Jackknife 8
Chapter 8 A Call Home
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“Hi Cray. Perfect timing. We just started preparing for a big lunch.”
“A big lunch for the three of you? Did I forget something?”
“No, you didn’t forget anything. The drivers’ wives wanted to hold a special welcome and support lunch, so I just invited them over.”
“Now that’s perfect timing, I get to miss it!”
“Oh, you’re so bad. It is just a friendly lunch.”
“You know it is to dig up something to gossip about. The job, the extra pay, what we own—”
“It will be fine. But speaking of the job, I found your note. I’m not sure I’m comfortable checking your phone messages. It seems invasive.”
“Don’t worry about that. I have nothing to hide from you. And it’s the only way I’ll get the messages. Why don’t you give it a look now while I’m on the line?”
“All right. I still feel funny about it.
“It looks like you have a couple messages already. They are from Ian.
“O.K., the first message is he will leave messages while you’re gone and hope you can get them somehow.
“The second message is there is some new information on the issue you asked about and he’s checking the details.
“The last message is wishing you well on your job. Here I’m quoting, “I imagine there’s a lot you won’t like but embrace the process. The reward is in the journey, not the destination. In other words, take it easy and try to enjoy the trip.”
“That’s all of them.”
“Thanks darling. I feel all caught up now.”
“Your friend is pretty deep. Does he always talk that way?”
“Depends on what he’s been drinking.”
“Oh, one of those buddies.”
“Nah, he’s one of a kind. We go way back. I’ll introduce you to him when I get back.”
“Great, I’d like to get to know your friends.
“And now I’d better get started on the lunch preparations. Thanks for the call honey.”
“Alright, I’ll call again when I can. Love you all. Bye.”
After the disconnect, Marie got busy with her lunch plans and Cray meditated on his messages.
Marie was right, Ian was deep. He would assume eavesdropping on any message, choose his words carefully and not leave anything in code that could be picked apart by experts.
Unless he thought he could get away with it.
Ian had a brash streak in him. He might leave a fake coded message to test the waters or mess with the monitors’ minds. But he never wasted words.
Cray shook his head. He didn’t know what to make of Ian’s usual armchair philosophy stuff under normal conditions. Usually he needed it spelled out for him in simple terms.
There was no way to ask now and plenty else keeping him busy. Time to get back to work.
While Cray juggled work and personal issues, the teams were receiving a dreaded message.
INTERNAL NOTICE
TO: All Teams
SUBJECT: Operational Loss
MESSAGE:
Operation Romeo Hotel reports an irrecoverable loss. All escorts report to HQ.
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