Chapter Ten
The Pentagon
"Alright everybody, Cat is on the move. I repeat, Cat is on the move. All players keep your eyes peeled," Colonel Hayes said as she watched the UAV feed of Selina on the main screen. A chorus of Copies and roger thats was heard from the various operatives in the Georgetown area. "And sniper teams, if anyone even looks like they're about to try and snatch our little friend, drop'em."
"Red Raven One, roger," the first Sniper team leader said then the other team leaders acknowledged the order as well.
The streets of Georgetown were teeming with pedestrians and tourist. Sure it looked peaceful, but from Sandra's point of view, anybody not part of Bruce and Selina's security team or her unit was a potential threat.
"Walking amongst a crowd alone is like swimming with sharks," Sandra thought to herself.
After the traffic came to a stop and the walk signal appeared, Selina and the crowd she was walking with proceeded across the street. Selina looked around her noticed how nice everything looked. Shortly after walking ahead of the crowd Selina spotted a roped off house with two guards standing around it and decided to investigate
Officers Kirkland and his partner, Ross kept a close eye on the pedestrians around them. Some were passing close by or across the street, some people even stopped to take pictures of the house.
But for all their focus, they failed to notice a certain curly haired leather-clad girl approaching.
"Hello officers," Selina said cheerfully."
"Well hello there, young lady. And we're not actually cops, we're U.S. Park Rangers," Kirkland.
"So why are you and your partner standing here instead of the middle of an actual park?"
"In addition to keeping our national parks safe and secure, we also do the same for national monuments and other historical sites like this house right here. Normally we get a lot visitors, but it's currently closed for renovation."
"What's so special about it?" Selina asked.
"This here is the Old Stone House. First built in 1765, back before America even became a country."
"So you're saying this is the oldest house in all of America?"
"That's right. It used to be clock shop back in the day too. It's amazing to see it still standing today."
"I bet the upkeep is a killer. How much does it cost to get in and take a look?"
"Zero dollars and zero cents."
"Sweet, I'll be sure to check this place out when it reopens. And if I happen to see you guys, it's either Selina or Cat."
"Noted, young lady. Uh… I mean Selina."
"Have a nice day," Selina replied then vanished back into the crowd. She continued on looking at the various buildings as she went and noted that while many looked old, they were still nice looking. There were also modern looking buildings amongst them too which made this section of DC even better.
After a while, she stopped and looked around to see if she could spot Bruce and Ashley. So far, they were nowhere in sight.
"Maybe they'll catch up to me later," she thought then made a left and walked into an alley. Although she enjoyed the company of her favorite billionaire and FBI agent/stepmother, there were times she just wanted to be by herself.
She was expecting to see other street kids, gang members claiming the alley as their turf and random bums getting drinking an drugging themselves into oblivion, but all she saw were back doors and a couple dumpsters with some trash bags beside them since they couldn't go into the overfilled bins.
With nothing else to see, Selina decided to go find other sites to look at.
Textile Museum
Two hours later
Bruce and Ashely walked out of the building and rejoined Agent Maddow and her team.
"You two were in there a lot longer than I thought you would," Maddow commented.
"It seems that Bruce here is quite the art fan," Ashley replied.
"I really liked the oriental rugs, the drawings on them were very impressive."
"What about the ones on the other textile pieces."
"I liked them all Agent Maddow, but the African and oriental drawings are my most favorite. I wish I could've bought some of them."
"The study back at your house seems packed to the gills with various art pieces," Ashley commented.
"Yes, but I could buy some more to decorate some of the other rooms in my house or maybe set up my own personal art exhibit."
"Sounds a little eccentric if you ask me," Maddow said.
"It's one of the side effects of being a billionaire," Ashley replied.
"So where is Selina?" Bruce asked. Ashley pulled out her cellphone and brought up the drone feed Sandra provided her.
"According to this, she is currently on Prospect Street. Her current coordinates are thirty-eight, fifty-four, nineteen point ninety-six degrees north. Seventy-seven, four, twelve point ninety-six degrees west."
"If we take the convoy, we can catch up to her in half the time," Maddow suggested.
"Let's do it," Bruce said.
