The Veteran

Chapter Eleven

The next few hours were tense. We woke the boys and had them take baths. After they were clean, we all sat down to eat breakfast. Tension filled the room, and I could tell Jean wasn't doing an excellent job of handling the conversation we had. Frank was his typical grumpy self, but the boys kept his anger at bay. He had never shown his anger in front of them, much like how he had acted around his own children. Mary and I had spoken about her childhood many times, and she could count on one hand the number of times she had seen her father angry. He had control of his temper, but his disposition was a different story. He was always negative about everything, except the boys. Even Jean, to whom he had been married for over thirty years, couldn't placate him and dealt with his moodiness. I didn't care for his shitty attitude toward life and didn't do much to hide my disdain.

At first, we ate in silence, as was typical during our mealtimes when Frank and Jean were around. Diego gave me sidelong glances, not understanding the quiet. He had grown up with a family that spent most of their mealtimes talking about everything that had happened, so the concept of not talking while eating was foreign to him. It was to me, as well.

The boys began chattering, asking what I had been doing, where I had been, and wanting to know when we were going home. We talked about a lot of other topics, including wanting to fill me in on everything that had happened after they left. I was attentive to them, but their talking caused a grimacing look on both Frank and Jean's faces. I had missed the boys' youthful excitement and didn't care how much it bothered Frank and Jean, to whom I paid little attention. This wasn't their house, and it wasn't their rules.

I let the boys ramble, and I was glad neither of them mentioned or seemed aware of the problems that plagued us. Mary, her parents, and Diego had done an excellent job of shielding them from this new reality, but I wasn't sure how long the ruse would hold up. Both were intelligent, sometimes too much for their own good, and picked up on things. We would need to be careful with our words.

As breakfast wrapped up, Frank said he and Jean would like to talk to me, but I had other plans. I asked the boys if they had been outside much, to which they said no. I was going to change that. Before I could say a word, Mary interrupted her father, "Dad, John has had a stressful week, and yes, while we have some things to discuss, John needs to spend some time with the boys--alone.

"Fine, let me know when you can fit me into your schedule," Frank said, sneering.

I ignored his retort and told the boys to clear their plates, and I would meet them outside in a minute. Diego said he would keep an eye on them until I was outside.

After the boys walked out, I sat back down at the table across from Frank and stared at him.

"You got something to say, John?"

"Yes, Frank, I do. First, thank you for being here with Mary and the boys. I realize this hasn't been easy for you and Jean, and I appreciate your patience and understanding, but let me make one thing perfectly fucking clear to you. This is not your show. You are out of your league where any of this is concerned, and if you do anything that endangers any of us, I'll deal with you myself, and it won't be pleasant. If you want to take this as a threat, then please do so, but if something happens to them because of you, I will drop a hammer on you. Am I clear?"

I had never spoken to Frank that way. His face reddened with anger, but he sat remained silent, hands crossed in front of him. I wasn't the same John Hunter who would roll over to keep the waters calm. We were in stormy seas, and I made him aware that I was now the captain of this fucking ship.

"Well, Frank."

"Yes, I read you loud and clear!"

"Good, before I go play with the boys, if there's anything else you want to say, say it now, or don't say it at all."

He remained quiet. I stood and walked out the door and Mary followed.

"Did you really have to talk to him like that?"

"Yes, I did. I don't have time for his attitude or interference. We're in a harsh situation, and if we don't do this perfectly, someone will die. I wanted to make sure he understood he doesn't make the calls on any of this."

"You could've been a little nicer."

"No. Your dad doesn't understand nice. He only understands when people get in his face. I did what I felt was necessary. I'm going to play with the boys now," and walked off the porch into the yard where Diego was wrestling with them.

Matthew and Jacob were having fun with Diego, playing horseback rides and tag, but I could see Diego, even as fit as he was, was getting worn out. I interrupted the boys and asked them if they wanted to go for a walk with me. At first, they declined, but the look from Diego said save me.

