Chapter thirteen

"She what?" Shades screamed at the guard who stood before him. He could not have heard right.

"She took off a few minutes ago," he repeated.

"I heard you the first time," he answered, giving him a hard time. Though it was not to compare with the hard time Joseph would give him. Shades looked at his watch. "He'll be here in minutes. What'll I tell him?" He paced the outer office, silently beating himself up for not staying put at the west exit to begin with.

"I can't reach the chopper directly," Charlotte stated, "Should I call the control tower?"

"No, the best thing to do is see what Joseph wants to do." Shades pulled out his cell. "Time to face the music."

In her mind a thousand different scenarios played. In each one Joseph had went down, down with Genovia One. None seem to have a happy ending, and Clarisse was clearly trying to bear the burden of having him harmed, or even dead.

She kept the trail of tears wiped away, even though the darkness would have kept them concealed. Her fingers dug into the armrests, and for once her mind was not on her own anxieties. Joseph was part of her, the part she needed most. So her mind chose to focus on her most vulnerable half, and her heart ached even though none of her worst thoughts had been confirmed.

She could see the reflection of the moon below on the Channel. Even so, the night was very dark. It scared her more, picturing Joseph in the rough, cold, and now dark waters of the English Channel. Could she envision anything worse? Yet how could she let herself even try to fathom that he was alive and well if she did not know for sure? It would be putting off the inevitable, and delaying the dying of her own heart. Right now she had no idea why it even still beat, unless a small part of her still held onto some kind of hope.

"He's not with them," Shades announced, slapping shut his cell.

"What?" No one knew who asked it, but the question was one everyone was thinking.

"The Prime Minister is alone. Apparently Joseph did not fly back with him, and all he knows is that Joseph was taking a private flight back; plans of some kind." Shades looked heavily at Charlotte, who seemed the only other capable employee under pressure. Giving her the 'what do we do now' look, Shades could only hope she had an answer, or anything to help him.

"I've not been here very long, but from what I gather, it's not like either one of them to go off alone, especially like this," she voiced her thoughts. "Any idea of why Joseph would not come directly back? Do you think Queen Clarisse is meeting him someplace? She would not leave without some sort of security with her. It makes sense, she would be meeting with him." Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, telling him silently she had no more ideas.

"The rest of you return to your posts," Shades stated, his brain bearing an overload of thought. "I'm sure she's probably right, so you all return to work and Charlotte and I will try and track the two of them down. If we can't, well, I'll call you all back." Shades leaned against the wall, almost sure she was right now.

"You have an idea?" Charlotte asked when the room had been cleared.

"I think you're exactly right. I know of a place where they may very well be going, and if so, Joseph will check in with me when he gets there. I'm sure of it." Shades patted her shoulder as he walked out. "Don't worry," he added, "It's just mis-communication, or lack of it. Happens every now and then."

Charlotte wondered if she should try and not worry. After all, her Queen had never left like that before. Joseph, well, she didn't know much about. Not as much as his men would. She could only pray Shades was right, for something just did not seem right.

'She's not coming', he thought, blowing out the two candles that barely lit the small abode. Joseph waited a few minutes until his eyes adjusted to the dark. He picked up his small leather bag and threw it towards the door, releasing some of the disappointment.

He was sure he had heard a chopper ten minutes ago. It could have been more now. Even so, it could have been any chopper, as they were as popular as anything nowadays. He chided himself for thinking she was ready. He had been wrong, and now he wondered how upset she had gotten at not being able to come. If he had hurt her, he'd never forgive himself. That was not his intention at all. Yet he had not given any thought to a negative side of his plan. The positive had been much more appealing.

Still, he chose to give her more time. He would wait, maybe even an hour longer before contacting the palace. Maybe he should just stay here tonight, and let the chopper pick him up at first light in the morning. Yes, that was his plan. He'd call in soon enough, after all, Shades could take care of things for one night.

He dropped down on the chair facing the northern window, where the bright lights of the landing pad shone. If she were to come, he'd be close to the door, as close as he could get. He pulled up a small table, and propped up his feet, thinking all he needed now was a strong drink.

She was cold, or hot. She couldn't even think straight enough to know. The slurring noise of the radio, along with the engine mimicked the confusion in her head. Usually it lulled her to sleep. Not tonight. No way would she sleep tonight nor any other until Joseph was beside her again. That's how she felt.

Clarisse was watching as the English coast approached. Lights, however faint and distant, were becoming brighter and ever closer. A surge of adrenaline boosted her tired body, and she squirmed in her seat, not able to comfort herself in the least. 'Joseph please be here'.

It was too quiet. Joseph knew any longer and he'd be fast asleep. He reached over to the satellite phone he had installed especially for her hideaway, and dialed Shades directly, mumbling to himself that he better be standing outside her door and not in a certain maid's room. He wondered if he ever would tell Clarisse the story as the corner of his mouth graced a smile.

"Joe, that better be you," Shades answered. "This number should have been left here for us..."

"What's wrong?" Joseph instinctively pushed the table out from under his feet and stood erect.

"I was just worried. After all she did leave alone."

"What? Clarisse? Where'd she go?"

"She's not with you? She took off in the chopper alone...I swear Joseph I had only left the exit for a minute..."

"Damn! How the hell did that happen? AH, never mind. Have you reached them?" His voice echoed the worry inside him.

"It was too far to contact directly. Joe I didn't alert the tower. I thought it best..."

"You're right. Security first." Joseph had said that a million times, and each time he reminded himself how much he disapproved of it, but knew it was necessary for his men to believe. Clarisse was always first to him.

"We've heard nothing," Shades began, then silenced himself, knowing how much Joseph would be worried. "Can I send another chopper in for you?"

"Yes...No...wait. Check out that pilot once more...and Shades, if there's anything there, find it." His words were stern and loud. "If that son-of-a-bitch hurt her..." He pounded the wall, paying no mind to the rebuke of his fist. "Send out a search party from the palace to here. On foot if they have to be. I'm staying right here until one of them reach me. Someone needs to be here just in case she does show up here."

Joseph dropped the phone and leaned against the wall, his head sagging in utter dismay. Had he been so blind to not see this? Was there something to see? As a sweat broke out on him, Joseph could think of nothing but her. A thousand case scenarios ran through his mind. Yet he totally forgot her fear of the air.