Betrayal (8 page)

“Alex, I didn’t know we were staying here,” Cassidy smiled.

“Yeah, well, Jane insisted. She figured we had been here so…”

Cassidy was relieved to be at the condo in Arlington again. This place had become a sanctuary of sorts after the congressman’s automobile accident. The time she had spent here with Alex had some happy memories attached to it and she suspected that no matter what the agent said; Alex was responsible for the family being here now. Tomorrow was not a day that she was looking forward to. Alex had suggested that she invite her mother to travel with them, but Cassidy declined the offer. She needed to confront her own truth. There was very little that she did not share with her mother. Her indiscretion with John Merrow was one of those few things. “Thank you,” Cassidy said.

“Why don’t you go up and take a rest,” Alex suggested.

“What about you?”

“Cass, Dylan is already exhausted and so are you. Go take a nap with him. I have a couple of things I want to do. I’ll bring dinner back; all right?”

Cassidy was reluctant but she was tired and so was Dylan. She kissed Alex on the cheek and smiled sweetly. “Where are you going?”

“Just up the road.”

“Alex…”

“Don’t worry. Go rest. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. You won’t even know I was gone.”

Cassidy closed one eye and twisted her lip. She touched Alex’s cheek and planted a soft but firm kiss on the agent’s lips.
“I always know when you are gone,” she said as she turned to make her way up the stairs.

Alex grabbed the keys to the rental car and made her way to the door. She turned back but Cassidy was already heading down the upstairs hallway. “I hope you know how much I love you,” she said quietly opening the door.

“I do,” Cassidy called back, soliciting a hearty laugh from the agent. “I love you too, Alfred. Don’t forget dinner.”

Alex walked up the winding hill that led toward the amphitheater. A small trolley passed by and she studied the faces within it as they gazed out over a garden of white stone. It amazed her that this place was somehow a tourist attraction. For Alex, it was a place for solitude and reflection, for memory and for grieving. Tomorrow she would visit here again within a sea of cameras and politicians, military officers and dignitaries. She had visited this place many times with her friend John Merrow before he had become the president. Just before the amphitheater she turned to the left, but not before stopping to consider the scene unfolding over the rise to her right. She could hear the click of the heels in the distance. It was the honor of an unknown soldier, a face that would not be returned yet always remembered. Alex paused. In this place she felt like Lieutenant Toles once again; that young somewhat idealistic officer who lost a piece of her soul in a busy market place in Iraq. Just over the rise to the left she could see the busy scene of preparation. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was not supposed to be this way.

A few more paces found the agent ducking under a rope and standing under a tall oak tree. A few leaves were just beginning to peek out on the branches, but winter had left its mark and the mid-day sun filtered in long streaking patterns onto the ground surrounding her. She ran her hand over the top of the
rough, white stone. “Jackson,” Alex whispered as she traced the grooves in the lieutenant’s name, Lieutenant Robert Jackson. “The colonel, I don’t understand. It doesn’t make sense.” She looked out again to see the ropes being raised for what would be a somber event the next day. “What happened that day, Jackson? It was my fault. I should have known. There were so many signs. So many. All the chatter; why didn’t I hear it? Now he tells me it was his fault…and he’s gone. I don’t understand. That day…why did you come with us? You never came. I don’t understand R.J.” Her thoughts trailed off momentarily. “Mutanabbi, Jackson; what is it about that bookstore?” Alex took in a deep breath and exhaled with some force, shaking her head as a slight chuckle erupted. “Now you will be looking out over him. Colonel, Jackson is watching over you,” she laughed through some tears. “I wish you were here, Jackson. I’m tired of goodbyes. You know you said I needed to learn to love,” she laughed. “I did. Took me some time. I wish you could see her R.J. And, Dylan? Crazy, he’s so much like her; gentle, kind….and he’s like his father.” Alex closed her eyes tightly. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited. I miss you. Just point me…point me there.” The agent ran her hand over the stone one last time and stared at the scene just below. “Colonel,” she whispered. “I don’t understand.”

