Epilogue
Three Weeks Later
Tiffin Restaurant
Ottawa, Canada
Jack looked across the table at Nora as the waiter brought their food: Kashmiri lamb in chili sauce for him and chicken vindaloo for her. Tiffin was a south Indian restaurant that had recently opened in their neighborhood. He had finally accepted her invitation, and this was the second time they had gone out in a week.
He still felt a slight uneasiness every time he was in Nora’s company. He had promised her nothing but a quiet supper between neighbors who might also become friends. But he could see that she wasn’t interested in having one more friend. Nora had dropped not-so-subtle hints about wanting more from their relationship than a free meal. Still, Jack felt as if somehow he was betraying the memory of his wife.
He waited until Nora had taken the first couple of bites and asked, “How is it?”
She finished chewing and wiped her lips with the black napkin. “Not as spicy as I had expected, but quite tangy. How’s your lamb?”
“Nice. Soft. It’s good.”
Nora smiled. “This was a good choice, Jack.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
He glanced at his phone set on the table to his right. He had explained to Nora that he was expecting an important work-related call. He had told her about his job application with a defense contractor and had kept it vague. Nora had asked about what he’d be doing. Jack had responded that he’d be in charge of running one of the company’s security systems. It might require some travel within the country or abroad, he had added, again without giving any details.
Nora hadn’t asked more questions, and Jack liked that she hadn’t insisted. He liked that quality in her, and in any person. He wanted to take things slowly, but the image of his wife kept popping up in his mind more often than not. I definitely need closure, he thought. I need to find out what happened to her and to my daughter…
Nora noticed Jack’s glance, so she gestured with her hand. “Do you need to pick it up?”
“No, not unless it rings. My boss, well, future boss, isn’t going to send an email.”
Gilson had promised that Jack would return to the agency after the successful completion of the extraction mission. While Gilson hadn’t gone back on his word, Jack hadn’t been fully reinstated to his former position. “No worries, just some unexpected paperwork and a few approvals from higher-ups,” the boss had said.
Jack had talked to Gilson earlier that day. The boss had said that a definite answer would come before the end of the day. It was six in the evening, and Jack had started to get antsy.
Nora smiled at Jack and said, “You look worried.”
Jack shrugged. “I just want to know, so I know what to do.”
“Would you have to move?”
“No, I don’t think so. Ah, I really don’t know.”
Her smile turned to sadness all of a sudden. “I’d miss you, Jack, if you left right now…”
“I’m not going anywhere. The occasional trip here and there, but generally—”
The phone’s buzzing interrupted his words. Jack glanced at the screen. It was Gilson. “I’ve got to take this,” he said apologetically to Nora and stood up.
She nodded her understanding. “I hope it’s good news.”
“So do I.”
Jack made his way through the tables and answered the phone when he was certain he was beyond Nora’s earshot. “Yes, boss?”
“Jack, how are things going?” Gilson asked in a neutral tone.
Jack frowned. He was expecting more enthusiasm from his boss about the call. “I’m okay,” he said in an expectant tone, trying to stifle the anxiety creeping into his voice.
“I’ve got some good news, and some bad news. Which one do you want first?”
“Bad news.” Jack braced himself.
He opened the restaurant’s door and stepped outside in the chilling weather. Clouds were gathering in the east, thick and heavy, pregnant with rain.
Gilson said, “There has been a bombing in Beirut, and a Mossad agent has disappeared in Lebanon. The Israelis believe he was kidnapped and taken somewhere in south Lebanon.”
Jack’s frown deepened. His body tensed. He didn’t like the bad news, especially because Gilson was delivering it to him. Jack said slowly, “Okay. Is that it?”
“Well, kind of.”
What does that mean? Jack thought but didn’t say anything.
Gilson continued, “Now, the good news: You’re back. Welcome to the agency, Jack.”
Jack allowed himself a small, restrained smile. “Thank you, sir,” he said in a genuinely grateful tone.
“Well, don’t thank me yet. The Israelis have asked for our cooperation in finding the missing agent since we have a wide network in place. That would be your next extraction.”
Jack’s frown returned. Mossad. Lebanon. A real mess. And I thought extracting Bhada from Iran was complicated… He sighed and said, “When do I need to leave, sir?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
A surge of relief washed over Jack. Good. I can finish my dinner with Nora. “I will do that, sir. I’ll come to the office in a few hours and make preps.”
“Good. Again, welcome back.”
Jack nodded. Not exactly how I had imagined my first day back… “Thanks, sir.”
“Be safe, Jack.”
“You too.”
Gilson ended the call.
Jack glanced at the phone and started to put it away. Before he could drop it inside his jacket pocket, the phone rang again. Unknown caller. Jack frowned. Who could this be? “Yes,” he said in a low voice.
“May I speak to Jack Storm, please?” a woman’s voice asked in a polite tone with an unmistakable British accent.
“Who is this?”
“Yes, this is Lexie Cunningham. I’m calling from Hexagon Rescues. We’re a deep-sea rescue company operating in the North Sea.”
Shivers went through Jack’s spine. North Sea. The vanishing Cessna. Did they… “This is Jack Storm. What did you find?”
“Our crew found several pieces of plane debris. Not sure what kind of plane or from what crash, but… It appears your family might have been aboard an airplane that crashed in a nearby area to where we found the pieces. Is that correct?”
Jack tried to remain calm but couldn’t stop his heart from jumping to his throat. “Yes,” he confirmed in a low voice. “When would you know more?”
“In a matter of days, Mr. Storm. Is this a good number to call you with our findings?”
Jack wanted to flag a taxi, head to the airport, and fly to wherever the crew was located. He wanted to investigate for himself, to find out everything he could about what had happened to his wife and daughter. Lexie sounded quite professional. If Hexagon had found the plane debris, they would be able to identify whether they came from a Cessna or another aircraft. He sighed again and said, “This is a good number.”
“Well, then, Mr. Storm. You’ll hear from us when we have conclusive evidence. Have a good day.”
“Yes, you too.”
He looked at the phone as Lexie ended the call. Then Jack glanced at his reflection on the restaurant’s window. He couldn’t see Nora, because she was sitting on the other side of the restaurant. But she was waiting for him.
Waiting for my good news. It’s excellent news, Jack. Go in, relax, and enjoy your time with her. Jack nodded to himself, and his lips curved into a small smile. Once you know more about the debris, you can decide what to do next. And tomorrow, you’ll get ready for your next extraction…
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BOOKS BY ETHAN JONES
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