The three officers spread out in the airport and stayed far behind Chad and Suzan as they followed the couple.
Tom Gordan, the fourth member of the team, ran up the stairs well before Chad and Suzan could see the lounge at the top of the stairs. He was far in front of the two.
When he arrived at the entrance to the lounge, he was nearly out of breath. He spoke quickly as he held up his badge. “I’m FBI, I need to get in her pronto.” He was that guy. “Do what I say or you’ll have hell to pay.”
The women were slow to react to his plea. He waved his badge again and spoke with authority. “I need to get in here now. This is official business. I don’t have time to argue with you ladies, I’m going in.” As he seemed to be getting more angry, he was quickly let in.
One of the women called their boss and explained what was going on. Mr. Jenkins was on his cell phone. He stood up and quickly threw his brown jacket on. The cell phone was still in his hand as his arm slid into his cool jacket sleeve. he left his desk and started on his way to the lounge. “I’m on my way. He was on the other side of the airport however. It would take some time for him to arrive.
“Keep an eye on who every one else who wants to come in. Make some excuse and make them wait outside. We don’t want any more people in there than needed, just in case it goes south. Do you think the badge was real?”
“Well, I think so.” “Ladies, we’re going to code red. Let the staff know something might be up. I’m on my way.” “Okay Mr. Jenkins,” was all she said as she put the phone down.
“Mary, walk calmly into the kitchen and let everyone know that we are having an issue. Try to keep them calm. Make them all stay in the kitchen as they return from the dining room floor. ” “Okay.”
Tom Gordon found a seat in the entry to the dining area and waited. He had the faces of Chad and Suzan seared into his brain. The team had had several meetings about this part of the plan and everyone knew what the perps looked like.
He had grabbed a plate and eating utensils as he quickly passed by the salad bar and got seated at an empty table. There were people eating all around him. Some were staring at him, so he got up and got in line for food. He kept his eye on the front entry trying to watch for Chad and Suzan.
The two other men following Chad and Suzan were more civilized and had been on the job longer. Their experience had proven time and again that sugar worked better than vinegar at trapping at trapping bugs. They had worked together on dozens of cases. They always spoke slowly and kindly to those whose help was needed. Tom Gordon was soon to be transferred or he would self destruct. The money in the office kitty was mostly placed on self destruction.
“This honeymoon is going to be awesome Chad. There is so much to see in this part of Africa. I’ve done so much research on this trip that it feels like I’ve already been there.”
“Well, I hope you won’t be disappointed. I know little about this part of the world. Most of my work sends me to Asia and Europe. My little brother speaks Spanish well, so he takes care of South America. His wife is from Bogota. He gets to practice a good deal at home since his in-laws moved in. I guess so. How long are they going to stay?”
“Heaven and his wife only know for sure. They seem like nice people but that house is going to get pretty small after six months or so. The baby’s due next month so they will be here for that and who knows how much longer. He seems fine so far, but I think I see some cracks slowly appearing.”
I promise I won’t do that to you dear. I’m not that close to my parents who have busy lives of their own. I only want one kid as we have discussed and I am in no hurry, thank you very much.”
We don’t do much business in Africa yet. It is a difficult situation there with lack of funds and the language issues. The level of work needed to make deals wouldn’t bring back much in investments as far as we can tell.
As they walked past a book store, Chad listened intently and looked up at the top of the stairs for the first class lounge. “Have you been here in the lounge before?” “No dear, I haven’t a clue where it is.” “It’s up at the top of that escalator. See the sign?” “Oh yes dear. It looks very crowded. Why are so many people waiting in line?” “I don’t know dear, that is odd. I have never seen that many people standing outside like that before.”
They were soon at the bottom of the escalator. “Watch you feet dear.” “I will Chad, I have been up an escalator before,” she said with a small chuckle. They were soon moving silently up and heading to the large group of people in line waiting to get in. “Watch your step dear, we’re about to land.”
Chad looked at Suzan and asked her to stay put a the end of the line. “Excuse me,” Chad said to a tall man and his wife as he gently but firmly pushed his way through the crowd and up to the desk where the two women stood, trying to look relaxed. The effort didn’t work very well.
“We would like to get into the lounge. We have a long wait before our plane leaves for Rwanda.” Sorry sir, All of these people are wanting in but we have a problem inside at the moment. We will have it solved in a moment. Oh, Mr. Jenkins, I’m glad you finally arrived. That man at the table over there is the one you need to talk to.”
Mr. Jenkins had found three security guards on the way over and they followed close behind him as he entered the dining room and headed to where Tom Gordon was seated.
“Mr. Jenkins walked to the table and started to talk to Tom Gordon. “What in the Sam hell are you trying to do?” “We may have an issue here. We have two suspects under surveillance and there coming up into this lounge.” “Will, you’ve got my ladies and a bunch of staff worried to death.” “I’m sorry about that. I don’t anticipate any violence but I needed to get in here without them seeing me so I can keep an eye on them.”
“Well you see that line over there. That’s a bunch of angry travelers and its all on you. Should I go and point you out to them and let them take their anger out on you? I’m just that mad at you. You’ve messed up the whole evening her for these travelers.”
“I’m so sorry, I was just doing my job.” “Are you really with the FBI? Let me see your credentials.”
Tom reached into his jacket as he watched Chad talking to the ladies at the desk. “Here you go. That man at the desk is half of the reason I’m here. I’m very sorry and I do apologize. But this is a very important case. We need to see who he and his wife meet with her and make sure they get n their plane.”
“Well, your badge and ID do look real. I’m going to cancel the red alert here, but your boss will hear from me . You’re making my people’s jobs here harder than necessary and they are all frightened as well.”
“Thank you so much. I’m just trying to keep track of these people under my eye.” “I thought you guys liked to keep a low profile these days?” “Yes, but I guess I screwed up tonight. I do apologize again.”
Mr. Jenkins walked back to the ladies at the counter with a smile. “Everything is fine now.” He grabbed the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, we had a little water leak in the kitchen and it has been fixed. It was in a critical location but all is well now. Please wait for a few more minutes to be allowed in. I hope you all have a fine meal and don’t have any more problems here tonight.
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So here’s a little more to read and to think about. What will happen next? I have no idea.
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“The House on The Cliff” and “The Bad Seed” are now waiting for you on Amazon.