The Alfa

The bright sun burned her hands mercilessly. The golden rays persisted through the window, playing sunny bunnies on the pile of papers. The hot haze was shivering on the pale blue horizon, visible above the thorny fence. The thick stone walls of the study were no longer saved by the accumulated coolness. It was nearing noon. The air was red-hot. The stuffiness pressed on her lungs, burning with every breath. The woman irritably fixed a tight lock of red hair and licked her dry lips. Once again, a fake. She tossed the frayed paper aside. For months Rachel had been checking file after file, report after report in an attempt to piece together a whole picture. One that only she could understand. The advantage of a CIA agent is the ability to do where they shouldn’t. All it took was a hint that the president himself was holding her leash. Small fryes were hesitant to fetch chief, and Rachel ruthlessly deceived and coerced. The senior officer post is what was missing for her search. She walked over heads and cleared away piles of crap not for the sake of a comfort chair. It was all for a plastic card, a little key to the world. Information is the most valuable resource. The guys didn’t ask why she demanded interrogation tapes, why she requested documents from the military archives. Why did she send them to abandoned neighborhoods and remote areas of the desert. Rachel felt that she was close. Felt the ephemeral vibrations, the imperceptible ripple of the world’s ether. Felt with her skin that she was there. All she had to do was find the manhole. There’s only a few sectors left. Not enough data yet. Intelligence hasn’t sent a report in two weeks. Didn’t sound like Eric. He didn’t specify a date for arrival to base. Time was running out. Inside, everything was trembling with uncertainty. Every sense told her something big was coming, like a dot in the end of existence. The roads led to Iraq. And here she was there. King snorted unhappily. Rachel dialed the familiar additional number of the intercom. No one canceled her responsibilities. A couple more calls and she could walk around a bit. Her legs were going numb from sitting. She was willing to put up with anything. The crowds of soldiers, the bad bed, the sand in her boots, and the sounds of early wake-up calls. She spent years learning their languages, sitting in archives over old maps, and falling asleep on a pile of books while her husband lay passed out on pills. Rach isn’t ready to give up. She’s closer than she’s ever been in her life.        The sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. There was a deafening knock on the wooden door. A dark head squeezed into the ajar casement without waiting for an answer. Rachel hung up the phone, fixed her prickly gaze on the wide-nosed face. Brown eyes shone slyly in the shadows of his hat. King is frowned. Nimble fingers stealthily slipped the red-labeled sheets into the drawer. The sergeant stepped insistently into the office. Her actions seemed to be failing. Kay didn’t understand the conductor and couldn’t play properly…. — Ma’am,” the sergeant said, — I brought the papers, — he walked casually over to the desk and held out a yellow envelope. — Thanks, — Rachel smiled. She couldn’t wait to look inside. But Nick hesitated, not about to leave. — Dismissed, — she finished.        Rachel hadn’t worn her gold brand in a long time and had kept the marriage carefully hidden. To redirect focus for Eric, she grubes the wedding photograph that Nick had recently observed. Nick’s sudden curiosity was annoying. Even to the loyal Kolchek, she didn’t tell the truth. But Kay had claimed her. The only thing she needed was a good buffer against her husband. A stuffed sack. But not a new partner. She didn’t need that. She wasn’t compatible with anyone. Eric had helped her a lot. The reports his team sent her were invaluable. But there’s no place for him. — Even not kissing me? — Nick mumbled, staring into the round, freckled face. — Should I leave? — he said dramatically. – Once, Nick, — Rachel agreed with a smile. She gave a faintly nervous sigh and rose from her chair. The sergeant moved toward the slender figure that emerged from behind the massive desk. ________________________________________       The entire squad was gathered in the briefing room, huddled around a tall, golden-haired figure in body armor. King spoke eloquently about the project, their mission, and the call of duty. Rachel stared breathlessly at the writing board. It was impossible to tear herself away from the pictures. She already understood what was depicted. Thanks to the ancient blueprints. Too bad about the colonel. Brilliant minds shouldn’t go to waste. She tried. She tried to push him away. To keep him safe. But in the end, nothing will matter.