CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

 

One week later

Wednesday afternoon

November 11 – 3:17 p.m. AST

USS Peleliu, Indian Ocean

 

The pirate Captain was escorted from his cell down a long hallway to a room. Exhausted from nearly forty-eight hours without sleep, he fell into the interrogation room. He lay against the cold steel for a while before he realized there was another person in the room. He looked from one corner of the small room to the next. Someone cleared his throat. The pirate Captain turned to look at the corner next to the door.

A non-descript man stood between the door hinges and the corner. The pirate Captain had a sense that he should recognize the salt-and-pepper-haired man. He was medium sized and wore French or very high-quality American clothing. The pirate Captain stared at him for a moment. His stare was met with an amused twinkle in the man’s brown eyes.

He had no idea who the man was. He only knew that he’d seen him before. Friend or foe, this man stared at him. The man flicked his finger and the pirate Captain pulled himself off the ground. The man pointed to a chair at an interrogation table. The pirate Captain dropped into the chair.

Without breaking his gaze, the man lit a cigarette. The man didn’t move from the corner of the room or say anything. The man’s brown eyes burned a hole in the Somali man’s chest. The pirate Captain had never felt more naked.

And the man smoked.

When his cigarette burned down, the pirate Captain cowered as if he expected to be burned. The man raised his eyebrows in a silent laugh and dropped the cigarette on the floor. He flipped open a well-used lighter and lit another cigarette.

Between the sweet odor of expensive tobacco and his lack of sleep, the pirate Captain slipped into a kind of trance. The man stared, the pirate Captain sat, and the time passed. An hour? Three? The pirate Captain had no idea. When the man moved, the Captain screamed in horror. The man gave the pirate Captain an ironic smile. Time stretched on until a tap came on the door. The Captain’s heart raced with panic when the man went to open the door.

A taller man of about the same age stood on the other side. The second man’s blue eyes gave him the look of an American movie star. The two men spoke to each other in some unintelligible language. When the second man smiled, the pirate Captain felt his heart squeeze with terror.

He recognized the second man. Noticing the pirate Captain’s discomfort, the second man sat in the empty chair. The smoking man moved back to his corner.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” the second man said in Arabic. “You’re going to correctly, openly, and without hesitation answer every single one of my questions. Or I’m going to turn you over to him.”

The second man indicated to the smoking man with his thumb.

“I believe his daughter had an agreement with you,” the second man said.

The pirate Captain’s head jerked to look at the smoking man. The man smiled at him and the pirate Captain remembered who he was. The smoking man was Benjamin, the Fey’s father. The pirate Captain swallowed hard.

“He made sure you stayed on the Indian Ocean. To his mind, his daughter made an agreement with the sharks. The sharks are waiting to fulfill that accord. And trust me, he doesn’t mind letting you watch while the sharks eat you one digit at a time.”

The second man shrugged as if he didn’t care either.

“What do you want to know?” the pirate Captain asked.

“Where are the rest of the missing soldiers?” the second man asked.

“How would I know?”

“Let me put it to you differently,” the second man said. “I know that you know where the rest of the soldiers are being held. I know this because I know you’d never get involved unless you saw the whole plan. I also know that you made a number of telephone calls, email exchanges, and had in-person conversations to confirm where the other captives are being held.”

The pirate Captain crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me,” the second man said. “Where are the missing soldiers?

“Go to hell,” the pirate Captain said.

The second man got up from his chair. Nodding to Benjamin, he moved toward the door.

“Get me a map,” the pirate Captain said. “Get me a map.”

Benjamin threw a world map onto the table.

“I need a pen,” the pirate Captain said.

“To use as a weapon?”

The second man went to Benjamin and held his hand out. The smoking man gave him a cigarette. Taking his time, the second man bent his head to light the cigarette.

“I’ll point,” the pirate Captain said. “I can only tell you what I know.”

