Heroes Never Die (9 page)

Brian grinned the mischievous grin that melted her heart.  “My pleasure.”  He scooped her off of her feet and carried her to the bedroom.  Afterward, she fell asleep in the warmth of his arms.

Chapter Eight:

CIA Headquarters

Langley, Virginia

Kyle sat in his private office analyzing the latest intelligence report on Saudi Arabia.  It was difficult to make sense of the sudden shift in Saudi policy, but he felt pressured to find a solution before the delicate balance of power changed forever.  Kyle’s deep thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the intercom.  “I want to see you in my office right away.”  He recognized Barry’s familiar voice.  Barry Braxton was the Director of the CIA.

Kyle immediately secured the file he had been working on by locking it in his drawer and walked six doors down to Barry’s executive suite.  He had made the routine walk many times to update Barry on other national security issues, so he knew that Barry was going to press him for answers this time, too.  Only this time, Kyle was as baffled as the rest of world.

“Go right in,” Barry’s assistant, Shannon, told him.  “Barry is expecting you.”

Kyle walked past Shannon without acknowledging her.  He walked into Barry’s office and closed the door behind him.  He stood before Barry looking his usual cool and professional self.  He noticed the overhead light shining on top of Barry’s head like a spotlight, but he thought that the light seemed brighter to perhaps compensate for the dark clouds rolling in from the east side of the building.

“Have a seat, Kyle,” Barry said as he waved his hand toward a chair in front of his polished mahogany desk.  “I’ve just returned from seeing the President.  The news is not good.  King Hamid rejected our proposal.  He refuses to allow our military access to his airbase, and he has raised the price of oil to a whopping sixty dollars a barrel.  Pat believes that Crown Prince Tareef, if given the opportunity, would be more cooperative.  He has ordered us to eliminate King Hamid.  Tell me what you know about him.”

Kyle responded casually, his Virginian accent smooth and confident.  “Hamid is anti-Western, but not to the point that he would close his air base.  I’m convinced there has to be another reason.  He lives behind a shield of armed guards, so getting close enough to make the hit presents a challenge.  He has numerous holdings throughout the world.  In this hemisphere, most are located in the Caribbean.  He has greatly increased the standard of living in his country, and his people have high regard for his authority.  They say that miracles occur when he prays.  Hamid is a stable man, he’s deeply entrenched in tradition, and he only has one weakness.”

“And that is?” Barry questioned.

“He has a fascination with beautiful women.”

Barry chuckled.  “A man after my own heart.”

“They say that if you look long enough, you can find the good in any man.”  Kyle was pleased to hear Barry laugh.  The morning had been long and difficult, and the humor helped to relieve the pressing matter at hand.

“I’m turning this job over to you, Kyle.  Pat wants the assassination carried out as soon as possible.  Let me know if I can be of help, but I have to tell you, I have no idea how to get past Hamid’s guards.  Hell, as far as I’m concerned, the job is impossible.”

“Not impossible,” Kyle replied with cool confidence.  “Just a challenge.”

“You have any ideas?”

Crushing his enemy was what Kyle did best.  His sharp mind was storming with ideas.  “A few.  I’ll have a draft on your desk first thing in the morning.”

“Excellent,” Barry remarked, obviously delighted.  “By the way, Pat remembered meeting you at the Presidential Ball.  He was very impressed with you.  I would say a sizable promotion is in good order if your plan succeeds.  Pat indicated an appointment to his staff.”

“Thank you, sir.”  Then Kyle returned to his own office, anxious to begin the draft.

Kyle leaned back in his chair with his arms folded behind his head to scheme the operation.  His plan was so easy he wanted to laugh.  Then he unlocked the drawer to his desk and carefully pulled out a framed picture of Stephanie.  He looked into her beautiful face and smiled triumphantly.  You made a big mistake when you married good ole Brian.  He gave her picture one last glance, and then he picked up his pen and went to work.  Finally, the time was ripe and in his control.

