Chapter 9
Getting to Know You . . . Carefully
Dinner was forced. While the food was delicious, the social interaction mostly consisted of polite small talk between Raylan and Anna, peppered with giggling and side conversations about music and cooking and art between the slightly inebriated Adam and Winona. A little intermittent babbling and whining was provided by Willa.
Earlier in the evening, Anna as much as said there was no point in them sharing details about one another's lives until they knew for certain they were related, and Raylan whole heartedly agreed. At the time Winona and Adam exchanged looks that said their opinions differed, and as the evening progressed and more alcohol was consumed, they continued to talk and share information as if things were already settled.
Raylan ate very little. He wasn't hungry, preferring to drink his dinner. Anna was much the same. When it was time for desert and Adam brought out the bourbon cake he made in Raylan's honor, Raylan passed.
Adam had enough to drink to finally say something. "Dude, you could at least give it try."
"Look, man," Raylan raised an eyebrow. "I'm not tryin' to be rude or a hard ass. Truth is, I feel like shit." He had been wheezing all night.
"He's telling the truth," Winona said to Adam, her speech slurred a little. "He's being rude and a hard ass because he really does feel like shit. But Adam. Honestly? This cake is to die for."
"Thank you, Winona," Adam gushed gratitude to his newest groupie. "You know, I'm playing later tonight with my band if you want to come and listen to us."
"That sounds like fun," Winona said with champagne stars in her eyes. This guy was cosmopolitan and led a life so different than hers. "But with Willa here, and Raylan feeling so lousy, I really shouldn't."
"You can go out with Adam and Anna if you like, Winona," Raylan croaked. "I think I've proven I can take care of Willa for a night. And besides, Willa's already sleepin'."
They all looked over at the baby who had dozed off in her carrier. It was well past her bedtime.
"Oh, count me out," Anna interjected. "I got a text. I have to work tomorrow." Assistant Director Goodall called the task force back to work at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning. She made a face at Adam and mouthed the word 'bitch'.
"What do you say, Winnie?" Adam made up a new pet name for Winona. "Would you like to hang out with me and my bandmates for a while? I'll make sure you get back to your hotel safe and sound."
"Sure, go ahead, Winnie," Raylan chided. "Willa and I will be fine."
"Well . . ." Winona smiled. "Maybe I could go out. Just for a little while."
"Great," Adam smiled. "Let me get my jacket and guitar."
"While you're doing that, I'm going to go use the little girl's room," Winona said.
When the two were gone, Raylan looked over at Anna. "Are you okay with them goin' out like this?"
"Why? Are you worried about Winona with Adam?" Anna asked. "Because you don't need to be. They'll be fine."
"Then, I won't," he nodded. "Look, it's been real and all that. I really should be gettin' back to the hotel with Willa."
"Understood," she said, and she truly did understand. "But before you go."
She walked into the living room and pulled out an inhaler from the coffee table drawer.
"I told you I have allergies to D.C. tree pollen in the spring," she explained. "It can throw me into asthma. That wheezing sound you're making? Sounds like asthma."
"Really?" he asked. He'd never had asthma before.
"Yeah," she said. "I'm not a drug pusher, but if you really are related to me, and we share an allergic tendency . . . two puffs of this will open your airways for four to six hours. You could give it a try, since it's a Saturday night. Otherwise, you really do need to see a doctor."
Raylan took the inhaler and blew two puffs into his lungs like she said. It burned at first but then, he could breathe.
"Wow," he said. "That's amazin'." He handed it back to her.
"No. You hold onto that," she said. "I have several others. Maybe you can get in to see a doctor on Monday." After a beat she asked, "Are you two headed back to Atlanta tomorrow?"
"Uh, no," he explained. "We were originally headin' for Miami to go to visit Winona's mother. But then you came up. And as it turns out, I've been asked to take care of somethin' at the Marshals Service office in D.C. on Monday while I'm here." He decided to leave his explanation right there.
"I'm not sure what my schedule is going to be," she began.
"Look, Anna," Raylan stopped her. "I appreciate the hospitality and all. But I don't expect you and Adam to entertain us. Like you said, there's really no point in a lot of emotional investment . . . until we know the deal from the DNA report. I get that."
"Good," Anna sounded relieved. "Because I'm not so sure our significant others do."
Adam and Winona emerged and saw that Raylan was ready to leave with Willa. They decided to take a cab that would drop Raylan and Willa off first. Anna said her goodbyes to Raylan and Winona.