“Better be accurate,” the second man said. “If it doesn’t match our information, we’ll start with…”

The second man looked at Benjamin. The smoking man pointed to the man’s crotch.

“Good thinking,” the second man said.

The pirate Captain told them what he knew.

FFFFFF

Two days later

Friday afternoon

November 13 – 4:17 p.m. MST

Denver, CO

 

Alex coughed and turned over. She smiled.

She was in her own bedroom at the top of the sprawling rooming house she called home. She heard people moving downstairs. The rapid patter of little feet and a squealing laugh told her Troy’s sons were below. Her nose picked up the odor of fresh-baked bread. Colin must be here somewhere. She had no idea how she got home or how long she’d been there.

Not long. It didn’t feel like she’d been here very long. Rolling onto her back, she wondered why it had taken so long to get home.

“You’re awake,” Sergeant Beetle said. Alex heard the jangle of Bill’s collar.

“What day is it?”

“Friday,” Sergeant Beetle said. “November thirteenth. I’m supposed to get Colin. He wants to give you more antibiotics or something like that. MJ’s at his house. Something about a blocked toilet.”

“How long have I been here?”

“About a day,” Sergeant Beetle said. “We’d planned on taking you home, but you actually got an infection. We don’t know where or how. By the time you landed, we had to take you straight to the hospital. But you haven’t been far. They put you up at National Jewish. Turns out they have an infectious disease lab.”

Alex felt Bill’s soft wet nose on her cheek.

“Hi Bill,” Alex said.

“I’m supposed to get Colin,” Sergeant Beetle said.

“Are you waiting for me to dismiss you?”

“No, sir,” Sergeant Beetle said. “I wanted a second to talk to you.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Alex said. “Talk away.”

“First, I wondered if you might call me by my first name,” Sergeant Beetle said. “We’ve been through a lot and I thought…”

“I don’t know your first name,” Alex said. “That’s pretty rude of me. If you tell my mother, she might kill me. But I misplaced your name in all the mess of Dahlia’s murder, the marathon, the World Trade Center dance, missing hostages, and taking over a sage military installation. It sounds like I’m being flip but I’m actually embarrassed. I keep forgetting to ask my Sergeant.”

“Peter,” Sergeant Beetle said. “People call me Pete.”

“Nice to meet you, Pete. I’m Alex and I believe you’re in my bedroom.”

He smiled. When she smirked at him, he laughed.

“Anything else, Pete?” Alex asked. “I was thinking of taking a bath.”

“No baths,” Pete said.

“Infection?”

“Infection.”

“Fuck,” Alex said. “Did they have to operate again?”

“No,” Pete said. “You mostly needed quiet and rest. Your husband’s been with you every night and Max is usually here during the day. They had to work today.”

Alex sniffed.

“My mother’s been here,” Alex said.

“She just left,” Pete said. “She and Claire? Sorry I don’t know any of these people. I probably should use their first names.”

“Do you know their second names?”

He shook his head.

“Then don’t worry,” Alex said. “Did you get a suit from Frederec?”

He nodded.

“Trece?”

Pete nodded.

“Good,” Alex said. “Claire has amazing talent. You see her dresses on the red carpet and queens. She made that gorgeous dress for me to wear to the World Trade Center dance. Frederec inherited her talent. I bet he’d be thrilled to have you model for him.”

“He had a photographer here,” Pete said. “They took my picture but I don’t really care. I could never afford anything so beautiful. He’s funny too.”

“I like Frederec a lot.”

“He’s all about a girl… Amelia?”

“Amelia?” Laughing, Alex’s eyebrows went up. “Amelia the soccer player?”

“Soccer player, rock climber, beautiful, funny, blah, blah,” Pete said. “Sorry I wasn’t really listening.”

“You know who that is?”

“No sir.”

“Captain Hutchins’s little girl,” Alex said. “I thought it was no coincidence that she turned down all those invitations to the Christmas dance.”

“Don’t quote me,” Pete said.

