“How the hell did it end up in Halloran’s hands?”
“Good question. But just wait. I haven’t even reached the good part yet.”
David closed his eyes and placed a hand on Teren’s arm. “Teren, be prepared. When she says that, it means trouble.”
“Sounds like there’s plenty of that already, what’s a little more?” She turned back to Alex. “What else?”
“The chalice? The one in Mather’s box?”
“Yeah?”
“Same situation. I found it on the list of items never returned after World War II. Now, to me, it seems a little too coincidental that two men who are implicated in these political assassinations, are both suddenly in possession of pieces of art stolen by Hitler, who happens to be their hero.”
David brought his head up off the seat and looked at his partner. “What are you saying, Alex?”
She took a breath. She couldn’t believe she was going to say this out loud. “What if, and please remember it’s only speculation, but what if, these artifacts were recovered at the end of the second World War, but were never turned in.”
Teren nodded. “There were several recorded instances where service men found artworks that had been stolen, and they just kept them.”
“Right. But what if there was a cache of stolen items found. Back in the 40’s, returning servicemen could have, and did, smuggle large amounts of things back to the states. What if those items were smuggled back, and passed into the hands of people like Derek White and John Treville, who are using them to pay for these assassinations.”
There was no sound in the car except for the engine and the humming of the tires. Even that sound seemed muted by the outrageousness of what Alex was proposing.
But no one contradicted her. David dropped his head back again, and groaned. Alex turned back around and watched the road. Teren raised an eyebrow and looked out her window.
No one said a word the rest of the way to Denver.
*******************************************************
David agreed to be the one to call Cliff and report everything they’d found. Alex had faxed him that morning, and called him after they left the hospital, but since he had said to make him feel like he was there, they thought it was appropriate that they call him one more time.
Alex and Teren, meanwhile, had decided to visit Ann Seffren’s room. Alex had noticed Teren’s increasing agitation, but she said nothing. It wasn’t until they were in the hallway immediately outside the room that Teren stopped.
“Alex, it might be better if you go on in alone. I know I’m enough to make people nervous, and I don’t think she needs that right now.”
Alex stopped and looked at her.
“Teren, is there something going on? And if there is, is it something I should know about?”
Teren folded her arms. She couldn’t look at Alex. “It isn’t anything you need to know.”
“I see.” She waited. “But there is something.”
There was no movement from the darker woman.
“Teren, please remember that you’re part of a team now. As part of that team, you need to be willing to share things. It helps us to trust each other. It’s part of what being a team player is all about.” She paused again. “If you don’t feel like talking about it, fine, but I want you to know you can.”
Teren smiled. “Thanks.”
Alex returned the smile, then turned toward Seffren’s door. She signed the visitor’s log after showing her ID to the guard on duty there. Before entering, she glanced once more at Teren. Then she opened the door, and went in.
Teren did want to see Ann, but she didn’t want to do so in front of the agent. She walked a little ways down the hall to the water fountain. After taking a sip she leaned against the wall, letting the coolness of the wall penetrate her. It reminded her that she was supposed to be that cool, cold, calculating person that she had developed years ago. Right after her break up with Ann.
She shook her head, and gave herself a wry chuckle. No, it had started long before that, because that was one of the reasons Ann had cited when she told Teren it was over. Teren had always been tender and gentle in their relationship, but could become the ruthless agent without warning.This contradiction within Teren had at first attracted Ann. Eventually, though, it caused trouble between them.
There were other problems with having a relationship with a spy. Neither of them ever knew for sure when Teren would be called upon to suddenly leave the country. There had been times that Perry had woken them up with plane tickets in his hand. Plus, there was the added pressure of Teren not being able to contact her lover while on missions, which could sometimes last months. And Ann could never ignore the possibility that Teren could be injured or killed.
Finally, after fifteen months of trying, Ann had thrown up her hands. She couldn’t sit around and wait to find out when Teren would be there, or if she had gotten back safely, and she didn’t want to have her lover leaving at the drop of a hat. After one mission, Teren had returned to her apartment to find Ann’s things gone, and her keys on the table with a note. Teren had ended up drunk and crying on Perry’s couch.
But she never blamed Ann. The previous months had been full of fights, and anger, and nights of stony silence. It hadn’t been good for either of them, but for someone like Ann, who was beginning her rise in civil rights work, it was nightmarish. When she woke from her drunken stupor, Teren had called Ann at work, and left a message apologizing, and saying she understood. Then she had left Colorado, without a forwarding address. They hadn’t seen or spoken to each other since.
Teren was still rubbing her hand across her forehead when she heard someone call her name. She looked up to find Ann’s best friend Jenna standing at the end of the corridor.
“Oh, my goddess, Teren, how are you?” Teren suddenly found herself wrapped in Jenna’s arms.
“I’m good, Jenna. What about you?”
“Me?” Jenna leaned back, her hands still on Teren’s shoulders. “I’m fine. I’m great. It’s my best friend I’m worried about.” She gave Teren a tentative smile. “Did you come to see her?”
“Well, kind of. I think she’s in with someone, and I don’t want to disturb —”
“Nonsense, she’ll be delighted you’re here. Come on,” Jenna said as she grabbed Teren’s arm and practically dragged the taller woman behind her.
“Jenna, I don’t think —”
“No, this is perfect. She’s gonna be so happy — don’t worry, Officer Kelsey, she’s with me.” With that Jenna dragged Teren past the guard at the door and into the room.
“Ann, you’re never going to believe this. Look who I found outside in the hallway!”
Teren felt Jenna drag her in front of her. She saw Alex sitting by the bedside of Ann, who was propped up against the pillows. She had her left arm in a sling, and an IV tube in her arm, but other than that she looked practically the same as she had the last time Teren had seen her.
“Goddess. Teren?”
Teren saw Alex’s confused stare, and she gave an inward sigh. “Hello, Ann.”
For a moment there was a stillness in the room broken only by the beep of the IV monitor. Then Ann, heedless of the tubes and machines, leaned forward with her right arm extended. “Teren!”
Her former lover gathered her into her arms, and sat on the edge of the bed holding her as she began to cry. Teren glanced at Alex, whose eyes were wide and staring.
“Have you finished your questions, Alex?”
“Yes.”
“Then, if you don’t mind, I’d like a moment alone with my ex.” Alex’s expression didn’t change. “Is that alright?”
Finally, Alex nodded, and stood up. “Ann, it was nice meeting you. I hope you get well soon.” She turned and quickly left the room.
At a glance from Teren, Jenna followed, and the two women were alone.
*******************************************************
David found Alex sitting beside the Coke machine they’d found that morning. The can in her hand was mostly empty already, even though the chill had hardly left the aluminum.