Excorist Steps
Selina was sitting on one side of the stairway humming a tune and looking up to the sky as as a jogger ran past on the way down.
"I see you found your way to the Excorist Steps, Selina," Ashley said. Selina stood up to turn around and saw Ashley, Bruce, Maddow and some of feds and soldiers of their security team standing at the top.
"It took you all long enough, I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna have to walk back to the base."
"We would never abandon you, Selina," Ashley said.
"I'm kidding, Agent Hayes," Selina replied as she walked back up to them. "Some tourist were here taking pictures and when I asked them why were they so interested in a stairway, they told me these were the same steps featured in the Excorist movie."
"Are you familiar with it?"
"This may come as a shock to you, B. But yes, I am familiar with it. Ivy and I saw it once when we snuck into a movie theater."
"I saw it too. Back when my family was an actual family," Ashley commented.
"So what else did you guys see?"
Besides the Old Stone House, the Tudor place, and the Dumbarton House, we spent a couple of hours at the Textile Museum. Bruce couldn't get enough of the art there," Ashley explained.
"He's even thinking about setting up his own personal art exhibit back at the Manor," Maddow added.
"Hmm, sounds like something he would do. So what's next?"
"I think we can do a little more exploring of this area then head back at sunset. It is a pretty nice day out after all."
"No argument there, Bruce. But sense these steps are a tourist destination, let's take a few photos before we go."
Bruce and Selina took a couple of selfie pictures on the steps with Bruce's phone then Ashley joined them for a couple of photos too before they moved on.
They spent the rest of day checking out a few more sites, stopping at a couple of shops, then returned to the convoy for the trip back to Bolling.
Bolling AFB
6:30PM
After pulling back into the hangar, Ashley, Bruce, and Selina got out of their and Surburban and headed towards their lounge area.
"Hey, notice something odd?" Selina asked
"Yeah, the lights are on," Ashley replied then quickly drew her sidearm and Selina did the same.
"There is no need to be alarmed, it's just me and two of my guards," Sandra said. Selina and Ashley holstered their guns and walked into to lounge where Sandra was standing in the middle of the room flanked by two tough looking MPs. Bruce found her presence to be very commanding.
"Good evening, Colonel Hayes."
"Good evening, Bruce. Selina, little sis."
"You could've called ahead you know," Ashley said.
"Yeah, but I felt like making a surprise entrance. Anyway, I came by to invite you three to have lunch with me at the Pentagon tomorrow."
"I would be honored to do so, Colonel," Bruce said. Ashley and Selina looked at him as though he was standing on ceremony.
"If Bruce is in, I am too," Selina added."
"Me three. So what time do you want us to be there?"
"Twelve-hundred hours sharp. We'll be having ribs with baked potatoes and salad on the side."
"Sounds a lot like dinner, but I'm always game for a good meal," Selina said.
"Glad to hear that. Well I have to get back to the Pentagon, protecting western civilization doesn't leave one with much time for chit chat."
"See you tomorrow, Sandra."
"You too, little sis. And enjoy the burgers and fries, they are some of the best in DC," Sandra replied before leaving with her guards. The burger bags and sodas were on the table with a note that said courtesy of Burger Tap & Shake.
Best Burgers in DC, huh? Well time to find out," Selina said then jumped over the back of the couch and landed in her spot.
"I think I would have to try burgers from the other places here before deciding if I agree or not."
"Maybe we arrange such a test the day after tomorrow, Bruce. But in the meantime, let's enjoy some dinner and movie."
"My thoughts exactly, Ashley," Selina said as she unwrapped her burger. Wow, this thing is huge."
"It's called a Seven Buck Chuck, Selina," Ashley replied then as she and Bruce sat down.
As Ashley clicked on the Netflix app, Bruce took a big bite out of his burger and smiled.
"Wow, this is really delicious."
"Delicious enough to make you wanna call off your silly idea?"
"Maybe, maybe not, Selina."
As they continued to eat, Ashley scrolled through the menu trying to find something to watch.
AN. Burger Tap &Shake is an actual restaurant in DC and the Seven Buck Chuck is one of their burgers. And places visited in this chapter are also real.