why not? I’ll call Mrs. G. We don’t have another performance until tomorrow night. What do you say?”
“Can I ravish you?”
“You’d better,” she said, giving him a cheeky grin.
* * * *
Mrs. Gage ended the call and turned to Moira. “The kids are staying in Hurley tonight.”
Moira smiled. “That’s nice. I’m glad they got away for a while. Danny Mac gets restless, doesn’t he?”
“And Kenann is his best medicine.” Mrs. Gage gave her a considering look. “Are you better?”
Moira thought about lying but knew it would be useless with her friend. “No. Have you talked to Jake?”
“No, but I believe we shall and right now.” She picked up her phone and called him. “Jacob, would you come to my room? Moira and I would like to talk to you.”
He arrived in short order. Mrs. Gage led him to a chair between her and Granny James. She wasted no time. “Jacob, we are concerned. Moira’s infamous gut is telling her that we are being pursued by something—something evil.”
Jake did not scoff or question. He had known these ladies too long and too well to start doing that now. He sighed deeply and reached out a hand to both of them. They laid their hands in his. He squeezed them gently as he bowed his head. “Oh, Father, we praise you that we can come to you at a moment’s notice and know that we are heard. And that you love us and protect us from evil. This is our prayer now. We do not know what lies ahead for us. We know that we are in a constant battle with the powers and principalities of darkness who war for our very souls. We pray mighty protection around us. We call upon the archangels, if needed, to be our defenders and guide, and we know we have this power to ask and be heard through the blood of your son, and in the mighty name of Jesus we say…” and they all claimed in unison, “…amen.”
They sat quietly, lost in their own thought for a few moments. The recent rainstorm pelted the windows beside them. Jake gave their hands a final squeeze and stood.
“We have to trust in the Lord to guide us.”
“And protect us,” Mrs. Gage added.
Moira clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking. “It’s so hard not knowing where the threat is coming from.”
Jake crouched his large frame in front of Moira and looked her in the eyes. “Regardless of the vehicle he uses, we know the Evil One. We stand strong together, Moira. You are not alone in this.”
Moira gave him a rueful grin. “Well, that’s part of the problem, isn’t it? I love all of you now, which only increases my heartache if any of you are hurt.”
“We will be fine, Moira. We need to be vigilant and smart and trust in the Lord.”
She smiled at him and nodded. “You are right. I either trust or I don’t. If I let a seed of fear in or doubt, then I am adrift. Let’s stand on the Rock, shall we?”
“That’s my girl.”
Mrs. Gage watched this with interest. She had always considered herself a person of faith, especially since she had begun her international efforts. But since joining herself with Danny Mac, Jake, and Moira, she had seen a new layer of spirituality in herself. One that enhanced and improved every aspect of her life. She was glad to have them on her side.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Their final performance in London was sold out. The three oil men Andy had befriended wrangled last-minute tickets as well as an invitation to the soiree hosted by the duke and duchess. This was calculated. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The British were on board to monitor them after the troupe left town. Carter was disappointed that they had learned nothing so far about the mysterious anomalies that had been emerging across the globe. He had not shared with the group at large, but Danny and Andy knew how deeply troubling this was to Carter. Even though his peers at the State Department did not share his assessment, his gut knew this was a far worse threat than anyone imagined. He and Danny had several long discussions as to whether this could be the Order behind these things. With the people they had apprehended in the last two raids on that organization, Danny Mac did not think they could reorganize sufficiently to maintain the level of activity they were seeing. But if they could, then this was a much more dangerous organization than they imagined. Only time would tell.
The curtain calls took longer than anyone anticipated, so the cast were scrambling to get into their finery and on to the party. Judy and Kenann wore the blue-and-red gowns that had stunned their husbands in D.C. Mrs. Gage and Moira were equally stunning in their respective gowns of gold and silver. Mrs. Gage had cars waiting to take them to the venue chosen by the duke and duchess for the event. The Café De Paris, the stunning, dazzling, and opulent event space had dual grand, sweeping staircases, glittering chandeliers, and a large ballroom floor flanked by dining tables, making it the perfect location for the after-party.
When the cast made their entrance at the top of the staircase and into the ballroom, the party erupted into applause. There were smiles all around. The duke and duchess were the first to greet them as they made their way down the curved staircase. William leaned into Mrs. Gage during it and said, “We need to talk.”
She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.
He merely responded, “Later.”
She nodded and wondered what Nita had gotten her into now.
The cast members were drawn into the ballroom and surrounded by partygoers. Danny Mac had a firm grip on Kenann’s hand as the crowd jostled them. She was grateful for his reassuring presence, strong and solid beside her. Every so often he would put his powerful arm around her waist, pulling her to him, and she was reminded that she could endure anything as long as he was with her. They were peppered with questions about where their next city tour was, if they planned to make a career of acting, and what they did before they began this play. They had all been schooled on their responses to ensure they were consistent about their combined history. Their story and their cover had to be flawless.
