Chapter 342: Beaulieu Manor
Wednesday, February 1st, Early Morning (Eastern Standard Time)
There are times when waking up is like floating down a gentle river. It's soft, and you wake up slowly; awareness comes to you in a trickle. Those are good mornings, typical mornings, and even pleasant mornings.
Other wake-ups are one hundred and eighty degrees from the first. This wake-up is like getting dropped down a waterfall. It's not the freefall, which you would feel like you're flying; it's the sudden stop at the end. That landing is hard and makes being hit with a sledgehammer soft. The wake-up would come with a start. Those are not-so-good days.
The phone, its ring tone, which is the cause of her waterfall wake up. Shooting straight up in bed, she looked around the bedroom, which is still dark. Looking around the room, she couldn't tell if it was still night or very early morning. Looking around the room, she kept trying to figure out where in the world her current location is.
Beaulieu, she's still just at Beaulieu, in the room her mom is letting her use. Isabella "Izzy" Scott, nee Adams, nodded to center herself as she looked around the room. Across the way, a digital alarm clock sat on a dresser; its green numbers spoke of the infancy of the day.
There were only two sounds in her ears. The first is the pounding of her heartbeat; the second is her smartphone. No good call came after eleven o'clock, and eleven o'clock passed hours ago by the green electronic numbers. The other thing not helping is the ring tone; she had set this ringtone for a certain number to be only be used only in case of emergency if her instructions were followed correctly. Izzy reached over and grabbed her smartphone.
"Hello, Representative Scott speaking," Izzy said, trying to sound awake.
"Finally, I've been trying to get you forever," Kari Johansson said on the other end.
"What's up? It's too early for girl talk," Izzy said.
"Leadership wants everyone or as many of membership back in the District sooner than ASAP," Kari said.
"Okay, I have a flight this afternoon," Candi said.
"Too late," Kari said.
"What did you do?" Izzy asked.
"You're out on the first flight from Wilmington," Kari said.
"Kari, I don't have time to pack," Izzy said.
"Neither did Skye; she should be picking you up," Kari said.
"What?" Izzy asked.
"Just get dressed, you have clothes here, and I'll bring you a suit," Kari said.
"Christ!" Izzy said.
"No, just Kari, but it's nice to know you think of me so highly," Kari said.
"Funny, Kari," Izzy said.
"I told Skye the same thing; just get dressed and go," Kari said.
"Christ, what's so damn important?" Izzy asked.
"Thank you," Kari said.
"Not funny, Kari; what's happening?" Izzy asked.
"DoD went crazy a few hours ago. Rumors are leaking out that there has been an exchange of fire," Kari said.
"Oh shit!" Izzy said.
"Now you see why I'm saying get your ass in gear?" Kari asked.
"Do we know what units were involved?" Izzy asked.
"No, not yet," Kari said.
"Okay, thanks, Kari," Izzy said; Kari just hung up.
Izzy put her smartphone down and looked around the room. Shaking her head, she slipped out of her pajamas and slipped into her underwear and bra. Looking around, Izzy found some stockings, a skirt, and a turtleneck. Basic bitch look, but she had little time to curate her look.
After dressing in the clothes she found, she found a pair of dress boots. Pulling them on, she looked at the clock and cursed the early hour. Izzy grabbed a blazer and slipped on her boots. Looking in the mirror, Izzy pulled her hair back and tied it back into a ponytail.
Izzy slipped on the blazer and buttoned its two buttons. Grabbing her winter jacket and briefcase, she headed out of the bedroom. Walking down the gallery, she stopped out in front of Ellis' bedroom door.
Putting down her briefcase and jacket, she opened the bedroom door. Izzy stepped into the room and walked over to the bed. She adjusted the covers over her son; Izzy adjusted Ellis' bangs and kissed his forehead.
Straightening up, Izzy looked at her son. Izzy sighed and walked out of the bedroom, and gently closed the door behind herself. Picking up her briefcase and jacket as she went to her old bedroom, which her daughter now occupies.
Putting down the briefcase and jacket again, and opened the bedroom door. Standing over the bed, Izzy looked at Nomi. The girl stretched, yawn and rolled on the bed. The ten-year-old sleepily got comfortable in the bed. Izzy smiled, adjusted the covers, and kissed Nomi.
After a minute of watching Nomi, Izzy left the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Retrieving her stuff, she slowly headed downstairs. She looked around the gallery and headed towards the main door of the East Range.
The time passed, and finally, the Gregory family SUV pulled up. Izzy left Beaulieu, threw her briefcase in the backseat, and followed into the vehicle.
Skye was in the backseat with her briefcase. Mister Gregory was sitting behind the wheel. Izzy could see his left hand on the wheel; missing was his pinky, there's just a stub of his ring finger, and half of his middle finger was missing.
"All set?" Davis Gregory asked.
"Yes, Daddy," Skye said.
"Yes, Mister Gregory," Izzy said.
"Hold on," Davis said and drove off.
As they left the grounds of the Beaulieu turning onto the hardtop road, the sun started to peek over the horizon in the east. The aurora lit up the sky as they drove down the road. Izzy leaned back and closed her eyes.
"What do you think happened?" Skye asked.
"Someone got an itchy trigger finger," Izzy said.
"That's not fair to say," Davis said.
"I'm not saying someone wanted to start a shooting war," Izzy said.
"Who knows?" Izzy asked.
"I've been on the line many of scary nights, and something got to cause it all to go sideways, quickly," Davis said.
"The same thing in politics," Izzy said.
Davis nodded and kept driving. Izzy looked over to Skye.
"Kari must be going crazy," Skye said.
"We'll be joining them soon," Izzy said.
"I can't wait," Skye said sarcastically.
"This is going to be a crazy and busy time," Izzy said, "I went through one of these crises when I worked for John."
"What could happen?" Skye asked.
"Nothing or everything," Izzy said.
"Keith could've been in that firefight?" Skye said.
"I know, Skye, believe me, I know," Izzy said.
"How could you be there, so calm?" Skye asked.
"It's all outside; believe me, it's a tough fight on the inside," Izzy said.
"We have some time before we'll arrive at the airport," Davis said.
"So, Daddy?" Skye asked.
"I suggest taking a quick nap," Davis said.
"Sounds like a good plan," Izzy said.
"Yeah," Skye said.
Izzy leaned back and closed her eyes, trying to get some sleep.
