Quake Chapters 5 and 6

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I always enjoyed the drive to Salvation Baptist church. This drive was no exception even in light of all that had gone on the last few days. My world had shifted on it’s axis but this drive, with it’s scenic ocean views and sweet little multi colored beach houses with white picket fences had not changed one bit. I watched the scenery fly by via the backseat window. Mom was driving and Dirk was riding shotgun. Dirk always rode shotgun, claiming he got sick in the backseat. The baby. They were chatting happily about whether or not the Pelican’s menu needed to be updated. Mom was saying no while Dirk was saying yes. I couldn’t believe how easily Dirk could carry on as if only a little over seven hours away we were not meeting the head honcho of an unofficial government operation teeming with super humans. My mind was a swirling torrent of what nexts and what ifs.

Dirk laughed heartily, his blue eyes flashing. He just wasn’t a brooding sort of guy. I wished I could be more like him. More ‘take it as it comes’ but I just couldn’t make myself do it. I wanted to analyze it and worry about it.

After the phone call at the restaurant Dirk and I displayed our conflicting personalities perfectly. Dirk took it all in stride and talked excitedly about the prospect of the meeting. When he tired of that subject he rambled on about other more mundane things. He joked and Robin and Simon laughed. I on the other hand, brooded. I ran all sorts of possible scenarios and outcomes in my head which continued when we got home and well into the night. I was ready to get it all over with.

We pulled down a side street that went slightly uphill. The road ended into to church driveway. The brick was a light creamy color which made the building look fresh despite it‘s age. We had been going to this same church for as long as I could remember and my Mother the same before her. We walked in and were bombarded with family friends and neighbors. After several minutes of chit chat we made our way to an empty pew and waited for service to start. Soon the band began to play and we all stood up to sing. I was just digging down deep into a song when Simon sidled up next to me.

“Can you make room for two more?” He asked, looking down at me. His eyes were bright and full of mischief.

I am sure I would have spoken a reply had I any oxygen in my lungs. I stared at him in shock. Shock partly because he was there but mainly because of how he looked. He had his hair slicked back in a ponytail and he was wearing grey pants, tight black shirt and a grey jacket left open. He looked like he hadn’t shaved because he had a little stubble that was enough to drive a sane woman crazy.

I moved over without speaking because I still didn’t have air to speak with. I believe I recovered before he could read more than my shock at seeing him there. I hoped so anyway. Robin scooted in next to him wearing a yellow sun dress and white wedge sandals. She grinned at me, turned and began singing. I turned my attention back to service as well. After a minute I began to hear a low, deep voice drift down to me. It wasn’t a fantastic voice but it was mellow and soothing.

When worship began I expected to see the old pastor, Mr. Hilley to come to the pulpit. I was shocked to see his son, Rick Hilley jr. stand before us and begin to preach. Simon, no doubt sensing the distress of my mind looked quizzically down at me. I smiled at him and gave the appearance of brushing it off. I listened to Hilley jr. with rapt attention. It was a really good sermon which I am sure made his father, who I had spotted in the front row, extremely proud.

After the service we introduced Robin and Simon to our Mother as the owners of Colossians and not as the secret spies sent to watch our every move. We were told by Simon that we could inform her of what was really going on but should at least wait until after meeting their Chief of operations to make that decision.

She beamed at them and immediately asked them to brunch at the Littleton estate to which they graciously accepted. We milled about a while letting my Mom visit with her church lady friends and occasionally she cut her eyes to us a smiled a little slyly I thought.

“She is planning our weddings isn’t she?” I asked Simon.

“You should really let her pick out the dress. You will look amazing.” He replied.

“I hate you.” I told him and he laughed.

Just then I saw Rick coming towards us. Our eyes locked and he blanched a little.
“Shia.” He said smiling at me. “It is good to see you. It has been a very long time.” He looked at Simon.

“Oh this is Simon. He and Robin” I gestured towards her where she and Dirk were talking to an elderly couple “own the deli across the street from the Pelican.”

“Colossians?” He asked Simon.

“Yes.” Simon replied shortly.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Rick said holding out his hand to shake Simon’s. Simon shook it but he had the oddest expression on his face. Not having known Simon long I couldn’t pinpoint what it might mean. He looked like he wanted to groan or grimace. I couldn‘t fathom which. “I have not yet gotten around to eating there but I like the name. May I ask how you came by it?”

