Picking up the Pieces

This airport is way too crowded this early in the morning! the woman thought as she sat at her temporary perch in the food court. The river of people flowed past her, completely doused in their own problems, completely unaware of the woman watching them. It was just how she wanted it.

The two hour wait in London had really taken a lot out of her daughter and infant son, she noticed, as she looked down at her dozing six year old. She was leaning against her left shoulder, sound asleep. The waiting was always the hardest part of any trip she had ever taken. It was her first trip with her children in tow. Now she waited for the all clear sign from her contact here in Washington, DC.

Her son fussed a little in his sleep, his tiny hands turning to fists as he dreamed. He would be so strong when he grew up. She stroked his little cheek and forced a smile for her little son. Her little boy who would probably never get to know his mother…

She shook herself from those negative thoughts, knowing that it could happen, in spite of the fact that she wanted to be optimistic for the sake of her children.

Her cell phone beeped; she had a message. She looked at her phone. All clear. The simple two word phrase that slightly lifted her spirits. Quietly, she shook her dozing daughter awake.

"Ima, what's going on?" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"We can go now, sweetheart."

The little girl nodded and stood up. "Ima, why are we running from Aba?"

The woman stopped dead in her tracks. She had expected that question from her since they had left Tel Aviv, but it still hurt that her daughter had to ask.

"Ima found out that he was a bad man. A very bad man. Now, no more questions. Soon, we will be safe from him and his friends."

She nodded, stifling back tears as she continued to walk with her mom and little brother.

The woman continued her walk, picking up her luggage and exchanging some of her money for American dollars. She kept herself inconspicuous, not drawing any attention to herself as she continued to keep an eye on her surroundings.

She was heading out to the car that her contact had provided her, when she spotted someone very familiar out of the corner of her eye.

He was standing at a phone booth, speaking quietly and urgently, his face half hidden by the booth, but she would recognize the man's profile anywhere.

My god, no, she thought in panic. He did find out. He did follow us after all!

Once again, she had to shake herself loose of negative thoughts. It could be coincidence after all. She didn't want to take that chance though. She and her children quickly, but casually made her way to the car. She made sure that her daughter was secure in her seat, arranged her son's car seat so that he would be safe, and signaled for the driver to go.

She quickly got a message off to her contact in the driver's seat. As they drove off, she had one last alarming thought.

Her husband turned Hamas agent was in America and coming after her and her children!