thinking of involving Taylor?” he asked. “Fallon will need help if he hopes to plant anything at all on Tate,” he said.
Alex closed her eyes. Michael Taylor was one of her closest friends. In this new life, she was reluctant to involve him, for a host of reasons. While she was certain that Michael Taylor suspected her continued involvement; officially she had left intelligence circles. She was hesitant to give any definitive indication otherwise. “What about Jane?” she suggested. Jane Merrowseemed the safest option. She had the contacts, including her brother General Waters. “Maybe Matt can…”
Krause agreed. “I’ll make the call before I leave.”
“PANCAKES!” an excited seven-year-old called.
“Alex?” Krause grabbed hold of his partner’s hand. Alex turned. “It’s someone at that…”
“I know,” Alex said. Whoever Brackett had visited, it was someone they knew intimately. Neither Krause nor Alex had ever seen Claire Brackett anywhere near the Baltimore facility. Whoever Brackett’s contact was, he or she likely knew the whereabouts of both Agent Toles and Agent Krause. It increased the likelihood that it was someone in their loop. Alex had experienced her father’s betrayal; little could surprise her now. “We’ll find out,” she said. “Let’s go. Double agents will be the least of your worries if my mother’s pancakes get cold.” Krause chuckled. The absurdity in life could be unnerving. It was absurd. One minute his life consisted of issues that could lead to massive loss of life, the beginnings of a war, the oppression or enslavement of thousands of people, and the next he was discussing breakfast food. Alex caught the glint in his eye. “Madness always looks better after pancakes,” she winked.
Sunday, December 7th
Cassidy sat on the couch sipping her tea, watching as Alex strung lights around the Christmas tree that Dylan had chosen. He was prattling on about Santa Claus visiting in a few weeks, and Cassidy found herself pondering how many more Christmases she would get to enjoy that innocence. She was feeling the most relaxed that she had in weeks, and she was content just to sit back and take in the scene before her. “Penny for your thoughts,” Helen whispered, taking a set next to her daughter-in-law.
Cassidy smiled at the older woman. “I was just wondering how many more Christmases we will get to bake cookies for Santa and leave carrots for Rudolph,” she answered.
“It does pass quickly,” Helen mused. “Alexis was only Dylan’s age when she put the pieces together.” Helen laughed at the memory. “She was always unbelievably curious. Needed to understand how Santa could fly a sleigh with reindeer.” Cassidy chuckled, not surprised that Alex would see even the magical myth of Santa as a puzzle to solve. Helen continued as she watched Alex coach Dylan on the correct way to position lights on the large tree. “But, she never said anything. Nicky, he believed until he was nine. Alexis convinced him Santa was real every year. One year, she was about ten, I think…so Nicky was six….I heard her get out of bed very late. I saw her leaning out her window. I couldn’t imagine what she was doing with the window open in December. The next morning she woke Nicky up all excited to show him the glitter the reindeers had left on the awning below her window.” Cassidy listened to the sweet story and glanced over to catch her wife whispering in Dylan’s ear. “I would imagine Dylan will be the same with whoever might come along,” Helen suggested.
“I hope so,” Cassidy said quietly.
Helen patted the younger woman’s knee. “I would count on it. And, if Alexis has anything to say about it; I’m sure Dylan has a few years left in him,” she winked.
The rest of the afternoon was enjoyable. Cassidy had to admit that she was tired of hearing
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
, but the song seemed to bring endless laughter from both her son and her
Alex closed her eyes. Michael Taylor was one of her closest friends. In this new life, she was reluctant to involve him, for a host of reasons. While she was certain that Michael Taylor suspected her continued involvement; officially she had left intelligence circles. She was hesitant to give any definitive indication otherwise. “What about Jane?” she suggested. Jane Merrowseemed the safest option. She had the contacts, including her brother General Waters. “Maybe Matt can…”
Krause agreed. “I’ll make the call before I leave.”
“PANCAKES!” an excited seven-year-old called.
“Alex?” Krause grabbed hold of his partner’s hand. Alex turned. “It’s someone at that…”
“I know,” Alex said. Whoever Brackett had visited, it was someone they knew intimately. Neither Krause nor Alex had ever seen Claire Brackett anywhere near the Baltimore facility. Whoever Brackett’s contact was, he or she likely knew the whereabouts of both Agent Toles and Agent Krause. It increased the likelihood that it was someone in their loop. Alex had experienced her father’s betrayal; little could surprise her now. “We’ll find out,” she said. “Let’s go. Double agents will be the least of your worries if my mother’s pancakes get cold.” Krause chuckled. The absurdity in life could be unnerving. It was absurd. One minute his life consisted of issues that could lead to massive loss of life, the beginnings of a war, the oppression or enslavement of thousands of people, and the next he was discussing breakfast food. Alex caught the glint in his eye. “Madness always looks better after pancakes,” she winked.
Sunday, December 7th
Cassidy sat on the couch sipping her tea, watching as Alex strung lights around the Christmas tree that Dylan had chosen. He was prattling on about Santa Claus visiting in a few weeks, and Cassidy found herself pondering how many more Christmases she would get to enjoy that innocence. She was feeling the most relaxed that she had in weeks, and she was content just to sit back and take in the scene before her. “Penny for your thoughts,” Helen whispered, taking a set next to her daughter-in-law.
Cassidy smiled at the older woman. “I was just wondering how many more Christmases we will get to bake cookies for Santa and leave carrots for Rudolph,” she answered.
“It does pass quickly,” Helen mused. “Alexis was only Dylan’s age when she put the pieces together.” Helen laughed at the memory. “She was always unbelievably curious. Needed to understand how Santa could fly a sleigh with reindeer.” Cassidy chuckled, not surprised that Alex would see even the magical myth of Santa as a puzzle to solve. Helen continued as she watched Alex coach Dylan on the correct way to position lights on the large tree. “But, she never said anything. Nicky, he believed until he was nine. Alexis convinced him Santa was real every year. One year, she was about ten, I think…so Nicky was six….I heard her get out of bed very late. I saw her leaning out her window. I couldn’t imagine what she was doing with the window open in December. The next morning she woke Nicky up all excited to show him the glitter the reindeers had left on the awning below her window.” Cassidy listened to the sweet story and glanced over to catch her wife whispering in Dylan’s ear. “I would imagine Dylan will be the same with whoever might come along,” Helen suggested.
“I hope so,” Cassidy said quietly.
Helen patted the younger woman’s knee. “I would count on it. And, if Alexis has anything to say about it; I’m sure Dylan has a few years left in him,” she winked.
The rest of the afternoon was enjoyable. Cassidy had to admit that she was tired of hearing
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
, but the song seemed to bring endless laughter from both her son and her
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