Cooper carefully eased himself back out of the cabin and took his place in his seat in the body of the plane, across the aisle from Rebecca. He looked at her and saw that she was still asleep. Good. No more shocks for her until they landed. With only a few hours to wait after that, she would be on her way. Cleared on tonight’s flight direct to London’s Heathrow. He was determined to stay with her whether she liked it or not, until she stepped onto the actual aircraft taking her home.
“Home.” He said aloud. Rebecca stirred. She couldn’t have heard him, though he had spoken aloud. Perhaps he had spoken a little louder than he intended, the noise in this part of the aircraft played tricks on the ears. Rebecca’s eyes were open and she was looking at Cooper. Just looking. He felt slightly uneasy. He decided to brave it.
“Rebecca, we are flying directly into Brisbane. We land in a few minutes. From there you will be taken directly to the International terminal, to catch tonight’s flight to Heathrow. You will be home tomorrow.” Cooper smiled with what he hoped was a friendly confident smile, but felt to him like a sickly grimace. He didn’t feel confident at all. In fact, he was feeling decidedly uneasy at the suddenly impending departure of Rebecca.
“What did you say?” Asked Rebecca. “Did I hear you correctly? Brisbane. In a few minutes?” Her voice rose an octave. “On my way tonight?” She drew a breath. Then added. “I can’t wait.” Her tone not indicating any such thing at all.
The small jet began its descent into Brisbane, the lights of the city sweeping beneath it then disappearing into blackness as the plane swept out over the bay next to the airport itself, and they began the sweep around to come in from the north, and land on the runway assigned to them, one used mostly for cargo planes and maintenance purposes. Well to one side of the huge international runways. As Rebecca looked out of the window she could see a massive Air India jumbo coming down almost beside them, it’s landing gear hanging down like the claws of some gigantic bird of prey. They dropped onto the tarmac and rolled to a stop. The plane rocked slightly and stayed where it was. Rebecca looked at Cooper, her eyebrows raised.
“We were told to roll to a stop and hold.” He said by way of explanation. He got to his feet and went to the cabin again, and looked out of the windscreen. He patted the pilot on the shoulder in thanks. Speeding toward them on a service road was a collection of cars with lights flashing on them in multiple colours. The aircraft was surrounded in seconds, and the pilot having already dropped the entrance steps, the first person through the door into the cabin was Agent Mitterrand. He bounced to a stop just inside the door like a long lost friend, a smile of welcome on his face and with a boisterous shout welcomed them to Brisbane.
"My friends! Welcome. So glad to see you again. You won't believe my news. Rebecca, Cooper. What an amazing 24 hours. I am a little surprised to see you both here so soon. I had thought that maybe..." Here he stopped and looked from one to the other. "Hmmm, apparently not. I'm not often wrong you know." He looked rather sternly at them, his mouth set in a thin line. "We'll see." Neither Rebecca nor Cooper had any idea what he was getting at.
"Come, come, we can't sit here all night. The airport people are having fits as it is. Travelling light, I see. Good. Let's go." He turned back to the door, then said over his shoulder. "Your pilot, Stephen? He can park the plane for the night, these people will help him out and so on. You won't be going back with him. Either of you." With that he rattled back down the steps and walked briskly to the ubiquitous HUMV, black of course. Rebecca looked at Cooper. She couldn't help smiling.
"Is that the same person we met out at the station?" She said. "I find it difficult to believe."
Cooper scratched his chin with a finger, in what was now a familiar gesture to Rebecca.
"I guess so. Although I have a feeling all this bonhomie may be a show for someone. Can't imagine who though." They made their way down the steps, a little nervous when they saw the heavily armed team waiting by the vehicles. Rebecca couldn't help taking hold of Coopers arm with a nervous grip and walking as close as she could to him. His very bulk was reassuring, the darkness and glittering lights all about with a cool wind keening across the open spaces was a scene that generated its own tension. She literally clung to him with both arms as the gigantic shape of a jumbo jet roared past them only seemingly yards away, it's engines howling like banshees from hell, with a bone shaking rattling roar of machinery at maximum strain shaking the ground beneath their feet. Cooper looked at the dark shape hurtling past them and gripped Rebecca with his arm around her waist.
She was so tiny! He still wondered at her frailty. He held on to her in case she was blown away by stray jet wash. How on earth could he let her go? The jumbo lifted away further along the runway and the engines changed pitch as it picked up speed now that it was loosed from the ground. The undercarriage was coming up when they lost sight of it in the darkness. They hadn't taken a dozen steps when another huge aircraft was screaming toward them on its take off run. It was time to get out of here. What ever was in store for them had to be better than this. This was cold, noisy, and definitely terrifying.
