Chapter 21

Tuesday evening Veteran’s support group meeting

Trisha Masters was sitting in a chair waiting for the meeting to begin. She was wearing an earbud so Simone would communicate with her.

“How’s it looking so far?” Simone asked.

“Very well organized. Symanski is personally welcoming everyone that comes to the meeting, and she appears to be genuinely interested in them.” Trisha told her.

“What makes you say that?”

“When I got here, she actually took the time to ask about me and a bit about my background. She was curious about why I was there and what I expected to get out of the meeting tonight.” Trisha explained.

“Our intelligence says that she is serious about this group and that she does actually care about the vets in the area,” Simone told her.

“Huh ... A Russian agent that cares about American vets, who’d have thought?”

“She’s Ukrainian Trisha...” Simone told her. “ ... and probably doesn’t like to be called Russian.”

“Probably not...” She stood up, slid the earbud into the pocket of her jeans, and went to get a refill on her coffee. When she got to the table, she ran into another woman who was doing the same. Both of them reached for the cups at the same time. “I’m sorry, please go ahead,” Trisha told the woman.

The woman took two cups and handed one to Trisha. “Thank you ... I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before.”

“This is my first meeting with this group. A friend of mine told me about it, saying that it was one of the better support groups for vets. So, I drove up from Richmond tonight to check it out.” Trisha told her.

“I’ve been coming here since my husband was killed three years ago in Iraq. It’s been a huge help to me ... Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Geneve Lillington.” She said holding her hand out.

Trisha took it and spoke. “Trisha Masters, a pleasure to meet you Geneve.”

“My friends call me Lilly for short, so please call me that.” She said with a smile. “Since this is your first time, why don’t you sit with me. I promise I won’t embarrass you if I speak.”

“I’d like that, thank you.” She said walking off to join her.

Simone, Mike, and Angus were watching through a video feed from the church security system as the meeting started. Hanna got up and spoke first welcoming them to the group and thanking them for coming. Her accent was not as bad as they thought it would be.

“What do you think so far Simone?” Mike asked her.

“She’s setting it up like an AA meeting. The chairs are in a circle and no one has a position of dominance. Trisha’s right though, she’s taking the time to talk to everyone that comes in.”

“Here you go...” Angus told them. “Geneve Lillington, wife to SFC Richard Lillington who was killed near Al Asad airbase by an ISIS sniper. Survived by his wife, two daughters, and one son.”

“Can you get facial recognition on anyone else in there in case she has help from behind the iron curtain?” Mike asked him.

“Sure thing, it won’t take long.” He replied.

Mike and Simone went back to watching the group meeting.

“This is your time to talk to those that understand and know what you’re going through. Please feel free to share whatever you want to share. If you want to talk about how hard your day was, say what you want to. No one will judge you and no one will make fun of you. The only thing I ask of you is that ALL of you have an open mind. Someone might have a better coping mechanism than what you’re using now. As usual, politics as a topic are off-limits as is your latest female conquest ... John Rico...” She said looking at one person in the back. The group as a whole laughed as Rico blushed.

“I promise Doc, no new conquest stories...” He replied.

“Thank you. So, with that, is there anyone that would like to start?” She asked.

Trisha watched as people spoke up and ran the gauntlet of subjects they wanted to talk about. One retired navy man from Vietnam talked about how his unit was having a 50-year reunion but he wasn’t sure he would go. Another man stood and reminded him about all the shit they went through together. Another asked how many of his mates were actually left and then pointed out that it would be therapeutic to laugh about the good times and not dwell on the bad times. When he was finished, he had shed a few tears and promised the group that he’d go and bring pictures back to show. They all applauded him.

Hanna spoke after they exchange. “For those of you that are new to this group, what you just witnessed is what this group is all about. Veterans helping other veterans or spouses of those killed in action to get by where you need it.” She looked at the Vietnam vet and smiled. “I cannot speak for the rest of the group, but I for one look forward to seeing the pictures of your brothers when you return...” She stopped speaking and waited for the next person.

