Chapter 2

Kestrel drove in haste to the Irish pub, halfway between his apartment and Briggs' house in Towson, concern gripping his guts. He knew he shouldn't be so worried and wait for his best friend's explanations, but his sixth sense was emitting a loud alarm in his head, warning of an impending catastrophe.

He soon parked behind the bar and saw Briggs' Chevrolet already there. He quickly entered the pub and saw his friend in the back of the deserted room, a coffee in front of him. He saluted the barman who greeted him merrily, being a regular customer, and ordered a Coca Cola. Then he strode towards Briggs and sat on the couch opposite him, shaking his hand.

_ Well, мой друг (my friend)? What's so urgent? I'm quite worried, you know?

_ I don't doubt it, mate, Briggs said, rubbing his face and shooting him a lost look. But it's serious, all right.

The barman brought the soda to Kestrel who thanked him and paid, then Briggs said:

_ Sam and Grim think about breaking up.

_ What?

Kestrel felt like the ground was shifting beneath his feet. He was too stunned, it was a nightmare. But Briggs was deadly serious, and his own worry was deeply etched on his still tightened features. He stammered:

_ But... why? How do you know?

_ Overheard them yesterday when I was ready to leave, Briggs said heavily. You and Charlie had already left, and they were still in the control room, arguing again. I heard Sam telling Grim that it was his choice and he would cling to it. And Grim yelled that she was fed up with his stubbornness and that maybe she would leave him right away. And Sam said, and it's his exact words: "Fine. Then leave."

Silence fell, but Kestrel's head was spinning in worry. He knew Sam could be so stubborn he was being stupid, and Grim had some steel nerves of her own. But if they broke up, it would be a disaster for them, but also for Fourth Echelon. He shook his head in dismay and asked:

_ Have you phoned Sam or Grim?

_ No, Briggs said. When I left, Sam looked mad, and Grim had already left with their car. What are we going to do?

Kestrel saw that his partner was as much in disarray as he was, and he said firmly:

_ We have only one thing to do, мой друг. We take a car and go to their place.

_ What? Briggs exclaimed in bewilderment. But we can't...

_ Listen, Briggs! Kestrel cut him sharply. We don't have time for half-measures or qualms! If they break up, it'll shatter them both, you know it! And Fourth Echelon relies on them. We can't have them in pieces, they're together but they also work together! And I don't want another mission like in Cameroon.

_ You're right, Briggs acknoweledged at last, it was close to a disaster. And you were almost killed beacuse of their arguing.

_ Exactly, and I don't want that happening again to any of us.

_ Okay, Briggs said, rising. Let's go, then.

Kestrel hastily gulped down his soda then rose too, and the two of them went to Briggs' van. He drove to Sam and Grim's house in the countryside, and during the trip Briggs asked Kestrel more lightly:

_ What about you, mate? Why were you so happy earlier?

_ I've met someone, he confessed. My new neighbour. But we've just met, nothing happened yet.

_ Really? Briggs rejoiced behind the wheel, grinning widely. That's wonderful, mate! About time, too!

_ Well, just hold up. I told you, I've met her only yesterday evening, and it doesn't mean anything yet.

_ But you like her, Briggs said, and in his tone there was no question.

_ I feel something, all right, Kestrel said, analyzing his feelings while talking. I don't know what yet, but I definitely feel something.

_ You'll soon know, mate, Briggs said with a smile. I hope it'll turn good for you.

_ That's a long shot, Kestrel said, feeling his eyebrows furrowing. She's got tough issues.

_ Such as?

_ Her brother beat her up this morning. I'm afraid I expressed my disagreement to him in a non-pacific way.

_ Oh.

Briggs shot him a concerned look, and finally said:

_ I hope you won't have any problems with him or his family.

_ I shall see, he said evenly. I'm not afraid of him.

Briggs stayed silent, and Kestrel went back to the problem at hand. He couldn't let his close friends breaking up without trying to help them first. He had to do something. They had done so much for him that it was his turn. But the image of Elena was still in the back of his mind, nagging him. He would have to take time to meditate on her and his feelings.

Soon they arrived in front of the house, and Kestrel noticed that only one car was there. Grim's one was missing. His heart sinking, he exchanged a meaningful look with Briggs but went to the porch and rang the doorbell. A muffled roar echoed from inside the house, and he recognized Sam's voice:

_ Screw it! Leave me alone!

But his boss' voice was thick and undistinct. He's drunk, Kestrel thought, dismay tightening his guts. He tried to open the door, but it was bolted. Briggs shouted loudly:

_ Sam, it's Briggs and Kestrel! Open the door!

_ Goddamn you! Sam yelled in anger, clearly beside himself. Go away!

_ Sam, Kestrel said with a firm voice, I give you ten seconds to open the door. After that, I'll crash it open.

