In a mountain village in Nepal, a woman walked out into the early morning sunshine. Long hair pulled back and tucked under a tan hat, she put her hands on her lower back and stretched. She walked across the road to the half wall separating the village road from the steep drop to the valley below. The sun shining on the mountains was deceiving. The rains would soon come. They should move on. She pulled her hat from her head, allowing her braid to fall freely down her back.
She sensed the man as he approached her from the isolated retreat tucked into the mountain behind her.
He said, “We should leave soon to beat the rains.”
“We leave when I say we leave.” She did not turn or acknowledge him in any way.
He thought how easy it would be to pitch her over the wall into oblivion, but he knew he would still not be free. He would never be free.
She turned and sat on the wall, still not looking at him. She said, “You are going back to the States.”
“Why?”
She slowly turned to him and spoke in measured tones. “Because I said you will.”
He did not respond but was proud that he did not break eye contact. She was a beautiful woman, but he knew her heart. Black as coal.
She sighed and slapped her thighs as if all was concluded. She rose and continued walking up the mountain road, calling over her shoulder, “You will be on your way by the end of the week.” She needed to think about her next steps.
* * * *
In another part of the world, a man lay awake on a narrow cot, staring at the ceiling. Pain had become his constant companion. How could he have failed so completely? He heard the sounds of the rest of the compound waking up. He had to pull it together and get out of here.
* * * *
Carter and Mrs. Gage stood gazing at a map of Europe spread out on the table before them. She pointed. “I have suitable lodgings in these locations. I can secure others as you need them. I also have some critical contacts in the social circles of Paris and Monte Carlo.”
Carter answered, “You will be compensated for the lodgings.”
“Don’t be silly. I have more money than Croesus.”
“You can’t be expected to do this for nothing.”
“And I am not. I do this for myself. It is fine, John.”
“You are a wonderful woman, Gabrielle.”
She looked down and appeared to be studying the map.
He said, “You don’t like to be praised, do you?”
“I am not without faults.”
“I have yet to see them.”
“I am…” she paused, “…a woman of many experiences. In truth I have mellowed. But I carry the scars of many sins.”
“Don’t talk to me about sins.” He laughed ruefully. “That’s Jake’s department.”
“Precisely. He may not feel so kindly if he knew all.”
Carter paused before he spoke. “Don’t underestimate him, Gabrielle.”
She tipped her head and looked at him, smiling. “You like him.”
“Don’t push it. He is a good man. And more generous than you are giving him credit for. But he is still a huge pain in my butt.”
She laughed. “Well, be that as it may, I shall continue to keep my own counsel on my past.” She changed tack. “So who are we going after, John?”
“There is no shortage of bad guys, as you well know. We will continue to maintain surveillance on the Order to see if they reemerge. As I shared earlier, we are going to try to sniff out the power brokers who are bankrolling the terror cells. It has become very lucrative to have these thugs on the payroll. We may need to pull in that flaky princess you know.”
“Pinky?”
“Yeah, and maybe her friend.”
“John Carter, you know good and well her name. Bridget is not a woman a man forgets.”
“Tell me about it,” he mumbled.
She laughed. “I’m sure they would be delighted to join us again.”
“Well, first things first. Let’s get this crew to D.C. and onto the stage.”
“I will have my people open the house there and make ready for our arrival.”
“Mrs. Gabrielle Gage, it is a pleasure doing business with you.”
Her dimples displaying prominently, she replied, “Likewise, John Carter, likewise.”
* * * *
The group downstairs was laughing as they read through their lines. They were remarkably good. Of course, all of them had learned to play different roles over the past several months, so it was not unreasonable that they could pull off the skill of seasoned actors. Kenann poked Danny Mac when he delivered a very snarky line at her expense. He laughed and she stuck out her tongue at him. Even Judy had to admit that this just might be fun.
* * * *
Kenann came to the “big house” to see Mrs. Gage the next morning.
Mrs. Gage beamed when Dawson announced Kenann.
“Good morning, dear. Come in, come in.” She reinforced this by patting the seat beside her on the couch. She was going over some reports of her varied interests and turned them over on the side table to preserve others’ confidentiality.
This did not go unnoticed by Kenann as she sat down beside Mrs. Gage. She marveled once again at this woman.
“What brings you here today, my dear?”
Kenann did not waste her time by small talk. “I have been wondering about something. What will happen with Rough when we leave?”
“Why, he will go with us, of course.”
“Really? How?
She chuckled. “Well, he may not be thrilled but people send dogs on planes all the time. But rest assured I have a lovely cocktail of medications that will ensure he enjoys the ride.”
“Oh, Mrs. G., you think of everything.”
“Well, he is obviously a part of our Merry Band of Misfits. No man left behind.”
Kenann impulsively hugged Mrs. Gage.
“Oh,” Mrs. Gage exclaimed in surprise. She patted Kenann’s back. “Besides, he is going to star in our play.”