“I’d like to share if I could,” Lilly said raising her hand. “My oldest child, who turned 12 recently, shocked me last weekend. You’re going to have to bear with me, it’s a long way around to the point.” She said with a smile. “She brought me a picture of Richard from when he graduated Ranger school. She was proud of that picture because that was the first one, she was able to take with her own camera. But what shocked me the most was what she asked me after we talked about it...” Lilly paused to wipe a tear away. “She asked me how long she should mourn for her father. I asked her why she asked me that, and she told me that she was just curious.

Trisha looked around the room at people wiping tears from their eyes. Lilly’s own eyes were misting up again, so she pushed a tissue into her hand.

“Thank you...” She said clearing her eyes. “She sat down like an adult and we actually had a conversation about the grieving process. She asked me how much worse it was when it was your husband rather than your father. I told her that it wasn’t better or worse, just different. Long story short, she finally asked me how long I was going to grieve for him. I started telling her about high school and how we’d been in love since our sophomore year. She had a few tears when I was finished telling her that.” She paused to wipe her eyes again. “THIS is what shocked me ... She told me that she was sure that her dad wouldn’t want me to stay unhappy for the rest of my life and that he would want me to find another man to be with.” Lilly paused to wipe the tears and smiled afterward. “My 12-year-old daughter counseling her mother, can you believe it?” There were some chuckles and snorts at her comment. “Anyway, I wanted to say that I’m starting to move forward again, and thank you to everyone in this group.” She finished saying.

Hanna actually got up, walked over to her, and hugged Lilly. They were both crying tears of joy. Trisha watched as Gen quietly thanked her again and Hanna walked back to her seat.

Mike and Simone were watching Lilly talk. Mike looked over at Simone who was wiping a tear from her eye as well. “Kind of awesome huh?” He asked her.

“We should sponsor something like this,” Simone told him. Maybe we can have someone take over the group when Hanna gets taken down. I’d hate to see this go to waste.”

“Start looking for a replacement,” Mike said watching the meeting start to break up.

Trisha walked over to Hanna and waited for her to finish thanking everyone for coming. She was shaking hands with the last person to leave and then turned to her.

“Thank you so much for coming, I hope you got something out of the group to help you.” She told her.

“Actually, I was hoping to ask you about some individual counseling,” Trisha asked.

“If I may ask, what would you be seeking counseling for?”

Trisha sighed. “I’m medically retired from the army after my Chinook was shot down outside Mosul in 2016. I lost two friends in that crash. I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist to help me cope with my TBI, and for the most part, the meds have been helpful. But I need help with my nightmares, survivors’ guilt, and coping day today.”

Hanna’s eyes brightened with recognition after hearing her explanation. “You are CW3 Trisha Masters?”

“Yes, I am. How do you know me?”

“You might not believe it, but I was at Walter Reed talking with a patient when you were awarded your Silver Star. I was privileged to watch the Army Chief of Staff award it to you.” She told her. “You are someone all women should want to emulate.”

“Why would they want to emulate me?” Trisha asked.

“Please do not take your actions for granted. You kept your wits about you when the enemy attacked your crash site. You kept one soldier alive and gave the families of those that died closure by protecting their loved ones from desecration. You are a hero.”

“I’m no hero.” She replied looking down at the floor. “I’m just someone who managed to get two people killed in the process of doing her job.”

Hanna stared at her for a moment and then reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a business card. She then looked at her phone for a moment before writing on the business card. “I will see you at that time. Please plan on staying for 90 minutes so we can talk about your expectations and come up with a treatment plan for you.”

Trisha looked at her with surprise. “I would have thought that your schedule would be full with all the things you do for vets and your normal practice.”

“I always have time for heroes.” She said with a sincere smile. “I will see you soon.” She said as she shook Trisha’s hand.

