Chapter 11

Saturday morning after his workout, Garrett headed to meet with Sandra Ginsberg. She had information for him, as well as questions.

Leaving Aaron at home once more, Garrett gave him a peck on the lips and some cash in case he wanted to walk to the local market.

In a cotton button-front shirt and trousers, his gun holster on his belt, his ID next to it, Garrett drove in the light traffic from his home in Baltimore to the nation’s capital.

He didn’t know what Sandra had for him, but since it was the weekend, Garrett knew it had to be important.

A big July 4 th celebration was going to occur in Washington DC and since this year the holiday fell on a Monday that meant a long weekend.

As he drew nearer to the National Mall, he saw the preparations had already begun.

Garrett continued to the federal building where Sandra worked and parked in the secure lot.

He showed his ID to get in the lot, and also again at the door where security guards were stationed.

Garrett used the staircase to go to her office.

The older woman was also in casual attire, a blousy white shirt and navy-blue shorts that went passed her knees.

She smiled sweetly at him and was the only person in the office.

“Good morning, ma’am.” Garrett shut the office door behind him.

“Good morning, Garrett. Help yourself to coffee.” She indicated a pot of drip coffee on a counter.

“I’ve had coffee already. Thank you.”

She had laid out files. “Come look at this.”

Garrett stood next to her.

“I found files for the senators from the photographs you took at Healy’s funeral. All of them have ties to foreign banks.”

Garrett leaned closer to the papers which had been laid out in columns with the deposit and withdrawals highlighted.

“Are you kidding me? Six? Six of those senators are in on it?”

“So far. I have a feeling that number is going to double.”

Garrett read each name and shook his head in disbelief. “They’re arming our enemies!”

“Yes. And getting paid well for it.”

Taking his time, Garrett continued to scan all the papers she had revealed. The director was among them.

“Can you tell me where you obtained the files on Healy?”

Knowing he had broken into the man’s house, Garrett didn’t answer.

“Were they obtained legally?”

“No.”

She nodded, making a note. Most likely of what she could use in court. “But you were made aware of Henderson’s AKA via the director, correct?”

“Correct.”

She made more notes.

He tapped the desk where that man’s paperwork was lying. “I’m going to the director’s home for dinner this evening.”

Sandra’s eyes widened in surprise.

“My reward for a completed mission.”

She didn’t ask for details and he couldn’t give them yet.

“There’s a man named Steinmetz that’s implicated here, but I can’t find any record he existed.”

“Neither can we.” She opened the cabinet and removed a piece of paper. “This is the drawing you gave me.”

He pointed to it. “Yes. I’m convinced he was an operator in disguise. He’s the one that set up an innocent man to take the fall for a murder. A murder I believe that man may have committed.”

“And you have no idea who he is?”

“Well, I have an idea. I also think he’s a double-agent, working both sides of the coin.”

“I would like to know the identity of that man.” She set the drawing down.

“Yes. So would I. It’s my hunch he’s either the ringleader in this crime spree, or maybe working it from both sides, Russian and US intelligence.”

“Do you think he’ll be at the director’s home tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Be careful.”

“I always am.”

“Would you be willing to wear a wire?”

“No. There’s a good chance he’ll check me for it.”

“Really?” she asked as she restacked the papers she had spread out on her desk.

“Yes. A double agent is paranoid, more than a regular operator. He doesn’t know me. The last mission I did was the first one I’d ever done for him.”

“For the CIA?”

“No. I’ve done a lot of missions for the CIA, but not for the director personally. I’ve never had that high of a level on the command chain contact me personally.”

“Is that what raised your suspicion?” She placed the files into a locked cabinet.

“No. The victim of the scheme did that. I’ll tell you more when I know more.”

“The victim? The deceased man they found in a car fire?”

“I can’t say.”

“I understand.”

