The Twelfth Of Never: A suspense mystery romantic thriller (23 page)

"I still can't understand why I wasn't told John was
dead."

"All I remember are his dog tag and your picture. I kept
the picture and turned the dog tag over to the authorities. It wasn't until a
few weeks ago when Delaney contacted the agency that I gave John Hamilton a
second thought."

Jenny reached in her purse and handed Gideon John's dog tag.

"How do you explain Delaney having it, along with the
others?"

Gideon looked at her across the table. "Jenny, there is
only one tag here, right?"

"Yes," Jenny replied.

"I know where the other one is, and it never made it back
to the States. I swear this was turned over to the authorities, but I don't
know why they never contacted you.”

"Gideon, if you had my sketch and you say you cared for
me, why didn't you look me up when you got back. Surely, you knew I lived in
New York?"

Jenny wondered why it took five years and Delaney's death for
him to come forward. She had listened to him talk about John and what he
relayed about her sketch. Nothing made sense.

"You have to realize what it was like over there. John
and I were tied together when Ian ordered Delaney to kill us."

"Delaney killed John?"

"No, but I'm sure he would have if Ian hadn't stopped
him."

"Then how did he die?"

"We all thought it was another scare tactic. When Ian
took the gun from Delaney, we sat back thinking the ordeal was over for another
day. But then Ian put the gun to John's head and pulled the trigger."

Gideon stopped for a moment while Jenny stared into his eyes.
They were the same eyes that witnessed her husband’s death.

"He fell into my lap, and I felt the last breath leave
him as his body quivered in death."

Jenny cried. "Stop! I can't stand any more of this."

Jenny got up quickly, unable to look at Gideon or face what he
said. She walked over to the sink, ran cold water, and splashed her face.

Gideon got up slowly and walked over to Jenny. He put his hand
on her shoulder. "I was shot too."

Jenny glanced up at him. "But you're alive?"

"Sometimes I wonder about that." Gideon brushed
aside the hair over his right temple. It revealed the crease that extended
beyond the ear.

"How did you survive?" Jenny asked.

"If it hadn't been for the villagers attacking just then,
I'm sure Ian wouldn't have been distracted the moment he fired the gun. It
saved me."

"I guess you were lucky."

"Yeah, some luck. When I woke up in the hospital, all I
had was your picture and John's dog tag. The nurses thought you were my wife so
they placed the picture where I could see it at all times. One of the doctors
thought it would be therapeutic. I couldn't even remember my name, which made
matters worse. That's when I became infatuated with you."

"I can't believe this all happened."

"I was delirious after the ordeal, and when I got
stateside, Beth was waiting for me. It was then I realized the picture wasn't
that of my wife. She wanted to try to make the marriage work." Gideon
forced a smile before continuing. "I did seek professional help at first.
They diagnosed you as my fixation with surviving. Granted, I had the photo of
the sketch, it didn't have to be of a real person. John and I talked, but he
never told me where you lived. After he was dead, all I had was the photo and
the memories of your life together. I was content to have that."

Jenny sensed Gideon was becoming uncomfortable talking about
it now. He let go of her shoulder as he stepped back.

"Why did Ian kill Delaney?" Jenny asked.

"Ian was the leader of the group that captured us.
Delaney broke under the torture. My guess is Ian recruited Delaney and a few of
the others for his little terrorist group.”

"I never would have hid in the closet if I'd had known
what he was going to do. If I'd only screamed none of this would have
happened."

"You were there then?"

"Yes, I was too scared to do anything." Jenny said
looking away, and then turned back to Gideon. "I'll never forget the smile
on his face when he watched Delaney die."

"Did he say anything?"

"Something in a foreign language, I didn't understand
it."

Just then Jenny's father walked in and startled the two.
Gideon walked over to the table, picked up the envelope and put everything back
inside and then closed the flap and sat down with his hands crossed.

"Thought you'd like to come with me for the
afternoon," Joe said, glancing at Gideon.

Joe walked over to the sink and ran himself a large glass of
water. He drank it while he waited for Gideon to answer.

"I'll take this up to the room and be back in a few
minutes," Gideon said glancing over at Jenny.

