Chapter 50: A Time for Hunting

“The guy who put the contract out on you has finally made a mistake,” Reggie said with an evil grin. “I think it’s time for us to go hunting!”

“What?” I asked in surprise. It was just a month ago that Reggie was telling me to wait.

“The guy that ordered the bomb on the Serendipity has a home in Fort Lauderdale. It’s a medium level security compound with over a dozen armed guards. Our information says that he will be there, entertaining some of his people, a week from Monday and we think that the person who actually planted the bomb should be one of his guests,” Reggie explained.

“What’s his name? And do you know why he did it?” I asked.

“His name is Obnizov, Dmitri Obnizov. He’s an eastern European arms dealer and it seems that one of his companies was about to close a big deal with the US Navy for Faraday cages for fighting ships. He bet the farm on the technology and it was looking good until somebody fried seven naval vessels that had been equipped with these cages.

“Word on the street is that the Navy has pulled their order for the Faraday cages which has thrown the entire Obnizov empire into financial chaos. In retaliation, Obnizov hired Zahrat Alsahra, otherwise known as the Desert Flower. She’s a highly paid assassin from the Middle East and she was supposedly hired to kill you and as many of your family and friends as possible.”

“Whoa! This guy is some serious shit!” I exclaimed.

“Our analysts think that this is the first time the Desert Flower has ever failed when executing a contract. We also believe she has been making inquiries in Atlanta, Paris, Monte Carlo, and Cannes lately. Last week, we sent a simple email about renting a villa in the Greek Isles for an American Student for this week. Sunday, we found a bomb planted behind a fake wall in the closet.”

“This is sounding pretty bad. Are my folks okay?” I asked.

“The Foundation takes the security of you and your family very seriously, Alex. And, after talking with Reggie and several other analysts, they all agreed that one of the safest places for you and your family, was at sea,” Cynthiana explained,

I was surprised at the thought, but then realized that she might have a point.

“So as of this morning, you have effectively purchased a Bering 120. It’s hull number two, and her sea trials were completed last year. It’s being gone over at the Bering Shipyards in Antalya, Turkey. It should be finished sometime today or tomorrow. Alfred, Archara and their girls are picking it up in Antalya tomorrow and should arrive here next week. My assumption is that your mom and sisters will join you on board for wherever you decide to go.”

“What about my dad?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, he’ll be starting his new job on Monday. If I had to guess, I’d say that he will probably join you somewhere in route,” Cynthiana explained.

“His new job?” I asked.

“Yes. He has agreed to become the senior pilot for the foundation’s newest plane, a customized Boeing 767-400ER.”

“Wow!” was all I could say. “What about us going hunting?”

“Well, it seems that Dmitri Obnizov’s fortress/home is on the seventh hole at the Oceanside Country Club and he has called in all his main people for a meeting starting next Sunday. It just so happens that there is a US Open qualifying event at the Oceanside Country Club next Monday. And we know that he already has two dozen gallery tickets for the event,” Cynthiana explained.

“So we’re going to go dressed as spectators and sneak up on him?” I asked. “I’ve always wanted to see a qualifying event.”

“Not exactly,” Cynthiana faltered. “You won’t be able to see a lot because you are registered to play in the event.”

Reggie and I were on the back terrace discussing his plans for the event next Monday.

He asked me many questions about my range, speed, angle of attack, and anything else he could think of concerning my hitting a golf ball. He never said exactly what he was looking for, but I had an idea. He kept emphasizing that his plans were still in the preliminary stages and I should focus on hitting the golf ball.

His biggest concern out of everything was whether or not I could actually go through with killing another human being. I had only to think of what they did to Cécile to know I would not hesitate.

Cynthiana had registered me for the qualifying event in my own name, partly because I was entered on the strength of my Korn Ferry showing last December in the Bahamas. But also because we figured it would draw the attention of the Desert Flower and focus her energies there instead of on my family and friends.

My bigger concern was playing golf in a US Open qualifying event. I kept going from, ‘Oh my god! What if I make it to the next round?’ to ‘Oh my god! What if I fail?’

“The last place you saw your clubs was in Texas, and I sent someone to find them and bring them to Florida,” Reggie explained. “They should be there by the time we arrive. We have you scheduled for a practice round on Wednesday, and possibly a second round on Thursday. We just have to figure out how to keep you alive until the next Monday,” Reggie said.

“Oh,” I said. I had been busy thinking about the golf and forgot about the assassin that was still coming for me.

“Cynthiana has arranged that your name will not be announced to the press until late Friday, so your practice rounds should be relatively safe.”

