Chapter 15

Talitha was sitting in the lounge area new the pool. She was waiting for a call back from Chiam Fogelman regarding a request she had made for Mossad to gather any information they could about the Balkans. Her eyes were closed, and she had a smile on her face. She had talked with her husband and 4-year-old daughters a few hours ago. Her kids had told her all about their learning to ride horses. They had even gone so far to ask if they could get some horses when they got older. When she told them that they would talk about it the next time she was home, both her children started took a serious tone.

“Mommy, we have the room in the back yard.” Abigale told her.

“See? Abi, and I drew plans for a barn and everything.” Adele told her. She held up a crayon drawing for her mother to see. “It has everything we’ll need for a horse or horses.”

“I see that. Who drew the picture?” Talitha asked her daughters.

“We both helped draw it. Abi drew the picture while I told her where to put everything.” Adele told her.

“You girls are so smart. I am very proud of you both for doing this together.” She said wiping a tear from her eye.

“What’s wrong mommy?” the twins asked at the same time.

“Nothing my sweet girls. I just miss you, that’s all. Tell me about what kind of horse you think you want.” She asked them. That was another twenty minutes that she spent listening to them tell her about the different horses that they’ve ridden. Adele told her that she thought the appaloosa was pretty. Abigale told her that she like the Arabian the best. They were about to launch into another explanation of the Clydesdale, but Michael interrupted by telling them it was time for bed. “Send me an email and enclose some pictures of what you like. Also have your father scan your drawing and send it to me so I can look at it closer, ok my favorite daughters?”

“Ok mommy, we’ll get it finished this week.” Adele told her.

“We miss you mommy.” They both said at the same time and blew kisses to the computer screen.

Talitha, with tears in her eyes, kissed her hand and put it on the computer screen as they both stood up and went out of view. Michael sat down and started talking.

“How are you baby?” He asked her.

“I am tired and ready to come home.” She told him. “I am ready to quit right now and come home to you and the girls.”

“We both know you have to finish what you’re doing. You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.” He told her.

“I hate that you know me so well husband.” She told him.

“I wouldn’t be the man you love if I didn’t, wife. Promise me something please.” Michael asked her.

“Anything my love.” Tali responded.

“No more after this.” He replied.

“I swear to you, this is the last time.” Talitha said trying her best to hold back her emotions. “You and our girls are my heart and my life. I love you Michael”

“I love you more Talitha. Be safe wherever you are, and I’ll talk to you soon.” Michael said to her.

She disconnected the call, sat back on the couch, and cried.

Talitha was snapped back to reality when her phone rang. “Hello Chiam.”

“How are you Talitha?” Director Fogelman asked her.

“I am missing my children and husband very badly right now.” She told him.

“It is good that you have them. Your father showed me pictures from their time in Pittsburgh. Your girls are growing so fast.” Chiam told her.

“They want horses now. They even drew a picture of the barn they would want to keep them in.” She told him with a smile.

“You will have to show them my Arabians when you come see your parents next time. By the way, your father says to tell you that he is adding the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich to the menu at his restaurant.” Chiam told her.

“I knew he would love it.” She replied with a slight giggle.

“I am going over this weekend to try it myself.” Chiam told her.

“Please email me and let me know how you like it.” Tali told him.

“Sorry to change the subject, but I have what you asked for.” Chiam told her. “Our contacts in Kosovo and Bosnia looked at some of the camps near the Serbian border with Croatia. We have some reports that they are looking at what you asked about, but so far there is nothing other than talk. Our contacts in northern Greece have likewise heard nothing. They think that this was isolated and maybe Director Richards might have jumped the gun so to speak.”

“I had that thought also, but Denise has assured me that he is rarely wrong when it comes to his intuition.” Talitha told him.

“Very well, we shall have our contacts keep watch and listen for any more chatter regarding Viking or anything related to Spain.” Chiam told her.”

“Thank you, Director. I will relay our conversation to Denise. Please give father and mother my love when you see them.” She replied.

“I will. My love to your family.” Chaim told her as they disconnected the call.

Denise, Dominic, and Robert had left early that morning for Valencia. They were meeting Jack Turner to pick up Lana’s new passport and identity paperwork. Dominic was asleep, stretched out in the back while Denise drove, and Robert was just looked out the window deep in thought.

I’ll give you a quarter for your thoughts.” Denise said to him.

“I’m thinking about a cabin in the north that mom and I used to go on vacation when we could get away. It was a nice place. It sat overlooking the valley and it was beautiful when it snowed.” Robert told her.

“How many times did you and she visit the cabin growing up?”

“About a dozen. She always told me it was therapeutic for her since dad loved the mountains more than the city.” Robert told her. “Dad was from Ashville North Carolina and wanted to move back there after I was born.”

“Why didn’t your family make the move?” Denise asked.

“Mom told me that Dad got a promotion and it enabled them to start saving for my college fund. So, they stayed in Jacksonville and he worked.” Robert replied.

“He sounds like an awesome father, Robert.” She said to Robert.

“He was. He put his family first in all things and always made sure that we were taken care of.” Robert replied. “I think for Christmas I’m going to give mom and her new boyfriend a week at that cabin.”

“I bet they’d love that brother.” Dominic said sitting up. “How long has it been since you or she were up there?”

“It was before I left for the Navy that we went. We spent the weekend there and I left for boot two days after I we returned.” Robert said as he started to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Denise asked him.

“I’m remembering the last thing mom told me when I walked into the recruiter’s office to ship out.” He told her. “Be sure that you look behind you before you bend over to pick the soap.” The three of them laughed after he spoke.

Thirty minutes later they were sitting at a café on the beach in Valencia Spain talking with Jack Turner. He handed Denise Svetlana’s new identity and other paperwork she needed.

