The Paths of Destiny
The Next Day

September 14, 2001:

The helo arrived just as the sun was gilding London’s few skyscrapers. I had managed about four hours of sleep — but a shower, a good breakfast and freshly cleaned clothes had worked wonders.

The rooftop-landing pad was a bustle of activity. Apparently, all flying restrictions had been lifted — at least for the SPJ — and someone was busy making up for lost time.

As we jumped from the helo, I saw Nick Storm waving us over.

“You’re late. She’s been waiting — Paris messaged us you’d be in a half hour ago. Come on — she’s in her office.”

He led the way into the HQ building, to the main elevator...

And down to the fourth floor.

Though I knew Corey was in good hands, my mind wasn’t completely on the task at hand. I made sure, though, to not make the mistake from before and pushed the worry to the back of my mind. She’d be fine with Doctor Mallory in charge of her.

However, I was glad to see that my Team was safe and intact. They looked in better shape than I did, all things considered.

Personally, I’m glad I was the only one who managed to be in the danger I got into. They had pretty much all the information necessary to do a full report. Still, I’m surprised how little I thought of my life, and so much for the lives of others.

Someday, that’s going to get me killed. I’ve no doubt about that. But the price will be worth it if other lives are spared.

“Commander Storm,” I asked as we waited for the elevator to finish its journey to the designated floor. “What’s the situation here?”

“Miss Mathers is in rare form,” Storm confided. “I haven’t seen her this way since she retired. Frankly, we’re taking everyone apart and putting them back together again — and I do mean everyone. In-depth interviews. Psych tests. The works. There’s no telling how far the rot has gone. You’ll be debriefed — as a group, then separately. Then as a group again. Expect to spend all day at it.”

“Sounds like a debriefing I had back after a Peacekeeper mission I was involved in,” I visibly shuddered. “Someone screwed the pooch and everyone, from the commanding officer of the base on down, experienced a mild form of the Inquisition. I hoped I’d never have to go through something like that again. At least, this time, I got some sleep, a shower and some food before the Inquisition.”

“Come in, please,’ Miss Mathers said as we entered her office. “All of you.”

She was wearing a smart suit, not uniform. She was standing behind the desk, obviously waiting.

“I’ve heard from Commander Conrad. His leg is broken in two places, but he says he will live. He lost fully half of his team. The basement of the villa was mined. I have only two questions. Why didn’t you replace that out? And how much of the Intelligence did you bring back with you?”

“Ma’am,” I said. “Our not checking the basement was my fault. I simply didn’t think to spread our search to below ground level. I’ll accept full responsibility for my negligence in that regard. My people are not to blame. As for the other, ma’am…”

I gave my report of what occurred in Paris. I left out nothing. It’d be better she got the full story from me, first, and not get bits, pieces and half-truths from someone else. By the time I was done, she was up to speed of what occurred up to my calling her in the van.

“I forwarded you and each of my team a copy of the information we obtained from the computer found in the half-story. Lieutenant Drayton has the files from a locked file cabinet we were able to gain access to. He’ll be able to tell you more in detail his replaceings at Paris Station as well.”

“Good thinking, son,” Storm said. “You made sure the information would reach here in case none of you made it back.”

“I concur, Nick.” Ms. Mathers nodded. “Was there anything else, Colonel Parker?”

“I didn’t get to ask the security chief one question, ma’am,” I said. “I never got the opportunity to ask with whom Mr. duBois had been checking in. I don’t believe he solely checked in with the security chief.”

Ms. Mathers nodded her understanding.

“One other thing does puzzle me,” I added only because I just thought of it. “Had Mr. duBois ever been through a financial audit? I ask because at one time, Commander Storm mentioned all personnel were subject to a financial audit while in the service of the SPJ — including the Senior Director. That financial audit is what helped us catch the Chickering Cabal. If he did have one done, how long ago and how did he manage to pass?”

“Thank you, Colonel,” she replied. “I have someone checking into that. Lieutenant Drayton, I will hear your report now.”

Drayton’s report essentially paralleled mine in regards to the events at the villa. He also brought out six files he had not had time to turn over to Commander Conrad.

“These are from the locked file cabinet, Ma’am. They are all signed by one Corey Lloyd Reese.”

“You’ll share this intelligence with your Senior Director, of course — when she awakes,” Miss Mathers said.

Though Miss Mathers had uttered a statement, there was just enough hint of a question in it to warrant an answer.

