What was that little flash of light that Annie barely noticed at Amanda's Bunco party. Was it significant or not? Guess we'll be finding out soon.
I guess I'm supposed to remind you that I own nothing associated with Covert Affairs except some frustration that cyberspace did not cooperate last night and I'm posting this chapter in the morning instead of last night. Speaking of cyberspace, there was exciting news posted on Twitter last night and this morning that the upcoming season of Covert Affairs will have 13 episodes. Yeah! That's two more than last year!
Chapter 21 – The Photo
With Auggie on vacation, Stu was working in the Tech Ops Center on Saturday. He had taken care of the loose ends from Friday afternoon and had checked in on the officers in the field. It was calm, and Stu was enjoying being able to work in the quiet. He opened the new file from the NSA and prepared to run the photo recognition program against photos of officers and assets. When the program was running, Stu stretched and looked at the time in the corner of the computer monitor. It was just after one thirty in the afternoon; and if he hurried he could get to the Starbucks in the food court before it closed at two. He watched the screen for another minute or two to be sure it was running correctly and left to go get his coffee.
Coffee in hand, Stu ambled back to the Tech Ops Center and stopped along the way to visit with some young women officers from other divisions. As he opened the door to the office, he noticed a familiar, smiling face staring back at him from Auggie's monitor. He did a little double take thinking that something on Auggie's computer had overridden the new program. Then he realized the new program had made a match on a photo transmission from the NSA file.
"Whoa, boy … I gotta call Auggie … this isn't going to be good for either one of us," Stu whispered to himself. Stu picked up the office land line phone and punched in the speed dial code for Auggie's encrypted cell phone.
Stu heard the call going through. Auggie heard the phone chime and announce "Tech Ops Center."
He took a deep breath before he answered to be sure his voice would sound measured and professional. "Anderson."
"Auggie, this is Stu."
"Yeah … what's up there."
"This may sound silly, Auggie, but what are you and Annie doing on your vacation? Did Annie win some sort of beauty contest?"
"What on earth are you talking about, Stu? We're visiting my family in Glencoe. I can assure you Annie's not been in a beauty contest … that's not saying she wouldn't win one, if she entered. Why are you asking?"
Stu studied the image smiling back at him from the monitor and tried to gather his thoughts on the best way to describe what he saw to Auggie. "I'm running that new photo recognition software on the information from the NSA … I went to get coffee … and when I came back, Annie's photo was on the screen."
Auggie's heart skipped a beat and he felt like his stomach did a back flip. "Stu, describe the photo."
"OK … Annie is smiling. She's wearing a crown … really it's more of a tiara … her hair is in soft waves around her face and falling over her shoulders and it looks like she's wearing a light purple sweater that I've seen her wear a couple of times since it turned warmer."
"What's the data associated with the photo," Auggie demanded.
In a few keystrokes, Stu determined that the photo was taken at 8:57 p.m. Wednesday and emailed at 10:05 p.m. Wednesday. He reported the day and times to Auggie, who almost dropped the phone. "Stu, that photo was taken Wednesday evening in my parents' home. Annie filled in for someone who couldn't come to my mom's Bunco party and whoever rolls a Bunco gets to wear the tiara," Auggie explained breathlessly.
"What's Bunco?" Stu asked.
"It's some crazy dice game my mother plays with her friends. You need to back track on that photo and find out what phone number it came from and where it was being transmitted. There's no good reason for anyone to be taking and sending pictures of Annie," Auggie said tersely.
"It's a pretty darn cute picture of her, Auggie," Stu said trying to lighten the mood. "It'll take me a few minutes to figure out where it came from and where it was sent. Do you want to hold on or do you want me to call you back?"
"Call me back, I need to go talk to Annie."
Auggie shoved the phone into his pocket and hurried out of the room, down the hall and he ran down the staircase to the foyer. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he swung himself around toward the back of the house by holding on to the top of the turned newel post … a move he'd perfected by the time he was seven years old and just tall enough to get a good grip on the top of the post.
Amanda was at the back end of the hall when Auggie clamored down the steps and swung around the post. She hadn't seen him move this fast since the explosion. "Auggie, what's the hurry?"