Jenny forced a smile. She did not know what to say or do. She
watched Gideon cross the room and disappear. She got up and turned to her
father.

"How are you holding up, Pop?"

"Bad year for crops."

"Mom looks good," Jenny said nervously.

"Want to talk?"

Jenny shrugged her shoulders. So much pain and anger filled
her thoughts. She found it difficult to breathe. She walked over to her father,
hugged him, and then whispered, "You got to let him go." She
understood now the importance of what she was saying.

Joe Morgan just stood and stared at his daughter. He fought
back the tears, but nothing helped. Finally he took out the old red bandanna
from his back pocket and wiped his face. He turned and walked out the back
door, and then sat down on the old stoop and wept.

CHAPTER 24

Gideon's senses were clouded with euphoric thoughts of
innocent days of his youth, which obscured his perception of the ugly world he
lived in now. What he wanted was to pretend for a few more hours that all was
right with the world. But the cold, hard facts of life as he knew them would
not leave. He climbed the stairs, walked down the hall, and then opened the
door to his room and tossed the envelope on the bed. Gideon slowly walked over
to the window and just stared out at the peaceful surroundings and for an
instant let himself pretend he was on his grandparents’ farm.

Years of training told Gideon to leave now, run like hell
while it was still light out. But something inside would not let him go. Gideon
watched Joe walk along the lilac-lined path, then cross the driveway to the
barn. Gideon stared at Carla, who was meticulously working in the flowerbed
below the window. He turned when he heard movement at the door.

"What's going to happen?" Jenny asked with a worried
look on her face.

"Nothing until Jake gets here."

Jenny leaned on the doorsill for a moment before entering the
room, all the while watching Gideon's assessment of the farmyard below. The
ever-present fear that some unseen force beyond his control clouded his
judgment bothered her.

"Will it ever end?"

"Should."

"What does it all mean?" Jenny motioned toward the
envelope on the bed.

"The leak is in Langley. If I'm right, there will be
trouble."

"Then we have to leave?" she walked further into the
room, closer to where he stood, but still she avoided looking at Gideon.

"Your parents may be in danger now." Gideon turned
to her. At first he was not going to tell her, but she had a right to know.

"What are we waiting for?"

"Jake," Gideon said finally. "I can't do it
alone."

Jenny turned around and started walking to the door.
"I've got to tell them."

"No. Don’t do that." Gideon quickly grabbed her arm.
"It might be nothing."

"But you said..." Jenny turned and looked into his
eyes. All she wanted was guidance from him now and regretted not trusting him
earlier.

"I know and it scares me to think about it."

"Well then, what makes you think there's a leak?"

Gideon stared at her. She had every right to know. Then he walked
over to the bed, and reached into the envelope for the map. Once he unfolded
it, he showed her the scribbling at the bottom. "Red Eagle is a code name
for Sadat."

"So?" she said, still puzzled.

"It was a name Phil March came up with on Tuesday
morning. Colby hasn't even given out the directive for field use yet."

"Sadat." Jenny was baffled by what he said. She
looked at the map, then up at Gideon. "But what has that to do with the
map?"

Gideon strolled across the room and tossed the map back on the
bed as if to distance himself from what it meant, but it did not work.

"There's been talk that Begin and Sadat were planning a
summit. My guess is Carter is helping set it up. By the looks of the dates
listed it might be scheduled for next week."

"But there were a few dates listed?"

"The last two are alternate dates. Judging by the map and
the list, I think Delaney's group planned to make an assault on Camp David
during this summit."

"All this, and I had it since Tuesday." Jenny turned
away quickly then started walking out of the room.

Gideon quickly grabbed her arm before she could leave. He felt
electricity soar through his body at the touch of her warm skin, and then he
stepped back.

"You had no way of knowing."

Jenny turned to him and looked into his eyes. "What if I
did nothing with this? It would have been my fault if something would have
happened."

"Don't think about it." Gideon took her into his
arms. He did not want to, but could not control himself.

He found himself lost in a sea of jasmine as her warm skin
sent shockwaves through his body. Then quickly Gideon let go of her arm,
realized he was losing control.

"You think your Mr. March is the leak?"

"It would explain a lot of things."

"Why don't you go to the top guy?"