The she-devil and her hired gun had not been able to get tickets for the last performance or wrangle an invite to the after-party. The wait staff had been heavily vetted and there was no time to get hired on to work the party. This infuriated the woman. She was being pressured by her organization and was running out of time and excuses. She knew she was valuable, but everyone was expendable if they pushed far enough. The man was also growing concerned as he witnessed her desperation. She was extremely dangerous on a good day. A desperate devil did not bear thinking about. He watched her plotting her plan behind hooded eyes and he dreamed of a way out.
The other man had finally made his way to the United States. He was weary and sick and in need of medical care. He had no identification or resources. He entered the homeless shelter in Zapata, Texas, and weighed his options.
* * * *
Danny Mac and Kenann approached Angelo as he sat at a table along the dance floor.
>
Danny Mac asked, “Enjoying yourself, Angelo?”
Angelo smiled. “Yes.”
Kenann asked him, “Why aren’t you dancing?”
“Oh, not really my thing.”
Danny Mac punched his shoulder. “Take Kenann for a whirl. She is very patient with those of us who have two left feet.”
Angelo looked like a cornered animal.
Kenann laughed. “Oh, come on. It won’t be that bad.”
Danny Mac pulled Angelo to his feet and Kenann took his hand, leading him to the dance floor. Angelo scanned the room, desperately looking for Jake. He was the only one who would understand his panic. He finally caught his eye and sent him a silent plea for help. Even though he longed to hold Kenann and dance with her, he dared not. He was not sure he could keep his heart from showing in his eyes.
Jake saw and acknowledged. He made his way unobtrusively toward them so as not to draw attention to his “rescue.” Kenann had taken up her position as his dance partner and wondered why Angelo’s hand trembled in hers. He had yet to put his arm around her. She looked up at him questioningly. What she saw in his eyes confused her. It was more than fear. Before she could consider further, Jake approached and put his hand on Angelo’s shoulder.
“Sorry, old man, but this dance is mine.”
Angelo merely nodded and, turning, walked in the opposite direction toward the bar.
Kenann accepted Jake’s hand and they began to move on the floor. She asked, “Is Angelo all right?”
“Oh, yes, he just hates to dance.”
Kenann knew it was more than that but only said, “I’m sorry. Danny Mac and I should not have forced him into it.”
“Don’t fret about it. He will be fine.” And he hoped to God he was right.
* * * *
As the party had settled into a more relaxed rhythm, the duke approached Mrs. Gage. She smiled and curtsied.
She asked. “I am curious as to why Bridget did not come tonight.”
He smiled enigmatically. “She is on a little errand.”
Mrs. Gage merely raised an eyebrow. “You said you wished to speak with me.”
“Straight to the point.” He chuckled.
“Why not?” She smiled back at him.
“As you may have guessed, Bridget is, shall we say, a friend of ours.”
“I gathered.”
“And as she is a friend of yours, I would like her to accompany you on your tour.”
“I had already surmised as much.”
“But I must also be frank and say she will be working for and answering only to us.”
“Will this create cross-purposes?”
“I sincerely hope not, but she asked me to discuss this with you. She apparently holds you in high regard and she would not agree to be our person on the ground unless you were fully apprised.”
Mrs. Gage nodded in acknowledgement and then added, “What about Mr. Carter?”
He chuckled again. “She apparently wants to keep him guessing.”
I’ll bet she does, Mrs. Gage thought.
He continued the conversation congenially as the duchess approached. “So you are off to Venice next?”
Mrs. Gage sighed. “Yes, I love Venice. It is one of my favorite cites.”
The duchess added, “I would love to be going with you. But duty calls.” She looked at her husband and wrinkled her nose.
He laughed and put his arm around her. She smiled at him. Their eyes held and Mrs. Gage warmed to see the love they shared. Granny James walked by at that point. The duchess stepped out to stop her and bring her into their circle.
“Moira here has been telling me all about West Virginia. How it was settled with primarily Scots Irish and some of the more remote regions continue to have dialects reminiscent of old English. Fascinating.”
Granny James said, “You would love it, Your Highnesses. You are welcome as our guest anytime. We have a myriad of festivals we can take you to. Black Walnut, Arts and Crafts, even a Buckwheat festival.”
They all laughed. The duke sighed and said, “Sometimes I think it would be grand to sneak away and be a tourist.”
Mrs. Gage gave him an engaging smile. “You could join our Merry Band of Misfits.”
His smile was equally engaging. “I think I would like that.”
Mrs. Gage threw back her head and laughed. It was infectious. “Indeed, Your Highness, indeed.”
