Chapter 4
That's what Sisters are for
Annie couldn't believe this August Anderson character. How dare he question her language skills. Who did he think he was? Pacing around her house was not getting the job done. She would be grateful for noon to come so she would never have to see him again.
Annie gathered her cane, phone, keys, and Silke's harness. Putting the flash drive in her pocket, she called Silke over to the door. After putting Silke's harness on her and locking her front door, she walked over to her sister's house. Normally, she would not use her cane or Silke to get to her sister's house, but given the current weather conditions and how distracted her mind was right now after this encounter with August Anderson, she wanted to be safe. As a blind person, Annie was comfortable in very few places. Her own home, her sister's home, and her office at work were these places. She could get around them without her cane or using Silke's guidance.
Walking into her sister's house was always a treat for the senses. Danielle was always cooking or baking something. When opening the door the aroma of cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon and toast with jam immediately calmed and welcomed her into the kitchen. Danielle always made sure her kids and Annie had complete breakfasts each morning before they left for school or work.
After she walked in, she placed her cane, keys, and phone on the table in the entrance way and took Silke's harness off her.
"No strawberry jam today?" Annie said jokingly. Danielle was always trying new things in the kitchen. Today her keen nose told her that Danielle had apricot or an orange marmalade out for the toast.
Silke immediately went over to the dog pillow laying in the living room.
"Annie! Good morning. Yeah, I'm giving apricot a try today. I can't seem to get anything past you though." Danielle said in her usual cheery manner. "Oh, did that guy find you?" Danielle questioned as Annie walked over to the breakfast bar in the kitchen, holding her left hand out slightly in front of her to orient herself in the room as she walked.
Annie scoffed at this. "Yeah, that jerk found me. Thanks for sending him my way."
"Annie what are you talking about. He seemed so nice when I talked to him. He was very handsome, just so you know."
"Yeah, I could tell."
"What do you mean, you could tell? Annie you're blind."
"Yes, Danielle, I know. He just gave off an "I'm beautiful, you are beneath me" vibe. Plus, he seems to bathe in expensive cologne. Only either really hot guys or really rich guys do that. He actually had the audacity to question my ability to translate the files he needed."
"Well, he seemed nice. Maybe you said something to throw him off?"
"No, Danielle, being blind threw him off. He was actually a little nice right up until he realized I couldn't see him."
"What, Annie, no. That can't be it."
"Yeah, believe it or not, people do think of me as less of a person now. It isn't fair, but Danielle, I face it every day."
"Well, I can't believe some random stranger would treat you badly just because you are blind."
"Danielle, whether you believe it or not, it happened and will continue to happen. People don't think much of me when they realize I am blind. They somehow think I am less than human. It is my job to slash their preconceived notions about people with disabilities by doing the things they think I can't. Luckily this particular guy I will never have to work with again. Usually all my information is received via email. The weather today was the only reason it was hand delivered."
"Okay, well. I guess you know best. Now how about we have some breakfast? The girls are out of school today, so they are sleeping in."
"Ah, Danielle, you didn't have to get up early just for me."
"Yes I did. I had to make sure Michael got the drive way cleared. Besides I know you like your routines."
"Ya know I am capable of walking in the snow. I just have to be more careful and take my time."
"I know Annie, but I don't think I could forgive myself if you fell. Besides, that's what sisters are for."
"Haha, Danielle, it is just as possible that I could fall when the skies are blue and there's not a speck of snow anywhere as if there is ten inches of snow on the ground. These things just happen when you can't see where you are going."
"I know Annie. But I still have to try to make life easier for you. I know I'm the only person you have in your life right now who does."
"And I love you for it." Annie stated, smiling in her sister's general direction, as she went to the cabinet that held the plates. After extracting a plate she walked cautiously over to the breakfast bar and found a stool to sit on. Annie knew Danielle's house as well as she knew her own, but sometimes her nieces, Chloe and Katia, sometimes forgot not to leave things around the house that Annie might trip over, step on, or knock over.
Annie held out her plate for Danielle to fill for her. "Toast with apricot jam at 2, scrambled eggs at 6, and bacon at 10. Juice will be at your 12 o'clock and a cinnamon roll will be ready in about five minutes." Danielle informed her of the placement of her food just as the rehab center had taught her to-using the face of a clock as a reference point. Danielle attended classes at the rehab center that have helped her know how to care for and be around someone with a visual disability, for which Annie was appreciative.
After eating breakfast and chatting with Danielle a little longer, Annie went back over to her place to work on the translation. Before leaving she informed Danielle that she would be back over around 11:30 to print the information that August needed.
