General Directorate of External Security, Summer 2020 France
"What is that?" a man's voice slowly articulated.
"I don't know! I just got it." a second man said in a shrill voice.
"Are you kidding?"
"I'm telling you, I just got the file." he said while chuckling and tapping his foot. "Who is this guy? There is no picture. Whom are we supposed to find?"
"You know him! Anyway we will be briefed on it."
"Yeah!" said the first man, with antipathy evident in his voice.
The internal phone rang just then and I did not answer. I was still at Mortier, struggling with my research into Alma's past. The discussion outside my office had been close. The two men, after having suddenly stopped their debate, were waiting. The ringing telephone intensified and their hearts began to beat faster. They did not move. Previously, they had stopped outside the office, while talking and flipping through the pages of a file. After six rings, the answering machine picked up and they quickly moved away, muttering.
"I know you're there. We need to see you! This is urgent." Tyrone was visibly angry and his accent, when he whispered his words, made him almost incomprehensible.
I did not want to be involved in a case that did not concern me. I did not want to work on anything but the riddle of Alma. No one called me. The case could not be that important. Perhaps, for my conscience's sake I'd better see Tyrone. But I didn't want to get involved in an action due to the incompetence of other agents which would take two days of my time. Previously, dangerous situations excited me and even boosted my moral, but no longer. The situation had changed and so did I. I was no longer the same as I once was.
I put my hand up the left sleeve of my jacket and under my shirt. The skin inside my forearm changed color slightly when I passed my thumb over it and an image formed. Good! I'll go see Tyrone, but I will do nothing more!
I got up, growling and headed for the door after checking that no trace of my presence remained. After all, I was on extended leave! I had barely approached the door, when I heard footsteps coming down the hall.
He is here? For the same reason?
This gave me a bad feeling. He came forward, barely stopping outside the entrance, and opened the door. I took a step back. His right hand groped for the switch on the right wall and pressed it firmly. The light dazzled me and I blinked staring at him.
"Colonel! I hoped you would be there."
"Colonel!"
"Can we talk? Are you free?" His voice was slightly worried and his eyes stared curiously at me.
"Actually no! But since you're already here—" I looked up wearily, shrugged my shoulders and smiled faintly. "I cannot deny you."
He smiled softly and took his left hand from the door's handle. He passed under my elbow and walked to the office, inviting me to follow him. "Come! Let us sit down! It won't be long. I know that you have taken leave. But the situation has become intolerable and action is needed. This must be done quickly, before it escalates."
The colonel stopped before he reached the desk and we sat down at the small table. This discussion would remain private and nothing official would be said. I knew he would ask me again to act undercover to get him out of an impossible mess. Sad and tired, I sighed. I could say no, get up and walk away wishing him a good day. He would not like that. And what if he didn't like it? I narrowed my eyes, looked at him, and breathed heavily and noisily.
I was not showing good manners or respect.
"This time, I feel that it does not tempt you," the Colonel said suddenly.
"Pardon?" I stammered.
I frowned, irritated, and as he grimaced, he crossed his legs and put his hands on his right knee.
"Usually, when I speak of an urgent mission, you don't look like this. You always liked it before, getting out of your daily routine in Guyana. I would not say the same today."
I swallowed, sat back comfortably and continued with a sigh. "It always makes me happy to see you, sir. You know that, right?"
He relaxed a bit. "I always felt that I was considered a bird of ill omen when I asked you to help us. Am I right?"
"In part, yes," I replied, smiling and showing my teeth too. "But that was part of the game, right?" I said slowly, squinting my eyes and leaving only a tiny slit through which I saw his face lose its color. I could feel the warmth of his body increase.
"I understand that you need to take a break - like all of us. What I don't understand is why today? For forty years, I've never seen you take a single day off. You must have your reasons. And I respect them, but this time, it's important!"
"The last time it was important too." I winced and looked at the clock, high on the wall, and followed the progress of the hand on the dial. I was already late for tonight and I was screwed! And I might be screwed for a long time.
Shit!
Slowly my calmness began to abandon me. Tonight, I could not see her and she was about to leave with Alex! And Vera, I hoped. For a moment her face took shape in my thoughts and the Colonel's voice and his unnecessary explanations faded away. Alma's eyes blinked and her gaze, when she discovered me, was filled with joy. The shape of her mouth changed, and her lips stretched themselves in a wonderful smile. The softness in her eyes made me completely forget where I was and more importantly why I was still there.
The Colonel's voice, authoritative, brought me back to reality: "Colonel! You did not answer!"
"Yes?" I said, and with a shudder I climbed out from of my daydream.
"What?" growled the Colonel. He looked at me, frowning, and repeated his question. "Will you accept this mission?"
"What mission?" I moved my back trying to find a better position in the chair that seemed too narrow now. "I'm sorry, but I wasn't paying attention. I was elsewhere."
"I noticed! Your face was too happy to be reacting solely to my words. I don't know what's going on with you but I am really starting to believe that you need leave."
"You said that Colonel Harcourt had worries, but you didn't say what they were!" I replied, upset, and he looked at me puzzled.
He believed that I had not been listening to him and that was true! But he was wrong on another point. He did not know everything about me.
"Yes, but you obviously did not follow my words!"
"Some things do not need to be expressed out loud," I said firmly, and rose at once and went to the window, turning my back. "The last time I saw him, he did not seem healthy. He had some concerns and he did not want tell me at first but he slipped." I turned to him, looked and I put my hands in my pants pockets. "Colonel Harcourt said 'Shortly, someone else will take my place and you never know.'"
The Colonel raised his eyebrows, his lips parted, but he closed them immediately. He looked down at the glass coffee table on which stood a wooden box. He focused on the box, striking the table with the tip of his shoe. I turned and walked away toward the opposite wall.
"Ah hem." The colonel cleared his throat.
"You can help yourself, sir. I know you like cigars. This box is there for you. Go ahead!"
I leaned against the chimney, following his movements. He took a cigar, which he rolled between his fingers while listening to the noise made by the pressed leaves, and passed it under his nose. He lit it after cutting and inhaled the first puff. He smiled and handing it to me. "You do not smoke. Yet you maintain this reserve?"
"My father's."
"Your father smoked?"
"When would I go?"
"In 2 hours and 55 minutes, you must be in Campo dell 'Orro. Even if you do not find a direct flight."