“My Grandfather named it for us. He said he liked the way it sounded.”

Rick nodded at Simon and turned to me. “So this was your first time sitting through one of my sermons.” He didn’t ask but I could read the question all over his face.

“Yes it was and I was a little shocked to see you up there instead of your father. Mother did not tell me he had retired.”

“It was only May when he announced his retirement. Everyone seems to be taking the transition well.” He informed me.

“I couldn’t see how they wouldn’t. It was a very powerful sermon. Every bit as poignant and full of the spirit as your father. I am not just saying that either.”

He smiled at me trying not to show how much my opinion mattered to him. I knew his expressions very well so I knew he was happy with my answer.

My Mother looked our way and noticed who I was talking to and her smiling expression was instantly tinted with sadness as it always did whenever Rick and I were in the same room together. Someone called to Rick so he made polite goodbyes and moved off into the crowd.

“Lets head to the car.” I said to Simon and he followed me out into the bright noonday sun.

“He loves you.” Simon said abruptly as we were weaving in and out of cars in the parking lot. I turned to face him.

“What?” I asked incredulously.

“That preacher. He still loves you. Do you love him?”

“What does that matter to you?” I asked irritated that he dared ask such a personal question. Why did he care?

He shrugged. “It doesn’t. I am only curious. He is a good man, he loves you and your Mother approves. Does being a preacher’s wife not appeal to you?”

I sighed. “He was my first love. Puppy love as my Mom calls it. We were young and at that time Rick didn’t know what he wanted to be. He wasn’t sure he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father. His father never pressured him. He gave him all the room to find his own calling. We spent a year and a half together in high school trying to figure out what we wanted to be when we grew up. When graduation came I had visions of Hollywood dancing in my head. At first Rick supported me and decided to go with me and enroll in college there but at the last minute he told me he felt called to the service of the Lord and planned to enroll in seminary. He was accepted into New Orleans Baptist, which is a big deal and also where his father studied. He wanted me to marry him and go with him to New Orleans. We couldn’t stay together there and not be married.”

“And let me guess. You didn’t want to get married?” He asked.

“Not at all. Nor did I want to live in New Orleans. I was convinced all I had to do was show up in L.A. to land the starring roles in five big production movies.” I sighed at myself. “I was foolish.”

“So you regret leaving him?”

“Oh no, I regret the naivety of my younger self. I really wasn’t ready for marriage and I don’t think he was either. And I admit the life of a preacher’s wife wasn’t that appealing to an eighteen year old.”

“What about now? Is it appealing now?” Simon asked, searching my face since my humming kept him mostly in the dark. “He is a good man.”

“Gheesh! Are you trying to marry me off too? Your worse than my Mother!” I admonished. “It has nothing to do with the preacher’s wife part. I would actually like to love the person I marry. I will always cherish the memory of what we had but I don’t love him.” I waved my hands in the air in exasperation. “Is there anything else you would like to know Dr. Phil?”

He laughed and shook his head. “He is seeing a nice divorced woman with two kids. He is thinking of asking her to marry him. He would drop her for you in a heartbeat but he senses how you feel and accepts it and I admire him for it. If I were in love I would never let her get away so easy.”

“Even if she didn’t love you?” I asked.

He turned slightly wild hazel eyes on me. “I would make her love me.” He said menacingly.

Yikes.

****


Mom and I started cooking brunch as soon as we walked in the door while Dirk gave Simon and Robin a tour of the house. Thirty minutes later we all rendezvoused in the sun room. Our first course was frittata and orange juice with fried potatoes and fruit. Afterwards I handed out cinnamon rolls and coffee.

“Do you want cream and sugar?” I asked Dirk.

“Does a bear poop in the woods?” He asked me.

“Everyday.” I replied setting the sugar bowl and cream in front of him.

“So Shia tells me your cousins?” Mom asked. “Is this on your Mother’s or your Father’s side?”

“Father’s.” Robin said.

“What is your last name?” She asked them.

“Tracy.” Simon replied. “Both of us. Robin has not yet married.”

“And you have?” Asked my Mother.

“Yes. I am divorced.”

