“I can see you’ve got something on your mind; what does colonel Reed want from you now?” she asks.
“He wants Sir Malcolm’s safe and I’ve got to get it for him.”
Catherine’s whole face changes to confusion and anger, “He wants the safe, well why doesn’t he go and get it himself? Why on earth would you agree to go back to Orion? That place will be overrun by now. It’s too risky, tell him you’ve changed your mind and you’re not going back!”
“That’s exactly what I did tell him, Catherine, but he used Josh to force my hand.”
“What does that mean?” she asks looking even angrier.
“If I didn’t agree, he was going to send Josh in on the front line of the battle to take back the city, which moves out at ten o’clock this morning. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“That slime ball used your own son to bribe you? Wait until I see him!” Catherine looks livid now, and I wouldn’t like to be in Colonel Reed's shoes if she does catch up with him.
“He didn’t give me a choice; he knew I couldn’t refuse,” I tell her.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m assembling a team to get the safe; that’s where Josh and Dan are now, starting to prepare.”
“Andy, it’s too dangerous. Let’s get them both and get the hell out of here.”
“We probably could, but not Josh. Josh is still enlisted, they would not let him leave and then you can bet the Colonel would carry out his threat. I’ve got to go through with it, I’ve just come back to tell you what’s happening and to see if you will wait for me until I get back. I don’t like asking you again.”
“It’s not about waiting for you; of course, I will. I’ve told you I’m with you, but it’s about you going back to that building. I don’t want to lose you now and I’m thinking of Emily.” Catherine looks like she was about to get upset for a moment, but she quickly pulls herself together, I squeeze her hand.
“It is risky, but I’m getting two Special Forces teams to go in with. We will fly in, get the safe and get out, and if all goes to plan, we should only be there a very short time. Colonel Reed’s operation is going to be huge and will act as a diversion. With any luck, it will have drawn most of the Rabids away and out of the building,” I tell her, sounding as confident as I can.
“That’s too many shoulds, if’s and lucks for my liking, Andy.”
“You’re right, but if I think it looks too bad when we get there, I’ll turn us around and abort.”
“Yea, like that’s going to happen,” she says sarcastically.
“We’ve got to move out by three at the latest so I estimate we will be back by four and the Colonel has given me his word that we can all leave here then. I haven’t much of a choice, but I’ll get it done, you’re not going to lose me.”
“We had better not, Andy, so don’t try to do anything foolish.”
“I won’t. I’d better get back to it, I’ve just told Emily that I have meetings and work to do around here, there is no point worrying her.”
“No there isn’t, and don’t you worry about her, she will be with me, so do what you’ve got to do and get back to us in one piece, okay?”
“I will,” I just manage to say as Catherine leans in, giving me a long forceful kiss on my lips and for a moment, I forget about the mission and all the other shit, losing myself in her soft luscious lips. My feelings are growing for her by the second and I promise to myself that I will get back to her as soon as I possibly can!
Mine and Catherine’s spell is broken too soon, however, by the sound of more sniggering coming from a certain young lady sitting nearby. Suddenly, I feel like a schoolboy again, kissing my very first girlfriend while our friends snigger in the background and as Catherine and I pull away from each other, I am sure I’m blushing a bit.
Emily is still sniggering behind her hand as I get up from the sofa; this is definitely the first time she has seen me kiss any woman apart from her mother and I am not surprised by her reaction. She could have reacted totally differently, badly even; it feels awkward for me so why shouldn’t it for her? I know she likes Catherine and I’m sure she will get used to us.
I pick Emily up just as she calms down, and hug her tightly into me, saying “I’ve got to get back to work now, I’ll be as quick as I can, so be a good girl for Catherine and Stacey, okay?”
“Yes Dad, try not to be too long.”
“I’ll try,” I put Emily down and tell her I love her, and she seems fine and I’m glad she doesn’t know what is really going on.
“Are you going to be alright here for a while longer, Stacey?”
“Yes, I’m alright thanks, Andy,” she tells me, attempting a smile.
“Stan, good luck with your trip, I hope everything works out in Bristol, mate.”
“Thanks, Andy,” he says as he gets up and gives me a vigorous handshake. “It will be cool I’m sure, and if not, at least I’m at a seaport so I’ll get on the first boat back to Jamaica,” he says, laughing deeply.
“Right I’m off, see you, girls, later.”
Before I leave, I can’t help but give Emily one last kiss on the cheek.
“Don’t forget me,” Catherine says, and I don’t.
Lieutenant Winters is standing over by the exit, checking his watch and looking eager to get on with things as I approach him.
“Right, Lieutenant, let’s get on with this.”
“Yes, Sir,” he says as he turns to get