* * * *
CJ and Leticia had opted to stay back at the hotel. They were invited to go to the after-party but both knew they would not feel comfortable. Mrs. Gage accepted their wishes. She arranged for a pizza party and movie night for them and Blade in their suite. Mrs. Gage had found both Leticia and CJ to be quick studies and had tasked them with assisting her in monitoring some of her other interests and endeavors while she was busy with the play. She had several humanitarian efforts in progress across the globe and was pleased to find that Leticia spoke French. Their help took a tremendous weight off Mrs. Gage and she was thrilled to discover their skills with organization and management. Since they were primarily “office based,” Rough tended to stay with them when he wasn’t “acting” in the play. He went out frequently for walks around town with whomever was going. But he did not require potty breaks from the hotel, as he preferred his special, grass-like pads in the bathroom. Mrs. G. insisted on nothing but the best for her boy. He actually had his own bathroom in Danny Mac and Kenann’s suite, with routine servicing by the maid service who had begun leaving biscuits on his dog bed.
Blade had asked Mrs. Gage when he would get to be a spy. She assured him he was already a spy. It was his job to watch for anything unusual and to report back to them. She reminded him that no one expected a kid to be a spy. So he could be places and hear things that others could not. He acknowledged this reminder solemnly and nodded in agreement. So it was that he had begun keeping tabs on a couple who were “hanging around too much” for his taste. He asked CJ if he could borrow his phone to take some pictures in the hotel.
CJ handed over the phone and said, “Sure, kid.”
Once Blade had captured the images he wanted, he sent them to his email address on the computer he used to send in his homework assignments. Satisfied, he settled in for an evening of pizza and his favorite Transformers movie.
* * * *
As the after-party wound to a close, the cast and Carter, as well as the duke and duchess, lingered together, sitting among the tables. The management was not accustomed to the guests of honor being the last to leave but did not question it.
They were all judicious in their speech, not knowing who might be listening. The duke and duchess’s security detail flanked them. The group sensed rather than saw that someone had entered the room at the top of the stairs. All eyes turned upward to see Bridget coming down the right staircase.
“Did I miss anything?” She looked like the cat who had just lapped up the proverbial cream.
Everyone smiled despite themselves. The Merry Band of Misfits. One for all and all for one.
Carter was the first to speak. “And what have you been up to?”
She smiled that feline smile that she reserved only for him. “I have spent the evening at the Italian embassy.”
His brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Recon, my love, recon.”
He flushed at her endearment. “And why in God’s name would you need to do recon at the Italian embassy?”
She put on her theatrical smile that the group had grown to recognize as ‘playing for the crowd because you don’t know who is listening’. “If we are going to Venice, I need to know who the power players are so I can get us the best press.”
Everyone understood. They were moving into another arena and needed to develop their contacts and support system. Carter mentally slapped his forehead. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
Bridget continued. “The ambassador’s second man was very helpful and easily persuaded…to help.”
Carter grinned at her.
“Good work, Nita.” He used her nom de guerre to communicate his recognition that she could and would use all her personal resources to accomplish their agenda. “Notorious International Terrorist Amour.” Bridget tipped her hand jauntily in salute.
* * * *
As arranged at last night’s party, the group was escorted early the next morning to Windsor Castle for a private walk-through before the public tours began. Carter was highly relieved to find the queen was no longer in residence.
The group was intrigued by the anecdotes about the royal residence that only family members knew. Blade was certainly learning a different side of ancient British history. At one point, Kate punched William in the side to remind him there was a child present.
They had made their way into another ornate room and were standing together, listening to the duke and duchess who stood next to a large portrait of Charles I. A movement out of the corner of his eye caught Danny Mac’s attention. A large rope pulley was coming loose from its mooring on the wall. He followed it up to its source and leapt to action in an instant. He grabbed the end of the rope and hastily looped it around himself seconds before it shot him toward the impressive ceiling. He heard the screams as his body hit the fulcrum on the ceiling holding up the immense chandelier. He turned his head sufficiently to see that he was successful in stopping the crystal death trap two feet shy of crashing into his loved ones below. He was losing consciousness from the compression of the rope around his chest, but he was pleased to see as his vison faded that Angelo was shielding Kenann with his body.
* * * *
The castle staff were swift with the appropriate tools to hoist the chandelier again toward the ceiling and lowered Danny Mac back to the floor. Kenann knelt beside him after Jake and Judy had revived him sufficiently. They had used their combined skills of combat medic training and her nursing knowledge to ensure he had no broken bones or internal injuries. Danny Mac sat up and looked around to ensure no one else had been injured. All accounted for.
Knowing he was fine, Kenann scolded, “Danny Mac, you could have been killed!”
He grinned ruefully, running his hand through his hair.
Once, and For All Page 10
