Author's Note: When I first wrote this piece it was intended for a one chapter only about friendship. I couldn't stop there, something driving me to keep on with the story - how friendship can lead to much more. So now, 'A Day with Jericho' has turned into a full multi chapter story with Jericho playing a large part - hope you enjoy.
What had he told her? Oh if she could only remember the place he said his boat was docked. Closing her eyes and picturing that farewell in Amsterdam with Eyal, she remembered the promise of a sunset and lovely evening, the boat - oh yes The Flying Lavin but where. Maybe Letizia can help, Annie heading down the steps to her neighbor's flat and tapping on the door.
"You must have smelt the Sicilian Sausage Soup I'm cooking. I was ready to ring you up about joining me for dinner." Letizia greeting Annie at the door.
"Oh it does smell wonderful but that is not why I'm here. But since I am, dinner sounds great."
"The kitchen is the place to be." Letizia with spoon in hand returning to stir the sausage soup and motioning to Annie to be seated.
"I have a question. Remember the man for the other day, Eyal?"
"No woman in her right mind could forget him. He is perfectly gorgeous for a man. Why?"
"He has a sail boat some place, he told me one time but for the life of me I can't remember."
Letizia chuckling at Annie, "And are you talking about somewhere in the Mediterranean, Greece or near here."
"Near Athens." Annie knew there was very little to go on.
"There is a map in the second draw of the chest in the hallway. Go get it and we can start guessing." Letizia put the lid on the pot and turned down the heat to let it simmer and taking a seat at the table, it looks like a girl's chat was in the making.
Spreading the map on the kitchen table, the women start to study places for private boats to docked.
"Piraeus, that the place he said. Now I remember." Annie point to a section on the map.
"Do you have any idea how large Piraeus is?"
"Right good size looking at the map. I remember the name of his boat." Annie looking closer at the map. "We can rule out all commercial docks and check out the private ones."
Letizia taking her hand and looking at her eyes, "I'm going to ask a dumb question but don't you see him at work?"
"Not for two weeks now. He is working out of the office."
"And he hasn't called?"
"No. I received a basket of fruit from him last week but nothing else. You think it is silly of me to try to find him. He is just a friend."
"Keep telling yourself that Annie and one day you may believe it." Letizia finding two glasses and pouring them some wine. "Saw the way the two of you looked at each other. Saw how he watched you even when you didn't notice and the enchanting gaze that crossed your face when you first saw him standing on the steps. There is more history than just being a co-worker at Phoenix."
"No, that is all we are, co-workers."
"Right, stick with that story. It is as unbelievable as the one about being just friends." Patting Annie on the arm. "Okay honey, we will try to figure which marina he has his boat...Or maybe you could just call him."
"I don't have his number." That was a lie, she did have his number but fearful of calling because he may be working and that is why she hadn't heard from him. Eyal always kept his word, his timing was just off.
Bringing her laptop for the living room and started researching, "I know a few things about locating people." Letizia winking at Annie, "What is the name of his boat and what type of boat?"
"40 foot sail boat - The Flying Lavin."
"Creative." It wasn't long before she found three likely marinas Eyal would have his boat moored. "Here you go Annie. Luckily they are not far from one another. Nice Saturday morning trip to the seashore and hope he doesn't have the boat out for a sail."
"Thanks." Annie slipping the information into her pocket, "Need help with anything."
"Make the salad and grate the Parmesan." Letizia giving the soup a stir and adding the final touch, pasta for the last ten minutes of cooking.
The dinner meal was superb as Annie's neighbor was a fabulous cook; the added pounds around her waist proved it. After dinner and clean up, the two took an evening stroll to an area pavilion where some local musicians were playing. An enjoyable restful time and when she returned to her flat where she had left her phone - Auggie had called three times.
"Hey Auggie it is me. Did you call?"
"You know I did. Why didn't you answer?"
"I was busy having dinner with someone."
"Who?" Auggie has a sharp tone that Annie caught quickly.
"Don't have that tone of voice with me Auggie Anderson."
"Damn Annie I'm your handler, I need to get in touch with you."
"Then act like a handler and not a green eye boyfriend." Her tone was being a little sharp also, was it a feeling of guilt for trying to locate Eyal. No. that couldn't be it, Auggie was the one that set the attitude of the conversation and she was about ready to end it. "If you have something pertaining to the mission, tell me, if not the conversation is finished."
