Chapter 12 – Shiny Wheels
Lee had tossed and turned most of the night. As someone who had been in this line of work for as long as he had, he knew he needed rest in order to be sharp in the morning. He just couldn't seem to shut his mind off enough to sleep.
He finally got up as the sun was just beginning to rise and found Kami in the kitchen preparing breakfast for Earl and herself. "I'm glad you are awake," Kami said as he entered the kitchen.
"Oh?" Lee asked.
"Yes, I wanted to have a little time with you before you left. Ehsan promised to send a vehicle by 9am. Can we sit and talk?"
"Sure," Lee agreed. He pulled a chair out for Kami as she brought two steaming mugs of coffee over. Then, he settled himself across from her.
"What do you want to talk about?" Lee asked.
"I don't know. I would love to hear more about you and your life in DC. I visited DC while I attended college in California. I was invited to give a lecture there, and I met some interesting people."
Lee chuckled and agreed, "Yes, there are definitely some interesting people in DC. What was your lecture about?"
Kami took a sip of her piping hot black coffee and explained, "I was in my final year of college, and I had specialized in diseases and viruses. It had always been important to me to spread the word that these viruses exist in countries where there isn't good healthcare and that we need to provide more doctors and medicines to those countries."
"I heard about your parents. I'm really sorry Kami. I lost my parents at a very young age," Lee said sadly.
"Were you an orphan, Lee?" Kami asked.
"No, but sometimes I wonder if it might have been better if I had been put in the foster care system. Instead, my uncle took me in. He wasn't exactly prepared or really in any position to bring up a spirited young boy."
A smiled spread across Kami's face as she remarked, "I see. Well, I think you turned out just fine."
Lee chuckled again and said, "I think there are others including my uncle who would probably disagree with you."
"Lee, you listen to me. I really don't care what others say. I only care about what I see and hear. You are an amazing young man, and I'm sure you have many stories to tell," Kami said in a motherly tone.
Resignedly Lee responded, "Well yes, but you know I can't tell you most of them since they are classified."
Kami sighed and nodded, "Yes, I know. Ehsan always told me the same thing about his past too."
"I'm sorry Kami. I can tell you that I have a good boss, a few friends and most days I like my job," Lee shared.
"What do you like most about your job?" Kami asked.
"I don't know. I guess I like making things a little safer for others. I hope that my efforts will save some other little boy from growing up without his parents."
"You and I are alike in more ways than we realize. I could never leave this country because I know that I have saved many families from losing loved ones from not only various diseases and infections but from a tyrannical government and terrorists."
"You are an amazing woman, Kami. I'm glad I got to meet you. I suppose I better get moving if I'm going to be ready to leave when my car arrives," Lee said reluctantly.
"I suppose so," Kami said in a sad voice. "Ehsan needs your help and I'm so glad you will be there for him."
"Yeah, me too," Lee said as he hurried off to take a shower. In no time, he was clean, shaved and dressed in the Security Guard Uniform. As he entered the kitchen, he found that Earl had gotten up and joined Kami for breakfast.
"Well, you sure do look good in a uniform!" Kami exclaimed as she looked up and saw Lee.
"Yes, you do son," Earl agreed. "They delivered your vehicle a few minutes ago. I had them put it by the side of the house so it would be less noticeable."
"What did Ehsan get for me?" Lee asked.
"Go take a look," Earl answered.
Lee walked outside and stood on the porch as he took in the brightly colored silver and blue van that displayed the words "Eagle Eyes Security" on it.
"What do you think?" Earl asked as he joined him on the porch and handed him the keys.
"Wow, how did Ehsan pull that off?"
"He didn't. I did," Earl stated proudly.
"You?" Lee asked "But how?"
"I just happen to have a good friend who is one of the top guys there. I try to keep good relations with all the businesses in town. I had taken Kami's car into town to put gas into it so you could borrow it. Kami rarely goes anywhere with it so I planned to let you borrow it today. As I drove by Eagle Eyes Security, I came up with a better plan. I stopped at the local doughnut shop and bought several cups of coffee along with a couple dozen doughnuts and then went to back to the security building. They asked me where my truck was. So, I began telling them about how it was making a weird noise and that I didn't dare to drive it. I then spun a tale about how I was losing out on a business transaction because I didn't dare to take the truck loaded with vegetables out of town, and that I was going to be out a lot of money. The next thing I knew my friend, Omal, pushed some keys into my hand and told me to borrow his van for the day. Of course, I insisted that I couldn't do that, but he refused to take no for an answer," Earl said with a very big triumphant smile.
Lee shook his head in amazement and said, "Are you sure you don't want a job with the agency."
Earl lowered his voice and said, "I would, but you know Kami would have something to say about that." Then he chuckled to let Lee know he was putting him on and Lee laughed with him.
"I heard that!" Kami said with a scorning look at Earl as she joined them on the porch.
"Oh Sweetie, you know I'm too old to join them now."
Kami couldn't fake being mad at him and teased, "You just couldn't bear not tending your gardens."
"Well there's that too," Earl agreed as he hugged his wife.
"Well, I guess I should get going." Lee said reluctantly.
Earl pulled out of Kami's embrace and said, "Yes, it is time. Now remember, I will be waiting for all of you with Francesca about 5 miles from the camp. Ehsan knows where the hiding spot is. We'll hide the van there so I can get it tomorrow and return it to Omal. I'll be going to town shortly to pick her up."
"Won't Omal notice you don't have the van?" Lee questioned.
"Nah, he's already out doing his duties. I'll take Kami's car since no one recognizes it as much. Francesca knows to be ready for me so we won't be in town long," Earl explained.
"Great, I think you have planned this out well. Now we just need to finalize Ehsan's plans and get out of this country," Lee stated.
"Not without a proper goodbye!" Kami said defiantly.
"Of course not!" Lee agreed as he opened his arms and Kami accepted the invite and gave him a huge hug. "Don't you forget that you are someone special Lee Stetson. I don't care what kind of upbringing you had. In my book, you turned out to be a great man," Kami said as she blinked back the tears.
Lee pulled her out of his embrace and said, "Thank you Kami. That means a lot coming from you. Stay safe and let me know if there is ever anything you need, okay?"
"We will. Thanks Lee. Now get out of here before I start really crying," Kami said with a smile.
Lee smiled and nodded and then headed for the van. This day was just beginning and he needed to get going. It was good to have an excuse to leave because saying goodbye to Kami seemed to have left a huge lump in his throat.
TBC