Cooper ushered Rebecca into the open door of the squat vehicle and climbed in beside her. He was not going to let them separate him from Rebecca. Something was happening, and he was going to protect her whether she wanted his protection or not. Once settled, the Hummer rolled off onto a side road and the whole convoy made directly for a huge gate in the perimeter fence. The gate rolled open enough for the vehicles to barrel through and closed behind them immediately. The Hummer that they were in was midway in the convoy of about a dozen, and they peeled out across the road with lights flashing and sirens screaming into the night forcing all other cars onto the grassy verge that filled the wide spaces along the airport approach roads. They were circling back around to get to the front entrance of the International Terminal, it being impossible even for them to cross the busy runways. They came to a stop in a flurry of vehicles, with cab drivers and bus drivers waving their arms and shouting. It all went quiet though when the armoured Special Services men piled out of the Hummers and stood facing the crowd of irate civilians in a semi-circle out from the vehicle that Rebecca and Cooper occupied. Special Agent Mitterrand opened the door for Cooper, a faint smile playing about his mouth.
"No good having the power if you can't abuse it now and then?" He said in a half question. "You shouldn't have too much trouble at check-in.” All eyes were on Rebecca and Cooper as they walked rather timidly into the departure concourse. Agent Mitterrand showed them to the VIP departure area, and into the quietness of this supposedly exclusive lounge. He wasted no time, because the flight to London was imminent, and he knew he had a mission to complete.
"Cooper," he said. "I want you in London with Rebecca. On tonight's flight. Can do?" He didn't sound like he would take no for an answer.
Cooper was startled, it was the last thing he had expected to hear. It made no sense, and in any case he had business to attend to here.
"Nope, sorry. No can do." Cooper replied immediately. "In fact I want the work aircraft turned around immediately, so we can fly back to Innamincka. So I can fly back to Innamincka. Rebecca of course is going home." He held up a hand. "No good arguing about it. That's the way it is." The agent looked at Cooper long and silently. His face was not a happy face thought Cooper. Too bad. He had things to do and he could see no point in his going to London with Rebecca. She probably wouldn't want him to anyway. He looked at her and could not read her face at all. She was just standing there watching the exchange between him and Mitterrand, her face giving nothing away.
"Listen to me Cooper. This is not a request. I..."Agent Mitterrand started to say, but Cooper again interrupted.
"Last time I looked, this was a free country. That means that I can - and will, return to my own home, on the plane that I chartered myself. What ever your problem is, it's none of my business and so you can work it out yourself. If Rebecca needs help back in London, her friends in MI5 will I have no doubt, provide such help." Cooper reached out a hand to Rebecca to shake her hand.
"A hand shake Cooper?" She asked in surprise. "We are going to part on a handshake?" Her expression was almost still a mask, but Cooper could see the beginning of tears in the corner of her eyes. Cooper turned his back on the agent, and stepped up close to Rebecca, taking her in his arms. He was instantly transported into a world of light as he felt the heat radiating from Rebecca like a tidal wave. He hadn't been prepared for such a reaction and it stunned him. His arms tightened around her as he looked down into her eyes. Oh this had been such a mistake. He should never have touched her. The feel of her in his arms jolted him to the core. Her eyes were like drowning pools, and he felt as though he was being drawn down into their depths. Her lips seemed an impossible distance away from his, and without thinking he lowered his head and touched her lips with his. He knew in that instance that Rebecca felt as he did. Was as surprised as he was. Her breath was hot on his face as he drew his face back slightly and she sighed softly
"Oh Cooper." He clenched her small body to his and whispered in her ear,
"I will see you in London... my dearest. I will. But I have to finish things here. I can't just walk away, I... I love you Rebecca Boucher." With that he gently released her and stepped back. His head was swimming. He had not meant to say anything like that. He was going to be firm but polite and bid her farewell as a good friend. They had only known each other a short time after all. Now? Now he had fired up his emotions again, and from the look on Rebecca's face, hers as well. Rebecca left her hands trailing down his arms, until finally she held his hands in hers. She looked steadily at him, oblivious to everyone else.
"I love you too." She said simply, a faint smile on her lips. She dropped his hands and turned to go through the lounge to the departure area. She didn't need the others to escort her from here. She knew the way, and had her passport in her hand, and her carry on bag on her shoulder. Her suitcase had already been taken through directly from the VIP lounge boarding controls. She didn't look back, as Cooper stood there watching her walk out of his life. Her back was straight, her shoulders back and head held high. The picture of cool self assurance, in her dark skirt and pale blouse, her shoulder length hair shining from the lights of the lounge. Agent Mitterrand and his assistants seemed a little confused as to what to do. This was not going the way he had planned. Not at all.
"Cooper," he said. "Rebecca could be in trouble back there. She has upset those people by not completing her brief. They may try to harm her." He spread his hands.
"Agent Mitterrand, I am sure Rebecca's friends in London can look after her. Now they know the type of people she has come across, they will be at pains to watch out for them. Me being there will only cause unnecessary confusion. In any case, as I told you. I have things that need attending to here. I am about to wind up my interests in Innamincka. It may even be handed back to the traditional owners, and from that point on it's up to them. I would not like to be in the shoes of anyone from New World trying to intrude on their land." Cooper folded his arms across his chest. A pretty bold body language statement if he'd ever seen one he thought.