“The thought of not showing them to her,” I replied, “never crossed my mind. Speaking of which, ma’am, any idea when the Senior Director is expected to wake?”

I did my best to hide my worry over her and to hide my eagerness to rush to be by her side.

“She has been moved back to her quarters,” Miss Mathers said. “Dr. Mallory did not feel her condition warranted her taking up a bed in the infirmary. His prognosis is still guarded though. It could be any minute. She’s well guarded — Captain O’Halloran is in the outer office, and Captain Garrett is in the inner office.”

She gave me a sympathetic smile.

“But we digress,” she continued. “Dr. James, your report, please.”

I stood by, waiting, as the others delivered their reports.

Finally, Miss Mathers pronounced herself satisfied — almost.

“Take a lunch break; be back here in an hour. I wish to speak with each of you separately, and then we will meet again as a group.”

“Yes, ma’am,” we said in unison, saluted smartly, and left just as smartly.

Once outside of the office I let out a deep breath as we headed for the elevator.

“Good work out there, you guys,” I said. “When we go back for our separate interviews, keep your cool. Be frank with your answers. Most importantly, stand up for your actions and be willing to accept any blame you feel justified are yours to accept. No need to cry over spilt milk about the basement. That one’s entirely mine and I’ll accept whatever reprimand Miss Mathers decides. But for now,” I said with a grin. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

I decided, once these meetings were over with, I’d replace some way to go to Corey’s bedside and sit with her for a while. Even if it meant bypassing the good Captain.

As for lunch, I took us down to the basement cafeteria. I figured the team deserved a lunch in the pampered part of HQ. The waitress who served me when I was with Ricky, gave me a surprised glance at first. She gave me a conspiratorial smile, led us to an inconspicuous table, and took care of us personally.

“Parker,” I heard once we were gathered again upstairs.

Commander Storm came to the door, nodded to me. As expected, I was the last to go in for the private meeting.

“Come in, please, Colonel,” Miss Mathers said. My apologies. I hadn’t realized your rank. But surely…”

“Ma’am?” I asked temporarily confused.

Then it occurred to me. Miss Mathers didn’t know of my service with the Peacekeepers. So I related to her my background prior to joining the Miami-Dade PD and the SPJ. I told her about my reactivation and the letter from Ted Westbury to keep quiet about my Peacekeeper service. I mentioned that the Senior Director had done some digging on my background, found out about my prior service, and reinstated my rank of Naval Commander to the SPJ equivalent. I also explained that only a few had known of my prior service, Commander Storm being one of the few. I chose not to include Roberts in the list.

“I understand,” she said. “I had wondered if it was a fiction connected with your mission. We do allow them from time to time…”

A slight smile crossed her face, echoed by one on Storm’s.

“You do realize, though, that gives you the greater responsibility, as the team leader?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “I’ve always known increased rank comes with increased responsibility. I was the fifth generation in my family to join the Navy and am proud to say the first generation to become an officer. However, I didn’t set out along that path. I only did what I knew needed to be done; as a result, I was favorably noticed by my superiors. The rest, as they say, is history.”

I shut up, realizing I was babbling. Those half smiles were making me nervous. I had yet to hear Miss Mathers’ decision in regards to my negligence of the basement.

“Ma’am, about the basement…,” I began, but let my voice fade deciding to let her talk about it instead, if that was her intent. As stated, I was ready to take the full blame.

“Yes. We lost six people. Four immediately, two have since died of their wounds. Your Section Leader is Michael Killorn. Your Commander is John Redhawk. And, ultimately, your Senior Director is Corey Lloyd Reese,” she nodded. “Under the circumstances, I feel it would be better for me to defer any action to them.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said simply and waited.

“As Acting Senior Director, I actually have very little responsibility beyond keeping the place together,” she confided. “I haven’t even been able to confer with Anton!”

A sudden smile.

“But it feels good to be useful again… Do you have anything further to add before I dismiss you?”

“Only this,” I said with a smile. “It’s good to see you again. I only wish it were under better circumstances. And thank you for the help yesterday, for all of it.”

She nodded.

“So do I, Colonel. So do I. I’m sure we will meet again, under happier circumstances. Nevertheless, for now… Dismissed.”

Saluting smartly, I left the office.

After leaving, I decided I’d see if Captain O’Halloran would let me see Corey.

I made my way up to the sixth floor. It was quiet. Deserted.

