Shadows of the Past (SEAL Brotherhood: Shadow Team #1)

Chapter Thirteen

A ll the way back to the apartment, Dimitri objected to the feel of the stretchy pants and how they snuck up his butt crack. He got little toots on the car horns occasionally, which annoyed him.

The flats were going to give him a blister at the sides and at the back on his heel. He wanted to wash his face to remove the layers of makeup they’d used. He carried the little kit Doreen had lovingly created for him.

“I’m not going to be able to wear the makeup. I don’t even know why she is sending me home with it.”

“Then I’ll do it. It might save your life. Most people will leave you alone.”

“I’m worried about the ones who don’t,” Dimitri answered.

“Come on. You’re doing great. No way would I ever recognize you. We’ll get you a big pair of sunglasses here if we can find them.”

“So I’ll look like Elton John.”

“No. You don’t have the hair, and he doesn’t have the curves.”

A group of Italian youths whistled across the road before they tucked themselves between two rows of houses. This was not anything he expected. It was impossible to concentrate with all the makeup and hairspray.

They found a camera shop open and purchased a matching floppy hat for him and some large bug-eyed sunglasses. The shopkeeper didn’t even seem to notice Dimitri’s attire.

“So how long have you known that crew?” he asked after they left.

“I’ve known Doreen since I was little. Others grew up here, but I didn’t know them. Most are new, or transient, traveling through. I think the world of them, and they’ll keep your secret.”

“What secret?”

“That you’re a cross-dresser.”

“Shut up!” He ran after her, and she managed to remain a few feet away from him, as she squealed and tried not to get caught. His red flats were giving him a problem.

They purchased groceries and panini sandwiches, some half-and-half, yogurt, and good strong espresso coffee for the French press. This time, the little shopkeeper couldn’t help staring at Dimitri.

At last, they arrived close to home. He began to recognize the district and the side streets now.

“Who lives here normally?”

“The family owns it. I told them I had a friend coming. It’s like an overflow. Everybody uses it. Tomorrow, I’d like to introduce you to my parents, my brother, and my sister. We’ve been invited to a family gathering.”

“When did this happen?”

“While you were getting your makeover done, silly. My mother called me.”

“Oh great. I get to meet them with rainbow hair.”

“I will tell them later. But I need to get word at least to my mother about what we’re working on.”

“I’ll finish that now. Can’t wait to hear what you say. Something like ‘that big guy over there with the rainbow hair is going to rescue all of us.’”

She stopped for a minute. “But these friends have endured sometimes great hardship, Dimitri. Many of them have been abused, even by their own families. They know what a rescue is all about, trust me. They’ve even saved lives. Some served in the Italian forces overseas. Just because someone has colorful hair and wears a dress doesn’t make them less of a patriot, so be careful there.”

He got the point and made a note to be more charitable in his public comments.

Once inside the apartment, Moira stopped him before he could tear off his clothes and jump into the shower. She took a picture of his outfit and then a couple closeups of the makeup so they’d be able to recreate it later.

“Do you really think I need to wear all this when I meet your parents?”

“It just adds to the danger. It’s your choice, but I think it’s dumb. Why take unnecessary risks? You never know who is watching.”

“Can we compromise? Do I have to go all out gay-looking?”

“Compromise, as in what?” she said, drawing close to him. “I will admit it’s a little distracting to kiss you this way, but it’s for your own protection.”

“I don’t need protection.”

“But my family does.”

“I understand. Can we dial it back tomorrow? Just perhaps some makeup without the cross-dressing thing?”

“If you’ll let me apply it. I think with the hat we picked up and the glasses, you’ll do fine. There’s a trunk of clothes in the closet. I’ll find something I think would work. Just none of the clothes you brought, okay?”

“Fine.”

He scrubbed his face with a washcloth, turning it from light blue to blotchy rose. But the color in his hair was semi- permanent and would not come out. It had to grow out. His ear lobe was a bit swollen, so he took care to wash it thoroughly with soap.

There was no way everything would wash out, but he did the best he could. He sat down and completed his phone calls.

He arranged for four former and current SEAL Team 3 men, including his friend Maverick, to fly over and sent them ticket confirmations from San Diego. Moira said she could arrange firepower through Doreen and Angelica.

“Angelica was a sniper in the Italian Special Forces.”

“Not dressed like she was yesterday.”

“Of course not. That was play. She has a very serious former life, Dimitri. Remember that. They are good allies.”

He began to formulate an idea for how they would conduct the rescue.

“I need to charter a yacht. Can you point me in the right direction?”

Moira gave him the name of a company the family trusted, someone who wasn’t as embedded in the family business and had no strong ties to the Don. Although the cost was astronomical and might bounce his American Express card, he used his State-issued credit and would reimburse the account later when he got home. Everything was arranged for the day after tomorrow.

