Dead Love (13 page)

After several rings, a man answered, “Greg Hammond speaking.”

Startled, Suzy said, “Oh, sorry, wrong number,” and she ended the call. She would do some research to learn more about Greg Hammond. His name was unfamiliar to Suzy. She had met several of Max’s friends at official functions, but she was pretty sure she had not met a Greg Hammond. Her curiosity had been piqued, and she wanted to know everything about Max. It could be anyone, but she had to be sure. Her paranoia was normal, considering Max’s position, though she trusted him fully. She couldn’t think of anything that might have made her suspicious of him, but who knows. He loved her. She believed in her heart that it was a true and real love. She knew that nothing was wrong, but it couldn’t hurt to find out who this Greg person was.

Suzy slipped on a white fitted T-shirt, with no bra, and her gray yoga pants. She had put on a soft rose lip gloss, and her long black hair was still a little damp from her shower. As she walked into the kitchen, she found coffee waiting in a maroon mug on the granite countertop, with a maroon, blue, and gray plaid napkin placed next to it.

“Thank you, love,” she said softly.

He turned away from the stove and noticed her sexy breasts, nipples erect through her thin T-shirt. He was getting hard again. Damn, he smiled inwardly.

“Who was on the phone?” she asked. “I heard it ringing when I was in the shower. I hope you don’t have to work today.”

“No,” Max said, as he put the wheat bread slices in his stainless steel toaster oven. “It was just a reminder from my dentist about my checkup next week. No big deal.”

“Oh, good,” Suzy said, and walked over to see how the eggs were coming.

“Interesting,” she thought.

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41

G
reg and Max found a private spot in the back of a small Greek restaurant tucked away on a side street near Greg’s office. There were several comfortable booths to the right of the front door, a leather sofa and chairs with a coffee table in front of the window, and some small glass-topped tables in the back. It was a great place for coffee and delicious Greek specialties, including stuffed grape leaves, pita pies, and other traditional choices. Greg suggested they try the Kolatsio, a Greek snack, perfect for brunch or a main meal. Greg also chose the spinach pie and regular coffee, and Max decided on an egg and vegetable omelet with coffee, as well. The pretty waitress with a slight European accent took their order and said she would be back soon with coffee.

“Never tried this place,” said Greg. “Thought it would be a nice change.”

Max agreed. “Yes, it smells good in here. Hope she hurries with the coffee. And I am starved.”

After the aromatic coffee was served in small china cups, Greg pulled out a sealed manila envelope and said, “Here is the report you wanted.”

He handed it to Max, and Max opened it, pulled out the lengthy report, and started reading. Greg was silent, sipping his coffee. He was waiting for a reaction. Max calmly put the pages back in the envelope and asked Greg, “Did you verify this?” already knowing the answer.

“Yes, we have great analysts. It didn’t take long for them to figure it out,” he said. “Your girl is interesting. One of our agents in Hong Kong did a lot of research on her background.” He hesitated. “We’ve added her to our watch list, Max.”

“Fuck!” said Max, slamming the envelope down on the table, and several people sitting nearby turned and looked at him.

“Careful, buddy, hang tough here,” Greg whispered. “You wanted to know, and we’re glad you did, though I understand your shock.”

“Hey, man, I love this girl, and I can’t get my mind around this now.” Max was both angry and worried. “She is in this thing, and it is obvious why. But she is in deep shit. They fucking knew how to bag her. God damn it, what the hell am I supposed to do now?”

“You say nothing, Max. Keep track of her—maybe you will learn something. We will do standard surveillance. She has an impeccable reputation, and hopefully we can keep her safe and try to understand what she’s involved in, but it must be big. The numbers refer to a Swiss bank account with no name listed. A password is needed to access it. I can only speculate.” He stopped with that thought.

“Our cipher people are always cautious when there is a specified date. There are adders or subtractors that could change the target date. Looks like we have several months. There must be someone or several ‘someones’ pulling the strings. With your help, we could get them.”

“And nail Suzy too, right? Fuck you!” Max shouted. People were really starting to stare now, and Greg knew when to keep his mouth shut.

The food was served, and both ate silently. Max’s appetite was gone.

“Let’s get the hell out of here. I need a drink!” Max threw his napkin down and walked out.