onathan Krause turned the folded paper in his hands several times before opening it again. He stared at the sheet and shook his head. “Oh, Cassie,” he said quietly. “John, why didn’t you tell me?” Again he surveyed the paper before folding it neatly and placing it in his jacket pocket. “How did we get here?” he asked aloud. A soft buzz startled him and he lifted the phone to his ear. “Viktor, ten o’clock. Meet me at the hotel.” He hung up and closed his eyes again. After a deep breath, he silently walked across the room and made his way to pour a glass of straight scotch. He lifted his glass into the air and spoke. “To brothers. I promise, John. They’ll stay safe. All of them.” He brought the glass to his lips and downed the offering. “Brothers forever. You have my oath; just like my own son.”

Friday, April 11th

Alex turned the corner and saw Cassidy sitting on the bed with her face in her hands. She was wearing a simple yet elegant back dress and Alex paused to take in the sight. Even in the most trying moment, Cassidy was beautiful. “Cass,” she called gently.

The small blonde woman removed her hands and lifted her sight to the tall agent. Alex looked amazing, regal, Cassidy thought. The agent stood tall in her Army dress blues with a low heel that elevated her already considerable height. Cassidy
was stunned at the presentation of ribbons that graced her jacket. There was a quiet confidence about Alex that took the teacher’s breath away. “You are beautiful,” the teacher said simply. “And tall,” Cassidy tried to joke.

“You ready?” Alex asked, gently caressing the smaller woman’s shoulders. Cassidy let out a heavy breath. “The car will be here any minute,” the agent said. “Do you want me to go get Dylan?”

“No. I’ll get him. Meet you downstairs in a few minutes.”

The agent smiled and walked from the room hand in hand with her lover. As Cassidy turned to enter the room Dylan was in, Alex spoke. “Cass, it will be all right. I promise.”

“Dylan?” Cassidy called to the small boy who was sitting on the floor. “We need to get you ready, sweetie. Okay?”

He nodded and put aside his action figure. “Mom?”

“Yes, honey?”

“Alex was crying this morning.”

Cassidy sighed. “She was?”

“Yeah. I saw her.”

“Well, Alex is sad. She lost someone she loved very much.”

He thought about his mother’s words. “You were crying too.”

“Dylan, I love Alex. It makes me very sad to see her upset.”

“Me too,” he said hanging his head while his mother clipped the small black tie to his shirt. “Should I cry?” he asked honestly.

His mother smiled and straightened his tie. “You should do whatever you feel in your heart, Dylan. It’s okay to cry and it’s okay if you don’t cry. You do whatever you feel.” Cassidy smiled at her son as he slipped on his shoes and she retrieved the small jacket laying across the bed. “Come on, Alex is waiting for us.” She offered her hand to her son who accepted it willingly. “I love you, Dylan.”

Alex exited the car as the driver opened Cassidy’s door. She looked up at the White House, disbelief coloring her thoughts. In just a short time they would make their way to the National Cathedral before heading to Arlington; John Merrow’s final journey. Alex watched as Cassidy positioned Dylan in front of her. It was difficult for the agent to fathom all that she had lost and all that she had gained in such a short time. She smiled at the woman who held her heart and put out her hand. Cassidy accepted it with a loving smile of her own. Silence seemed an ally in this moment. Dylan reached for the agent and Alex guided him between them as they entered the White House. Just through the door a young woman stood talking to the new president. “Alex,” she called.

“Steph,” Alex smiled. Stephanie Merrow was John Merrow’s eldest daughter. She was twenty-three and a striking beauty herself; tall, with long auburn hair and hazel eyes that always seemed to twinkle. Alex couldn’t help but notice how much the young woman had grown to resemble both her parents. She came even with the young woman and stopped to regard the man beside her. “Mr. President,” Alex greeted.