A day after the phone call, Ernie Wilson was called into the office of the CIA in a small unnoticed building in Manhattan. He wasn’t happy to receive the call. He was planning another trip to Italy with his grandson Bobby and his new wife, Ruby.

Ernie took a cab down town to the office from his large apartment in the Bronx. His building looked just like any other except for the fact that many C.I.A. operatives called it home when things had gone bad and they needed a safe place to hide. One apartment was always available in it for those working in the agency and needing a place to hide. Several buildings like this were located around the city. It was easy to watch over and had only one visible exit. There were several other exits but they were a tightly guarded secret.

Ernie entered the building, used his identity card access the elevator and was soon on the fourth floor. He walked into the office o9f a high ranking official and checked in with the office manager. One wall of the lobby was all glass with a great view of the river.

Ernie sat on the couch wondering what was happening to his vacation plans this time. His career with the agency was nearly finished and he was ready to retire but, “things” kept coming up, or so he was told.

One of Ernie’s long time friends from the agency came into an office from a door almost invisible at the back of the office and sat down at a desk.”I’m ready Sue,” the man said softly into the intercom. “Send him in.”

“They’re ready for you Mr.Wilson, you can go on in now.”

Sue knew Ernie from way back and liked, “the cut of jib,” as they say in some sailing circles, but they had kept their relationship professional though she had hopped for more a few years back when Ernie was at his prime, or so she thought.

Ernie thought he was always at his prime and he was right. He took fitness seriously and worked hard at keeping fit and ready for most anything.

Ernie opened the door and saw an old friend sitting behind the desk.

“Crap,” he thought. “They have something for me to do on their minds and its going to change my vacation plans, no doubt.”

The tall, thin man stood up as Ernie entered the room and put out his hand. Ernie took it with a firm grip and shook it.

“Sit down Ernie, we need to talk.”

Ernie sat down in the closest chair and noticed the grey hair growing temples of his friend of many years. They had come into the agency and gone trough training at the same time.

Ernie knew they were about the same age but time hadn’t treated his friend as well as it had treated Ernie. Kraig didn’t do “field work” and it showed. He had gained a few pounds over the last twenty years and seemed a little out of shape.

“What’s up Kraig, I have vacation plans on the burner and little time to spare for chit chat.”

“Oh Ernie, you’re always on the move and looking ten just feet ahead of yourself.” Ernie took umbrage at that.

On the contrary, Ernie thought of himself as a great and detailed planner. His successes had proved that time and time again over decades with the agency. This was just the kind of crap that would send him off to buy a boat and a fishing pole if Kraig wasn’t careful.

Ernie was trying to decide if he was going to bring up the phone call from Chief Mugabo, but he remained quiet and listened. It wasn’t easy.

“Ernie, we have a job for you and it’s very important.”

Ernie knew what that meant. He had been down this road a few times when he was new at the agency. It also meant that his vacation was going to be out on hold.

“We need you to go down to Rwanda and check in with the Police Chief in Kigali. Kraig looked down at his notes for a moment and then looked at Ernie. “Chief Mugabo is his name.”

“Ernie was dumbfounded. How had this happened? It was unexpected to say the least. He didn’t mention the phone call.

“What the hell Kraig, I was all set for a nice long vacation and the agency has screwed me over again. I think I might go to the gals down at Human Resources and file a complaint.”

“Oh, come on Ernie, it’s not my fault. I would send someone else if we had someone as familiar with that part of the world as you are. Don’t file a report at HR Ernie, those folks down there are as busy as can be already. This place is a swamp when it comes to fraternizing and the like. No one follows the rules around her lkike they should, you know that better than most. Cut me some slack, for once.”

“I don’t know, I was looking forward to my vacation at long last.”

“What’s this all about then?”

“We have a stock fraud issue of grand proportions and we think there might be some international espionage overtones. We’re not sure yet, but some information we have might indicate that. We need you to go down and meet this Police Chief and get your feet on the ground, just in case.

There have been some interesting characters coming into the country and holding meetings among themselves. We think something is brewing. This fellow in the files here seems to be there going down on his honeymoon is surely involved. We have a few days to get everything in order before he gets down there.”

“Can I choose my partners in crime?”

“Yes, Ruby and Bobby can go down there with you, but don’t pick the most expensive hotel this time. I got in loads of trouble over that issue when you were in Zimbabwe the last time with those two.”

“That elephant was a necessary expenditure to create a narrative that was believable. You can’t go half way with these exploits and not have people hurt.”

“Some of these people coming in are not friendly to the U.S. so be careful, Ernie.”

“You are making my point for me Kraig.

Joe sat down in a sandwich shop in the airport. he was a little hungry. He placed his two small bags in front of him and stretched his legs out on top of them. He knew his leg room would be somewhat limited. His legs were in good shape but not well traveled.

He had little chance to see the world until this adventure appeared before him as his honeymoon.

He had Suzan to than k for that and a broken heart that was slowly mending, if nothing else.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

So, somethings are lining up.

Ernie is a character form a novel of mine called “Grandpa Ernie’s Secrets.”

He, Ruby and Bobby have already saved the world once.

It’s available on Amazon and Kindle.

I’m working on a prequel to that novel now as well as this one you reading.

More tomorrow.