Chapter 18

David drove to McDonald’s and found the menus to be basically the same as in the U.S. He ordered a big mac meal with a second burger and a large drink. This time, he stayed in the restaurant and enjoyed his meal.

He was anxious to try out his new toys and returned to Nikita’s hideaway.

David did several practice firings with the RPG, getting the feel for it. He tried on his bulletproof vest and a pair of skin-tight leather gloves. He didn’t want to leave any fingerprints and they would help protect his hands should he get into a fistfight.

Moments later, his phone buzzed, indicating that he had a text. He looked at it to see that it was from Pam Landy.

“I don’t know how Heather Lee found out you were on your way to Kyiv. I certainly didn’t tell her. Watch out from above. The skies may not be that friendly. Good luck.”

“How the hell did Lee find out I was going to Kyiv?” Then he thought that maybe Nikita had turned against him.

He looked at the pictures and video he’d taken of Rita. She posed seductively in her bikini, then topless, then naked. He looked at the video he’d taken of her giving him a blow job. He liked her looking into his eyes as she sucked and sucked. The camera wobbled when he came in her mouth. She showed him his cum on her tongue, then swallowed.

“Rita, if I do complete my mission and live past it, I want to come back to you. I’ll tell you everything about my life, including being with Nikita. I’ll let you decide if you can love me enough, despite what I’ve done, to someday become my wife.”

David took the drone outside to practice with the controls. The laptop connected to Starlink, and he had a real-time observation, which the drone camera captured. He did a few lifts and landings, then a higher launch. His first attempt to hover almost drove it into the side of the building.

He took it above the height of the four-story building and steered it around the yard. The infrared camera detected the difference in heat produced by different objects. Taking it higher, he could see vehicle traffic moving and the fading heat from the tires as they moved along the road.

Returning to the yard, he noticed two objects moving between several old shipping containers.

“Look at the size of those rats!” He said it to no one. He lowered the drone for a closer look and was able to see one of them was limping on its front paw. “They don’t have the long tail of a rat or move like one.”

He brought the drone to a safe landing, then put on the night vision goggles and walked towards where he saw the animals. He caught a glimpse of one with a limp vanishing under some bushes, and the other turned, barking with a high pitch and growling at him.

“You’re definately not a rat. you’re a dog. Defending your friend, are you?”

He took off the goggles, turning on the flashlight on his phone. The light turned its eyes red. “Hi, little fella.” The dog, about ten inches high, growled as he knelt. “That’s okay; I won’t come any closer.”

He shone the light the best he could to determine what breed it might be. The face was several shades of brown with a white blaze between the eyes, and the chest was pure white. What set it apart was the shape of the fur on its ears, which was light and dark brown, resembling a butterfly.

“I know what you are; you’re a Papilion, and a very pretty one too. I bet your friend is one too. What the heck would two beautiful-looking dogs be doing out here? You look a little scruffy, and I bet you’re hungry and thirsty.”

He reached out with his right hand, and the dog cautiously moved forward a few steps. It sniffed his hand a few inches away and slightly wagged his tail.

“It’s okay, boy or girl. I’m not going to hurt you.” He continued to talk in a calming voice. “I had dogs of one breed or another growing up until I joined the Army.”

David stood, the dog pulling back, and growled again.

“I’ll bring you some food and water in the morning. Here I am talking to you as if you can understand me.” The dog turned to join its friend, and David noticed the black patch of fur over its right hind quarter, contrasting with its pure white color.

He watched it disappear into the bushes, then he walked back to the building.