"Make of that what you will Agent Mitterrand. Now if you would be so kind, please escort me back to the jet, and locate my pilot. I wish to get back to Innamincka. I know that he has night flying clearance, and is being paid by me. We can call ahead and have the landing lights on for our return. Thank you for your help in expediting Rebecca's return flight. I do appreciate that.” Cooper waited now for the agent to respond. He could see that he was in deep thought. Cooper had no idea what had been happening regarding the intruders on Innamincka, but if they were still there after all, then his men would sort them out this time. No one out there would be caught napping again. Mitterrand looked at Cooper. "Fine, I concede that you should want to go back to your own place. It's commendable that you may be handing it back to the traditional owners, but it's not my business. My business is stopping foreign nationals using Australia for their own purposes, uninvited. We can deal with them when we find them on this occasion. Meantime, with you and your men out there, it adds a level of difficulty to the operation." He walked up and down, every bit of his impatience showing in his steps.
"Cooper, in that case, can you talk to the native people there. I don't mean you station hands; I mean the ones who have gone back to the bush. Or probably never left it from what I can see. If we have their help, we can be off your place in no time at all. We wanted to talk to them, but can't even find them. There appears to be no trace of them."
Cooper smiled. "If they don't want to be seen, they won't be." He said. "Fine. Ok, I can do that. I don't want to unhelpful. I just have my own business to attend to. Will you return with me on my plane, or do you have some other transport?" Cooper was remembering the helicopter, and his momentary detention in it. Agent Mitterrand was recalling the same thing it seemed.
"Er, we have our own transport thanks. My aid here will escort you back to your jet, and locate your pilot. You should be fuelled and on your way before Rebecca has even lifted off. I'll maybe see you out at Innamincka by dawn, if we need to return there.” With that he turned and strode off into the restricted area. The guards never batting an eye lid as he passed through.
Cooper and the assistant made their way back out of the terminal, and to Coopers surprise the Hummer that they had arrived in was still occupying centre position in the arrivals parking bay. Much to the consternation of other motorists and coach drivers. No one however was arguing with the heavily armed team standing rock solid, their black kit making them look like something out of a science fiction film. Everyone climbed back into the vehicles and they roared out of the terminal area, the tourists no doubt having a real tale to tell of their journey through the Brisbane international terminal.
Rebecca meantime was by now in the actual departure lounge, waiting to board. The time seemed to have just slipped by. She felt as though she was in some kind of a strange trance, where things went on around her without actually involving her. This was not good she thought. "Snap out of it." she said aloud. A couple of people looked at her, but no one really took much notice. Just another passenger venting their frustrations over some travel problem. Rebecca was not sure of herself, and this was a new thing for her. Cooper had turned her otherwise stable world upside down. His parting kiss just now had really rocked her. She was aware that it had also affected him, but still he had parted from her and was determined to go back to his place in the outback. She could see no other reason for him to be doing up the old house, then that he intended to re-establish it as his home, rather than just the house where he lived. Ok, so that's the way it was she mused, and gathered her few belongings and headed for the gate. She didn't look back. London was wet. Wet and cold. There was snow in the air. Rebecca could feel it as she got out of the taxi and crossed the pavement to the front entrance of her offices. It felt a little strange, as though something had been moved. She stopped and looked up at the building, at the doors, at the man standing by the doors assisting people in and out of taxis. His role was probably redundant these days, but the building owners kept him on and Rebecca liked the style it seemed to give the place. It set it apart from the rows of blank offices along the street. She was about to continue inside through the vast revolving glass doors when a reflection in the glass as it came past her caused her to stop in her tracks. The door was in danger of knocking her off her feet as it continued its revolution, and she had to step back quickly to avoid it.
"Are you all right Miss Boucher?" Asked the doorman solicitously. Rebecca just nodded to the man. She could have sworn she had seen Cooper walking past behind her as she had approached the doors. She looked around, but there was no one in the street even remotely like him. It was still early, and the few people on the street in the central business district of London were hunched down against the wind and the rain, some struggling to hold onto umbrellas that threatened to whirl away in the next gust. She took a last look and shook her head. This would have to stop. She had been home for some time now, home from Australia and the searing heat of the Outback. There had been no word from Cooper and she had seen no need to contact him. He had made his position perfectly clear, and she was determined to remain above the school girl business of chasing him. But it was strange, she thought as she made her way into the building and to the bank of lifts in the foyer. This was not the first time she thought she had seen him. It was very disconcerting, and just when she hadn't thought about him at all for days on end, suddenly there he was. Or seemed to be.
Of her client there had been no communication at all. His account had been settled in full through their company offices, and no communication had been made other than that. That in itself was very strange, and it had been mentioned in a couple of meetings. Rebecca had given a full account, both written and verbal in her first meeting after her return. She had reported everything to her partners. "Well," she thought with a smile. "Not quite everything." She could feel her skin prickling as she sat down at her desk, the memories of her love making with Cooper flashing through her mind. She flushed slightly, the coloured tinge climbing up her neck to her hair line as her nipples hardened. Rebecca jumped up again and started opening filing cabinet draws, rearranging the things on her desk, and finally making coffee.