“I won’t,” Alex said. “And don’t worry. Vince will get around to understanding. He missed most of Amelia’s growing up. To him, she’s still a baby, not fourteen.”

“Fifteen,” Pete said. “She had a birthday while you were in the hospital.”

Alex laughed.

“Why is that funny?”

“Her mother was fifteen when Amelia was born,” Alex said.

Pete laughed.

“Anyway, I’m pretty sure you’re not here to tell me all the house gossip,” Alex said. “Although I’m dying to know about Fionn and Helene.”

“Helene’s hiding at school,” Pete said. “That’s what her mother says.”

Alex smiled.

“Claire was younger than Helene when she met Ben. Married him two days after she turned eighteen.”

“Lots of young love here,” Pete said.

“You sound cynical,” Alex said.

“Hasn’t happened to me,” Pete said. “That’s all.”

“Takes time,” Alex said.

“You were…”

“Twenty,” Alex said. “But my dad was forty-three when he met my mom. Ben was in his forties when he married Claire. Max just met his true love. Or so we think. It just depends on when you meet your person. But I’ll tell you. The one thing that all of us have in common is that we believe there is someone waiting just for us.”

“I guess,” Pete said. “I wanted to talk to you about Bill.”

Alex held her hand over Bill’s head. He indicated that she could pet him and she did.

“Bill’s breed, the Belgium Maltese? Belgium Shepherds?” Pete’s eyes implored her. She smiled. “They aren’t known for getting along with dogs. Don’t worry. I kept him away from your dog Maggie. And Maggie just ignored Bill.”

“Ignored?” Alex asked. “Did something happen?”

“Well Bill…” Pete said. “He seems very fond of Maggie. That Irish guy? The one who looks like Ronald McDonald without the big belly or the shoes?”

“Eoin?”

“Yeah him,” Pete said. “I was in the back with Bill when he let Maggie out.”

Alex gasped.

“Right,” Pete said. “Bill went right up to Maggie and she let out a loud bark. Bill… I’ve never seen him do this.”

“Do what?”

“He stopped in place,” Pete said. “Maggie gave him one more bark and he rolled onto his back.”

“He what?”

“I know!” Pete said. “The Ronald McDonald Irish guy called the other Irish guy and they laughed and laughed. Maggie wasn’t impressed with old Bill. But later… Well, they’re fast friends now. They cry when they’re not together.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Pete said. “Is she fixed?”

“Of course,” Alex said.

“That’s probably good,” Pete said. “Bill doesn’t sleep with me anymore. He wants to be with Maggie. She’s the same way.”

“See, Pete,” Alex said. “True love.”

“You’re okay with it?”

“Sure,” Alex said. “Maggie can have whatever friends she wants.”

“Your husband said you might be upset.”

“I wonder why.”

“Maggie wants to be with Bill,” Pete said. “Not you or your husband.”

Alex laughed.

“That’s funny?” Pete asked.

“It’s a bit like Amelia,” Alex said.

Just outside the room, someone was coming up the stairs two steps at a time. Alex groaned.

“I’m awake because I have to work, right?” Alex said.

“Sorry,” Pete said.

“That’s all right. There are a lot of people missing,” Alex said. “Who do you think that is?”

“Agent Rasmussen,” Pete said. “He needs to talk to you.”

“I have the feeling that I’m in a lot of pain,” Alex said.

“You’re drugged,” Pete said.

Alex nodded.

“I’m not supposed to walk right?” Alex asked.

“Right,” Pete said. “That’s why Bill and I are here. We’re supposed to keep you lying down.”

“Hey!” Colin stuck his head in the room. “You’re awake. That’s good.”

“Hey Col,” Alex said. “Is Mom still here?”

“She’s making dinner,” Colin said.

Pete got up to leave.

“Thanks Pete,” Alex said.

Blushing, he nodded, signaled Bill to follow him, and they left the room.

“Mom’s cooking?” Alex asked.

“Not a chance,” Colin said. “When was the last time you saw her cook?”

