Kathy cocked her eye at Jack and said, “Okay. Remember you asked for it. I had a good upbringing. No traumas of any kind. No family drama. We weren’t rich, but I don’t remember ever wanting for much. I have two brothers, one just a year older than I am. We were very close. He’s the one who was killed visiting the Twin Towers on September 11. That’s the reason I hate the Muslim terrorists so much. It is a war and I am ready to fight it. The other brother is two years younger and is not much for keeping in touch with family.
“I was the tomboy of my crowd and maybe the pack leader. I was a good tennis player and won a couple of state tournaments in my early teens. I’ve always liked sports and need to keep active. I’m quite good in the water but not in Anita’s class. I won some events in high school which, by the way, was in Chapel Hill. When I graduated, I went to the University of North Carolina also in Chapel Hill, and majored in political science, languages, boys, pizza and beer. School work was easy. CIA contacted me through the head of my department my senior year and made me an offer. It sounded great and it was. Excellent training with a feeling of belonging to an organization that cared about me.
“If you were good and a bit lucky, good assignments and promotions came quickly. I was always good at languages, which helped me get posted to Russia and the Middle East. Work was everything and I loved it. Not much time or opportunity for long-term relationships.
“Romances were short and sweet. Not many people know this, but I was married once. It lasted six months and then I was out of there. I wasn’t about to have to fight the jerk I married every time he had a few drinks and wanted to prove his manhood. The last time I hurt him pretty badly. It was ugly. Anyway I got away. Not too much baggage and I still like to be around men rather than women.
“My father died while I was in Moscow, and two years later my mother was in the beginning phase of Alzheimer’s. When she worsened, I moved her to a full care facility in Richmond, Virginia. CIA was good enough to assign me to Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, so I could visit her nearly every weekend. Her care was taking most of my paycheck and a Headquarters tour for me was not the same as being an overseas operative. Too much red tape, wringing of hands over legal issues and far too much management from the Congressional Oversight Committees. Those people don’t understand what a war on terrorism means or what it takes to fight it. I was getting restless when the wonderful man, who runs the Counter Terrorism Center at CIA, told me he knew of a great job with an organization on the outside with good pay and a need for people like me and asked was I interested? Yes! Yes! I was interested. And when I met you and we talked about the job, I thought these kinds of opportunities are rare in life. I’m glad to be working with you and Anita. And thanks to you I have more than enough money to pay my mother’s medical expenses.
“My mother is now pretty far gone. The doctors tell me she will not live out this year. Mom hasn’t recognized me for over a year. To me, in one sense, she died a while ago. We were very close.”
Jack could see a few tears running down Kathy’s face, handed her a Kleenex, and said, “I’m very sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”
“Nonsense, Jack Brandon! Talking is good for me. I seldom do it. I must feel very safe revealing my innermost secrets to you. Anyway what you heard is my story. I am challenged and happy working with you and Anita, who is a wonderful piece of work. I probably wouldn’t have stayed at the CIA. I clashed several times with the process people. I want to believe that you will keep me as part of this wonderful group of people. Oh, and I like my name and don’t like shortcuts like Kat. Okay?”
“Hey! So Kathy it is. Anyway I like your work. I’m glad you are here. As my father taught me, change is inevitable, and good leadership knows when to make the changes. Just between us, I’m not sure what or where we will be in five years. I want the Yuri network finished, one way or the other. Then we can regroup for the future.”
“Thanks for being so candid with me. Promise you’ll give me a long notice, if you don’t need me or want me around anymore.”
“You got it. I had two reasons for asking you to make this trip with me. I wanted to talk to you and get to know you better, and I wanted to checkout your widespread reputation as a driver.”
The radar detector chirped and a female voice said, “KU band detected.” Kathy braked hard to get down to seventy mph. “The sneak must be just around the next curve. Yep, there he is,” pointing to a squad car hidden near the top of a grassy bank. “My fuzz buster just saved you a bunch of money.”
A short time later Jack said, “Traveling at warp speed is tiring me out. Is it okay if I take a little nap?”
Kathy nodded her head. Focused on the road and impatiently scanning for the squad’s possible companion, she didn’t even notice Jack dropping off. They were just passing Savannah after eight hours of driving when Jack blinked and noted the speedometer was holding steady at just over 100 mph.
Seeing he was awake, she said, “Okay, sleepy head, how about buying your driver something to eat? Shadow is also awake and hungry. A decent truck stop is at the next exit open 24/7. We should be on Amelia Island by 3:00 a.m. unless you want to drive again.”
“Sure, it’s okay – if you can slow down to 60 before we hit the parking lot.”
“Coward.”
***
Facts and Fictions 