"Come on, boys. Let's give Uncle Diego a break and come with me for a walk. I need to talk to you for a bit."

'Aww' and 'but Dad', was their responses, but they got up and followed me as I walked.

"Is Uncle Diego really our uncle," Matthew asked.

"Not really, but he is like a brother to me, so it's ok to call him Uncle Diego."

That made the boys happy, knowing they didn't have to call him Mr. Montoya, or Mr. Diego. Uncle was a better title for him.

We walked around Diego's property, which extended a couple hundred meters to the back of the farmhouse. I asked the boys about their time at the farm, if anything weird had happened, how their school work was going, and if they had any problems.

Neither one of them had much to say, and they didn't want to talk about school work. They wanted to know more about what I had been doing, I told them I had been working which bored them. To them, work was all I ever did. They told me about Uncle Diego's friends coming to visit yesterday, but they had to stay in the house while the adults talked. I had to give it to Nataliy for not involving or scaring my children. It didn't negate that his men had killed Mac and held my wife, her parents, and my friend at gunpoint while he and I had our discussion, but it showed me he intended to negotiate, not to scare my children.

We were on our way back, and Diego trotted toward me. He had a concerned look on his face, eyebrows raised as if trying to warn me without spooking the boys. I told the boys to run ahead and find their mother.

Diego spoke, "I didn't want to say anything with the boys around, but I think we're under surveillance. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think there was movement this morning on the far tree line, but I can't pin anything down. The motion sensors reach out about 100 meters, but any further than that, they are useless. It's just a hunch, and it might be animals, but I'd rather play it safe."

"What do you suggest?"

Although I was a little annoyed, we could do nothing more until they revealed themselves. If someone was watching us, they hadn't made any moves.

"I'll scout the tree line, but I don't want to start a shooting match, especially with your family here. I'm concerned they've found us."

"Ok. Take care of it. I'm going to call Jones and get this ball rolling if we're going to get the Russians and skinheads off our ass. We have less than 24 hours now, and I don't have any idea what's going to happen or where. Both groups have a lot of people all over the place. I'm surprised the skinheads haven't come to the farm yet."

I pulled out the burner phone and dialed the number I had saved. Three rings and Jones answered, "Mr. Hunter, have you called to accept our offer?"

"Before I tell you my answer, a couple of things. I believe we may be under surveillance at our location and I'm not sure who it is. I'm scheduled to meet with Nataliy Michenkov to discuss the favor I owe him, and I really don't want to go to that meeting. I also need some assurances that everyone else will be safe if I agree to do this."

"You are under surveillance by our people. We have been tracking you for a few days now. Rest assured, everyone you mentioned will be safe, but you must follow our instructions to the letter. Is that understood?"

"Yes, I understand. What do I need to do?"

"Do you agree to the terms we previously discussed concerning the requirements for joining this organization?"

"I do."

"Very well then. We will be recording this call beginning now. Welcome to Global Development Technologies Consortium. You will be brought on as a consultant for six months, with continued employment contingent on completion of all the field training requirements. You and your family will receive new identities, and your old identities will be erased. You will choose from one of four places to be relocated to. If you can't decide on a location, we will decide for you. Do you understand the requirements so far?"

"Yeah, I understand. Go ahead,"

"You are to inform no one of these changes in your life, nor of any association with Global Development Technologies Consortium. Failure to abide by this requirement will result in your new identities being terminated, your old identities reinstated, and your whereabouts announced to any parties who might be interested in you. Compensation will be based on your performance, with a base salary of $400,000 for the first six months with a cash bonus of $25,000 upon acceptance of these terms, to be delivered within 24 hours by courier, and the sign-on bonus of $50,000 when you sign the contract. After you complete the first six months, which will include training and supervised fieldwork, you will be placed in a sole operator status, and your compensation will increase to $1,000,000 per year, paid biweekly. Additional bonuses may be paid based on the client and your performance. Do understand the terms as dictated so far?