“Katerina Cirillo. born in Thessaloniki Greece, Mother and father deceased, no living relatives.” Denise said looking at the paperwork for Lana’s new Identity.

“Director Richards told me to tell you that us and MI6 have already run her ID through every western agency and nothing other than what’s in the paperwork comes up. So, your friend will be safe unless she gets careless.” Jack told her.

“Where is she being put?” Denise asked her.

“Saint Etienne. Her profile said she speaks French, so it won’t be a stretch for her to fit in. A small house was acquired for her outside the city.” Jack told her.

“Did you get her a car as well?” Denise asked.

“It’ll be taken care of when she’s turned over to relocation in Paris.” Jack told her.

“Tell them not to worry about getting her one, she can afford to buy her own.” Denise told him with a smirk. “Has there been any word about Viking?”

“Not on our end. We know that Aman, Mossad, and MI6 are quietly looking into it. Hell, even the DGSE is in the hunt.” Jack told her.

“Who asked the French to look into this?” Denise asked.

“Apparently the DGSE owe Director Haspel a favor from last year when we gave them the information on who was really responsible for the truck attacks that summer in Paris.” Jack told her. “I guess the Director cashed in her favor.”

“I guess more is better than less in this case.” Denise told her.

“If it were my life, I would think. the same thing.” Jack told her. “Director Richards is going to ask me how you and your crew are doing...”

“We’re good. We’ve been maintaining a security posture, but we’ve seen nothing that would indicate that we’re being watched.” Denise told her.

“I’ll let him know then.” Jack told her. He reached into a bag at his feet and pulled out a plastic container and handed it to Denise. “These are for you and whoever else you share them with.”

Denise took it and looked inside. “German Bee Sting cake?” She asked Jack.

“Letty remembered it was your favorite.” Jack said to her.

“Please give her an extra strong hug and tell her I said she’s the best.” Denise told her. She looked up and noticed that Robert was tapping his watch. “I hate to do it, but we have to get going. We’re going to start questioning Katerina again this week, so please tell the higher ups that we’ll have something for them in the next couple days.” She told Jack as she stood.

“I’ll do that. You be careful out there.” He said as he gave her a knuckle bump.

“You’re hanging out for a bit?” She asked.

“I missed breakfast when I left this morning, so I’m going to get some lunch and then take off.” Jack said. “Oh, I almost forgot, there’s something in that envelope for you as well from the Department of the Navy. And no, you’re not in trouble.”

Denise looked at the envelope with a puzzled look but decided to worry about it later. “You take care Jack.” She said as she walked off.

Jack watched as Robert and Dominic stood up at the same time and walked out behind her. When they were gone, he looked around for a server and signaled her to order.

Back in Coma Ruga, Lana, David, Laura, and Steven were all downtown at the store getting groceries. David and Lana were looking at the produce while Steven and Laura were next door at the butchers.

Lana was squeezing the mangos looking for the perfect ones. David was discretely watching the people and situations around them.

“How do these look to you?” Lana asked David.

He turned to look at the fruit for a moment. He squeezed a couple pieces of fruit. “Honestly, I’ve always been the type that buys fruit that is almost ripe, that way they have a longer life to be eaten.” He told her.

“Great minds think alike.” She said to him.

“Grab any of the middle ones. They are almost perfect.” He told her.

She picked up 4 mangos and put them in a bag. “I will show you how to make my favorite dessert tonight.” She told him.

“Are you cooking tonight?” David asked her.

“I am making Shashlik.” She told him.

“I’m not familiar with that.” David replied.

“Shish kababs with veggies and Sauerkraut. My mother taught me how to prepare this.” Lana told David.

“Sauerkraut?” He asked.

“The sauerkraut adds flavor to the spices that are mixed in shashlik. You will like it, trust me.” She asked him.

“What does it...” David started to ask her but noticed that she was looking across the street. He turned to see what she as looking at and noticed that two of the men from the other day were watching the store. “If they start to move this way, crawl under the stand and stay hidden. Whatever happens out here, don’t move and don’t make a sound, ok?” He told her. She was nodding her head as David pulled his cell out and called Steven.

“We see them. The one on the left is the one that I talked to in the drink bar.” Steven told the FBI man.

“I didn’t see them when we came in.” He told Steven.

“No, they weren’t there. Laura noticed them when we walked in here to get dry food.” Steven told him.

“How do you want to handle it?” David asked.

“We’re three stores up from you. Can you make it to us?” Steven asked.

“Give us two minutes to get going.” David replied.

“Laura is going to stand outside and watch for you and to see what they do, if she doesn’t see you in 2 minutes, we’re coming to you.” He told her.

“Roger that.” David replied disconnecting the call. He looked for Lana and found her talking to the owners of the shop. She had paid for the fruit and was watching for him out of the corner of her eye. He started to the front of the store and she walked slowly with him out the front of the store.

“If you need me to move faster, I can.” She told David.

“No, we want to see what they do, so we’ll move at your pace.” He replied.

Svetlana was off her crutches now but was wearing a brace to keep her ankle immobilized as much as possible. They walked slow up the street till they saw Laura standing on the sidewalk. She nodded her head as they walked into the store where Steven was. Steven was busy talking to the manager of the store about what was in the back alley.

Steven turned and looked at David and Lana. “This is Manuel, he runs the store. He says that the alley way has a right turn and comes out on the next street over. What do you think?”

“I think that we need to make sure that the other two aren’t in the area. I’d be an unhappy camper if we underestimated these guys.” David told him.

“Yeah I agree.” Steven replied.

At that moment, Laura came walking back in. “The two that were watching David and Lana are now sitting with two others. I would guess they would be co-workers?”

“And that saves us from figuring out where the others are.” David said with a smirk.