One Rough Man - Brad Taylor [115]
Sayyidd said, “I understand. Don’t worry. I won’t fail you.”
Bakr relaxed, satisfied that he had made his point. “From here out, we must act as if we were still in the Land of Two Rivers. Watch around you. Look for the infidel with the knife. We’ve come very far in a short amount of time. God willing, we’ll finish our journey in victory, but it will require diligence, and I’m sure we’ll both be tested before this is through.”
Sayyidd felt sick to his stomach at the thought of being left alone.
70
I called Jennifer as soon as I stepped off the Metro at King Street, asking her to meet me in the lobby. I had managed to leave my number at Taskforce Headquarters, but it hadn’t been smooth. I was no longer a member of the elite little club. I didn’t have the badges or passwords to get me into the inner sanctum, so I had to make a fuss. Even then, after getting through the first gate, and begging to simply leave a number for Kurt, I was ignored because Kurt officially didn’t exist. I was politely asked to leave by Abigail, a gray-haired lady from whom I had bought Girl Scout cookies for years. I’d bought enough to put her grandkid through college, yet she acted like she’d never seen me. Eventually, the internal security force had shown up, giving me the not-so-subtle hint to get the fuck out. Before they pitched me headfirst out the door, Abigail finally broke through her stupid cover and said she’d take my number. I knew she’d get it to Kurt, so I guess I had succeeded.
By the time I reached the lobby Jennifer was already downstairs, carrying our new laptop.
Less than an hour later we were at Ethan’s house. I took the lead to the front door, looking at my watch before I rang the doorbell. Close enough for government work. I rang the bell and waited.
Immediately, a dog began barking like his fur was on fire. I smiled. “Sounds like a rabid wolf, but he’s really a teddy bear.”
I heard Ethan tell the dog to shut up before opening the door. I waited, a little anxious at the response I would get.
Ethan gave me a big grin, holding his arms open. Whew. After embracing me, he noticed Jennifer for the first time.
“Who’s this?”
“A friend of mine. Jennifer Cahill, this is Ethan Merriweather. Otherwise known as Haji.”
Ethan shook her hand, then invited us both inside.
I bent down to ruffle the fur of a brown-and-tan mutt that looked like a cross between a bulldog and miniature collie. The dog began to jump all over me, slobbering.
“Hey, Eddie, how ya been?” Looking up, I asked, “Kathy around? I’d like to say hello.”
“No, unfortunately, she’s not. She really wanted to see you as well, but Emily and Rachel had a big Girl Scout thing tonight. It’s been planned for a month.”
I nodded, relieved at the answer. It would be pretty hard for Kathy to decide at the last minute to attend something like that, and I knew that Ethan wouldn’t outright lie to me.
Standing up from Eddie, freeing him up to run over to Jennifer and begin slobbering all over her, I said, “That’s too bad. I’d really like to see her and the kids. I don’t know how long I’ll be in D.C., but maybe I’ll get the chance later.”
“How about coming by for dinner tomorrow night? I know we’re out here in the boondocks, but she’ll make your favorite—chicken pot pie.”
I couldn’t help but laugh because chicken pot pie was what Kathy always served when I came to dinner, whether I wanted it or not.
“You want some home-cooked food?” I asked Jennifer.
“I think that would be great, if one extra is okay.”
I knew Jennifer’s coming was implied. “Sounds like a date.” I paused, then got to the point. “Can we go to your study? I’ve got some stuff to show you.”
“You know the way. I’ll grab some beers.”
Once Ethan entered, I spread out both e-mail messages, one repeatedly folded and stained, the other a fresh computer printout.
“Haji, this is what we need translated. We got these from two different e-mail