They found drivers to do the pickup at the airport and transport to the ferries. They’d arranged a delivery van to pick them up at the harbor at the island.

Jordan called.

“How’s it going?”

“Scary. I take it you made contact,” the journalist whispered.

“Hi, Jordan,” Moira said over his shoulder.

“Hey there. Good to hear you’re alive. You guys having a fun adventure?”

Dimitri rolled his eyes. “You have no idea, Jordan.”

“Beautiful there, from the pictures.”

“Not a place I want to return to right away,” said Dimitri.

Moira corrected him. “We’ve only been to a couple of shops and places. He doesn’t yet know the culture and real beauty of the island.”

“No more questions, please,” Dimitri ended it.

“I know it’s not a vacation. Just wanted to let you know there’s a lot of chatter amongst the independents. Their confidential sources at State are going quiet. There’s talk there might be a purge going on. Nobody’s talking but everyone’s nervous.”

“I’ve been out of the loop. You want me to call my boss?”

“Can you safely?”

“I’ve got the burners.”

“I’d be curious.”

“Davis is kind of clueless, but Shirley might know a thing or two. I’ve got everyone set up. Don’t want to do the deets over the phone, but I’ll email you.”

“Not too much, just in case. I think I’m being followed, but so far, I’m keeping a low profile.”

“Do your normal things. Sometimes they’ll get bored and call off a tail if they don’t find anything. You’re still using my scrambler with your burners?”

“Yes. Thanks for that.”

“Be careful. Email if you have anything new. If you need support, let me know. I can arrange that, Jordan.”

“I will. Have fun.”

“Stay safe.”

The truth was, they both needed to do that. He sat after the call and reviewed his notes. Then he called Davis, his boss.

“How are your folks?” he asked.

“My mom is very weak. Dad’s overwhelmed.”

“So are you able to help?”

“Just diffuse the tension a bit. I may need a few more days. Do you have anything coming up?”

“Not yet. I have a couple of things for you, though. Want to tell me why I got a hit on your UK passport in Naples?”

This worried him. If he got a flag, there would be a notation on his file, which he was trying to avoid. He quickly thought of a solution.

“I didn’t want to tell you, but I have a cousin who has gone a bit off the deep end. Running around Europe being a wild child. Oldest of one of my aunts,” he lied. “She’s gotten hooked up with some Italian guy they think is taking advantage. I had to slip across the pond to see if I could locate her and help get her back home. It won’t take more than a couple of days. I’ll reimburse State for my expenses.”

“Oh. Well, I have to file a note.”

“Yes, please do. I’ll pay the tab when I’m done.” He thought carefully before he told him the other white lie. “Um, I’m trying to nab this guy by posing as a wealthy businessman, so I had to charter a yacht.”

“What the Hell? You’re pulling my leg, right?”

“No, I wish I wasn’t. This is going to cost me six months of paychecks, because my aunt has no money.”

“Maybe your family can take up a collection. Maybe your parents could—”

“Look, I need to keep it on the down low. So the less paperwork the better. I promise I will wrap it up as soon as I can. She has a couple of friends she might want to bring back, which will be the only other major expense, but I’m trying to keep it as reasonable as I can.”

“With our budget, it will be buried in the paperwork here. A drop in the bucket. But it will be a problem for you if you don’t return the assets, and I’d say no longer than thirty days, because then I have to file another report and—”

“Look, I get it. I just wanted you to know in case the charges get flagged. I’m glad you know now.”

“Yeah, well, I trust you. But don’t go do something stupid. Don’t fall in love and try to bring an unpassported Italian babe back here. We can’t do that anymore. You might be able to get her on a flight, but no can do on the State approval.”

“I got it. Yes, there are lots of pretty girls here, Davis. Lots,” he said, looking over at Moira, who had put on the robe, completely open down the front. He adjusted the towel around his waist.

“Okay, I got it. So it appears there’s going to be an inquiry, which is way too late for my taste, into that event over in Florence. You know, the one with Senator Goldberg? He’s come under some scrutiny, and I need a backup report. No chance you can do that over there, is there?”

This factoid bothered him greatly.

“No, sir. But I promise to jump right on it when I get back. Don’t give it to someone else.”

“Relieved to hear it. Okay, well, be safe, and I sure hope she’s okay.”

“Who, sir?”

“Your cousin. What’s her name?”

“Oh, sorry. Chandler Murphy.”

“She sounds like a handful. Okay, be safe.”

He was deep in thought, wondering if he should try to connect with his friend, the president, but decided it wasn’t quite urgent enough. But things were definitely shifting in D.C., and the wolves had started to appear from the edges of the forest.

Official darkness. What are you going to do? It is what it is.

Until Moira came up behind him and started to remove his towel.