"Where's Annie … is Annie in the house?"
"I think she's still out back with Burma. Do you want me to get her? Should we go find her together?"
Auggie nodded and walked quickly in the direction of Amanda's voice. He held out his hand, and Amanda reached for it so he could take her arm. "What's the hurry?" she asked.
"Something's come up, and I need to talk to Annie. It's important," he said as they walked briskly across the patio and across the lawn.
Amanda spotted Annie and Burma standing in the shade by the main tent's entrance chatting and getting to know each other. "There she is, Auggie. She's by the tent talking to Burma."
"Hey, Burma," Auggie yelled as if nothing were wrong.
"Well, hey, yourself. I'm sorry, we weren't able to come to dinner Thursday night, but you know how crazy JD's schedule is; and I was working on final plans for the party," Burma apologized. "JD can't wait to see you. I think we're at the same table tonight."
"I understand, Burma … can I steal Annie away from you for a few minutes?" Auggie said as he released the light hold he had on his mother's arm and extended his hand toward Annie who had a quizzical expression and shrugged. She took his hand and stepped toward Auggie so he could take her arm. The little tug on her arm told her that they needed to walk away to where they could talk privately. Annie could tell from his expression that something important was on his mind.
"Are we alone … really alone?" Auggie asked. "Do you think anyone is close enough to hear us talk?"
"We're in the corner of the yard and I don't see or hear any of the neighbors," Annie assured him.
Auggie stood in front of Annie and put his hand on her shoulders. He turned his head down toward her face and appeared to look straight into her eyes, which always unnerved her because she half-expected him to be able to see her. Their foreheads almost touched as Auggie first asked if she remembered anyone taking her picture on Wednesday night.
"I vaguely remember a small flash of light after I put the tiara on my head, but I don't remember who took the picture. It was a small flash of light like it was taken with a cell phone. I don't even remember where the flash of light came from. Why are you asking?"
"Remember me telling you about the new photo recognition software?"
Annie nodded and whispered, "Yes."
"Well, Stu was running it this afternoon and a photo of you taken Wednesday night wearing the tiara took a hit."
"What?" she exclaimed.
"Shhhh. We don't want to alarm anyone," Auggie said leaning over farther so their foreheads touched. "Stu is tracking back to find the number of the phone it came from and where it was transmitted. It could be as simple as someone sending a picture of you to the woman who couldn't come." Auggie tried to sound nonchalant, even though he was concerned.
"What do we do now?" Annie asked.
"We can't do anything until Stu calls back with more information."
"In that case, I'm getting hungry. How about you?" Annie asked. Auggie nodded in agreement. "OK, let's go make some sandwiches."
Auggie draped his arm over Annie's shoulder and she, in turn, wrapped her arm around his waist and they walked back to the kitchen. Annie started pulling the deli meat and condiments out of the fridge while Auggie took plates out of the cabinet and pulled a loaf out of the bread keeper on the counter. Amada walked through studying the list on her clipboard, and Annie asked her if she'd like them to make her a sandwich, too.
Amanda looked up and watched for a few seconds as Auggie spread mayo on the bread and handed the slices over to Annie who was adding meat to the sandwiches and cutting them in half. "Sure, a little bit of lunch sounds good," Amanda answered. She enjoyed watching how Annie and Auggie were so comfortable working together.
Fred's booming voice exclaimed as he returned from his golf game, "I think some lunch sounds good, too."
"I thought you were going to eat at the Nineteenth Hole today," Amanda said.
"Oh, I decided to come on home in case you needed me to take care of something," he said giving his wife a gentle kiss.
Auggie asked, "Dad, do you want mayo or mustard on your sandwich?"
"Whatever you're having is fine with me," Fred answered. He and Amanda looked at each other and smiled before they glanced back at Auggie and Annie. Fred leaned over and whispered to Amanda, "It looks like Annie brought the old Auggie home from DC, doesn't it?" Amanda smiled and nodded.
"What's that?" Auggie asked when he heard his dad's voice.
