Chapter 9: The Fork in the Road
"Captain Davis? I'm Nora Donnelly. I believe General Carroll may have spoken to you. Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"No." Angela stepped around the reporter and her cameraman, trying to get to her team briefing on time.
"What's it like being the first woman to pilot and AS?
Angela ignored her.
"My sources tell me that you've just been given command of your own AS team. That must…"
Angela stopped short, cutting her off. "Ms. Donnelly. I don't know how you got onto this base, but if you don't stop harassing me, I will have you forcefully removed."
"But, Captain…"
"I have work to do, Ms. Donnelly. I'll thank you to let me get to it." Angela spun on her heel and headed off to her meeting, leaving the reporter standing in frustrated silence.
"Sorry about that," Jake told her as she neared the briefing room. "General Carroll decided he wanted to make a big deal out of you. I didn't get a chance to warn you."
"Why me, Jake? I just want to do my job."
"You're the foot in the door, Ang. Because of you, the government is finally starting to open up and allowing women into combat."
"Hm. Would the General be so eager if he knew the stories I haven't told?" she wondered out loud, giving him meaningful look.
His cheeks colored slightly. "Well, I'm sure no one will ever hear about that."
She snorted. "We'll see. At any rate, I'll need to have a little chat with the General."
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Angela was accosted again on her way to the General's office. "Captain Davis. I'm told that you were homeless when you applied to the Air Force Academy. Is this true?"
Angela ignored her, but the woman was relentless.
"You've been raising your younger brother since you were sixteen. That must have been difficult for you. Any comment?"
Angela took a deep breath, willing herself not to punch the woman.
Ms. Donnelly and her cameraman followed her inside the building. She continued to ask inane questions while Angela waited, saying nothing. Finally, the General's secretary told her she could go into his office. Donnelly tried to follow. Angela put her hand up to stop her. "This is a private meeting, Ms. Donnelly. It could take some time. I suggest you leave." Angela entered the office and closed the door firmly behind her.
"I'd heard that you weren't cooperating, Captain," the General said with a touch of humor.
"Sir. I think this is a bad idea."
"Nonsense, Captain. Yours is exactly the kind of story the public wants to hear."
"General, my story is not a happy one."
"Captain Davis. You went from being homeless to commanding an AS team. People need to hear a story like that."
"Sir, there are things you don't know."
"I can well imagine that you had to do some unpleasant things to survive on the street. I understand that you don't want your reputation tarnished."
"But, sir!"
"Don't interrupt. Now you don't have to tell her anything too personal, but you are ordered to cooperate with Ms. Donnelly. Have I made myself clear?"
She sighed heavily. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Dismissed."
Angela saluted and left. This is going to be a big problem.
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One late spring evening found Kurz at home studying for finals. Angela had decided to give him some peace and quiet and had gone to spend the evening with Jake and Kerry. Unbelievably, Kerry was pregnant again with their fourth child. The woman is crazy, Angela often thought.
Contrary to the General's orders, she had not spoken to Nora Donnelly, so she was naturally very surprised when she saw her own face on the news. She didn't hear the story. All she could think was that she and Kurz were now in danger. At that moment, her cell phone rang. She left the room to take the call.
"Are you watching the news?" Her brother's voice sounded almost panicked.
"Yeah."
"What do we do now?"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
"But…"
"It's all right, Kurz. I've been expecting something like this."
"OK. If you say so."
"Just try to stay calm. I'll be home in a bit." She hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Jake asked, peering around the corner.
"It was Kurz. He just reminded me that I was supposed to email someone today. Mind if I borrow your computer?"
"No. Go ahead." He returned to the living room.
She logged on to Jake's own email, having long since figured out his password. She sent the message through a convoluted path that would make its origin almost impossible to trace. Then, she erased her work from the computer's memory.
"Hey, guys," she said poking her head into the living room. "I should get going."
"All right. See you tomorrow."
She walked home as quickly as she could, keeping alert. She didn't think her father had any agents here, but one never knew. She reached her front door without incident. Kurz had locked the door. She fished her keys out of her pocket and let herself in. "Kurz, it's me."
She saw him standing in the kitchen door, lowering her pistol. "Sorry," he said nervously. "Guess I'm a little more rattled than I thought."
"It's all right. We can't afford to be too careful now."
"So now what?"
"We wait."
"For what?"
"A knight in shining armor."
He looked puzzled, but didn't pursue the matter.
She just hoped he didn't take too long to respond.
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As usual, Eleanor Rizetti sat alone in her husband's house. It was a relief when he sought the company of his mistresses. Like her errant stepdaughter, she had not been a willing bride. She'd been living with an uncle at the time who owed money to the Rizetti family. He offered them an unwanted niece as payment.
All thoughts of the past were banished when she saw a familiar face on the news. Angelina!
The maid had entered the room at that moment to bring her a cup of tea. "Why, Mrs. Rizetti! That looks like miss An…"
Eleanor grabbed the girl by the throat, causing her to spill the tea. "She looks like no one you have ever seen. No one in this house will breathe one word of this to my husband until I say so. Is that clear?"
The girl nodded shakily, and Eleanor let her go. "Now clean up that mess you've made."
"Y-yes, ma'am."