The amounts he said blew me away. That was an awful lot of money for being a consultant.

"Yes, I understand."

"You are authorized to declare expenditures for travel, necessities, and other miscellaneous expenses using a corporate credit card issued in your name. All tools of the trade will be supplied by GDTC based on job requirements and requests. After your new identities are established, you will receive a new social security number, passport, driver's license, bank accounts, and all other necessary documentation to ensure your ability to blend in wherever you may be. You will be like any other ordinary citizen but will be on call with GDTC 24/7. You may seek other employment as cover if it does not interfere with your primary responsibilities. Your loyalties will be to GDTC, not to any government, agency, or other organization. Additional details will be revealed to you at the proper time. Do you agree to these terms, Mr. Hunter?"

At this point, I would have agreed to almost anything to ensure my family's safety, "Yes, I agree. Now what?"

"You are to continue with the meeting with Nataliy Michenkov as planned. We will handle the rest of your unfinished business."

"Don't you think that's a bit risky?"

"We will handle the Russians and the BelyyaPrava, rest assured, but you must follow our directions to the letter," he said, "Is that clear?"

"Crystal," was my response.

"We will be in contact with you. A courier will arrive at your location within 12 hours with some important documents for you to sign. Once we confirm your signature and your DNA, we will proceed with our procedures. You will also receive a package containing certain items necessary for you to perform your job functions. After the issues are resolved with Mr. Michenkov, you and your family must be prepared to depart your current location within 24 hours and meet your assigned contact who will provide you with rendezvous details. Do you have any more questions, Mr. Hunter?"

"One. What kind of a guarantee do I have we'll be safe?"

"A permanent covert security detail will be assigned to your wife's family. One will also be assigned to Mr. Montoya and one to Mr. Kreschenko and his family. What we are asking you we don't ask of many, and we understand the complications giving up your life can create. Be advised, they will also handle any loose ends, should you fail to fulfill the requirements of your employment."

I didn't like the sound of it, giving me the feeling that those security details were nothing more than glorified hit squads to keep me from talking and ensure our families didn't cause any problems.

"If it's any consolation, we've only released one employee from his duties in the past ten years."

"I guess I don't have any choice," I said, resigned to the single option that remained. The line went silent.

As I walked to the house, Mary sat on the steps, waiting for me.

"Everything ok?"

"Yeah, everything's ok," I paused, "for now."

Nobody else but Diego was outside, and he had gone to the barn. Mary and I walked around the backyard, and I filled her in on the details. She was the only one I could tell. Diego or Viktor couldn't know, for risk of exposure.

"So, are you still meeting with the Russians?"

"Yeah. I don't like how this is panning out, and it's making me nervous."

I couldn't tell her I wasn't afraid, as most people would've been in this situation. I was apprehensive, but my mind had slipped back into its old way of thinking, and I was preparing for a firefight or confrontation. I didn't expect to walk away from this meeting unscathed.

"I'm not happy about any of this. You didn't mean for this to happen, and while I believe you've done your best, I'm reluctant. My primary concern is our boys and my family at this point," she said.

"What am I then? Not family?"

"Of course, John. I worry about you the most. I've watched you change because of this, and to be honest, I'm not liking what I'm seeing. You're not the same person I married. Something has changed with you, and it scares me."

"I know that, but people are threatening to kill us, and we don't have a lot of choices at this point."

"Don't you think I know that? You're not giving me enough credit here. I'm tired of trying to explain myself to you. You are NOT listening. Your mind is locked into this one track."

"I didn't plan on this happening the way it did, and I'm reacting to the situation best I can. I want to make sure that you, the boys, your parents, hell, everyone is going to be safe. That is my primary concern, and to be honest," and then I lied to her face, "I'm scared too."

"I understand but let me put it to you this way. I don't like this situation. As a matter of fact, I'm starting to hate the predicament we're in. I catch myself blaming you more and more, and you're not helping. Am I afraid? Hell yes, I'm afraid, but I'm dealing with it. Sure, it’s who you are, but I don't understand it, and I'm not sure I ever will."