Greg followed him, throwing some bills on the table as he left.

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42

W
esley, Delaney, and the rest of the crew were at a hotel near the Miami International Airport. Operations was more than comfortable with John’s decision to scratch the flight, especially since they had received a call ten minutes later from Homeland Security, grounding the flight. Wesley had made the right call. The rerouted passengers were disgruntled and complaining, but tough shit.

John and Allen, exhausted from the day’s events, were eating dinner in Allen’s room. Their eyes were glued to the television set.

The reporter was saying, “The number of those with flulike symptoms is rising. Medical facilities are filling rapidly as the scope of the pandemic widens. Flights in and out of New York City have been cancelled, and the New York City subway system is shut down until further notice. New York City residents are being asked to remain at home unless it is an absolute emergency.” John and Allen just looked at each other.

“Let’s call the hospital again about Terry.”

“Yes,” nodded John, and he added, “Let’s check on Maggie as well.”

“Maybe I can talk with Terry’s parents,” Allen said.

“I need to call my wife, too. Who knows how long we are going to be stuck here?” John stated. “Operations said to sit tight, so that is what we are going to do.”

He knew the airline backed up his decision to abort the flight. His concerns mounted when he learned that Homeland Security also made the call to ground the flight.

John grabbed his cell phone and called his wife, Dee Dee. “Hey, sweetheart, are you okay?”

“Yes, John, how are you doing? I have been so worried. The news is scary.” She sounded a little shaky, not usual for her.

John reassured her, “I’m okay, baby. We are just going to be stuck here for a while as a precaution.” She wanted to know if he had eaten. She had prepared dinner for them, but she would save the leftovers for tomorrow.

“Have you talked to the kids?” he asked.

“Yes, Abby is fine. She called, concerned about us. I reassured her, but I’m glad she and Cindy don’t live in the city. I left a voice mail for Cindy. She’ll call back soon.”

He said, “Good. Just remind them to stock up on necessities, enough for two weeks. They’re smart and will be okay, but it is good to touch base with them.” He asked, “How are the grocery supplies?”

“Fine, John. I did a large shopping on Saturday. We have enough groceries for at least a week or more,” she answered, puzzled by that question.

He said, “Maybe buy some extras, if you can, just to have on hand, like canned goods, extra flour and basics.”

Dee Dee said, “I shopped again this morning. I had forgotten a few things. Some of the store shelves seemed a little bare.”

John said, “I’m glad you bought some extras. Stores may run out of necessities if people start to panic.””

But she said, jokingly, “We have a good supply of scotch.”

He laughed and then said, “Cool, baby.”

“When will you be home?” Dee Dee knew the answer already.

“I am not sure, but I will stay in close touch, sweetheart. Don’t go out unless you have to, understood? And on second thought, call the girls again. Tell them to do the same. Have them stock up then sit tight until we see where this is going.”

“Yes, I’ll call them right away. Cindy may be home by now,” said Dee Dee, feeling even more frightened.

“Do you have any news about Maggie or Terry?” she asked.

“Allen is checking on them now, but so far no updates,” he answered. “I better go, but call me if you need anything. Try not to worry, and remember, I love you, baby.”

Dee Dee said, “I love you too, John. Be safe. I miss you so much.”

“I miss you, too, baby. I wish I was with you right now. You know my favorite color, right?” he asked.

She said, “Black satin?”

He laughed, saying, “Yes, or nothing at all.” He smiled when he heard her giggle, but he hated being away, especially during this unprecedented crisis. He had heard of pandemics, but he wasn’t quite sure what it all meant. And was this an attack or just a severe virus?

After hanging up, he listened to Allen, who was talking to Terry’s father. His face looked grim.

“Fuck,” thought John.

Wherever this was going, it was not going to be good. He was starting to wonder not when he would get home, but if he would get home.

John looked at the text he was receiving. It was from Century Air operations.

“DHS confirms shutdown of all NYC airports, plus New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and Miami. More information as available.”

“Shit! Damn!”

He turned to tell Allen, just as breaking news was announced on the television. He hoped this was some kind of bureaucratic over reaction, but his gut was telling him that a shit storm was coming, big time.