As Annie settled into her couch with her laptop on the coffee table in front of her and headphone over her ears, she pressed "play" to allow the recording to begin. As she listened she grew more concerned with each passing word she heard. The conversation she was hearing was in alternating German and Hebrew between, what sounded to Annie like, an Israeli man referred to as Amos and an Austrian man called Raphael.
The two men were discussing the sale of weapons from Israel to Pakistan. They planned to assassinate a famous German physicist and his team of scientists when they arrived at a conference in Georgia at the end of the week. She listened and relistened to the conversation, making sure she had every word translated correctly. Then she listened to the translation that she had typed on the computer to make sure it matched the conversation.
Annie was extremely concerned about weapons being sold and the plans to use them on US soil, but what concerned her most, was the pause in the conversation at one point when Amos said in Hebrew: "Did you hear that? Are you sure you were not followed?" Raphael replied in German "No, of course not. Were you?" Both men paused and quickly ended their conversation with only a couple simple phrases.
What kind of business was August into that dealt with a conversation like this? Many of the conversations she translated for Joan seemed to deal with domestic and foreign policy or documents around recent crime incidents overseas. Joan had never told Annie the nature of her job or the complete purpose in the documents she translated. Annie had never thought to ask. Annie only wanted an excuse to have extra work at home to keep her mind from wondering. But now, Annie was concerned that Joan was not simply a lawyer for the state department or worked for the government in some way.
A small fear began to form in the pit of Annie's stomach as she realized that she herself might be in danger. As she considered this for several minutes, she realized that the thoughts were ridiculous. Things like that simply did not happen in her world, well, at least not anymore. The most danger Annie faced now was simply living her daily life as a blind person.
Annie took a few deep breaths and prepared to finish this project. She would be glad when this one was complete. She gathered her laptop and prepared to walk over to her sister's again. Only taking the laptop and her keys, she locked the door and walked confidently, yet cautiously, to her sister's home. This time, since she knew the sidewalk was cleared she walked over without her cane or Silke. Annie knew that Silke would not like being left behind, but Annie did not plan on being gone more than a few minutes.
Meanwhile, back at Langley, Auggie was heading to Joan's office. He had major concerns about the person they were entrusting and counting on to perfectly translate important and sensitive information about a current operation he was running.
Knocking on her office door he waited for her to acknowledge that he could come in.
"Come in." Joan said from her desk. His boss always intimidated him with her "fear me" attitude, but he knew she couldn't have got where she was in the CIA by always making friends.
"Hi Joan, Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Of course, did Annie finish that translation already?"
"Umm, well, no. Well, maybe. I am supposed to pick it up at noon."
"Auggie, it is 11:50. Why are you standing in my office?"
"Joan, I am concerned about this woman being able to give me actionable intel. I mean, she was very rude to me and quite condescending."
"Auggie, it isn't condescending if you're the best. It's confidence. Annie, is the best linguist this side of the Mississippi. She knows ten languages fluently and about fifteen others to some degree or another. I use her for a reason."
"Joan, how can she be the best linguist or even a good linguist when she can't even see a document I might need translated? I was lucky today to have an audio file. But how is she going to give me the translation. She can't write or type."
"Auggie! I am surprised at you. Are you prejudice against people with disabilities?"
"No Ma'am. I just don't see how someone who can't see can be all that successful. I mean, she is blind."
"I am well aware of her disability. It doesn't hold her back. We will finish this conversation later. Right now, I need you to get that translation from Annie. Let her know that payment will be made to her account as usual."
"Yes, Ma'am." Auggie stated
As he turned to leave she said "Oh and Auggie, Don't come back until you have apologized to Annie and she has accepted. I will not lose the best translator we have ever used because you can't take the time to get to know a girl before judging her."
At this, he nodded and then left her office with his head hanging a little less confidently than usual. Getting into his car he was highly annoyed. As he began the twenty minute journey from Langley to where Annie lived, doubts still formed in his head about this blind girl being able to help him do his job.
After printing all the necessary documents for her own records and to give to August, she asked Danielle for two envelopes to put the files in. She decided to leave her laptop at Danielle's so that it could charge while she waited for August's arrival.
Walking back over to her house, at first she thought she sensed someone watching her, but thought better of it when she did not hear anyone walking toward her. She still had at least twenty minutes before August would arrive, if he was on time, for the files. She was going to enjoy some lunch before he arrived. As she got to her door and put her keys into the lock, she suddenly felt someone grab her behind. She dropped the envelopes she held and tried to fight off the strong hands that had held her arms.
She felt a prick in her arm, but didn't give up the fight as she kicked towards the legs she could not see, and tried to wiggle out of the hold the man had her in, as she pushed her body against the attacker. Ultimately she was overcome with unconsciousness as the drugs forced in her began to take effect.