"You mean Colby," Gideon shook his head.
"That's what I was doing when I virtually signed our death warrants."

"What do you mean?"

"Colby was out, so I told Phil you were going to turn
over what you had to me. That was an hour ago."

"That's just great, Gideon. What about my parents?"

"I can't do it alone, and I don't know who in Langley to
trust." Gideon rubbed his temple, and then turned and looked solemnly at
Jenny. "Now I know how Delaney felt."

"Gideon, I can't believe you. I knew the guy with the
white hair was a bad guy. But now I also have to worry about the people who are
supposed to be on our side."

"It might not be anything."

"Oh sure, I'm putting my life in your hands, and you
don't even know who the bad guys are."

"I know one good guy, and that's why we're waiting for
Jake to get here."

"Oh God," Jenny said shaking her head pathetically.
"I really got myself into a mess this time."

"I knew you weren't involved," Gideon whispered.

Jenny just shook her head. "And to think it all started
because Cindy did a favor."

Gideon did not say anything. He could see the pain Jenny was
in, and he only hoped he was wrong about Phil March, but his gut instinct told
him otherwise. No words would ease Jenny's mind about the trouble she'd brought
to her parents home.

"Do you know how to use a gun?" Gideon asked. He
looked solemnly at Jenny. It was a question he had to know the answer to.

Jenny turned to him, and in that instant a flash crossed her
mind. She remembered the park and Gideon standing ten feet away as he pointed
the gun at her. She knew now he was aiming at her heart and had he pulled the
trigger, she would have been dead that night.

"Well, do you?"

Jenny shook her head while Gideon walked over to the closet.
He opened the door and took the gun out of the holster. Her heart raced when
she stared at the instrument of death that had once been aimed at her.

Without realizing it, Gideon had her by the arm. He pulled her
in front of the mirror, and then placed himself directly in back of her. Gideon
put the cold piece of steel in Jenny's right hand. He could feel her shivering
at its touch.

"This is the safety," he said pointing to the little
lever.

Jenny shut her eyes. "Is it on?" she asked, not able
to look.

"Open your eyes. I can only run through this once. Your
father's waiting for me."

Jenny hesitated, and then finally opened her eyes. "Okay,
but I promise you, hell will freeze over before I ever use it."

"That's neither here nor there, now listen." Gideon
turned to the mirror, wrapped his arms around Jenny from behind. "When you
aim, make sure it's for the main body, it makes the biggest target. Don't try
to get cute and aim for the head, its smaller and you’re more likely to
miss."

Jenny cringed, "That's disgusting."

"I'm serious. There may come a time when you have to
protect yourself."

Gideon ran through the fine art of self-defense a few more
times while Jenny half listened. Although there was violence in the city, the
idea of owning a gun for self-defense was never an option for her.

"Is the lesson over?" Jenny asked, stepping out of
his arms, and then quickly turning to hand Gideon the gun, but he would not
take it.”

Gideon stood without moving; he let Jenny hold the gun for a
few more minutes. "Yeah, and if you have call to use it, hang on tight, it
packs a kick."

"Gee, thanks for that insight."

Just then they heard Jenny's father calling to Gideon from the
yard below.

"I'd better go now." Gideon said. He took the gun
from Jenny, and then walked over to the bed. "I'll put it under the pillow
in case you need it.

"And you're going to go around unarmed?" Jenny
asked.

Gideon lifted his right legging revealing the gun strapped to
his calf. "I always have backup."

"Might have known."

Jenny shook her head while walking out of the room. She
quickly went to her own room and lay on the bed. After a few moments she heard
Gideon walk past the door and then down the stairs. When she heard the screen
door slam, she felt a sense of relief that he was gone. But then an uneasy
loneliness came over her. She listened to the silence around her as it had a
tranquilizing effect to her tired body. Then she shut her eyes and drifted off.

* * *

Gideon walked across the yard as Carla tended her flowers near
the house. She never even looked up to acknowledge his presence as he passed.
He strolled lazily across the gravel driveway to the barn door that was
slightly ajar, and then walked in. The only light came from side windows that
let the sunlight filter through. All the lofts were filled to the rafters with
freshly cut hay, except the one at the far end. As Gideon approached the
canvas-covered object, his eyes were finally accustomed to the dimly lit barn.