_ Don't you dare, Kestrel!

But he started to count loudly, and at nine Sam shouted:

_ Leave me alone! I forbid you to come here!

Kestrel, unfazed, took three steps back then ran to the door, shoulder first. The door burst open, and he saw Sam, sprawled on his couch, an empty bottle of whisky in hand, gazing at them with fury on his face. He was completely plastered, Kestrel thought dimly while going into the living room. He strode towards the wreck his boss had become, and, ignoring his outraged look, held out his hand for him to take.

Sam, although seething with rage, had a lost look in his eyes, making Kestrel want to shake him out of his torpor. But the Splinter Cell took Kestrel's hand, and the ops helped him sitting up. He gently removed the bottle from Sam's grip and, still holding his hand, pulled him on his feet. Then Briggs went next to him and, without needing to speak, they headed for the bathroom next to Sam and Grim's bedroom. There Kestrel said with a firm voice:

_ Sam, you'll have a shower. Cold water.

_ Kestrel, are you giving orders to your boss? Sam asked with an evil glare.

_ Yes, I am, Sam, Kestrel said calmly, locking eyes with him. Because when you are in this state, you're not my boss. You're my friend, and you need help. And we can't talk yet while you're so drunk. So you'll do what you're told, Sam.

_ What if I don't want to?

_ Then I'll do like five years ago, Kestrel stated calmly. You'll have that shower, Sam, whether you want it or not. The only thing you can choose is if you'll have it fully clothed or not.

He held his boss' intense stare, but didn't back down. And after five long seconds defying him, Sam started to take off his clothes. Kestrel turned away and saw Briggs going in the bedroom, bringing back fresh clothes. Sam had a quick shower, shivering slightly under the cold water, and Kestrel and Briggs went to sit down in the living room to wait. After a few minutes their boss came back, looking calmer and more focused. He even said:

_ I'm sorry. Hello, you two. Thanks for coming.

_ Coffee, Sam? Briggs asked.

Sam nodded, and while he sat down Briggs went to the kitchen and prepared a strong coffee for the three of them. When he came back, Kestrel sipped his drink, waiting patiently. And finally Sam started to speak:

_ Grim left me.

_ Why? he asked his boss kindly.

_ Because I'm a moron, Sam said, looking on the verge of tears.

_ You're not, Sam, Briggs said. You're just incredibly stubborn. So, tell us everything.

Sam half-smiled, then inhaled deeply and said:

_ Three months ago, before our mission, I had the routine medical examination for this year. The doctor who saw me noticed a stiffness in my right knee. Nothing surprising at my age, I'm sixty-four, after all. But he insisted to have it examined more closely. So I went to see a specialist, and after a series of tests he told me that I needed surgery to ease the stiffness. Grim and I started arguing about it, but nothing bothersome. If it had stopped there, it would have been well. But then I received a letter from the NSA.

He rubbed his face, clearly forcing down his anger and emotion, and went on:

_ They offered me to retire next year, with approval of the President of the United States.

Kestrel was blown, and next to him he could see that Briggs was too. Sam, retiring? It was just unbelievable, inconceivable. But Sam was sixty-four, and he knew that someday his boss would leave Fourth Echelon for good. But not yet, he thought. He was clearly not ready, and neither were his ops.

_ And Grim thinks this is a good idea, I assume? Kestrel asked softly.

_ Yes, Sam nodded. And I can't blame her. After all I've been through and have done for our country, she thinks I've earned a peaceful retirement. But I'm not ready. I don't want to retire just yet. I can't.

Kestrel saw him raising his head and looking intently at his two ops. He had difficulties imagining someone else in Sam's shoes, even Grim, and visibly his boss saw it. He smiled faintly and said:

_ I knew it. We're not ready.

_ So that's why you and Grim have been arguing since June? Briggs asked with a grimace.

_ Yes. And I'm sorry about it. I know it's been hard to withstand, and it nearly cost you your life, Kestrel. But we disagree so much on this topic that it has affected our couple. I love her, and she loves me, but this matter has become a cause of estrangement. And yesterday was the last straw. She insisted we talked about it, but I didn't want to, and in my anger I told her to leave.

Kestrel saw his boss cracking at last, putting his face in his hands and sobbing. Next to him Briggs put a hand on his shoulder, and Kestrel said, controlling his emotion:

_ I'm sure she'll come back, Sam. She knows your nasty temper.

_ She took her clothes and necessary things, Sam sobbed, still hiding his face. She left me! I'm such an idiot! I can't live without her!

_ Have you tried to call her? Briggs asked in disarray.

_ Every five minutes since yesterday evening. But her smartphone is switched off.

Kestrel exchanged a look with Briggs and saw they were having the same thought. So he took out his own smartphone and dialed Charlie's number. The line was picked up after five ringings.

_ Yes?

_ Charlie, it's Kestrel.