Chapter Nine:

It was a frigid November morning as Brian prepared to go to work.  He took a final sip of hot coffee and bundled up in his coat.  “I don’t want to go out in this freezing cold.  I’d rather stay home in bed and be warm with you.”

Stephanie threw her arms around his neck.  “Then stay home and play hooky with me.”

“Don’t tempt me,” he playfully scolded.  “But I will try to come home early.  Just keep the bed warm.”  Brian squeezed her tight and kissed her.  “Any special plans for the day?”

“Yes, today I’m beginning my official job search.”  She noticed a look of disapproval flash across his face.

“Stephanie, we’ve talked about this.  You know I’m anxious to start a family.”

“Yes,” she said as she dropped her arms from around his neck.  “And my answer is the same.  I want to find a job while my skills are still fresh.  Besides, no one will hire me if I’m pregnant.”

“I don’t want to stand in your way, Stephanie, but I don’t want you to take a job that will tear us apart, either.”

“Brian,” she assured him.  “If you’re afraid that I’ll get a job as a foreign correspondent, I don’t have enough experience.  I’ll be lucky to get a job as a copy editor.  Besides, all of my goals changed when I met you.  I don’t want to be stationed in a foreign country anymore.  I want to be with you.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he grinned as he pulled her into his arms.  “Now come here and kiss me like you mean it.”  Stephanie put her arms around his neck and pressed his mouth with an affectionate kiss.  “I love you, Stephanie.  See you tonight.”

“I love you, too.”  Stephanie walked him to the door and as Brian stepped outside into the blistering cold, the icy air smacked her in the face.  “Give Dad my love,” she called after him.  She quickly closed the door and locked it.  “Brrr,” her voice shook.  Then she watched him drive away.  I miss you already, Brian.

Stephanie poured herself another cup of coffee, and then she went to the dining room and sat down at the table to begin her job search.  She spread a newspaper on the table and turned to the classifieds, circling the jobs she found appealing.  She began to draft cover letters to match the description of the jobs she wanted, when suddenly she heard a key turning the lock on the door and her skin flushed with nervous heat.  It was too early for Brian.  Then she heard the door open.

“Stephanie,” Brian called.

Stephanie puffed a sigh of relief.  Thank, God, it’s Brian.  She jumped up from her chair and headed toward the door to greet him.  Then she wondered, why is he home so early?

Her steps came to a sudden halt when she saw the pain in his eyes.  She stared at his troubled expression, her own anxiety building, and she knew at once that her worst nightmare had come true.  She frantically searched his face for proof that she was wrong, but his grave countenance only convinced her all the more.

“Tell me you don’t have orders,” her voice trembled.  Brian tried to speak, but his words wouldn’t come.  “Tell me,” she demanded as tears began to cloud her eyes.

Brian swallowed hard.  “Your Dad and I received orders for Turkey.  We’re being deployed for fifteen months.  We leave in three days.”

Stephanie’s face filled with horror.  This couldn’t be happening.  “No!” she screamed.  “I won’t let you go!”  Brian opened his arms, and she threw herself into them.  He squeezed her with all of his might, and she buried her head in his chest and cried uncontrollably, drenching him with tears.

The next morning, Stephanie was numb from trying to deal with the shock of losing Brian and her dad in only three days.  She stood motionless in the living room and stared at their wedding picture that rested upon the stone mantel.  They both looked so happy, their love so full of promise, their dreams fresh and alive and burning to come true.  All it had taken was a single moment in time to completely shatter their lives.  As she looked into their smiling faces, she remembered all of the times Brian had said he would never leave her and all of the times she had believed him when he sealed the promise with a kiss.  Then she began to think about the increasing number of war fatalities.  Death was rudely trying to reach into her comfortable life to snatch away the men she loved.  Disturbing thoughts raced through her mind.  What if Brian dies?  What if Dad dies?  What if I lose them forever?  As she continued to dwell on the unthinkable, fear and resentment began to build.  She hadn’t asked for this war.  Someone else could go.  Why does it have to be the men I love?