"Raylan?" Anna stopped him on the way out. Adam and Winona went on ahead to give them some privacy. "After meeting me in person, do you think there's a possibility that we are related?"
"Honestly?" Raylan said. "I don't trust myself enough to be able to tell. I think I see some things. I just don't know. How 'bout you?"
"I'm at the same place. Guess it's a good thing we decided to do the testing right away."
With Willa's carrier in one hand, Raylan put his other hand on Anna's shoulder and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Just in case we are," he said. "And if we are, it would be my pleasure to get to know ya' better."
"Likewise," Anna said, watching him leave with Willa and a parting grin.
"Goodnight," she said, unable to shake the uncertainty that she might, or might not, be watching a part of herself walking away.
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
"Ow!" Winona's muffled yelp woke Raylan from a fitful sleep. Groggy, he'd been dozing as he half-listened for her return.
"You okay?"
"Stubbed my toe on the dresser. Damn that hurts. How is Willa?"
"Fine, still asleep. Did ya' have fun?" he murmured without opening his eyes.
"Umm hmm." She kissed his cheek and sank onto the bed, kicking off her shoes.
"The band played at this cool bar in Georgetown," she gushed. "Lots of people, mostly our age. I was surprised. The bar reminded me of that place we used to go to down in Austin when we were livin' in Dallas. And the band is good! Adam plays guitar and does some singing, too. He has a nice voice. I really think you'd like them." She paused to take a deep breath. "Adam said since Anna has to work again tomorrow, he'd be happy to take us around and show us more of D.C. I'd really like to see the Lincoln Monument, and he wondered if you'd ever been to the Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian."
He rolled over onto his back and looked up at her. She was flushed and happy. He ran a hand down her arm. "You really wanna go, don't ya'?"
"Well, I'd like to see more of the city, and it might help keep your mind off your meeting with – what's her name?"
"Assistant Director Goodall." He moved one hand from her arm to cup a breast. "I know what could keep my mind off that right now," he said.
"I take it you're feeling better," she gazed down at him.
"Uh huh," he said. He gave a tug with his free hand and pulled her down on top of him, capturing her mouth.
Grinning, she broke the kiss, sliding her dress up so she could straddle him. "Well, we can't have you worrying about your Monday morning meeting on Saturday night."
"Technically, it's Sunday."
"Shut up, Cowboy." She slid a hand into his boxers and lowered her mouth back to his.
After, she snuggled against him, her head on his chest. "What did you think of Anna?"
He took a minute to answer. "She's nice."
She leaned up on an elbow, the better to see his face. "You're afraid to like her too much, aren't you? In case it turns out she's not your sister?"
He sighed. "Maybe. I don't know. I got the feeling there was somethin' she didn't want to tell us. We don't even know what she does."
"Hey now. You agreed when she said you shouldn't share too much."
"Yeah, but . . ."
"I think the DNA test is going to prove it," she said. "So does Adam."
"Oh? You talked about us?" He raised an eyebrow.
"A little, yeah. It's more than just physical stuff. Your personalities are similar. And Anna even has trouble sleeping sometimes, just like you."
"Everyone has trouble sleepin' sometimes," he said.
"True," Winona yawned, and her eyes slid to the port-a-crib. "Speaking of sleep, she's going to be up with the sun."
"Yep. You'd better get some shut eye." He kissed her and rolled onto his side, pulling her in to spoon against him. Within minutes, they were both sound asleep.
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
The next morning, Adam met them in the lobby of the hotel. He had his hair pulled back in a ponytail and wore faded jeans and a tight black t-shirt with a barcode printed in white on the front. Raylan had no idea what that was supposed to mean and didn't ask.
"Good morning," Adam said, holding out his hand to Raylan. "Looks like you're feeling better."
Raylan shook it. "I am, thanks."
"Good news," Adam went on, smiling as he held the door open for Winona pushing the stroller. "Annie is going to try to meet us for a late lunch or an early dinner. You all had breakfast, didn't you?"
"Yes, the hotel has a great buffet," Winona said. "I'm stuffed. And I brought a banana for Willa, just in case."
"Good. We're going to do some walking, but I think you'll enjoy it." They turned onto Constitution Avenue and walked west past the Museum of Natural History, the IRS, and the Department of Justice building. Raylan took over pushing the stroller so Winona could snap pictures along the way with her cell phone camera. The spire of the Washington Monument, braced by scaffolding, stood out against the blue morning sky.
"It's supposed to be finished soon," Adam said, pointing. "Earthquake damage."