“That sounds smart,” I said.

“I want you to concentrate on your game and let me and my crew take care of your security,” Reggie continued. “I’ll have about a half-dozen agents hidden around the course and your practice round will give us the chance to work out the kinks. However, you’ll have to be on your toes because Dmitri Obnizov lives on the course.”

“Obviously,” I replied sardonically. “Nothing like a little pressure there.”

“Let me ask you a question. Do you think you could play in body armor?” he asked.

“Probably, but not very well,” I replied.

“Oh, well. We’ll think of something.”

Later, I was lying on my bed when there was a knock on the open door frame.

“May I come in?” Roland asked. “I’d like to talk to you.”

“Please. Be my guest,” I said as I sat on the side of the bed and Roland took the only chair that was in the room.

“I’m not exactly sure how to say this, And I’ll hope you’ll take it without getting mad,” he started.

I felt myself becoming apprehensive as he continued.

“But I have talked this over with Carina and shared my concerns with her and we would like to ask you not to see her any more for the time being.”

I couldn’t help it! My anger and my misery surfaced at the same time and the lights began to flicker throughout the whole house.

“What! Why?” I cried loudly.

“Alex!” he said sternly. “Calm yourself and hear me out.” Then he waited as I fought to get myself under control.

“I love my wife and I am coming to love the child that she carries. I would do anything in my power to keep her safe, even if it means distancing her from you. You have to admit that you are not the safest person in the world to be around...” Roland stammered.

I began to feel my temper rising. Roland was trying to separate me from the mother of my child! Suddenly, the lamp beside the bed exploded!

“There ... there,” Carina spoke soothingly to me. I didn’t even hear her enter the room. Carina then straddled my legs the way she had done so many times and hugged me to her. I could feel the slight baby bump of her protruding tummy through the light top she was wearing.

“Alex, we are only thinking of the safety of the baby,” Roland whined again.

“Shut up, Roland!” Carina commanded. “I told you to let me handle this! Now, get out!”

Roland hesitated like he wasn’t going to leave. “But...” he started.

“Out!” she commanded again, even more sternly.

Finally he rose and made his way to the door, then looked back like he was going to speak again.

“I SAID I would handle this!” Carina said fiercely. Roland just turned and went down the hallway.

I felt myself calming as Carina, still straddling my lap, whispered soothing words in my ear. After a while, I felt myself under control.

“Why?” I asked her. “Has Roland become jealous of what we share?” I asked.

“Maybe a little,” she allowed. “Since you disappeared after the explosion in Martinique, I guess that I have become a little more clingy, what with the baby, and the hormones and all. I think that we have become even closer as well. It seems that Roland and I did not have the luxury of being this close when I was pregnant with Mischa and Philippe. I always had my schooling and Roland was busy establishing his practice.”

“I don’t think that is a bad thing,” I told her. “In fact, if he had put it like that, that he was falling in love with you again, I would have understood.”

“I don’t think that even Roland, with all his abilities and experience has seen it like that. But somehow, I knew you would,” Carina said softly, the tears coming to her eyes. “And yes, I too, believe that we are falling in love again. More in love, I mean.”

“Well, what he said is true enough. I am a dangerous person to be around right now. But somehow, I will get through this and I promise, I will do everything in my power to keep you and our unborn child safe!” I pledged.

“You really have matured since I saw you last,” she told me. “And I am so proud of the man I see you becoming. It thrilled me that you would sacrifice yourself to save that mother and child back in Texas!”

I shrugged. I didn’t know what to say. So we just sat there, with me holding her on my lap as we had done so many times before. I had already resolved to do as they wished and keep my distance as Roland had asked. And I told her so.

Carina started crying in earnest now and I just hugged her to me as I rubbed her back.

“I think you should go now,” I finally said to her. “After all, I still love you and I only have so much will power.” Then I gently lifted her off my lap and to her feet. Placing my hands on her shoulders, I turned her to face the door, and giving her ass a little pat I gently pushed her out of the room. It was all I could do to stop myself from kissing her before she left.

Cynthiana found me in the rose garden, sitting on one of the ornate benches that were scattered along the winding trail through the rose gardens. I had been going over in my mind, all the time I had spent in their lovely French villa in the last year, and all the work I had done with Roland. It had been a very intense seven months. It wasn’t until we sailed across the Atlantic with the Fourreaus that I had really gotten to know the rest of the Rappeneau family.

Sitting down beside me, she said nothing. I waited. I knew she had something to say, else she wouldn’t have sought me out.

