Holiday Op

Chapter Four

Kathryn Marie could hardly breathe as she slipped into the Jeep and secured the seatbelt around her. Had Devin just proposed or did he just want to date her forever? No one could love someone that quickly, could he?

As she drove through the gate, a red Sedan with black tinted windows pulled in behind her. It followed her down Orange Avenue.

This time she refused to buy a seat on the emotional hyper train. Her choice was to believe it was a coincidence. So, she went to her favorite paint shop, bought her beautiful blue watercolors and more, left, and pulled up in front of her building.

Maneuvering the bundle of packages and bags was a feat. It was impossible to leave the store without new brushes, canvases, etc. Shopping in an art store was like being a kid in a candy shop or a toy store.

Finally, she managed to get the door open and step through before the packages and bags tumbled to the ground. She had to laugh at herself, because the mess it made had her thinking of kids and Christmas-all the paper ripped off, ribbons taken by the dog, and what remained were piles of presents. She'd loved the bows and wrappings. Her mother would spend hours on it, but their dog, Trident, always took off with them. They'd end up in a wet heap under her covers. That dog really loved her!

The thought of spending the holidays alone this year was acute. This was her reality now. She could invite Devin over. Funny how her mind went to him, and they hadn't known each other long. Yet, he fit inside her head like a puzzle piece or something she hadn't really known was missing.

"Do you need a hand?” A woman's voice sounded behind her.

Kathryn Marie stepped over the pile, her steps taking her farther into the apartment. When she turned, a woman with pale skin and white blonde hair dressed in a two-piece red suit stood in her doorway. There were black accents-a handkerchief in her pocket, Dooney & Bourke handbag, and a pair of stunning red shoes.

"Those shoes are Stuart Weitzman!” Kathryn Marie exclaimed.

The blonde woman pulled Kathryn Marie's keys from the door lock and tossed them in the air. She caught them in her hand. “I recognize the style from Vogue. You have excellent taste."

"You, Ms. Pente, have good fashion sense.” The woman looked her over from head to toe. “Even if you don't show it… on the surface."

Stepping inside the apartment and closing the door, the bolt clicking in place woke Kathryn Marie up. The gun in the woman's hand didn't exactly put her to sleep either. “For that I'll make sure you don't die too slowly."

Kathryn Marie paled. Oh, God! I thought the bad guy would be a man. How could I have been so wrong as to not suspect my own sex? “What… what are you doing?"

"I'm going to kill you, Ms. Pente.” The woman secured the chain across the door. “I'm sure you won't mind if I call you, Kathryn Marie."

Reaching in her pocket, Kathryn Marie clicked the text button on her phone. Like most of the individuals in her generation, she could text in the dark or in this case in pants. She was grateful Devin had insisted his number be added to her Blackberry and at the top of her list. She typed: 911 home, and clicked send. “Why not? Shouldn't every killer be on a first name basis with her victim?"

"Ha, ha, ha.” The woman laughed. “You are witty, Kathryn Marie, and a lot less stuck up than your sister. She tried to talk me out of killing her, too.” She waved a hand in front of her face. “All that psycho-babble."

The blonde tossed a length of long hair over her shoulder and began walking around the pile. The gun stayed steady between them. The Heckler and Koch.40 caliber looked like a cannon pointed in Kathryn Marie's face.

She swallowed the anger bubbling up within her. “There are a few things I'd like to know before you kill me. Think of it as a last request."

Pausing, the woman said, “Fine. That's workable. Sit over there."

At the direction of the gun barrel, Kathryn Marie walked over to the desk, pulled out the chair, and sat. The gunwoman remained standing. “Okay, I'm sitting. Please start with your name, and tell me why you're here."

"My name is Albina. I came to this country to undermine its infrastructure. Your sister devised a program that works with government employees and stress. It was quite brilliant actually and her techniques were beginning to have an effect on how astute and aware officials were in the workplace. Linking neuro-linguistic programming to motives, spies, and terrorists were being discovered. We cannot allow this greater observation to continue, and worse yet, spread.” Sitting on the couch, she waved the gun. “First, I went to speak with her, to talk about the program. I told her to cease her research and interaction, to put an end to her efforts, but she refused."