Garrett gazed into her brown eyes, knowing he could trust her. The recommendation from his lieutenant colonel was enough. But until the men responsible for murder and the frame up of Aaron were caught, he wasn’t going to risk Aaron’s life.

“I’m almost ready to present it to a grand jury. I’m just waiting for you. Once he tell me you’ve gathered all the intel possible, I’ll take it from there.”

“I won’t let you down.” He held out his hand.

“I never thought you would.” She shook it.

“Good day, ma’am.”

“Good luck, Sergeant Major Finnigan.”

~

Aaron decided to walk to the market. The sun was bright, the temperature climbing, and he was getting cabin fever stuck inside. Garrett gave him the okay. Since he no longer had a car, Aaron used his two legs.

With his short blond hair and clean-shaven face, Aaron didn’t feel anxious or conspicuous, but he was cautious. He kept to the side streets until he was at the shopping district and also wore sunglasses.

The shopping area was bustling since it was a holiday weekend. July 4 th was Monday. American flags flapped in the hot wind, and banners about fireworks displays and gala events were on every storefront.

He entered a small market and picked up a handbasket.

Being in love made him optimistic. He’d never even noticed the flowers before. A small floral section was near the freezers showing off bouquets of multicolored blooms which gave off honey scents.

A few bunches were red, white, and blue, mostly dyed carnations. He chuckled at how corny they were.

Leisurely, he browsed the aisles, enjoying this venture which got him out of the house, doing something other than cleaning and yardwork. He picked up boxes of herbal teas to read the descriptions, read ingredient lists for protein bars, and then saw small baskets of berries. The fragrance of the overripe strawberries was delicious.

He placed a container of strawberries as well as whipping cream into his carrier, then took a deep breath of air, feeling free and easy for the first time in a long time.

I’m Brad Houston. I no longer have a criminal record. And I have a lover. One who really likes me!

He sniffed a peach before he put a couple into a bag and noticed a man staring at him. Aaron tried to act casually and not panic. He looked towards the exit and figured he could drop the basket and run.

Then… the man smiled and winked at him.

Ha.

Aaron gave him a shy one back and avoided him. Taken, dude. Taken.

It was the first time in his life he felt that way, but as far as he was concerned, he belonged to Garrett.

~

Garrett worked on the computer in his office since it had access to confidential files his home PC didn’t have.

He tried to find more information on the director but there wasn’t much to be had. Like most operators and high-ranking government workers, their personal information was limited.

He was able to inspect his own, which he did on occasion.

His resume, his awards, his talents, and his contact information were listed. No photos were included and there was nothing containing his home address.

All was good.

His weapon, however, did have a ballistic report. That was fine. He counted on it for help this time.

Once he’d gathered more information, mostly for his visit this evening at the director’s home, Garrett logged off and left. He had no idea if he would be part of a group of guests or solo.

A small handful of employees worked today, this being a Saturday of a holiday weekend. Most workers took off with their kids for a fun trip, camping, or a drive in the country. Maybe a barbecue in the backyard with family and friends.

Garrett glanced around his office, then shut the door behind him, and headed to the parking garage. He thought about getting one of those mobile phones.

The employees of the government could acquire them at a discount. He’d seen them. They had large battery packs, needed constant charging, and seemed too big to place inside a pocket of a pair of trousers.

Some government sedans came with car-phones, but his did not.

But maybe one day he’d get one of those cellular phones. They seemed to be growing in popularity.

He used the back staircase and left, feeling the muggy heat building as the day grew longer.

~

Aaron put the flowers he’d bought into a vase. Yes, it was amazing that Garrett had one. A cut crystal, heavy thing he’d located in a cabinet under the liquor bottles. He washed the fruit and placed it on the table in a bowl, then opened the refrigerator and removed chicken parts to marinate for the grill.

When he heard the garage door open through the wall, Aaron smiled. This domestic scene was amazing. It suited him.

He wanted to be Garrett’s wife.

