Chapter 2: Hollywood
Driving into Los Angeles was a circus act; Madeline faced an unreasonable amount of traffic and arrived at the little coffee shop with only a few minutes to spare. She was not surprised to find Hetty awaiting her arrival. Madeline approached without a word and sat across from Hetty.
"Green tea, with sugar. Right?" Hetty asked passing Madeline a teacup.
"Yeah. Thanks." she stared at the teacup nervously.
"I didn't drug you." Hetty said with a slight smile curving her lips.
"Funny." Madeline said sarcastically. "It's not that." She said solemnly.
"Hassam?" Madeline stared at Hetty in disbelief.
"You heard?" she asked sipping the tea.
"Every agency in the Western Hemisphere wants to know where you disappeared to Ms. Comeau. You are a very difficult woman to find." Hetty said informatively.
"Then I'm doing it right" She mumbled. "Were all of those calls to my phone an attempt to try and find me?"
"Well, yes." Hetty nodded. "However, for different reasons."
"And those reasons are?" Madeline stared and a moment later she realized and snorted. "You want me. The same way every other US government agency does. Hetty! There is a target on my back. I have a terrorist literally hunting me like an animal. There is a price on my head and to join your team, would mean putting myself in the open. I can't do that." She took a deep breath and sipped her tea once more.
"The team will protect you."
"It sure is inviting. And I am tired of looking over my shoulder because no one has my back, but it is not worth the risk. Besides I have always been a lone wolf. You know that."
"Think about it Ms. Comeau. Your medical knowledge would be a strong asset to the team."
"I will consider it. But I only came to LA to speak to you." She looked across the table and saw Hetty sliding a set of keys across the table.
"Safe house. Address is on the tag. Wash up, get some rest, we can talk about this further tomorrow. Come down to our Operations Headquarters at 10am sharp."
"Okay. Thank you." Madeline grabbed the keys and nodded. She then stood up and with a forced smiled she said goodbye to Hetty.
"Be careful."
Madeline spent the remainder of the afternoon hiding away in the safe house Hetty directed her to. She considered everything that she was told, about the team keeping her safe and her skills being an asset. She wanted to help but she won't forget why she was on the run and off the grid.
Hassam Sahar is a terrorist with ties to Al Qaida. Madeline was very familiar with this because he tried to kill her 2 months ago. Madeline shot him but he promised he would not stop until she was dead. She had brushed it off; death threats came with the territory. But in the week following the incident there was three attempts on her life. She became frightened and paranoid, quickly disappearing into a new identity, and a new city where she remained a ghost until her return to the US.
Now, in beautiful Los Angeles she had to figure out if she would remain a ghost. Madeline was unsure of her wishes, but she was sure that Henrietta Lange would have it her way. No one says no to her. Somehow amidst all the stress and rampant thoughts she fell asleep and when she woke up it was 6:30am.
She got up and dressed in a pencil skirt and flowing printed silk blouse and then she slipped on a pair of wedges. She kept her makeup simple and understated; lip gloss, eyeliner mascara. She chose to instead play up her dark red hair with a curling iron. Her hair was almost a cherry color and with her green eyes and small frame, she was reminiscent of a porcelain doll. But Madeline only looked fragile. She was a strong, independent woman who could save a life and just as easily take one.
She left early, about 8:30, opting to take the long route to the Headquarters. On route she stopped and got a coffee choosing to sip it on the beach before she made her way to meet with Hetty. Madeline arrived 10 minutes early to the slightly decrepit building.
"This can't be right" she muttered approaching the door. But to her surprise when she opened the door the inside was completely different. Much nicer. Not Ritz-Carlton nice, but not even close to the exterior. "I'll take that back"
She walked in and looked around searching for Hetty.
"Hi." The slightly squeaky voice of a woman came from behind her. When Madeline turned she saw a woman that reminded her of a pixie. Her hair, her dainty features, she was pretty… but ordinary.
"I'm looking for Hetty." Madeline said to the pixie girl
"Oh, she's-" The woman was cut off by Hetty's voice.
"Thank you Ms. Jones" The pixie, Ms. Jones, smiled and nodded quickly darting away.
"You came." Hetty said with a hint of surprise in her voice.
"You thought I wouldn't?" Madeline smirked.