No kidding! Bren was a thousand different kinds of stubborn! She was the daughter of a Navy SEAL, and so am I.

"I was so frustrated, and she kept asking me to calm down, to explain what my issues were. Why didn't she understand, Kathryn Marie? Why didn't she listen to me? Why did she make me kill her?"

Kathryn Marie sat speechless. She was watching a horror movie unfold in real life with full interaction in her living room!

"When she reached for her phone, I brought my gun into sight.” Albina looked at her gun and then waved it about to emphasize her words. “We have been through so much together, this gun and I. That was when it got worse. She walked around the desk and asked me questions that no one should know.

"Did I have a lover? When was the last time I saw him? Didn't I miss him and want to see him again? Did I know what I was doing in bringing a gun in here? Who had touched me last?” The gun hand finally steadied and pointed directly at Kathryn Marie.

"As I groped for answers to her questions, she launched herself at me. I pulled the trigger and she fell a mere few feet away.” Albina's eyes darkened and her nostrils flared. “Her dying words were, ‘Don't do it.’”

"I assured her I would, and that her office would be the origination point of a bomb as big as Oklahoma City. They used ammonium nitrate. My bomb was more clever, and the finale is to kill you. The little sister whose paintings hung on her walls.” Tension streamed out of her. “This to me… is poetic. A loose string snipped and the last note played.” She sighed and relaxed. “It feels good to tell the whole story. Only my love was to hear it, but it is a good last request you've made. It is not as childish as to ask to call your mother or have an alcoholic drink.” She pushed her long hair over her shoulder. “But your mother is dead, so it is of little use anyhow."

The comment struck Kathryn Marie hard. She ground her teeth. “Saves you the trouble of killing her, doesn't it?"

"Yes, yes it does. Brava, Kathryn Marie.” She shifted forward. “I am ready to kill you now."

Kathryn Marie glanced at the clock. Only five minutes had passed. She needed to keep the woman talking. Devin had to make it here on time. “But, I didn't get to ask why you do it? Set bombs? Kill people? Commit these horrid acts?"

"Horrid? They are tributes and acts of glory. Everything I do is in the name of al-Qaeda, and my dearest love, Habib.” She put her hand on her chest, over the place where her heart was. “I miss my Habib dearly. It was a torment to date Blicksen. More than you shall know."

"Blicksen?” That was the man she'd met on base with Devin. All of the pieces suddenly fit together. “So that's how you received inside information? Knew targets that might be vulnerable."

"Yes, the man saw only my face and body, not the actions or instigations of my mind. Blicksen talked incessantly about the projects he did with law enforcement agencies. I knew the best places to strike because of him.” Her lips flared, baring her teeth. “Though some choices were personal vendetta, I have been at this for many years."

Kathryn Marie swallowed-fear would not get the best of her. “I… I believe Blicksen took his role as boyfriend very seriously.” Kathryn Marie spoke softly.

Albina spat on the floor. “I allowed Blicksen to touch me as a means to what I wanted. He is simply a loose thread now, one I will snip after I have dealt with you."

"He commissioned me to do a painting for you. A picture of a Christmas Rose."

"Ah, the White Rose-the Angel Rose-said to have been given as a gift to a small child so she might have something to bring the Christ child. It is a sentimental tale, and a powerful plant. A deadly poison may be made from its bloom, and this was my first kill. I reveled in mocking the myth.” She blew out a low breath. “With my beloved, Habib, gone from this earth, I look forward to joining him someday too.” Her gaze steadied, the sentimentality gone. “But not yet."

This reminiscence chilled Kathryn Marie to the bone. Rose. Why hadn't I connected the rose with the petals? Please, please, please let Devin get here soon

"It is hard for women to prove their worth to men. Especially when they see them as expendable.” Albina's voice was hard. “The kills I have are precious to me. Though, I might have enjoyed a painting of my favorite rose."

Kathryn Marie caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Devin!

She resisted sighing with relief. He was coming up the back outside staircase. It was impossible to see from the road as the back was completely fenced in. But Devin would figure it out. Leave it to a SEAL pup to know how to sneak up on someone. As to the EOD and military training, she could only imagine all his covert skills.