Finally, she took a deep breath. “Roland and Carina came to talk with me. They told me what you said.”

I just looked at her, silently urging her to go on.

“I haven’t decided if it is the right thing to do or not, but it was certainly a very mature thing to do,” she told me.

We sat there together a little longer in silence, each of us with our own thoughts. Finally, she stood to go. But then she turned to me.

“Alex, when I selected you to be my apprentice, I felt that I had made a good choice. But based on your actions since the bombing of the Serendipity, I know I made the right choice!” Then she walked away. I just stared in the direction she had gone, gently musing over what she had just said.

That night, I called my mom on Reggie’s secure phone. I didn’t give her many details, but told her where I was and that I would be leaving tomorrow. I also told her to do as Cynthiana requested, for their safety, promising that we would be together soon. Then I told her about Aunt Jenna and Emily and urged her to call them, but not to speak about me. Finally, I told her I loved her and to be sure to watch the Golf Channel, if she could.

There was a soft knock on my door late that night and then the door began to open silently. A voice gently called out, “I’m cold.”

I simply held up the covers as Carina came to a stop beside the bed. She was wearing a thin shift that she eased over her head and quickly climbed in beside me, totally naked.

After we kissed for a moment ... Okay, it was a very long moment ... she pulled away.

“Alex, Roland and I talked. I told him what you said,” she told me. “You know what he told me?”

“Uh, no...” I answered.

“He said that you are, without a doubt, the greatest psychiatrist he has ever known. And that he was sorry for the way he handled things with you. Then he sent me to you that we might have one more night together.”

Carina was gone when I woke up Sunday morning.

After my shower, I redressed in yesterday’s scrubs and grabbed some spare clothes that I had left here from last year and threw them in an old pack and then went down to breakfast.

Cynthiana and Reggie were there with Andreza. I grabbed a cup of coffee and a croissant and settled at the table beside them as they discussed our plans. They had decided that we would fly to Orlando and take a car down to Fort Lauderdale. This would keep the company plane from being recognized at the airport in Fort Lauderdale.

Reggie was taking Andreza and four other agents with us. I had the feeling that Reggie already had other agents on the ground in Florida.

They had rented an airbnb near the country club. Tomorrow, Monday, Andreza would take me shopping for clothes and such for the qualifying round, and if my clubs arrived, we would find a course nearby for me to practice on. We left Tuesday open for final planning and maybe some time on the range. Of course, Wednesday would be my first practice round at Oceanside Country Club and the hunt would be on.

We arrived at the airbnb safely Sunday afternoon, although my body clock said it was time for bed. So after supper at a local pizza place, that’s exactly where I headed.

Monday morning after a breakfast of fruit, pastries, coffee, and fresh-squeezed orange juice, Andreza and I headed out to do some shopping. If I thought I was getting out from under Isabelle’s iron guidance, I was mistaken. Isabella had given Andreza firm instructions, so once more, I found myself saying “Yes, Ma’am,” a lot as I followed her through several different stores.

By lunch time, I had enough clothes for the week so we returned to the airbnb. I quickly cut off the tags and threw the new clothes in the wash. All except the board shorts which I threw on and made my way to the pool out back. It was enclosed in a screen mesh, presumably to keep the mosquitoes and other varmints at bay and I swam laps until Andreza called me for lunch. It was toasted ham and cheese sandwiches with a spicy tomato soup. I loved it! I later found out that she had mixed half tomato soup with half V-8 juice.

Since my clubs hadn’t arrived, I opted for a nap, hoping to get my body clock acclimated to Eastern Daylight time.

It was around four o’clock when I awoke and after a quick shower, I dressed and went out to the kitchen to find that my clubs had arrived. Andreza and I loaded the clubs and some bottled waters and took off for the Grande Oaks Golf Club nearby.

Grande Oaks features an 18-hole championship golf course and a 40-acre practice facility, called the Grande Oaks Golf Academy. It’s bigger claim to fame is that it was where the movie ‘Caddyshack’ was filmed some thirty-odd years ago, back in 1980, when the course was known as Rolling Hills Country Club.

I spent the next two hours on the driving range and then thirty minutes on the putting green, just trying to get my game back. I was rusty and made up my mind that I was coming back tomorrow, regardless. I needed it. And while I did look, I never spotted any groundhogs.

That night, around a casual supper of barbequed ribs and pulled pork (along with corn on the cob, potato salad, and coleslaw), Reggie and the five agents discussed their observations out at Oceanside Country Club. Specifically, the 7th green.