I knocked gently on the outer door and entered.

O’Halloran looked up.

“Yes?”

“Evening, Captain,” I said shutting the door behind me. “Just stopped by check up on the Senior Director and to thank you for your help yesterday.”

“She’s doing fine.”

He went back to his book.

“I don’t suppose you’d to let me take a quick look-see inside with you accompanying me. Could I?”

I decided I’d try the polite approach first. Sometimes, it works.

Not this time.

He put down his book, folded his arms across his heavily muscled chest.

“No. She is in bed. Asleep.”

“Okay,” I said as I raised my hands in a placating manner. “Well... when she wakes, tell her that Lieutenant Colonel Robert Parker stopped by.”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to use the alternate means I’d been entrusted with by Miss Mathers. She had all but told me to use it wisely.

“I’ll add your name to the list.”

“Thank you, Captain,” I said opening the door to leave. “Have a good evening.”

That’s when I made up my mind to risk use the back way in.

In short order, I was at the closet, making sure I hadn’t been seen making my way to the secret elevator. I cautiously slid the door open and stepped into the closet. The clothes were bunched at the other end — and there were fewer of them. Uniforms, mostly SPJ, some RAF.

For a moment, I stood there and breathed the faint, clean smell that said ‘Corey’, and then I went to the closet door and eased it open.

The bedroom was gloomy. The curtains were half-pulled, letting in the fading light of the day. The bed was in front of me, to my left.

I listened carefully. Slight movement, in the office, of someone changing position, no more.

On the bed, a huddled lump.

I watched, as the covers moved rhythmically up and down — she was breathing easily, apparently still asleep.

I stood there, just staring at the woman who had become very important in my life. As I looked at the sleeping figure, my mind’s eye took me back to our first meeting, the dinner in Uxbridge, the walk in the park, the letters, and our reunion. All in a span of seconds.

I crept very carefully to her bed.

I bent down and whispered in her ear, “I think I’ve fallen in love with you,” kissed her tenderly on the cheek and proceeded back to the closet as quietly as I entered.

She rolled over and sat up, eyes still closed.

“Jack?”

I stopped dead in my tracks. Who’s Jack? Perhaps an old boyfriend? An old lover? An old fiancé?

I turned to look at Corey. Then I went back to her bed, sat beside her, and took her hand.

Eyes still closed, she explored my hand with her fingers. Then she opened her eyes and looked straight at me.

“I know this is a terrible cliché, but — where am I?”

“You are,” I began carefully, “in your quarters in the SPJ. You are the Senior Director. You were poisoned and saved. Thanks to the quick thinking of someone who loves you.”

“Robert.”

That brilliant smile, for me alone.

“How long was I out? What time is it?”

Not bothering to hide my relief I told her what happened.

“You’ve been out since sometime after your meeting with the Senior Commanders,” I finished, “and the sun is going down the day after you took over. Umm... your Captain doesn’t know I’m here by the way.”

She hadn’t been keeping her voice down — and neither had I, I realized.

The door to the inner office opened.

“Director?”

Captain Samantha Garrett came into the bedroom, weapon first.

“Is everything all right? I heard voices…”

And suddenly, Corey was in front of me, between Captain Garrett and me, arms out protecting me.

I silently muttered several choice colorful metaphors at my stupidity; berating myself for not keeping my voice down. But, I didn’t move. I was going to a court-martial for this. For sure.

I heard Jasmine laughing hysterically at my predicament. At least someone found the situation funny.

I just sat on the bed there waiting for the hammer to fall.

Captain Garrett stopped.

“Are you all right, Ma’am?”

“Yes. Fine. Go away.”

“I should call Dr. Mallory,”

“I will tell you when to call Dr. Mallory.”

Sami Garrett moved to one side. Corey moved to match her, to keep herself between the Captain and me.

“That... will... be... all, Captain.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Garrett left.

Moments later, we heard her making a phone call.

Corey turned to me.

“I suppose… you had better go.”

Her arms came around my neck.

“Did you… really say… what I thought you said? Or was I just dreaming?”

“You heard me correctly,” I said hurriedly. “I love you. Very much. But I need to scoot before the troops show up.”

I gave her a quick kiss on the lips and left the way I came. I didn’t stop until I was back at the subbasement.

I made it back inside HQ proper in plenty of time for my final group meeting with Briony and Nick. This time, the meeting was less formal. We were commended for our work and dismissed from our duties for the rest of the day.