"It is too bad I have to kill you. Now that you've seen my face… There is much to be done."

"Why me?” She persisted, trying to draw it out. “Why do you want to kill me?"

"Your sister knew the truth about me. I don't know what she told you. But I couldn't risk my real identity being known.” Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she sneered. “Besides that, you are one of those do-gooders. I like to kill you best of all."

The gun steadied. Pointed directly at Kathryn Marie's head.

"I don't know anything about you. I knew my sister worked with Homeland Security and other organizations on extreme stress recognition and its significance with fighting terrorism, but-"

"Goodbye, Miss Pente.” Albina thumbed the hammer on the pistol and laid her finger against the trigger. Before she could fire, a rock flew in through the window, knocking the gun to the ground.

Both women dove for it, grappling in a tangle of arms and legs.

Kathryn Marie kept her eyes on her opponent and their hands grabbed the gun at the same time. When a large fist closed over it, and started to yank it out of their grasps, it discharged.

A sound issued from someone's mouth.

Slowly Kathryn Marie's hold went slack. Blood seeped around her.

"I will be avenged,” said Albina as the passion, anger, and drive left her eyes.

A cold stare, reflecting only death peered at Kathryn Marie. Devin untangled them, verified that the terrorist was dead, and then pulled Kathryn Marie to her feet.

He didn't say a word. Only ran his hands and eyes over every inch of her and when he was assured she was fine, he turned her away from the dead body. Only then did he hug her tight.

The dead terrorist lay in a puddle of ever-growing blood on the floor. She was still in his sight, and the gun was tucked safely into his pocket when he said, “That explains a lot."

"What does?” She spoke into the side of his warm neck. His presence was heaven-sent as comfort flooded her. Devin provided security and joy in a way she could barely describe.

"The bomb I disabled looked like some of the knots were tied in bows. I'd never seen anything like it before. But women are crafty-neat, tidy, precise, and very creative. Makes sense that it was a woman, because we were looking for a man.” He brushed his lips over the top of her forehead.

"I could find a lot more interesting things to do with a bow.” She whispered into his shirt.

"I bet you could.” Devin smiled as he reached into his pocket. He dialed the police and the FBI. Homeland Security would probably want a piece of the action, too. For now, he relayed the pertinent info. When he gave his full focus back to Kathryn Marie, his words were gentle. “A lot of people with a ton of questions will be here shortly. Are you up for it?"

"Well, I doubt I have a choice.” She squeezed her arms tight, hugging him close. “I mean, at least the threat is over."

He pulled back a little. “For now. It never really is… this is our reality. The best thing we can do is enjoy what we have. Live our joys, our present, and our happiness.” Devin kissed her with such passion-his lips drinking from hers and feeding such love in return. “You are the best gift I've ever been given."

"Same here. I'm grateful for you.” She swallowed an instant lump that formed when she thought of him not being here. “Thank you for seeking me out."

"I had to. Your eyes held me, captured me, and I had to know you. Those paintings of yours, they feel like part of your spirit… running free."

Their lips locked again, and the pleasure and passion grew.

A thought crossed her mind and she pulled back. “I wonder if Blicksen will want his painting now? I mean, who would he give it to?"

"It's almost the holiday season. I'm sure he could find someone."

She wrinkled her nose.

He laughed. “Everyone loves someone.” Rubbing his nose on hers, he said, “I am especially blessed, I love you."

Her heart pounded in her chest. Devin was incredible!

She returned his seal kiss-nose to nose-and then placed her mouth close to his. “I love you, Captain Devin Walds, and I'd like to spend the rest of my life getting to know you, too.” As her lips touched his, she knew that life didn't give neat little packages that tied up perfectly in a bow. What it did provide were chances to live and to love. It was up to her to make the most of it.

Being with him, living the best of their time together, and enjoying their careers and worlds, this was the glory her sister would want for her. This would be how she honored those who had left too soon. All of this happiness, she was going to hold tight and celebrate for as long as she could. Time and happiness were fleeting and way too precious.

Life with him, she could wrap this image around her heart and tie a very beautiful, yet flexible ribbon around it. This gift of the heart, she'd look forward to unwrapping… every day.