“I was… seventeen?” Alex asked. “But I’m not really sure I’d call it cooking.”

“My point,” Colin said. “She’s ordering ‘take away’ according to Fionn. Sushi, I think.”

Colin touched her forehead and stuck a thermometer in her mouth.

“You’ve been really sick,” he said. “It’s funny, you know. I’m always shocked and a little scared when you’re sick.”

“Why zat f-nny?” Alex asked through the thermometer.

“You’ve been sick a lot these last three years,” Colin said. “Listen, I’m supposed to tell you that I don’t know how you got sick again. But how stupid do you have to be to have surgery one day and sit in a pool of blood, feces, and vomit the next?”

“Hstags,” Alex said.

“Whatever,” Colin said. “Typical Alex ego. Like you’re the only one who can rescue hostages.”

Alex made an indignant noise and flipped him off. He laughed. He’d won the ultimate little-brother prize by pissing off his elder sister. He danced around the room in glory until her thermometer beeped.

“Still warm,” Colin said. “Fuck Alex. John said you had sepsis for almost a year after you were stuck in that room.”

“Not that long. Maybe ten months,” Alex said. “Is Dr. Tamagura on the case?”

“Your infection doc? He met us when we landed at Bolling,” Colin said. “He’s been consulting every step of the way.”

“Did you call the acupuncturist?”

“He’s been treating you,” Colin said.

“Fuck,” Alex said. “He’s my ace in the hole.”

“I know,” Colin said. “You probably need more rest. Sadly, you’re going to get…”

“More work,” Alex said.

“Travel’s out,” Colin said. “They think we’ve found more men but you’re not going. You’re stuck here for at least a month.”

Alex dropped back to the bed.

“Mad?”

“Relieved,” Alex said. “Who’s going to get the hostages?”

“The team,” Colin said. “You’re supposed to teach Leena and Margaret to do what you do. If I were you, I’d worry a little bit. You’re getting old and these younger women are probably better at your ‘special’ job.”

Alex smiled.

“Don’t give that patronizing smile,” Colin said. “You know as well as I do that it’s always been a matter of time.”

Alex kept smiling.

“Shit, I thought that would work,” Colin said.

“You might get me once, little brother,” Alex said. “But I’m not Samantha. You won’t get me twice.”

Colin laughed.

“Wait,” Alex said. “What part of that was a lie?”

“Lie? Who lied?” Colin’s voice was filled with laughter. “Roll over. I have to give you a shot for your hip.”

Alex rolled onto her side. He injected pain medication and antibiotics into her hip. She lay there for a few moments before he helped her sit up. He gave her a nasty-tasting Chinese medicine tea. Alex counted to five then drank it down.

“Ahh,” Alex said.

“Jeez, Alex,” Colin said. “I knew you were tough, but that was impressive.”

“Practice, little brother, practice.”

Colin smiled.

“Any news from Julie?” Alex asked.

“Nothing.” Colin shook his head. “Mom’s been handling Paddie’s pick up and drop off.”

Alex held her arms out and Colin hugged her.

“I’m sorry,” Alex whispered.

“Me too,” Colin said. “It’s my fault. I really botched this one. At least we have Paddie.”

Alex kissed his cheek. Colin gave her a cell phone. The first step off the landing moaned a warning that someone was coming up the stairs.

“My number’s on speed dial,” Colin said. “Page me and I’ll come. But let me know if you leave the house. I’ll come with you. You must have medical personnel available to you at all times.”

Alex nodded.

“You’re really sick, Alex,” Colin said. “No joke. People who get this sick don’t usually survive. Don’t fuck around, ‘k?”

“Okay,” Alex said. “You’re the best bigger little brother a girl could want.”

“Yes, and you’re the best second sister twin a guy could want,” Colin said. “I’d like to keep you around for a while.”

A tap at the door produced Raz. Alex smiled in greeting. Colin touched her shoulder and left the room.

“Get me out of here,” Alex said.

F