It seemed fitting that she pay tribute to the past, just before venturing into her future. She wanted to pay tribute to those whose future she took away.
Six stars she counted on the wall, six that she knew all too well. Each star gleamed and sparkled in the light, unlike their lost lives, which were now snuffed out. Rainbows of colors flitted across the brass stars, light catching the prism of her diamond ring. In one month she would marry Jack, as her superiors had planned and she had wished.
She stood in front of the stars in her black suit, remembering those that had crossed her path. She hoped for understanding because forgiveness could never be asked for or received. She dipped her head as a salute and turned away.
Phillip – Crosses We All Bear"Since when are you volunteering for courier work, Garcia?"
"Since your lazy ass decided to get a promotion and ride a desk Masterson. You decided to become Management and left the real work to us lower level schmucks." Sal Garcia clapped his friend on the back and headed off to the armory to get his weapon.
Sal had volunteered for this courier job looking for a change of pace from his work in Encryption. He had retired from the field five years ago after loosing his partner. However, Sal was looking for one last thrill before he proposed to his girlfriend and the adrenaline rush from a courier job suited him better than a party or one last fling any day. Patsy shouldn't need to worry about him as he'd only be gone a couple of days; it was just a quick trip to Spain.
He didn't know what was in the package and he had learned years ago to not be curious. Curiosity killed the cat, indeed. He knew where to make his first contact and from there he would be directed to the place for the delivery. Anyways, he had always loved Spain and he hoped that he would have time to pick up a few choice presents for Patsy. He had one particular store in Granada to visit; they had excellent handcrafted jewelry and Patsy loved bracelets.
"You are to fly TWA Fight 473 from Atlanta to Barcelona, where you will check into the Duquesa De Carbona Hotel. When you check in and arrange for a rental car through the concierge. He will reserve you a car and in the rental agreement there will be instructions on where to meet your first contact," Assistant Director Milford reviewed as Sal checked his weapon and signed out the piece.
The Assistant Director continued to walk with him as he proceeded to Encryption to pick up the package, "We know that the final rendezvous will be in Granada at the Catedral de Granada, but we do not know when or with whom. You contact will initiate the exchange by stating, "Have you seen the Chapel yet?" and you will answer, "No, I was planning on going there next." The final confirmation will be when the contact replies "Be sure to stop by the gift shop, they have many beautiful postcards." You will then make the exchange, head to the gift shop, buy two postcards and then leave. Until you buy the postcards, the courier will not leave, believing the exchange was compromised."
"So, I should remember to pick up the postcards, right." Sal laughed halfheartedly, trying to get Milford to lighten up. The Assistant Director was known for his lack of humor and Sal loved to get on his nerve.
Sal made a quick trip home to pack a bag. He called Pine Elementary and left a note with the secretary for Patsy. "Mrs. Mendez, please leave a message for Patsy saying that I have to catch a flight out to Houston in one hour to personally deliver the proposal for drilling rights off the coast of Alabama. Yes, it's the one we've been working on for months. I should be back in two days, provided they don't ask me to give a verbal presentation more than once."
"Yes, Ms. Mendez, tell Patsy not to worry, I will definitely be back for the school play on Friday. Tell her I'll call her tonight."
He hung up the phone, grabbed his suitcase and his briefcase and headed out for the 45-minute drive to the airport. He made it to the airport for the trans-Atlantic flight and checked his suitcase at the gate. The documents to be delivered were in the breast pocket of his suit, with his briefcase as the decoy. Sal was glad that he remembered to grab the book from the nightstand before he left because he always had trouble sleeping on a plane, especially during courier work. He tended to have nightmares of all the potential problems if he did manage to sleep. And rather then have nightmares, he'd rather get totally absorbed in the latest bestseller.
Sal settled in for the long flight, every once in a while checking to see if he recognized anyone on the plane or noticed if anyone in particular was keeping him under surveillance. As he had been taught, he laid low, only getting up once or twice to go to the bathroom, each time locking his briefcase and booby-trapping it with a piece of tape or bit of hair to indicate if it had been tampered with. No precaution was too great in times like these.
***
Irina periodically checked on the courier, careful to not arouse suspicion. Khasinau's directions were clear, make sure the package does not get delivered and using any means necessary. She knew that relieving the courier of the documents would not be accomplished on the plane, too many witnesses and a closed environment. She would wait and take her chance in Barcelona when they landed. The backup plan was to retrieve the information at the drop in Granada, thought that would require a personnel touch. Irina would rather stay impersonal and at a distance; the anonymity was comforting.
She sat back and started to daydream of her upcoming wedding.
***
The plane landed in Barcelona and Sal proceeded to his first check-in point at the Duquesa de Cardona. He arranged for a car through the concierge. The instructions he found within the rental agreement told of his reservations at the Can Gaig Restaurant, well known for traditional Catalan meals. He was to order the fabada and his next set of instructions would be passed on during the meal.
The hotel room checked clean for bugs and Sal took the opportunity for a short nap before heading out for dinner at 10:00 p.m. He took a taxi to Can Gaig and a table had been reserved under his cover. He was seated near the window and ordered the fabada, as instructed. Near the end of the meal the waiter spilled water on his lap. After the mess had been cleaned up amidst profuse apologies, the waiter presented him a new napkin with paper folded into the hem. Sal slipped the note into his pants pocket and finished his meal. In the taxi on the way back to the hotel Sal read the note detailing the meeting time and location. Burned the paper in the ashtray of his hotel room to remove any traceable clue as to where and when the drop would take place.
He took the overnight train to Granada, finishing the novel he had started on the plane. The train arrived in Granada at 8:35 a.m. and Sal decided to sightsee a bit before he was to arrive at the Catedral. His adventures took him through the Moorish areas of the City to view the Arabic architecture and then to the market to purchase jewelry for Patsy. He decided to wait to see Alhambra the following day.
Just before 3:00 pm, he made his way to the Catedral de Granada. Sal took the guided tour and following the completion of the tour, went to inspect the San Jeronimo door. He stood observing the beautiful carvings and heard someone behind him.
"Have you seen the Chapel yet?"
"No, I was planning on going there next," Sal answered to the inquiry.
"Be sure to visit the gift shop too, they have many beautiful postcards." His contact had initiated contact as had been prescribed and Sal felt relieved.
He put his hand in his jacket pocket and turned around to hand off the envelope. A hand quickly went around his neck and he felt the cold steel bite into his flesh. Instinctively his hands went to his throat and came away crimson. A hand reached into his pocket and slipped the envelope from its resting place and gently lowered him to the ground.
He tried to speak but only produced a bubbling noise and he slowly turned in the direction of his assassin. He caught a flash of red lips and swinging brown hair as she turned away and blended in with the retreating tour group. A pair of black woman's gloves sat at his feet mixed with the bracelets he had bought Patsy and his own blood.