The connecting door opened, and the first thing Garrett did was spot the flowers. He tilted his head curiously.

Blushing, Aaron lowered his head shyly.

“Uh…” Garrett laughed softly and closed the door behind him. “You went out.”

“I did. To the market.”

“Any issues?” Garrett set a bag on the table.

“No.” Aaron shrugged. “Brad Houston has no enemies.” He picked up a ruby ripe strawberry from the bowl and held it near Garrett’s mouth.

Garrett ate it and smirked at him.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Wine.” Garrett took off his dress shoes.

“Oh! Nice.” As he opened the brown bag to peek, Garrett said, “For the dinner tonight.”

Aaron stopped and looked at him. “Shit. That’s right. I was going to marinate chicken for the barbecue.”

“Yeah. I got plans.” Garrett’s smile fell and he left the room.

Aaron removed the bottle from the brown bag and thought the label looked fancy. Like maybe this was a pricy vintage.

He slipped it back into the bag and followed Garrett.

The handsome man removed his gun, ID, and dress outfit.

Aaron sat on the foot of the bed and watched him. “Is there something about tonight’s dinner you’re not telling me?”

Garrett changed into shorts and a tank top. “Like?”

“Like… it’s dangerous?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Garrett cupped Aaron’s jaw sweetly and left the bedroom.

Aaron watched him leave and thought, don’t worry? It’s all I do when it comes to you.

He sighed deeply. Pretending he was not in love with a government player was useless. Garrett was still in the game and no amount of pretending he and Garrett were happy homemakers was going to make it real.

~

Garrett lay back on the sofa and held the TV remote in his hand. He turned on the set and surfed channels. Once he’d located a baseball game he set the remote controller down.

Aaron joined him. He sat on the end of the sofa, raising Garrett’s legs to let them rest on his thighs, then as they watched the game, Aaron massaged his feet and lower legs.

They had established a comfort level that Garrett didn’t think he was capable of attaining. Normally people annoyed him. They were stupid, opinionated, asked too many questions, etcetera.

Not only were he and Aaron sexually compatible, they seemed to be on the same emotional page as well. Aaron left him alone yet was nurturing to a fault.

Many people from broken homes continued the patterns of abuse. Aaron wasn’t one of them.

He may have been neglected as a child, but Aaron did not neglect him. As a matter of fact, Garrett wondered if in Aaron’s mind, he was a priority over Aaron himself.

If so, that would be new for him.

Garrett was so used to taking care of himself, it was strange allowing someone else to pitch in.

A foot massage? He didn’t think he’d ever gotten one of those before.

But, as Aaron watched the baseball game, he kneaded his toes, arch, and heel, then rubbed his calf. It was bliss.

Garrett became so relaxed, he nodded off.

~

Aaron was going to ask Garrett if he wanted a beer when he noticed the handsome man had fallen asleep.

A warm smile came to Aaron’s face. He caressed the soft hair on Garrett’s lower legs as his love for him kept growing. He adored him.

Hope.

Coming from a sense of helplessness and depression, Aaron felt hope. And it was wonderful after nearly three decades of neglect to finally feel as if he was loveable and could love back.

~

Stirring from an hour power nap, Garrett woke to find the baseball game still on, and Aaron watching it while holding his legs on his lap. Garrett rubbed his face as the sense of grogginess invaded him.

Aaron glanced at him and smiled. “Can I get you anything?”

After checking his watch, seeing it was nearing five, Garrett shifted on the sofa and placed his feet on the floor. “I’m good. I need to wake up. Man, I was out.”

Aaron smiled sweetly at him as Garrett headed to the master bedroom to freshen up in the bathroom.

He looked into the mirror at his bloodshot eyes and had enough. Enough. He was ready for a change and taking Aaron out of the country and living the good life abroad sounded like the perfect plan.

He just had to get through tonight, find what he was looking for, and then… quit the rat race.

He pointed his finger at himself and said, “Enough.”