"Are you any closer to finding the leak?"
"A bit, could be one of three people but I need more time."
"You may not have much more time as additional leaks are filtering out." Auggie with a matter-of-fact monotone delivery.
"What, you going to pull the mission from me." She was beginning to boil inside, what the hell did they expect - miracles.
"It has been discussed. You got a week Walker, make it count." Auggie with a softer and calmer voice but it didn't matter to Annie; all she heard was one week and make it count.
"I've got to go." Shutting her phone and she was pissed. This being Auggie's girlfriend and also him as her handler was not working. She needs someone to talk too that could understand when she wanted to complain about her handler. This was much easier when they were just best friends. Damn it.
Taking a shower, she climbed in bed but not falling to sleep. She was feeling no matter what she did it was wrong. She wasn't getting support from Joan or Auggie. A feeling of being out in left field with no place to run. Her phone buzzed again, it was Auggie but she didn't answer. Rolling over in bed, closed her eyes - tomorrow was another day and the day she was going to look for Eyal.
Eyal turning the key to his flat in the Kastella neighborhood of Piraeus and looking forward a warm shower and sleep. Touching his sore left side where Madilyn Zika had not taken to kindly to him bring her down as a Russian carrier. Six stitches were needed to close the gaping slash she made with a knife from the cafe's kitchen. His mission was complete, he was glad and exhausted.
A couple of glasses of wine and relaxing to the sound track of Les Miserables, Eyal was soon drifting into sleep. Tomorrow would be a better day. His plans involved spending the day with his brother on The Flying Lavin, the last chance he would have to visit before his brother would return to Tel Aviv.
Saturday morning came early for Eyal and Annie, both opening their eyes to a lovely day and for each, their first thoughts were of the other. Could Lady Destiny be dealing the cards this morning?
Annie showered, dressed in white jeans and blue pull over, grabbed a fast breakfast of coffee and two breakfast bars she was off to Piraeus, searching for The Flying Lavin. She armed with names of three marinas and hope Eyal liked sleeping in; not heading out to sea for an early sail. The sun was just turning the sky light when she found the first marina. Luck was on her side, there was a marina directory with slip numbers and names of boats. No, Eyal's boat wasn't on the directory - so on to the next.
Driving through the next marina's parking lot, she looked for the BMW Eyal was driving two weeks ago. Nothing. She parked her car; started to the gates and the docks beyond. Crossing the street and turning down the side walkway along the fence beside the docks, she saw a tall man with a large black dog walking toward her. He heart jump, from a quick glimpse the man looked to be Eyal but on second look, no. As she walked closer, the dog started wagging his tail and that's when Annie recognized Jericho. She almost froze but put a smile on her face to walk past the man. As she was about to past, Jericho started to whimper and prance.
"He seems to know you."
Annie stopping as she couldn't just past without saying anything. "Nice dog, what is his name?"
"You know full well his name." Eyal had followed her from the parking lot.
Annie spinning around with a cry, "You're doing it again Eyal."
Eyal laughing at shocking her, "Habit of mine." Taking Annie by the hand, "Want you to meet my brother, Zed." Nodding to Annie, "And a friend from the states, Annie Walker."
"No need to introduce you to Jericho, I can tell you have met him." Zed shaking Annie's hand.
Zed Lavin, a tall handsome man with a bit of gray at the temples and clean-shaven. Strong family resemblance, the eyes, nose and hair-line easy to tell they were brothers. His voice was deep like Eyal's and had a nice smile but that is where the difference lay - Eyal's smile is one in a million, a seductive yet playful smile.
Eyal with his half smirk, "Turnabout is fair play. You found me and do you have anything plans for today?"
"You know me; I haven't thought that far ahead." Annie not letting go of Eyal's hand.
"We are going out for a sail, waste away the day at sea. Come with us... You'll love the fresh air." Eyal leaning closer to her ear, "And see what develops on the high seas."
There was no hesitation as she was thrilled with the invite. "Sure."