Gideon stared at the object for the longest time, then slowly
reached down and lifted the cover to reveal the sleek curves of black metal. He
pulled the canvas back. The convertible top was down and he was careful not to
get any straw on the interior that was like new.

Gideon ran his hand along the shiny metal before pulling the
canvas completely off. He opened the door and got in. His hands caressed the
bucket seat. It felt good to the touch. Gideon was engrossed in the fine
machine, running the shift through its gears. Suddenly a movement in front of
him caught his attention. He quickly reached for the gun strapped to his calf,
but the steering wheel was in the way.

"You like it?" Joe Morgan asked.

Gideon let out a sigh as he laid his head on the wheel.
"You scared me for a moment." Gideon looked up a moment before
turning his attention back to the car. "It's a real gem."

"It was Paddy's."

"Jenny's brother?" Gideon asked. It puzzled him at
first. "Why do you have it in storage?" Gideon ran his hand along the
steering wheel. It was a waste of a fine piece of machinery to just let it sit
idle.

"I promised Paddy I'd keep it for him."

"How long has it been?" Gideon asked, not
remembering the year on the headstone.

"Over five years."

"That war touched a lot of families like that."

"Do you want to start it?" Joe asked, not wanting to
talk about the war or his son.

Gideon glanced up at the man, and his eyes gleamed, then Gideon
answered. "Sure, I'd love to." And by the expression on Joe's face,
Gideon knew that Joe was pleased he'd taken such an interest in the car.

"Wait here a moment. I'll be right back."

Joe disappeared down the barn aisle for a few moments, and
then came back with a red can in hand. Gideon was too consumed with touching
all the controls to notice Joe in back of the car. Running the car through its
gears felt good to the touch. The keys were still in the ignition where the
young Army private had left them years earlier, before going off to war.

"Try it now," Joe said, as he screwed the gas cap
back on.

Gideon stepped on the clutch, and then turned the key. The
starter ground for a moment. He quickly pumped the gas, and then released the
key. Gideon glanced in the rearview mirror at Joe, and then turned the key
again. The engine rolled over this time, and a cloud of blue smoke shot out of
the exhaust. Gideon knew it was the first time in over five years the car had
been started.

"Paddy sure loved this car," Joe said.

Gideon stepped on the gas, and the engine responded as if
begging for a chance to be out on the open road. But Gideon did not dare ask.
He could see the tears forming in the older man's eyes and knew this was
bringing back difficult memories of a son lost in war.

"I can see why," Gideon finally said before turning
the engine off.

Gideon quickly got out of the car and pulled the canvas back
over the shiny convertible. "You wanted to show me the farm?"

Joe glanced at Gideon, and then stared down at his feet.
"Actually I wanted to talk to you about Jenny."

"Oh," Gideon said, he brushed the straw off his
sweatshirt. "What do you want to know?"

"Is she in trouble?"

"No," Gideon sighed. "She gave me what I
wanted," Gideon turned to Joe, and when he saw the expression on his face
he quickly added, "You know, the information she had."

"Well then, what's keeping you here?"

"I'm waiting for someone."

"That doesn't sound like no trouble to me."

"It isn't what you think. Your daughter had some
important information that people would do anything to get back. She didn't
know this. I've called in a friend to come and stay with you and Carla while I
take Jenny back to the city."

"Young man, I was in the Korean War, and I'm perfectly
capable of taking care of my wife if that's your concern."

"It's not that I don't trust your ability Mr.
Morgan." Gideon added quickly.

"I've got a twenty-gauge sitting in the kitchen closet.
I've sent many a chicken poacher running with that."

Gideon laughed at the thought of Ian being frightened away by
an old man and a shotgun filled with buckshot. "Times are different,"
is all Gideon said, and then walked away from Joe.

"Now, young man."

Gideon turned. It had been a long time since anyone referred
to him as that. "I'm sorry if I made it sound as if you weren't capable.
It's just that these people are a new breed, unlike anything you've ever
seen."

"When's your friend coming?"

"Another few hours." Gideon glanced at his watch; it
was nearly two. If Jake did not make it by five he would have to start thinking
about Plan B.