I wanted to listen. She needed me to listen. I could tell she was frustrated, and her emotions were running high.

"I think I'm frustrated because I can't help you understand. You're not going to get used to it overnight. When I was in, the spouses took years to understand what their husbands did in our line of work. A lot of them didn't, and they ended up divorced. I don't want to get to that point, but I don't know how to help you understand. I need to know if you trust me."

"Of course, I trust you, but that's not the problem here. It's about what you are. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around what I'm seeing. This is not normal, John. People aren't like you, and I've never been around anything like this. You have to cut me some slack and give me an opportunity to adjust, assuming I can."

Before I could respond, she held up her hand to stop me, "Before you say anything, this has nothing to do with my parents. This is all me, so stop."

A look of frustration shadowed her face.

She continued, taking deep breaths, "What concerns me the most is what you're becoming. I can't process who you are and what you can do. Most people couldn't. Do I love you? Yes, of course, but knowing how violent you are and that you can kill people without blinking ...well. That's not normal, John. Not normal at all."

"This won't be easy, and I don't expect things to get back to any sense of normalcy overnight. Hell, I'm not sure what the next few hours are going to bring, let alone any time after that. I'm thinking about our survival and trying to keep some sanity in our midst. I'm doing my best not to lose you and the boys in the process. I don't blame you for feeling this way. If I was in your place, I'm not sure I'd have the strength to ride this out. All I hope, and what I really need, is for you to not stop believing in me and that I have all our best interests at heart."

"Stop it!" she raised her voice, "I never once doubted you or that you wouldn't have our best interests at heart. My biggest concern is I'm going to lose the John I and love. Do you understand? I fear you'll become someone I someone I can't trust, someone who makes me feel afraid and no longer safe, and that's not considering our boys. How do we explain this to them?"

"I don't know. I don't want to go back to being who I was so many years ago, but that part of me is what is keeping us alive now. Do I like it? No, I hate it, but I don't have a choice. I don't want to put you and the boys in a position where you no longer trust me. I'm scared. Scared you are not going to look at me the same way, scared you are going to want to leave. Scared I will lose you all."

This seemed to give her some comfort, but in my head, I knew I was changing, and not for the best when it came to Mary. That persona I had taken so long to build was eroding. This was one time I wished I could talk to my therapist, but that connection had long since been broken. I didn't fear the old me like I should have but began to embrace it. The guilt I felt was from keeping the truth from Mary.

I couldn't bring myself to tell her what I was really thinking.

"John, let's focus on getting through this, for now. We don't have a lot of time before you meet with those people and you have to be focused. You don't need any distractions. I will take care of the boys, and you worry about those people. You make sure you have your head in the game, and you come back to me alive. I'm not going through this to have you end up dead, you hear me, John Hunter?"

"Loud and clear, Mary. Loud and clear." She got up to go inside.

Diego exited the barn, and walked past, "Good to have you back, amigo," he said and walked into the house.

That last comment didn't help.

I watched her as she went inside, still as beautiful as the day I met her. I had been divorced for a few years. My first wife and I had split over irreconcilable differences. I had stopped caring about her. She was sleeping with other people and decided someone else was more fun. I had resigned myself to the fact I would stay single for the rest of my life, and then I met Mary. She was the friend of one of my coworker's daughter, who was in town visiting her folks and Mary came with her. She took a liking to me and to this day. I still can't figure out why, but it worked.

I had hit the lottery with Mary. Her parents I could deal with, but then came Matthew. He was a beautiful baby boy. He took after Mary in the looks department, bright blue eyes and blonde hair, with the right mix of our facial characteristics. All our friends ooo'd and ahhh'd over him, but him coming along changed some other people as well. Her parents. We married after Matthew was born so he could have my name. This didn't sit well with them.