Brian walked up behind her and put his arms snugly around her waist.  “Hands off,” she ordered as she pushed his arms from her.  She spun around and faced him.

Brian’s eyes widened.  “Something I did?”

“You know darn well what you did,” she accused.

“I give up.  Enlighten me.”

“Don’t you think it’s awfully peculiar that you and Dad received orders at the same time?  You act like nothing is wrong, like you don’t even care about leaving me.”

“I already asked that question when I received my orders.  The demand for doctors is critical.  You know that, Stephanie.  And I couldn’t foresee this war.  Even if I had, I have no control over it.  You knew the risk when you married me.”

“I didn’t plan on this war, either,” she argued.  “You feel more of an obligation to your country than you do to your own wife.”

“My priorities are in good order, but I’m beginning to wonder about yours.  A lot of men are dying simply because they lack proper medical attention.  My job is to save as many men as possible so they can come back home to the families who love them, and if you have a problem with that, then you’re a selfish, spoiled brat.”

Stephanie’s skin burned with anger.  If losing the only family she had was selfish, then he could go straight to hell.  “I’m tired of this war, and I’m tired of being an Army wife.  So don’t expect me to sit around and wait for you, because when you come home, I won’t be here.”  Stephanie stormed out of the room.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!” Brian yelled.

Stephanie ran upstairs to their bedroom.  She had managed to vent her anger, but in the process she had alienated Brian, and she wondered what had possessed her to hurt the one person she loved most.  The hardship he faced was difficult enough, and the last thing he needed was her striking his conscience with fear and guilt.

Whether she liked it or not, Brian was leaving.  He needed her support, and all she had done so far was let him down.  He deserved so much more.  She loved him too much to continue hurting him and she made up her mind, for better or for worse, to take her place by his side to give him the love and support he needed.  But she still had no idea where she would find the strength to persevere without him.  Even now, she couldn’t stand being separated from him.  She had to apologize at once.  She pulled herself up from the bed and headed toward the door.

Just then, Brian walked into the room.  His face was bruised with pain, pain that she had caused.  “I’m sorry, Brian,” she apologized.  “I didn’t mean anything I said – honest.  If it takes the rest of my life, I’ll wait for you to come home.  It’s going to kill me to let you go, but you’ll always be right here in my heart, and I will never, ever, stop loving you.  I promise.”

“I needed to hear you say that,” he said, his deep voice tender.  “I know none of this seems fair, Stephanie, and I don’t like it any more than you do.  If I had the choice, I would never leave you.”

“Yes, you would,” she lovingly objected.  “You’re the most caring man I know.  Your one passion is saving lives, and I was wrong to ask you to ignore the passion that drives you, because if you do, both of us will be miserable.”

Brian pulled her close and buried his head on her chest.  Stephanie marveled that he was brave enough to serve in the war but didn’t seem to have the courage to break her heart.  She tenderly whispered, “I love you, Brian.”  Then she kissed his head over and over, until her kisses ignited their passion, and they remained in each other’s arms until nightfall.

***

Robert arrived to take Stephanie and Brian out to dinner.  Stephanie opened the door, took his hand, and pulled him inside.  She threw her arms around him and refused to let him go.  “Daddy,” she cried.  She could almost hear his heart ripping in two.  For the first time in her life, there was nothing he could do to make it better.

“I can’t believe this is happening.  I don’t want you to go,” she pleaded.

“It’s going to be okay, Stephanie,” he said as he brushed her hair with his hand.  “Let’s all go to dinner.  It will help lighten the heavy mood.”

“If you don’t mind, Dad, I don’t want to go out.  I want to stay here and spend every minute we have together without any distractions.  I was thinking pizza.”

“Pizza sounds fine to me.”

“And I want you to spend the night, Dad.  We can go out for breakfast in the morning if you want.”  Just being in the same room with her dad helped lift her spirits.

Brian bundled up in his coat.  “I’ll pick up the pizza, Stephanie, so you and your dad can spend some time alone.  I won’t be long.”