Fred was busted and he knew it. "I was just telling your mother how good it makes me feel to have you home, Auggie. And, you too, Annie."
Annie turned around to Fred and Amanda and asked if they wanted pickle spears with their sandwiches. When they both nodded, she pulled out the spears, dried them on a paper towel and placed them on the luncheon plates. She whispered, "Ready" to Auggie, who picked up two of the plates and started walking to the table in the breakfast room. When his leg made contact with a chair, he carefully lowered the plate in his right hand to the table. He felt the surface of the table and scooted one plate in the direction of his father's usual place and the other where he mother sat.
"I think the plates are at your places," he said smiling in the direction he'd last heard his parents.
"Perfect," Amanda said proudly.
Auggie opened the fridge and found the bottled water in the door. "Do you want water or prefer something else?"
"Water's fine," Fred and Amanda said in unison. Auggie took four bottles out of the fridge and sat them on the table while Annie put away the mayo and pickles and took the last two plates for her and Auggie to the table. The foursome enjoyed their quick lunch together.
During lunch, Amanda asked Auggie if he'd found his dinner jacket and trousers in his closet. Another wave of worry swept over Annie, concerned that the dress she brought would not be formal enough.
As Amanda finished her sandwich, she thanked Annie and Auggie for making lunch. "You two make a really good team," she complimented them. They both fidgeted and thanked her.
The rest of the afternoon Annie wandered around the grounds behind Amanda doing whatever last minute task she needed. Not knowing exactly what future together Auggie had in mind for them as a couple, but still feeling he was thinking about a "permanent arrangement," Annie watched Amanda closely and tried to learn more about Auggie's world. This was a world of elegance and high standards, and Annie was feeling like she was taking a final exam tonight for which she hadn't had a chance to study.
Auggie had spent some time with his dad in the family room listening to the Cubs game on TV and then excused himself to "get ready." He was hoping Stu would call back with more information about the photo, and he wanted to be alone so he could talk freely.
When Amanda was sure that everything was set with the caterers, the bartenders and the musicians, she thanked Annie for her help and said she should think about getting ready for the party. "The invitations say six o'clock, but I always like for us to be ready early. Auggie knows this, but please remind him," Amanda said graciously.
Annie nodded and turned to go back to the house.
"Oh, Annie, I'd also like for you and Auggie to join Fred and me in at the receiving line this evening. Meet us at the entrance about twenty til six."
Annie stopped and stared at Amanda with eyes as big as silver dollars. "Receiving line? OK … I'll tell Auggie."
Annie hurried into the house and ran up the stairs to their bedroom. She threw open the bedroom door and found Auggie stretched out on the bed with his iTouch on his chest and earbuds in his ears. His fingers were playing air piano.
"Auggie!" she yelled. "Did you know your mother expects us to join us in the RECEIVING LINE?"
Auggie jumped with a little start, sat up and pulled the earbuds out. "What?"
"RECEIVING LINE … Auggie, did you know your mother expects us to join her in the RECEIVING LINE?"
"She mentioned something about it, but I guess I forgot. That's OK isn't it? I think Aaron and Cynthia will be receiving guests tonight, too."
Annie sat down on the bed beside Auggie. "Geez, Auggie, I'm feeling like I shouldn't be a waitress at this shindig tonight, and now I'm supposed to be standing in the receiving line. I was thinking we could hang out in the corner by the bar," Annie shared her discomfort.
"Annie, you're not going to be any more uncomfortable than me. At least you'll be able to see what's going on. We'll stick close together and we'll get through it, because it will be over in half an hour or so. You remember me telling you how Mom wanted to show us off? After six thirty, you can consider yourself shown off."
"I know about military etiquette, but I'm not sure about this old money, high society thing," Annie admitted to Auggie.
"It's essentially the same thing. We'll smile a lot and tell everyone how happy we are they could join us.
"I'm stickin' to you like Super Glue tonight, Soldier Boy," Annie said leaning into him.
Auggie put his arm around her and said, "I'm counting on it."
Auggie showered first and was slipping into his tuxedo shirt when Stu called with some more information about Annie's photo. The photo was sent from a phone registered to someone in the Chicago area … Irina Zhukov and was sent to a number in Russia, but they had not determined the number and name.