They crossed 15th street and paused at the WWII Memorial. A group of old men, several in wheelchairs or with canes, were gathered in front for a photographer to take their picture. Some wore hats denoting their branch of the military, others had medals pinned to their jackets.
"They bring flights in from all over the country," Adam explained in a quiet voice. "They're called Freedom Honor Flights. Any veteran is eligible, but WWII and Korean vets get priority because they're dying out."
Raylan did the math in his head. In order to have served, all of these men had to be close to ninety. He slipped the Stetson off, a sign of respect as they walked past. They continued, walking along the right side of the reflecting pool towards the Lincoln Memorial. When they reached the bottom of the steps, Winona glanced up, then down at the stroller.
"I'll watch her," Adam offered. "I've seen the man many times. You two go on up."
Raylan hesitated, but Winona took his hand. "Come on," she said, tugging on him. They climbed the steps together and stood gazing up at the magnificent statue. Even though quite a few people were milling around, it was mostly silent.
"It's like being in church," Winona murmured.
Raylan turned, reading the words carved into the stone. "We hadta memorize the Gettysburg Address in eighth grade. Miss Barker made each of us recite it in front of the whole class. Johnny Crowder was so nervous, he threw up his lunch in the wastebasket."
"Eww." Winona screwed up her face. "You weren't nervous?"
"I was, but Helen told me to pick one person and just act like I was talkin' to just them. So, I stared at the back row and gave the whole speech to Becky Gorslin."
"A girl, of course," she teased, elbowing him. "Was she pretty?"
"Not as pretty as you." He reached over and grabbed her by her waist and brought her in for a squeeze.
"Smile," she said, pulling her cell phone out and leaning into him. She snapped a selfie with the statue of Lincoln in the background.
Raylan was just about to pull Winona in even closer for a kiss when he spied Adam in his peripheral vision, standing at the bottom of the Monument steps, bouncing Willa in his arms, and waving at them. Raylan thought that the guy looked like some kind of a goofy clown who sucked the romance right out of the moment.
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
The task force was called to resume at 10:00 a.m., given the luxury of an extra hour of sleep on Sunday. Late nights with no days off were fast becoming the norm from the leadership.
Bad coffee and stale donuts for breakfast with vending machine sandwiches for lunch, a courtesy of the combined Agencies' low budgets were also becoming the norm and a bore to Anna. So was missing her morning run. She was a finely tuned animal who functioned best on routine and discipline. Good food, good sleep, with regular exercise and sex made Anna hum. The Agency's protocol of feeding their agents caffeine and carbs, like Pavlov's dogs, made her restless, bloated, with a short fuse.
Her dear Adam tried to mitigate some of the damage by packing her a healthier breakfast and a lunch. Today, he packed a couple of hard boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, almonds, hummus, raw veggies, and a whole grain pita bread. She caught a lot of slack from some of the other taskforce members for eating 'twigs.'
There was a white board in the room with details of the organization being sketched in based on phone taps and intercepted email and message texts.
Assistant Director Karen Goodall was a taskmaster. Dressed in slacks and a Marshal Service polo shirt with her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, Anna thought she might be a nice looking woman if she wasn't such a ball buster. Goodall divvied up mountains of communications data among the three agencies to be analyzed each morning, and after lunch, she would gather them together and ask them to share their progress, usually resulting in hours of more data to analyze before they could be dismissed for the day.
Anna stared at the board and tapped her pencil on the desk. "Who's this guy?" She used the pencil as a pointer, indicating a name connected to Kendrick's by a red line. Squinting without her glasses, she read it out loud. "Leon Arndt."
One of the Homeland Security agents whose name she couldn't remember flipped open a folder and read in a monotone voice. "Leon Arndt, 39, 6' 5", 240. Associations include but are not limited to Aryan Nation, American Freedom Party, American Nazi Party. Lots of petty offenses as a juvie, escalating into his twenties. Finally served four years in Kentucky State Prison for assault. Left a guy in a coma. Runs in the family. Father died in prison and his brother, Karl Arndt, is in Big Sandy right now for attempted murder. Rumor is that now Leon's freelancing as a hired enforcer." He put the folder down and went back to the vending machine sandwich on his desk.
"I'll check with my Kentucky source and see if he's heard of him," Goodall said. She slid a glance at Anna but the FBI Agent gave no reaction. The Marshal glanced at her watch. "Alright, I said I'd try to get you out of here early today. We'll get back at it tomorrow. Eight o'clock sharp."
No one wasted any time, all of them leaving quickly, before Goodall, the taskmaster, could change her mind.
(To be continued . . .)