A Man with a Secret
Chapter a preview
Jack’s cell phone was buzzing as it sat on the car seat beside him, as
he was driving home.
He
looked down at it and could see that Penny was calling him. He was particular
about rules and safety, so he carefully slowed down and looked for a place to
pull over. Most people would just answer the phone, but not Jack. He saw a
parking spot and pulled over, stopped and put the car into park. She had left a
message that she was going to be late getting home. “Okay” he said, “fine I
guess it’s whatever’s in the fridge for me for supper tonight."
Then just as he was about to drive off, his phone rang again, it
was The Company. “Darn” he said “what now.” An encrypted message was
texted to him.
“Oh and I thought I was going to have a normal night off tonight.”
He pulled out his small laptop from his attaché case
and logged in. The encrypted message was there as well and using an
unlocking code he decoded the message. It instructed him that he was working
tonight. Details would follow, but that he was needed for a special job.
“It’s
always special” he said and "lately I seem to be working more than others
are.”
“Bet I am going out of town as well,” he mused. “I think I need to
have a serious talk with these guys about losing a few hours or maybe even
working on a casual basis.”
Jack was 55 and he felt that he should be doing a less, a lot
less. Yes he was probably fitter than anyone half his age, and he had far more
experience in the field than anyone else had. But there was more to life than
this and it was all different now, not like it used to be in the good old days.
No, he needed a change and he was thinking about retiring soon. He had worked
for The Company for a good many years and while he was still very good at what
he did for them, there does come a time, when one needs to seriously think
about retiring. He had thought he could do something similar, but on his own.
He had the money and the means to do that.
A few moments later along came another encrypted message on his
lap top screen.
Destination: Mexico City.
Duration: two days.
Target: XXXXXXXX
Contact: Eduardo
It was always the same. The target was never known until almost
immediately before he had to take action. The contact was always one name and
someone he never really knew.
In the old days, he had been involved in planning and in a lot of
the strategy, the timing and the place, the weapon choice even.
Now he was just
the trigger.
He had argued that of course, that he could be allowed into more
of what was happening. But that never worked and just fell on deaf ears. The
planning now was done by someone else and it might be with a group of people
who have never ever been in the field or seen any action at all.
“Okay”
he thought, "just this one last time and then I make my case to
them."
“Shit” he said, “I had better call Penny and let her know I am
working late and yes oh man, I even have to tell her that I am going out of
town, yes yet again.”
He hurriedly called Penny but could not get through to her, so he left a
standard message, explaining that he had to go out of town. He also told her
that he was not happy with the arrangement, which was true. He closed by
telling her how much he loved her and that he would make it to her with
something special.
He then drove out to Teterboro airport in New Jersey which catered more
to private planes and made his way across from the main terminal to a large hanger,
where a private jet was waiting for him.
He sat in his car for bit a little upset about having to leave
without any preparation. Then he opened the driver’s door and started to get
out, then changed his mind and got back in again. He picked up his cell phone
and dialed the unlisted number of Dan his boss at The Company.
He got a message
to leave a message instead.
“Dan” he said, “I am sort of upset, and you know Dan well I don’t
like to work when I upset and I am upset and with you. And now I feel also that
you are avoiding me….”
He paused
“Are you Dam it all Dan, are you avoiding me?”
“Hey listen man, I am at the airport and looking right at the plane. I can see
some Mexican looking guy and I suppose he must be Eduardo. I am upset because
of a few things; you know what some of them are and well for me this is not a
safe operation, as I know nothing about it.”
He ended the call but just sat
there.
He picked up his cell again and called Dan back leaving another message..
"Okay, Dan this is what I am going to do Dan..... and I want you to call me
a.s.a.p., right after you get this message and make it a priority one for me, okay. "
"Have you got that Dan.. this is important...
if you dont's I may just abort this mission anyway, from here
right now, or later even when I get to Mexico, that is if I go.”
He hung up the phone and just sat there brooding.
He didn't like feeling like this.. he didn't like being upset, but he was upset and anything could happen then.
To be continued...
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