“I look forward to it ... Can I help clean up?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I have someone to help me.” Trisha watched as another woman walked out from the back of the room and started to fold up the chairs. “But you can do one thing in preparation for our appointment. I want you to think about three good things that were unique to the people you lost, write them down, and bring them with you when you come to your appointment.”

Trisha smiled, thanked her again, and left the auditorium.

Mike and Simone watched the woman come out and help start cleaning up. A tall well-toned woman walked in and bowed her head when she walked up to Hanna.

“That must be Amelia Andrews,” Simone said.

“What gave it away?” Mike asked.

“Well ... The leather collar might have something to do with it.” Simone said with a smile.

“Yeah, it might,” Mike said.

They watched as she nodded her head and started folding chairs. Hanna walked over and pulled the folding chair carrier over so she could stack them up. Hanna helped her stack the chairs and then pushed it over to the wall where she got it from.

“Ok, Angus, you can shut it down,” Mike told him. “Against my better judgment, I like her.”

“She is impressive, most of the conversation came from the vets and she only spoke to get them back on track,” Simone replied.

“We need to keep this group going...” Mike said.

The Loeb Boathouse, New York City

Special agent Danni Massoni sat at the bistro waiting for Miriam Michaels to arrive. She’d been watching Caleb Johnson for the last 48 hours. He had been unsuccessful in meeting his contact to exchange packages with him, so he was bringing the same bag back to Miriam. Her partner Paul Johnson was sitting in the parking lot recording the meeting from the directional microphone that Massoni had pointed at the table occupied by Caleb.

“Miriam just arrived; she’s approaching from the south,” Paul told her.

“Copy, I see her.”

Miriam Michaels looked annoyed when she walked up. She sat down and raised an eyebrow at Caleb. “What happened?”

“How should I know? Your courier never showed. I waited for two hours past the agreed meeting time and no one showed.” He replied.

“You’re sure that you had the right address?” She asked.

He pulled out the piece of paper she gave him and tossed it on the table. “Same place you gave me when we met the first time.”

“That’s not like him to fail a delivery.” She said looking at Caleb.

“Who was the courier?” He asked her.

“No one you need to worry about.” She said with irritation in her voice. “I’ll call him or her again. You will hang on to the bag and I’ll contact you with another time and place.” She said as she started to get up.

“No,” Caleb told her.

She sat back down and was staring daggers at him by now. “What did you say?”

“I said No. I don’t deal with incompetent people. If your courier couldn’t take thirty seconds to call and say he couldn’t make the meeting, what else is he incapable of doing?” He said standing up to walk off.

“I’ll pay you double.” She told him as he pushed his chair in.

Caleb stopped and turned back to face her. “All upfront...”

“Agreed.” She spoke.

Miriam got her phone out and made the transfer to his account. “Done.” She said in muted disgust.

Caleb picked up the bag. “I’ll wait to hear from you.” He said turning to walk off.

At this point, she had a look of being very angry. She dialed a number and waited for an answer. “Joseph, I have need of your services in the near future ... He’s a courier I’m using to broker a trade ... He needs to disappear and to never be heard from again ... Yes, I’ll let you know the particulars when it gets closer to him finishing his job ... Of course not, Greg is headed to Manilla next week, so that would be perfect ... We’ll use my hideaway downtown ... Yes, I’m looking forward to it as well ... No, he can’t even get it up anymore, besides, you’re MUCH bigger than he is ... Why would I want his beany weenie when I can have your bratwurst... ? You too Joseph, thank you.” She disconnected the call, put her phone back into her purse, and left the restaurant.

“Did we just hear her set up a hit for the courier and a booty call for next week?” Paul asked Danni.

“I’m thinking we did, but I’m not going to say yes to the hit until we know more. And in regard to the booty call ... Ewww?” She replied.

“Agreed, total Ewww. We’ll let Nathan and Bruce worry about the hit. I’m going to go flush my ears out with rubbing alcohol when we get back to the office.”

“Good call.” She said finishing her drink. She called for her check and left cash with a tip.

Hoover Building, Michael’s Taskforce conference room