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43

S
uzy was sound asleep when she was startled awake by the distinctive ring of her encrypted phone. She knew it was the Organization.

“Yes, what is it?”

The familiar voice replied, “You are under scrutiny. Some as yet unknown operatives are looking into your background, specifically foreign ties and activities. You are involved with someone, a certain US Army Lieutenant Colonel. Is that correct?

Suddenly wide-awake, Suzy responded, “Yes, why?” Her stomach lurched.

The male voice, indistinguishable accent, continued, “You are to cut ties with him. Is that clear?”

It was not a question; it was an order. She didn’t tell him about the Greg Hammond incident. It seemed like a moot point now, but she was scared, and she couldn’t believe Max was somehow a danger to her mission or to her. How could he be? He loved her. At least he said he did. Had she somehow unknowingly revealed information? Or was it a setup? Was she his “assignment”? Her gut was wrenching as her thoughts raced. She considered all possibilities, even the most unimaginable ones.

“If I do so abruptly, it might raise suspicions,” Suzy pointed out.

The response was as expected. “Nothing must impede our mission, and if you wish for a positive outcome, shall we say, you will follow instructions immediately.”

“My fear is that it will alert him. Please allow me a few weeks to disengage. I will figure out a way. Much is at stake for me, as well.”

“Eliminate the Lieutenant Colonel from your life, or we will,” he stated.

Chills ran through Suzy’s body and she began to shake uncontrollably.

Silence followed on the other end. Then the sinister voice said, “Let’s accelerate our plan. 4 .6. Got it?” It was a threat. “Then if he somehow obtained information, we have changed the game.”

“Yes, 4.6. Got it.”

The line went dead.

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44

S
uzy got to Max’s townhouse an hour before he would get home from his Ft. Meade office. She had shopped for groceries and was going to prepare dinner for him to celebrate their five-month anniversary. She had his key and security code and let herself in, her arms tired from carrying the wine and several parcels. He had seemed distant lately, distracted about something. She had brushed it off as his preoccupation with his work. Maybe she was his “work.” Good job, Max, she thought. I fell for it, big time. Her anger was building. She heard the garage door open and knew she had to put her worries aside. It was easy to do because Max was the only happiness she had ever known, and in the deepest part of her being, she knew she could trust him with her life.

Max came in the door off the garage and heard Suzy in the kitchen. He had been looking forward to the evening, thinking of her delicious naked body all day. She was slicing vegetables when he came up behind her, wrapped his left arm around her, pulled her against him, while at the same time sweeping aside her long hair, and placing gentle, wet kisses on her slender neck.

She sighed, leaning against him, her back to his chest, saying, “Max, you’re going to make me cut myself.”

He reached around with one hand, grabbed her breast, and said, “Put the knife down.”

She turned, facing him, their lips meeting. Their deep kisses and touches were uncontrolled as they pushed against each other. She could feel his arousal through his slacks, and she touched him, making him even harder. He backed away, reluctantly, and said, “Baby, let me shower and I’ll be right back.”

Suzy was breathless from his kisses and his touch. She smiled at him and said, “Yes, go ahead. I’ll get dinner started, then we can share some wine.”

Suzy put the vegetables and marinated chicken in a casserole dish and placed it in the oven. She made a tossed garden salad and set the table with fresh flowers and candles. She found the chilled bottle of Riesling in the refrigerator, opened it, and poured the pale yellow liquid into a tall wine glass. The shower was still running as she walked into the steamy bathroom. She could see his image through the glass door, leaning against the wall, letting the hot water flow down his back. He turned around and shut the water off. Opening the shower door, he grabbed a thick towel from the towel rack and began drying himself. Suzy couldn’t stop admiring his muscular body and noticed he was still turned on.

“Darling, have a sip,” as she offered the glass to him.

He wrapped the towel around his waist, then took a generous sip of the refreshing wine, and set the wine glass on the countertop. She had on his favorite outfit. He loved her in casual low-cut jeans and sweater, and her wedged sandals. He tossed the towel onto tile floor and grabbed Suzy, kissing her hard, pulled her sweater up, and licked the delicious mounds of her breasts, pushing them together, pulling her bra down to suck each of her erect nipples. God, she wanted him. She was holding his head against her as he was licking and sucking each breast, her breathing rapid.