Chapter 6
Annie walked into the national botanical gardens at 10 and followed the directions Jeff had texted her. She walked towards the lake and saw one of the most beautiful sites she had seen. A blanket had been placed on the ground, surrounded by what looked like a million candles. On the blanket was a picnic basket. And standing next to all of this was Jeff, staring out at the lake.
"Jeff."
"Annie, you made it. And exactly on time"
"Yes Jeff, punctuality is very important. "
Jeff started to chuckle at this.
"Annie believe me I wasn't complaining, I was just showing my appreciation. "
"Well thank you for that. Why did you want to see me here?"
Jeff pulled her in closer and pointed out to the lake. Annie looked out and saw what Jeff had been looking at. There were two swans gliding through the water, as though they were performing the waltz that Jeff and Annie had done earlier in the day.
"Awww...that's so...," suddenly something clicked in her mind. "Jeff did you call me out here, at this time, just to see some swans?"
"No! The swans are just a bonus. What I wanted to show you is up above."
At this she tilted her head up and saw lights streaking across the sky. Jeff just studied Annie's face. She looked in complete awe.
"Annie, do you know that Dublin is one if the best places in the world to view meteor showers. The last one was on..."
"1st June 2009." Annie interrupted. On the look of confusion on Jeff's face she continued. "When I was younger, whenever there was a meteor shower, my dad would drive out to a quite spot and we would lie on the roof of his car, watching the shower."
A few tears slid down her cheeks and she shook her head trying to console herself. Suddenly Jeff cupped her face and brushed away the tears with his thumb.
"Annie if you don't mind me asking, where is your father?"
"He's that star, looking down at us."
"Ummm...what?"
"Sorry I'll explain. My bubbe, I mean my grandma, said that when a person dies, they become a star and continue to watch over us."
Jeff looked up and pointed to a star. "So is this one your father?"
A smile blossomed onto Annie's face.
"No it's this one", she said, as she repositioned Jeff's arm.
Jeff started to wave at the star in question.
"Hi there Mr Edison. My name's Jeff and I'm a friend of your daughter. Look there's no point in hiding anything from you, especially as you can see everything. I need your help here. I wanna tell your daughter something, but I have absolutely no idea on how to even start."
Annie pulled Jeff closer to herself.
"What did you wanna tell me?"
"Annie I...oh screw this!"
With this Jeff leaned down to Annie and brought his lips crashing down onto Annie's lips. Annie was stunned for about a few seconds, before her brain caught up and she started to kiss him back.
The next morning Annie woke up with a weight against her hip. She turned around and saw a sleeping Jeff. She smiled at his peaceful form and slipped out of his hold. She slowly put her clothes back on and made her way to the front door.
"Don't I even get a goodbye?"
Annie quickly turned and saw Jeff standing at the doorway of his bedroom.
"Jeff, I wanted to say goodbye, but you looked so peaceful I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
Jeff walked up to Annie and pulled her into a deep kiss. "So you have time for coffee?"
"Sorry I have to go. Tonight is the show and I have a million things to prepare..."
She stopped at the look of disappointment on Jeff's face and pulled him in for a mind blowing kiss. As Jeff's hand started to find their way to her hips she had to reluctantly pull away.
"Jeff I really have to go. You gonna come to see the show tonight?"
"You want me there?"
"Of course silly. I'll leave you a ticket at the door. Bye."
She gave him one last fleeting kiss and walked out of the door.
"Is it safe to come out now?"
"Yes Troy, I've just put the kettle on."
Troy walked out of his room and headed straight to the kitchen.
"Dude can you tell me what that was?"
"You're a big boy now Barnes, I'm sure I don't need to give you a talk about the birds and bees!"
"No I was talking about the fact that you bought someone back to the safe house without letting me know in advance. How was I supposed to do a clean sweep of the place?"
"Relax she wasn't a threat. Plus she never saw much whilst she was here..."
"Yeh, except the bedroom ceiling! HAHAHA."
Jeff suddenly lunged forward and before Troy knew what had hit him, he found himself pinned to the worktop.
"Barnes I want you to listen very carefully, cause I'm not in the habit of repeating myself. We do NOT make jokes about Annie. It is very important that you understand this, or we are about to have a very big falling out. Do you understand me?"
"YES! YES! I fully understand."
Jeff let go of Troy and walked back to his coffee cup. Troy was staring at him wondering if he should say anything. Eventually he piped up;
"Tiger what is it with you and this girl?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's just that your buying gifts for this girl, then taking her out for romantic date and attacking me when I make a small joke about your sexy times. Are you falling in love with her?"
"I don't know." Jeff took a deep breath. "Look there's something different about this girl. She makes me feel like I could, I don't know, have a different future."
Jeff looked up at Troy, who looked confused.
"Troy, don't worry too much about it. As soon as I've figured out what's going on, I'll let you know. In the mean time, we still have a mission to carry out. I get to spend another wonderful day with the Professor. And you get to do some shopping."
"Ummm...Tiger what am I shopping for?"
"My new suit."
"What do you need a new suit for?"
"I'm going to watch Annie's play tonight. And I need to look my sharpest."
Jeff took his seat at the theater. He was hoping to see Annie before, but was told she was tied up back stage. No problems he would see her afterwards. He looked over to his right and saw Pierce a couple of seats down. Just as the lights started to dim, Jeff's phone vibrated. He looked at the screen and saw it was Troy calling him. He quickly answered.
"Tiger I need to see you outside immediately."
"About what Barnes?"
"Just come outside now."
Jeff quickly put his phone down and went outside. He looked around and saw Troy standing near a corner.
"OK Barnes why did you pull me out of there?"
"One of the sensors picked up movement in the professor's house."
"That's impossible. The Professor and Annie are both here. No one else has access to the place." Jeff let out a small groan. "Dammit I was looking forward to tonight. Barnes you stay here and keep an eye on the old man. I'll go and check out his place."
As Jeff went to walk away, Troy quickly slipped Jeff a hand gun and whispered "just in case."
Jeff slipped in through an open window and saw a light on in the professor's study. He quickly moved to the door, peaked round the door and saw a figure at the desk. He slowly drew his gun and walked in.
"Put your hands out where I can see them and turn around."
The person turned around and Jeff was knocked for a six.
"Annie?"
"Jeff!...What are you doing here and why are you holding a gun."
Jeff wanted to answer, but his eyes were drawn to the computer screen. On it he could see that the defense system files were being downloaded. He instantly understood what Annie was doing here.
"Annie who do you work for."
Annie recognised the steel in his voice and now figured out she was talking to an agency spook.
"The DGES."
"Well you know what happens now. You have two choices. You can either join us and tell us what you guys are planning. Or..." Jeff couldn't finish that sentence.
Annie looked at Jeff with a formidable look on her face. "I would never betray my team."
Jeff cocked his gun. He aimed it at Annie, but then stopped and lowered it slightly.
"Annie apart from what I do for a living, everything I told you was the truth. I need to know do you still feel the same way about me?"
"Jeff you should know, I was only doing my job and nothing more."
Jeff quickly fired two shots into her head. Her body slumped down and Jeff leaned over and checked for a pulse. He stood up and phoned Troy.
"Barnes get over here on the double. We need to dispose of a body."