_ Hey, bro! the tech yelled, obviously still sozzled. You should've come yesterday evening! I've had such a good time, it was...

_ Okay, Charlie, he cut him, that's nice. But right now I need you.

_ What do you want me to do?

_ Could you track Grim's smartphone, please?

_ Sure, the young geek said, visibly too drunk to see the seriousness of the situation. Give me a second.

Kestrel waited patiently, restraining a sigh. Fortunately for them Charlie was a genius, able to track down smartphones while blinded or completely plastered like now, but he wasn't dependable, and that could be a problem. But after two minutes, the tech said, articulating with difficulty:

_ It's in Cherry Hill, Baltimore.

_ Okay, Kestrel said, relieved. Thanks a lot, Charlie. And have nice holidays.

_ You too, Kestrel!

He hung up and told Sam and Briggs, waiting expectantly:

_ Cherry Hill.

_ She's at Sarah's, Sam nodded thoughtfully. I should've known.

He took out his phone and dialed Sarah's number, and soon started to speak:

_ Hi, honey. … No, not really. … Is Grim at your place? … Yes, I understand. … I'm so sorry. … I just feel like an idiot, which I am. … Would she agree to talk to me? … It's okay, I understand. … No, no, don't worry. … Yes, Briggs and Kestrel are here. … No, they just broke into the house, demolishing the front door. Kestrel's doing. … They forced me to have a cold shower, and right now we're having a coffee. … It's okay, darling. Say hello for me. … And please tell Grim that I'm incredibly sorry and I love her. … Bye, kiddo.

He hung up, tears in his eyes, and said with a trembling voice:

_ She'll stay at Sarah's for some time. She doesn't want to talk to me right now. She needs time to think.

_ It'll be okay, Sam, Briggs said soothingly. Don't worry. She'll come back. I had the same thing with Molly two years ago, lasted two weeks. But she came back, and we're still together.

_ I wish it were that easy, sonny, Sam said, tears running down his cheeks. I'm so afraid of losing her!

_ She loves you, Sam, Kestrel said calmly, wanting to comfort his boss and friend. She'll come back. But you'll have to think about what you're going to say when she does. She's sending you a message, telling you that as long as you won't talk to her, she'd rather be alone. Now it's up to you to prove to her that you're willing to talk about your problem. It's useless and stupid to dismiss the idea with a wave of your hand. Take the time to weigh the pros and cons with her.

Sam nodded, clearly thinking about it, while Briggs smiled at him. He had told the ops exactly the same words when Molly had gone to her mother's place two years ago, and Briggs and she had made peace after two very difficult weeks.

Kestrel sighed inwardly, and asked Sam:

_ Did you have breakfast? And dinner?

_ Liquid ones only, Sam confessed, blushing.

_ Okay.

He got up and went to the kitchen, digging in the fridge and cupboards. Then he made pierojkis for the three of them, and soon Sam gratefully wolfed down the food. While they were eating, he said thoughtfully to his ops:

_ You know, maybe I'll have this surgery for my knee, after all. I have a month before me, and I won't deny I need it. This bloody thing hurts like mad, and I can't kneel like I used to.

_ That we noticed, Briggs told him gently. But the problem seems worse since three weeks.

_ True, Sam said, not really surprised. I'll phone Dr Collins.

_ But for your recovery, he won't agree to let you here on your own, Kestrel objected.

_ I have no choice, Sam shrugged. Grim is away, I'm on my own.

Kestrel exchanged a meaningful look with Briggs. In no way would they let their boss and friend manage on his own after a knee operation. But they would talk about it later. Finally they had another coffee, then Sam said:

_ Thank you, boys. Now I have some tidy-up to do and a phone call to make. And a door to repair.

_ I'm sorry, Sam, Kestrel said, feeling slightly guilty.

_ It's my fault, Kestrel, Sam said, shaking his head. I should've opened before, you warned me. I know you by now, I knew you would've crashed open the door no matter what I said.

_ Sam, maybe we should... Briggs started.

_ No, Briggs. I'll be okay, don't worry.

Sam smiled valiantly, but Kestrel could see he was still deeply affected. And he saw that his boss needed time to accept the situation, alone. So he rose and said:

_ Keep us posted, Sam, please.

_ I will, Sam nodded calmly.

Briggs got to his feet too, and they left. Kestrel knew that it would be difficult for his boss to be alone in their big house, but he would survive. The Splinter Cell was tough, he had lived through many ordeals. But Kestrel told his teammate:

_ I'll call him tomorrow. We can't let him alone with a surgery.

_ I agree. Please phone me as soon as you have news.

_ Will do, мой друг.

Briggs drove him back to his pickup and left, and Kestrel headed back to his apartment, feeling exhausted again. He would have a nap, he decided. Yes, he thought with relief, I really need a nap.