Michelle frowned, making it appear that she was somewhat confused.
“You say you are from which Air Force?”
“The United States Air Force, Ma’am,” said Jim.
She discovered that they had been observing her for several days, but she had been so preoccupied with the baby that she had been completely unaware. Mind you, she had done nothing for them to see, in any case.
“What has the United States Air Force got an interest in me for?” she asked, making no move to let the men in.
Jim looked rather uncomfortable, so looked at Kyle.
“Ma’am. There were some reports of activity in New York when you were there a few weeks back. You may be able to assist us,” Kyle said.
She opened the door and walked back into the flat.
“Come in, and mind the wet paint,” she said, so they followed her.
She had finished the living room, and it looked pretty. She had got rid of the modern angular furniture, replacing it with antique furniture with top quality soft furnishings. Flowers and ornaments abounded, and there was a real feel of home here.
“I am sorry, but I have to do this now, as with the baby on the way, I will not be able to do it later.”
“You’re expecting a baby?” Jim asked, surprised.
“My fiancé was murdered in Russia; you may have read about it. I was feeling unwell and I only found out I was pregnant a couple of weeks ago. He would have been pleased,” she said.
The men were standing in the living room, so both men had to look up at the tall girl.
“Please, sit. Would you like some coffee or tea?” she asked.
They both asked for coffee and she went out to the kitchen.
“This ain’t the Angel,” said Kyle.
“Hmm, maybe. She isn’t what I expected. That’s for sure.”
Michelle brought the coffees back, having made herself a herbal tea.
“I mustn’t drink caffeine, - the baby,” she said, apologetically. The officers took their coffees and drank in silence for a few moments.
“So, what is this about?” she asked. Making their unease and doubt double with every moment.
Suddenly their mission seemed very lame, and Jim felt that he was way off base. Kyle was embarrassed and wanted to cut and run. After all they had kept observation on this girl for over ten days, and she had not done anything make them feel she was the one.
“We are just checking tall, fair haired females who were in New York between certain dates. Three separate incidents took place, and we are eager to locate the person, so we can get some idea as to the truth of the events,” Jim said, struggling to explain without actually saying anything.
She frowned.
“I was in New York on business, how does this affect me?”
“Ah, did you have occasion to come across any crimes being committed?”
“Not unless you include sexual advances by certain board members,” she said with a smile.
“Were you alone for any long periods?”
“I had a day’s shopping, as I was not needed for many meetings as I was an interpreter. I was also a PA, but Gordon, my fiancé, did not need me for all his financial meetings.”
Kyle looked at the girl. She was tall, but her figure was very feminine, and she did not appear to have the muscle development he expected of someone who carried a bound thief for as far as she had. Her nails were long and painted, and she did not exude any weird sense of power or strength.
She seemed very sad and lonely. Then he remembered the terrible events she had experienced recently, so he felt guilty for intruding at this time. He glanced at Jim, and noticed he seemed equally uncomfortable.
“I am really sorry to intrude like this. But we believed you may have been able to help us. You see, to be honest, we are seeking to help the person. It’s weird, but we believe that a person with some amazing powers is somewhere out there, so we want to help them use those powers for good. We also believe that we could learn from them, and from wherever they got the powers from.”
Michelle looked at the two men.
She then surprised them by laughing.
“You think I am this person?”
The men looked at each other, and then back at this attractive girl, who by every second seemed less and less their quarry.
“Please, gentlemen. Be sensible for a moment. I am a big girl, yes, but I have no extra powers. If I had powers, would I have allowed myself and my fiancé be blown up by a bomb? Would I be pregnant? Would I be suffering the loss of the man I was to marry?
“This person you talk about, she belongs in the movies or in a comic book. It is not me. And I don’t think I see anyone in New York. So I am very sorry.”
Jim had one last trick. He asked her a question in Russian.
“Miss Czakan, where are you from?”
She answered without hesitation and in fluent Russian with a Ukrainian accent.
“I am from Donetsk, in the east of the country. Do you know it?” she asked.
Jim shook his head, feeling more lost than ever. Her accent was faultless, and he knew he had come to the end of the road.
He stood up.
“Miss Czakan. Please accept my apologies for intruding at this time, and also accept my condolences for your loss. It must be very hard for you, and so I thank you for your kindness and patience towards us. If you think of anything that could assist us, here is my card. It is toll free from anywhere in the world.”
Kyle stood also. Relieved that he could now escape and leave this poor girl to get on with her life.
Michelle closed the door and smiled. They may have been put off for a time, but they’d be back. She monitored their conversation as they left.
Jim and Kyle drove slowly away. Jim had a frown on his face.
“I was so certain,” he said.
“Yeah, but it isn’t her,” said Kyle.
Jim went over the conversation they had had with the girl, then he suddenly said, “Stop the car.”
Kyle pulled over.
“What?”
“Think. I was absolutely convinced that it was her. You felt it could be, yet nothing was said in there to remove that conviction, so why do I now feel it wasn’t her?”
“Huh?”
“She denied being the Angel, but never gave us any good reasons as to why it wasn’t her. She was in town, and she was in Russia. If she has such incredible powers, she could have easily sown the seeds of doubt in us. Now we are out of her immediate sphere of influence, she cannot touch us any more.”
Kyle frowned as he thought about everything. Jim was right, she simply denied it was her, and they agreed with her.
“So, what happens now?”
“One, we get fingerprints, and DNA. We see if it matches with Officer Dunwoody.”
“If it doesn’t?”
“Then we have found us another one.”
“How the hell do we get the DNA?”
“Hair samples. We wait until she goes out, and go in professionally. Our man, Carter, at the Embassy should be able to help.”
“Carter?”
“Yeah, he’s CIA.”
“So, if it turns out she is the one, what the hell can we do?”
“Simple, make her an offer she can’t refuse.”
“And if she does refuse?”
Jim frowned.
“Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen.”
“We have to think about it.”
“Yeah, but I somehow think this is going to be one hell of a lady to crack.”
Kyle started the car again and rejoined the traffic.
Michelle smiled, as she had been right, they would be back.
Michelle remembered Bill Richardson, the policeman who had so generously given her £50 that first night. She drove the Range Rover out to Heathrow Airport, and parked outside the police station. She walked into the front counter and asked for him by name.
The Station Officer rang the CID and a few minutes later Bill appeared frowning.