"Does that name mean anything to you?" Stu asked. "Do I need to call Joan?"
"Yes, Stu, I know who Irina Zhukov is, and in fact we'll be seeing her this evening. Don't call Joan, yet. I need to assess what's really going on here before we call in the troops."
Annie padded out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head and another one around her torso. Auggie was distracted by what he'd just learned from Stu, but hearing Annie moving around the room and smelling the aroma of her grapefruit-scented shower gel emanating from her warm body made Auggie smile.
"Did I hear you talking to someone?" Annie asked as she finished drying off and chose the lingerie to wear with the tailored green silk cocktail dress she'd brought to wear for THE PARTY.
"It was Stu," Auggie measured his words and modulated his voice so as not to alarm Annie. "He found the phone number your photo was sent from and the area it was sent to."
"Do I have a stalker or a secret admirer?"
"I don't really have a good grip on the information, yet," Auggie explained. "Stu says the photo was sent from a phone number that is registered to Irina Zhukov. Do you remember her taking your photo? I remember you asking me about her after the party."
"She was nice enough to me," Annie said thoughtfully, "but I picked up a weird vibe from her. It's hard to explain."
Auggie kept to himself the information about the photo being sent to Russia.
Annie disappeared into the bathroom to dry her hair and put on a touch of makeup. She studied herself in the mirror and sighed, wishing she were as beautiful as Auggie believed. "Well, at least I'm above average," she whispered to herself.
"What's that?" Auggie called from the other room.
"Oh, nothing … I was just talking to myself," she explained. "I'm having a major moment of self-doubt here. Just humor me," she said as she took her dress off its hanger and unzipped it. "Wow … you are setting way too high a standard, Anderson," she said, admiring Auggie in his tuxedo trousers and white pleated shirt. Auggie smiled and chuckled.
Annie stepped into her dress and turned her back to Auggie. "Can you get my zipper?" Auggie put his hands on her shoulders and ran his fingers down her back to find the zipper pull. The silk fabric was soft and sensuous under his fingertips. He held the base of the zipper and gently pulled up the tab. He finished by kissing the nape of her neck, and Annie giggled.
When Annie turned around Auggie was holding up his cummerbund. "These things always give me fits. Can you help?"
Annie took the black satin fabric from his hand, straightened it out and held it against the front of his shirt just above his waistline. "Hold it here," she instructed as she walked behind him and fastened its back and tightened the elastic slightly so it would not shift on Auggie's slim frame.
"How's the tie look?" he asked as he tried to make sure it was straight.
"Perfect," Annie reassured him.
Annie looked at the clock and said, "We have about ten minutes before your mother expects us to be in that blasted receiving line." She stepped into her shoes while she asked Auggie, "Do you mind keeping my lip gloss in one of your pockets? I don't have a pocket in this dress, and I don't want to try to keep track of a bag this evening."
Auggie held out his hand for the lip gloss and tucked it into his breast pocket. "You ready?"
"Earrings and necklace and I'm good to go. There … ready ...," she said turning from the dresser mirror to face Auggie who was standing patiently holding his folded cane in his left hand. "Formal wear suits you," Annie complimented him. "Were you a model in a previous life?" she said reaching up to kiss him lightly.
Auggie chuckled and reached to touch the side of Annie's face with his right hand and traced it to her ear to check out the pearl earring and down to her neck to check out the neckline of her dress and her pearl necklace. "Lookin' good yourself," he said.
"How do you know?" she asked teasingly.
"Trust me," he smiled, "I know," as he patted her cheek. Auggie opened the door to the hall for Annie and when they were both in the hall he offered his right arm to escort her. They met up with Amanda and Fred on time, and just a couple of minutes later, Aaron and Cynthia arrived.
Thanks so much for reading, generous comments, and alerts.
In the next chapter, Annie is introduced to Fred and Amanda's friends and Auggie makes contact with a friend from his past in an effort to sort out the mystery of The Photo. I'm hoping the chapter posting gods will be on my side this evening!