Why that hit me like a hammer I don’t know but it was a lot better for me to imagine Simon just appeared out of thin air sans a past. It was bad enough for me to try not to dwell on past girlfriends but a past wife? That was hard to ignore.

“How long ago?” Mom asked him.

“Moooom! Don’t you think that is a little personal?” I asked mortified.

“It’s ok.” Simon said. “I don’t mind. We were married for one year. I will give you the super short version. She got pregnant, we got married, we lost the baby and then soon realized wanting a baby was the only thing we had in common. So we divorced. That was three years ago.”

We sat in silence for a couple beats. “Where did you two grow up? You sound mid-western.” Mom asked.

“We grew up in upstate Ohio until we were in first grade. Then our parents moved to Salt Lake City. We moved here from there about a month ago.”

“So your families must be pretty close to move together.” Dirk observed.

“Yes. They are. Simon, James and I grew up more like brothers and sister than cousins. James is Simon’s younger brother.”

Simon glanced at his watch. “Speaking of James, we need to head to the airport to meet him. He is coming in today for a short visit. Shia, Dirk would you like to come with us?”

“Sure.” Dirk said and I nodded.

Mother wouldn’t hear of us helping her clean up so within five minutes Robin and I were loaded up in the back of Simons green SUV headed towards the Pensacola airport.

“We are not really meeting your brother are we? He isn’t the CEO of SID is he?” Dirk asked.

“No he isn’t the CEO but he is our direct superior. He is the chief’s right hand man so I am assuming he will be with him. He normally always is with him.”

“You said back at Rivera’s that you call your direct superior, Noodle. Why do you call your brother noodle?” I asked.

Robin laughed and Simon smiled. “I’ll let you guess when you meet him.”

“Does he have super abilities like you and Robin?” Dirk asked.

Simon shook his head. “No, but that didn’t stop him from joining SID and rising in the ranks faster than anyone ever has to my knowledge.”

“I think he does have abilities but they are just unrecognized.” Robin said. “He has math super powers, he can figure anything out and make it work with less cost and more efficiency, he can turn two people who were about to strangle each other into best friends and in such a way they can’t remember how he did it. In my opinion Noodle’s super powers are greater than most of ours.” She grinned. “But please don’t tell him I said that. He has a terrible case of the ego already.”

“He sounds interesting.” I said.

“One of a kind.” Simon agreed.


****

James appeared out of the gate first. As Simon had said it was pretty obvious why he was called Noodle. He was very tall and thin with equally long gangly legs and arms that hung so long they flapped around like wet noodles. Whereas Simon’s hands were broad and massive with thick fingers, Noodle’s hands were broad but with thin, tapered fingers like that a pianist would envy. They did share the same hair and eye color and there was something similar about the shape of the jaw. The rest of their facial features were worlds apart. Simon had a broad nose while Noodle’s was thin and straight. Their eyes, even though the same color were of different shapes. Simon’s was an almond shape while Noodle’s were more rounded. Noodle’s mouth was wide with full lips and his teeth were straight but a bit yellowed. His overall appearance was friendly and he smiled jovially at us.

“Boy are you guys in trouble!” He exclaimed happily as he approached us. He nodded to me as he hugged his cousin and then his brother. He patted Simon on the back. “Just you wait to see who came, in person, to scold you.” He looked at us like we were giving him a Christmas present.

We all turned and watched as people streamed out of the terminal. When I saw a familiar balding head and slightly hunched gait I gasped.

“Uncle Strep?” Dirk asked unbelievingly to the man who set a brown leather briefcase on the ground next to a row of chairs we were standing next to and held out his hand for Dirk to shake. Dirk shook it. “Um, long time no see.”

I smiled weakly at him as he came to shake my hand. His grip was as firm as ever and I made sure mine matched his. He shook Simon and Robin’s hands as well. “Let’s head to the car where we can talk. I assume you have a suitable car for us?” He said to Simon.

“Indeed I do sir.” Simon solemnly replied.

Simon looked worried and a little green. Robin looked like she was a startled deer that might take off at any second. Then it hit me. Uncle Strep was the Chief commanding officer of an unofficial military division. Holy guacamole.

“I will answer any and all questions in the car.” Uncle Strep said no doubt seeing my half opened mouth.