Eleanor turned back to the television as the story concluded. I must find a way to use this to my advantage.
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The message had been simple. A telephone number in America with the initials AW. It was her. After three years, his heart still yearned for her, and now she needed him. He could not disappoint her. With trembling fingers, he dialed the number.
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The phone finally rang shortly after midnight. Angela answered immediately.
"Senorita?"
"Alejandro! You got my message."
"I also saw your picture on the television."
"Then you know why I contacted you."
"If you disappear now, Senorita, you will be missed."
"I know. But I can send my brother somewhere safe."
"I cannot be his protector, Senorita."
"I'm not asking you to. I need you to be his teacher, Alejandro. Teach him to protect himself."
"I can arrange that."
She sagged with relief. "Thank you, my dear friend."
Very quickly, they arranged the time and place to meet, then hung up.
Immediately, she called in sick for the next several of days and went to wake her brother. "Kurz."
"Angie?"
"Get up. Pack a bag. Take anything you don't want to lose, but don't get carried away."
"Why?"
"Because you won't be coming back here."
He said nothing more and did as she asked.
Angela went to her own room to pack an overnight bag and dressed in civilian clothes. Within minutes, they were both ready to go. They got into their car and left the base.
Angela drove them to a car rental agency where they changed vehicles. It didn't take long for Angela to see that they were being followed. "What's wrong?" Kurz asked.
"We've made a new friend."
He looked out the rear window. "What do we do?"
"I don't know yet."
They rode in silence until they came into a small town. The police station was just ahead on the left. "Perfect." If they were lucky, there would only be one or two officers on duty. She stopped the car across the street.
"What now?"
"Stay down. Don't let anyone see you."
He complied without a word.
Summoning a few tears and feigning panic, Angela ran into the police station. "Please help me!" she cried. "I think I'm being followed."
She was in luck. There was only one officer there. "Calm down, miss," he said soothingly. "Tell me what happened."
She sobbed out an appropriate story, and the man went outside to investigate. Sure enough, there was Nora Donnelly trying to see into her car. The officer pulled the reporter away from the vehicle and began to question her. While they were distracted, Angela got back into her car and drove off. She was out of sight before they realized she was gone.
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Kurz laughed heartily after she had related the story. "That was awesome!"
She smiled. "I have to admit, it was kind of fun."
"So where are we going?" he asked, becoming serious.
"Do you remember Father ever talking about an organization called Mithril?"
"Vaguely. Why?"
"They're mercenaries. No one really knows how big the organization really is. We only know that they break up terrorist organizations and do other general good deeds."
"You're sending me to them?"
"Yes."
"But mercenaries?"
"Trust me, kiddo. These are the good guys."
"I don't know, sis."
"Look. You don't have to stay with them if you don't want to. I'm only asking you to give them a fair chance. Deal?"
He nodded. "Deal."
I guess he's not really a kid anymore, is he? she thought sadly.
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They had only been waiting for about an hour when another car came up the dirt road. Her heart leapt when she saw him get out. He had come alone, as promised.
"Alejandro!"
"I'm here, Senorita."
She felt as nervous as a schoolgirl, seeing him again after so long. "Thank you for coming, Alejandro."
"As always, Senorita, I am yours to command."
She couldn't resist any longer. She walked over to him and kissed him. "I've missed you," she said quietly.
"There's little time." His voice sounded pained when he said it.
She nodded, releasing him. "Kurz, come here."
Kurz joined them.
"Do you remember Alejandro?"
"Yes," he said simply. She could see him reliving that night in New York.
She pulled a cell phone out of her pocket. "Now listen carefully…"
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The big man had been silent for hours. Kurz couldn't take it anymore and gave in to his curiosity. "How long have you been in love with my sister?"
The man started at the sound of his voice. He took a moment to answer. "Almost from the moment I met her."
"Oh." Kurz was quiet again for a moment. "So where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there."
This is going to be a long trip.
Alejandro drove them to an out-of-the-way airfield where a small plane was waiting for them.
"Who's the kid, Guerra?" the pilot asked when they got out of the car.
"A new recruit."
"OK. Hop in, kid."
Kurz said nothing as he climbed into the plane and stowed his gear.
The pilot's cheerful voice came over the intercom. "Buckle up, boys and girls. We're about to take off."
"Your sister," Alejandro began after they were airborne.
Kurz jumped at the unexpected conversation from the big man.
"Is a wise woman," he concluded.
"She's the best," Kurz agreed.
"She must love you very much."
"Everything she's ever done has been to protect me."
"I imagine she is very proud of you."
"I hope so."
After a while, Kurz fell asleep. He awoke when he felt the plane begin to descend. Once they landed, Alejandro led him into a small training camp. A uniformed officer greeted them. "This him, Guerra?"
"Yes, sir."
"What's your name, son?"
"Weber, sir. Kurz Weber."
"Welcome, Mr. Weber."
Alejandro spoke to him once more. "This is where I leave you."
"You're not staying?"
"I have other duties. Good luck, Mr. Weber." He turned and left before Kurz could respond.
"All right, Mr. Weber. Let's get you settled in."
Kurz followed as the man led him to his bunk. It was a little frightening to be in this strange place, but somehow, he had a feeling it would all work out.