1
Someone once told me that when you die, if your good outweighs your bad, that you’ll go to heaven. If this is true, I was damned to hell before I was even born. I don’t know that I’ve done even five good things in my life. I’ve just always done whatever they told me to do.
I didn’t know then, and I’m not really sure I know now. It’s all over and I’m still not even sure I can tell the difference between what is right and wrong. So you decide:
Did I do the right thing?
September 21, 2010 – London, England
“Thank you, sir.” I smiled at the man helping me out of the car. “Could I borrow your kerchief?”
The man nodded and handed me his kerchief. “White suit, to your left.” He said softly. I dabbed my forehead and smiled again.
“Have a good night.” I tucked the kerchief in my handbag and moved away towards my left. A man in a white suit sat on a bench nearby reading a newspaper. I pulled my mirror from my handbag and checked my reflection. “The evening sky is gorgeous and the autumn air perfectly comfortable.” I said loud enough for him to hear.
The man closed his newspaper and stood up. “Our host will be waiting.”
“Thomas.” I reached up and kissed his cheek.
“Ava.” He offered his arm and I took it. “Are you ready?” He asked. I nodded and we moved to the line at the door.
“Name?” The man at the door asked.
“Walker, Thomas, plus one.” My escort replied. The man nodded at us and we proceeded inside.
“The item is upstairs.” My escort said softly. “Left at the top of the stairs, and fourth door on the right.”
“What type of object am I retrieving?” I asked.
“C-186.” He replied. I froze slightly.
“Repeat.”
“You are retrieving C-186.” The man said again.
I took a deep breath. “Confirmed.” I plastered a smile on again as an older woman approached.
“Mr. Walker!” The woman kissed his cheek. “It’s been a long time! This must be your daughter.”
My escort smiled and nodded. “Mrs. Carsen, my daughter Ava. Ava, this is our hostess, Cheryl Carsen.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Carsen.” I smiled and extended my hand, but Mrs. Carsen bypassed it and hugged me.
“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time, but your father always said you were too young to accompany him.” She gave him a glance and then leaned in again. “There are a few young men here you should meet.” I smiled sweetly at her.
“Wonderful. Perhaps you could introduce some of them. I would love to meet them.” I said smiling up at my escort.
“I will do that. I see one of them now.” She nodded at us. “Excuse me, I will be right back.” I nodded back and she hurried away.
“What is my exit plan?” I asked my escort as soon as she was gone.
“There are perimeter guards which means the only way out unnoticed is the way we came in.” He replied. “Get yourself upstairs. At 18:00, the lights will be dimmed and Mrs. Carsen will give a speech. At 18:01, a diversion in the backyard will be made. You then have approximately sixty seconds to get the item into the car that will be waiting for you. Confirmed?” I nodded slightly.
“Confirmed.” I glanced at the wall clock. It was 17:48. I noticed Mrs. Carsen headed back our way with a guy. He was at least thirty and a playboy, judging by the way he moved and dressed. How old does she think I am?
“Ava. Thomas.” Mrs. Carsen practically beamed. “This is Rory Welsh. His father is Sir Robert Welsh of Cambridge. Rory, this is Ava Walker, and her father, Thomas Walker.”
“Pleased to meet you.” I said, extended my hand. Rory took it and kissed my palm.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.” His eyes traveled the length of me and back up. “Would you like to go get some punch?” He asked. I glanced at my escort, who nodded.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” I replied, taking his arm. He escorted me over to the punch table and handed me a glass.
“How old are you, anyway?” He asked. I opened my mouth slightly, surprised, and then grinned.
“Isn’t that a little forward of you?” I asked, sipping my punch. “It’s not very polite to ask a lady her age.” I glanced up the stairs and saw two security guards at the top. That made it
Rory grinned. “No offense, but you look like you could be anywhere from fifteen to twenty.”
I raised my eyebrows and smiled a little. If only he knew. “No offense taken.” I glanced at the clock again. 17:55. “I find it often that people are unable to put a finger on how old I am.” I held out my cup. “That was wonderful. How about a little more?” He took my cup and filled it again.
“You know, my family has a lot of money.” He said, handing me my cup again. I raised my eyebrows, while inside I was rolling my eyes.
“Well, I love a guy with money.” I said, dropping a wink. I saw an attendant headed our direction with a tray of hors d’oeuvres. “I wonder where my father went.” I turned and walked directly into the attendant, spilling my punch all over the front of my dress and the hors d’oeuvres all over the floor. The attendant’s eyes went wide with worry, and he immediately started cleaning up the mess.
“I’m so sorry, miss!” He said quickly. “I didn’t see you there.” I felt a little bad for him as I looked down at the front of my white dress, which was now pink, in horror.
“Can’t get a decent servant around here these days, can you.” I said to Rory. Mrs. Carsen came over and scolded the attendant for not watching where he was going. Then she turned to me.
“I’m so sorry about your dress, Sweetheart! I’ll reimburse you for it.”
“No need.” I said, glancing at the clock. Almost 17:58. “But is there a bathroom I could use to clean up?” I asked.
“Oh of course!” She smiled. “If you go upstairs and to your left, it should be the first door on your right.”
“I’ll show her.” Rory offered.
“That’s okay, I can find it on my own.” I moved towards the steps and Rory followed.
“No, I want to help.” He said, putting his hand at the small of my back.
“Thank you, but there’s no need.” I forced a smile. But Rory just smiled back and kept his hand there. I swallowed and kept moving. When we were almost to the bathroom, I gave a little gasp and laid a hand over my mouth.
“What’s wrong?” Rory asked, concerned.
“I think I ate something that didn’t agree with me.” I said, laying a hand on my stomach. “Would you go get my father?” I asked him. “Tell him I don’t feel well.”
Rory nodded. “Whatever you need.” He immediately started back down the hall.
As soon as he was out of sight, I went down the hall to the fourth door and took the kerchief I had received from the valet. I unwrapped it and found a key, which I inserted in the lock and opened the door. I checked the time. 18:00:21. I wrapped the item in a blanket and left the room, locking it again. I could see down the hall that the lights were dimmed. I checked the time again. 18:01:06.
I peeked around the corner and saw that the guards at the top of the stairs were gone, so I hurried down and into the entry. The car was waiting, but a man stood just outside the door, smoking. I hurried into the coat closet and grabbed an oversized fur coat. I held the item up against my chest, partially covering it with the coat, and quickly walked out to the car. The valet opened the door for me, nodding as I handed him his kerchief with the key back. He shut the door just as the security guards came around the corner of the house.
I carefully laid the item on the seat next to me and took a deep breath. The item I had just retrieved, C-186, was a baby boy.
I’d never had a mission where I’d done something that messed with my conscience until now. Why would the Headmaster have me kidnap a kid? What about his parents?
