Langley, Conrad, 2005
"You're going to have to make good on this one with me, Director." It's a threat, a very clear one from what I know about this man. I take a moment to weigh my options.
"You can find her in Hosseinia. I'll send you the exact coordinates of her safe house." I've reached the point of no return. I'm not sure how I get myself out of this now, I never should have helped him skirt the sanctions. How did I not see what he was capable of? It's my job to know people.
"Good, I want her dossier while you're at it too." I nod although he can't see me in this payphone booth. I never thought I'd sell out another agent, let alone an agent I consider a friend.
*Iraq, Elizabeth, 2005
My lungs can't take it anymore. Every time I get a reprieve from the water, I cough so hard it feels like my ribs might break from the force. At first I remembered my training, and I was able to breathe through it, but I've lost that control now on bucket fifteen.
"Stop." The British one says in Arabic. I hear heavy booted footsteps walk across the room, getting closer and closer to me. The chair I'm in is suddenly raised up from its reclined position. The man is standing behind me, his hands running up my shoulders and onto my neck under the bag. His touch is light, but threatening. He eases the bag off of my head, making sure not to rip it from where it is sticking to the cut on my hairline. His gentleness confuses me. My eyes are adjusting to the light as he walks around and sits in a chair opposite to me. He takes out a pack of cigarettes and lights one with a rather ornate zippo.
"Tell me about your mission." I say nothing, I just try to stare through him.
"Not ready to talk about that, that's okay." He takes a piece of paper out of his pocket and I watch in horror as he turns in around.
"Are these your children, Elizabeth?" I try not to give it away, but he must sense my pain.
"Do you ever want to see them again?" I feel a tear run down my cheek. How could I not want to see them again? My perfect children that Henry and I made together out of pure love. I feel myself nodding.
"Good. That means you'll do anything to get out of here." And I might. I want to, but I will not sell out my country to this man. Not to a man who would so willingly use my babies against me like that.
"What are their names?" I don't answer. I will not have him invade this part of my life.
"Elizabeth, I will tell you how this is going to work. I will ask a question. You will then answer that question. If you do not answer, there will be consequences. I'm being nice, really, starting off with easy questions. So, what are their names?" I think about it for a moment, but it must have been a moment too long. There is suddenly a searing pain on my neck. It's a cigarette.
"What are their names?" I see the other man who's yet to identify himself raise another cigarette to his lips to light.
"Blair, Marie, and Thomas" I lie. He catches it quickly, he looks up at the other man and gives him a nod. I brace myself for another burn, this one comes close to the last one.
"Try again." He says flippantly. I don't want to waste all my energy avoiding this line of questioning.
"Stephanie, Allison, and Jason." He smiles and I realize that he knows more about me than just my name.
Catholic University, Henry, 2005
Time stops. Everything stops. The second I see two suits walk into the lecture hall, my heart falls and my breath hitches. There is only one reason they would be here.
"That's all for today." I tell my class full of seminary students. My eyes don't leave the two men. The two men that will tell me my world is destroyed. As the lecture hall clears, the two men slowly descend the stairs to my desk.
"Dr. McCord?" I nod, not quite able to find my voice.
"We're Agents Garland and Patterson with the CIA. We regret to inform you sir that your wife Agent McCord, died in an IED attack outside of Bagdad, yesterday morning." I feel my knees give out as I lean onto my desk. I want to deny it, tell them that it couldn't possibly be my Elizabeth. There is still so much we want to do together. Our kids are still so little. She wouldn't leave them without a mother.
"We are able to inform you, that her remains are able to be retrieved and repatriated to the US. You will receive a phone call regarding the flight information later this week." The actual physical aching I have in my chest now comes as a surprise.
"Again, we're very sorry for your loss." As both agents walk away, I think about how fucked up it is that they can come here and change the entire course of my life, and then just walk away.
Carnegie Mellon University, Henry 2014
Its been three days since I called the mystery woman at George Peters' request. I had to leave a voicemail with her assistant, and I have yet to receive a call back. I can't get the idea that she is someone important out of my head. I've been thinking a lot about Elizabeth these past few days. It has to be the trip to DC. When George told me that this Lisa could have more information about Elizabeth's death my heart skipped a beat. If there is more information out there I need to find it. I feel like Elizabeth never got any justice, the war just kind of ended and terrorism isn't stopping any time soon. I owe it to her to figure it out.
I open Google, I need to find more information on Lisa Aldin. I type her name and location into the search bar. There aren't many hits, and notably no social media. I find that weird considering even I have a Facebook page. I click on a LA Times article about a murder case, in which she was an investigative witness for the defense. I read the article, transcripts of her testimony are included. She seems incredibly intelligent and logical. I look for a picture of her, but there isn't one.
"Hey, Dr. McCord." My colleague startles me away from my mostly fruitless search.
"What's up Donnie?"
"I was just wondering if you would be interested in going to the Symposium on Transubstantiation and Eucharistic Adoration in LA next week. I won't be able to make it. I know its short notice." I chuckle a little. For some reason or another the Universe seems to be forcing me there.
"Sure."