They were well under way by the time Eyal had a chance to sit beside Annie. Jericho standing on the bow with his nose in the wind, Zed at the wheel and Eyal finished tying off a beam. The intoxicating freedom of being on the open sea, wind filled sails and the salt water smell was bewitching to Annie. The sense of escape from the stressful world of spies.
"Now this is the life." Eyal slipping his arm on the back of the seat behind Annie but not touching her.
"Away from the worries of the world, I love it."
"I glad you came by today. I was going to call you tomorrow for dinner." Eyal with an all-knowing looking in his eyes, "Tell me what it is that's upsetting you."
"I'm not upset about anything."
Moving his arm to give her a slight hug, "I know differently... If you don't want to tell me that is okay. Keeping things bottled up can be painful. You want to be strong and brave but we all need a shoulder at times."
Annie looking away from Eyal not wanting him to see how right he was. Why couldn't she talk to him, what was holding her back - fear of showing any sign of weakness. She felt his gentle hand touch her face to turn back to look at him.
"Annie I'm on your side no matter what. Whatever you tell me will stay with me."
"Why do you understand me so well?" Her eyes shifting from one side of his face to met his eyes.
"I don't know. We seem to have this bond... a connection that only few people ever experience. I realized it soon after we met."
Annie wanted to cry but instead she buried her head in Eyal's shoulder. He stroking her hair and waited at what appeared to be a long time. Softy she started to sob. Eyal held her a little tighter to let her cry. Once more in her life, he was there when she needs him for comfort and to give her the support she so desperately needed. He was composed and sympathetic to her emotions, the friend she had made back in Zurich that fate keeps bring together. Slowly she regained control and pull back from Eyal's hold.
"I'm sorry to be such mess." Her tears had been multi-fold, the hurting from Auggie's harsh tone in talking with her and being a failure with her mission.
"A pretty mess I must say." Eyal brushing her hair from her face, "You'll be okay. Let me get us a drink."
She watched him vanish below deck and glad he wasn't pushing her to talk. He was giving her space and she was thankful. Annie wanted to tell him what was wrong but did have the courage. Besides, it's a gorgeous day for sailing no way spoil it by dumping her troubles on him.
The rest of the day went wonderfully. There was a kitchen below and Zed prepared lunch while Eyal took his turn at the wheel. Annie standing near him was pulled service as Eyal let her have a hand on the wheel. Jericho had a long morning, tired and curled up on one of the two bunks fast to sleep. Later in the afternoon the wind was picking up and they decided time to return to port. As Zed brought the boat around and Eyal resetting the sails, Annie notices him holding his left side at one point. She knew something was wrong because as she watched, he would favor that side in his movements.
When he came to sit beside her, she touched his side and he flinched. "You have been hurt."
"An angry woman can do some damage."
"Do I dare ask what?"
He smile at he with his half-cock smile, one raised eye brow, "Just a part of it. I'm back in the business - freelancing, a maverick you might say."
"I have always known you were a maverick... You are one of a kind." She touches his nose and he grabbing her hand and kissing it.
After docking and trying down, Eyal walked Annie to her car. "How about dinner tomorrow evening?"
"Okay... Eyal do you have a minute; I really do want to talk now."
"For you all ways."
"They are about ready to call me back home. Pull my mission without being complete. They only gave me a week. Damn it Eyal, it isn't fair."
"It happens to the best of us Annie. What about Auggie, isn't he fighting for you to keep it?" Eyal pretty much has guessed the answer - the reason for her tears.
"No... I think he is behind scrubbing the mission."
"They will not scrub the mission but sent someone else to finish the job. You know that."
"Yes I know... Makes me mad about him and on the other hand I feel like such a complete failure. I can't accomplish a simple mission. What's wrong with me?"
Eyal taking her in his arms, "Nothing wrong with your spy-craft Neshema. You may be too close to see the obvious. I'm free now to give a hand. Read me in on the details and we'll work it together."
Looking up at his face, the kindhearted Israeli she could trust, "I shouldn't because it is against all protocol... but okay... I do need your help."
"That's my girl." Eyal let going of his hold and stepping back, "I've got to take Zed and Jericho to catch a plane tonight but how about me coming by around three tomorrow and we work on your mission than have dinner?"
"It's a plan. Thank you Eyal." Annie feeling her confidence returning because of one simple act, Eyal had faith in her ability.