Regardless of how they felt about me, they knew I took good care of Mary and the boys, but in their eyes, I had stolen their golden child and ruined her. Mary had finished college and was on her way to a very successful career in marketing when we met. After she got pregnant with Matthew, she decided to take a break from working until Matthew was older and then Jacob came along. We agreed her staying home with the boys was the most important thing. This drove a deeper wedge between her parents and me, but she stepped in and made sure they knew it was her decision. She was happy with the arrangements we had, even proud she could be the mom to our boys she had always wanted. She ran a tight ship with them, never lacking in discipline, but she loved the boys with all her heart and made sure they were happy. I was Daddy, the guy who worked all the time and made sure they had everything they needed. They loved me, but their relationship with their mother was something to behold.

For the rest of the afternoon, I helped Diego around the farm while Mary dealt with her parents and the boys. It was best I wasn't part of those conversations. She had a much less blunt way with words and would try to smooth things over. None of this was easy for anyone, especially for her and the boys, but no options remained.

Dinner was late, and Mary brought plates out for Diego and me, and we sat and talked about what our plans were for the next day. I advised Diego I would meet with the Russians alone. He didn't like that at all.

"Bro, let me at least do overwatch for you."

As worried as I could tell he was, I couldn't let that happen. "As much as I would love to have you watch my six, I can't, Diego. Their instructions were precise. I meet with the Russians alone. If they see anyone else, the deal is off."

"I don't like this one bit. Sounds too much like a setup."

"I get it, but I don't have any other choices at this point. I have to take a chance they will honor their agreement."

"Your call, amigo," he said, "but if you need me, I'm only a phone call away."

"Thanks, bro, but I have to do this alone. Keep an eye on everyone for me while I'm gone."

"You don't even have to ask."

"Roger that, but I feel better saying it anyway."

I spent the rest of the evening hanging out with Mary and playing with the boys until it was time for them to go to bed. Diego and I headed to the barn and concentrated on making sure I was ready for the meeting in the morning, talking about how I would handle it, cleaning our weapons, and reminiscing about old times. We worked until almost 2300 when there was a knock on the barn door. Mary and her dad walked in and asked to talk to me. I gave Diego the high sign, he mouthed 'good luck,' said he would check the perimeter, and then head to bed.

Mary spoke first, "John, my dad wants to talk with you."

Frank always had a good poker face, and it was hard to determine if he was going to talk or yell.

"We haven't always seen eye to eye, but I think," he hesitated and was elbowed by Mary, "what you're doing is the best thing possible for everyone."

I could tell he was having a hard time even saying those words. I could've chosen to make things harder for him, and I paused a bit, which elicited a look from the 'say something look’ from Mary.

"Frank, I appreciate it. I'm doing the best I can in this situation for everyone concerned. Who knows what will happen in the morning, but if I have my say about, we all walk away. After that, we'll figure it out."

"Thank you, John." he said, "I'm going to bed now. You and Mary need to talk, so I'll leave you alone." and he turned to leave the barn.

I nodded, "Good night, Frank," not expecting a reply and not getting one.

As soon as her father left the barn, she didn't waste any time, " About tomorrow. I'm scared. Mom, Dad, and I had a long talk, and while we don't like this situation, or even agree with it, we realize you must handle this your way. You're good at this, as much as I hate to admit it. You might have to do things I don't like, but it is what it is. You have to promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"Promise me you'll make it out of this alive and come home to the boys and me. I need you to say it."

"I promise you I will make it out of this alive and come home to you and the boys, Mary. I promise."

I had lied. I had no idea if I would or not, but I couldn't tell her that. It was 2300, and in less than twelve hours, I would meet with the Russians about the witness they wanted me to disappear, and Global had indicated they were going to help with the situation. If it was a setup, I was screwed. Where we were going to meet hadn't been disclosed. I didn't like so many unknowns.

"I'm heading up to bed. Don't take long. The boys are still awake and waiting for you to give them a hug and kiss," she turned to leave the barn and paused, with a smile on her face, "I'll be waiting up for you."