Chapter 6

I assumed we would be getting back into the SUV and was surprised when a man appeared out of nowhere and took Strep’s luggage from him and stowed it in the trunk of a shiny black Hummer. I looked over at Dirk and his eyebrows rose so far they disappeared behind his blonde bangs. Strep and Dirk climbed in the back and gestured for me to do the same. I looked at Simon and Robin.

“We will meet you at the hotel.” Simon said, answering my mental musings.

I nodded and climbed into the third row seat next to Dirk. Strep reached under his seat and flipped a latch. He swiveled his seat to face us then flipped the latch back into place. He looked at us. He looked so much older than the last time we had seen him. Older than even almost ten years should warrant. His demeanor seemed tired and almost haggard until you looked into his eyes. They were cunning, bright and unwavering.

“I want to answer your first question before you even ask it. No I am not your Uncle.”

“Then why did you tell us you were?” Dirk asked.

“It was your Mother’s idea. She thought a strange man coming to see you once a year would be less suspicious if you thought I was related to you.”

“Why did you come then?”

“It was in your father’s will. I followed his instructions. Being a member of SID his survivors were entitled to a survivor benefit. He asked that I hand deliver it to you and see how you were getting on. I am not exactly good with children but I did the best I could.”

I thought back to him sitting awkwardly on our couch asking us how school was and what our friends names were and what we liked to do for fun. He never really seemed interested in the answer.

“I was really good friends with your father and respected him even more. You see he was the head of the organization then.”

There was a long silence while my brother and I tried to digest this information.

“So our father is dead then.” I said more as a statement than a question.

“He went missing during his last mission. Given the nature of the mission the hope of him being still alive is non existent.”

“What was his last mission?”

“That is classified.”

“Why were we never told about SID?” Dirk asked.

“That was your father again. George wanted to keep you from joining and risking your lives like he did. He hoped you both would be duds but it was evident early one that Dirk at least had an ability. Maebell wasn’t too keen on you joining either. I believe it was a joint decision.”

“So who are you really?”

“I am Robert Strepshire, Head of operations of the Special Intelligence Division. That is all you need to know at the moment.”

I sat back and looked out the window. I needed to think. (K,kkkkkkkkkkjhlkojg [my 3 year old again]) I wanted to scream. It was too much to process.
“I want to join.” Dirk said suddenly. I looked at him, surprised.

“We would love to have you.” Strepshire said. “But first I will need to make sure you know what you are getting into. If you are serious about this come by the hotel at ten tomorrow morning and I will have James debrief you. If you still choose to join you will sign the necessary paperwork and be off.”

“Be off where?” I asked.

“To Salt Lake City. That is where our base is. We eat, sleep and train there. This is not a spur of the moment decision. This is more like joining the military. Once your in you are committed for at least six years and then you are up for a renewal.”

“If I join will I have access to my father’s files?” Dirk asked.

“To most of them, yes. That is not a good reason to join Dirk. This is not the boy scouts.”

Dirk stared at him. “Yes sir.”

A short while later we arrived at the Crestwood hotel and spa. Simon and Robin were waiting for us at the entrance. We got out and Strepshire offered Dirk his hand. Dirk shook it.

“I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.” He told him and Dirk nodded.

He turned to me. “I can’t help but think of you as my uncle.” I said ”You were the only family I thought I had on my Dad’s side. My only connection to him. Will you allow me to continue to call you uncle?” Something indefinable passed over his eyes. He stood staring at me not knowing what to say or to do. Then he sighed and said. “Of course you can.”

I smiled and hugged him. He was even more astonished at this and hugged me back awkwardly. He didn’t seem to be a man who was used to physical touch. It made me wonder if he was married. I looked for a ring and didn’t see one.

Without another word he turned and walked into the hotel. Simon and Robin came up to us, their faces twin masks of shock.

“What?” I asked.

“You just hugged him!” Robin exclaimed.

“Yeah, so what? What’s the big deal? I’m a southern girl. We like hugs around here. You were at church this morning. You saw.”

Robin shook her head. “Your crazy is what you are. It would be like hugging a porcupine or a wild boar.”

I laughed. “I have hugged that man many times. I thought until about an hour ago that he was my Uncle. So I think I am entitled to hug him. Anyway, it has been a rough day and I would like to get back to the house now if that is ok with you two.”

They stood gaping at us again.

“Do you want me to drive?” Dirk asked.