Lean on Me (10 page)

Alex laughed.

“
Now introduce me to your
friends.” Threading her arm thought Alex’s elbow, Mammy leaned
forward to see them better. “Zackary! I hear you had a new baby
girl.”

As if he was fifteen, Zack blushed. He gave
her a goofy smile.

“
Did you bring Mammy some
pictures?” she asked.

“
Yes ma’am,” Zack
said.

“
Is she a dragon?” Mammy
whispered.

“
No ma’am,” Zack
said.

“
You’re going to have to
explain that to Mammy,” she said. “The Mister tried a few times,
but it’s confusing to an old island gal like me.”

Alex covered a burst of laughter with a
cough. Amused by her own joke, Mammy patted Alex’s back. Mammy was
one of the world’s most accomplished and deadly assassins. She
could still kill a man with her bare hands and not leave a mark,
forensic evidence, or even a whisper that she’d been there.

“
And you must be Trece,”
Mammy said. “Mr. Pershing talks about you.”

Trece held out his hand for her to shake.
She pulled him in for a hug.

“
Will you show Mammy your
back?” The woman’s sharp eyes were kind with a touch of
sadness.

“
Body armor,” Trece
said.

“
Later then,” Mammy said.
“When we’re better friends. You don’t want to go stripping in front
of any old Mammy. That’s smart, very smart.”

“
Yes, ma’am.” As if he was
being knighted by some foreign Queen, Trece blushed bright
red.

“
I’ve heard you can spin a
story,” Mammy said.

“
Yes ma’am,” Trece said. “I
have a new baby girl too.”

“
Did you bring Mammy
pictures?” Mammy asked.

“
Yes ma’am,” Trece
said.

“
I knew we’d be good
friends,” Mammy beamed at him. “And you young man? Who are
you?”

“
Sergeant Clifford Mauer,
US Air Force, ma’am,” Clifford popped to attention.

“
Well Clifford Mauer,”
Mammy said. “What’s your story?”

“
Story ma’am?” Confused,
Cliff looked at Zack then at Alex.

“
Now Mammy, he’s just
young,” the bearded man who’d had a bent back said. “He’s here for
us to make something of.”

Mammy and the bearded man looked like they
were going to eat Cliff whole. Cliff swallowed hard.

“
None of that,” Mammy said.
“I have good coffee brewing and biscuits in the oven. The Mister
made some of his blackberry jam last night specially for your
visit. I bet you haven’t eaten. Anyone want some eggs?”

Alex, Zack, and Trece nodded.

“
Better see if our ladies
have twelve,” Mammy said to the man with a beard. He left the
kitchen.

“
Where did he go?” Cliff
whispered.

“
Chickens in the back,”
Alex said. “They’re self-sufficient here. Did you grow the coffee,
Mammy?”

“
Now Miss Alex, you know
our coffee ain’t no good,” Mammy said. “The General mails Mammy
coffee beans straight from Columbia. I roast it out
back.”

“
The General?” Cliff
whispered.

“
My dad,” Alex
said.

“
General Hargreaves,” Mammy
said. “I heard he’s not running for Senate again.”

“
He says he’s retiring,”
Alex said.

Mammy laughed and Alex smiled.

“
Why is that funny?” Cliff
whispered.

“
You’d have to know the
man,” Mammy said. “Now stop your whispering or I’ll make you go
milk the cow.”

“
I grew up on a dairy farm,
ma’am,” Cliff said. “How did you know?”

“
You just had that look,”
Mammy said.

“
Oh come on, Mammy,” the
man who’d pretended to have a trick knee said as he walked in the
door. “No parlor tricks.”

Mammy smiled.

“
She pulled our files when
we reached the inner gate,” Alex said. “Relax. My guess is the cows
have already been milked.”

“
We can’t pass up a fresh
young farm boy, Miss Alex,” Mammy said. “There’s a lot of work to
do here.”

“
I saw your son at the
gate,” Alex said. “He’s handsome and strong.”

“
Our youngest? He’s a chip
off the old block,” Mammy flushed with pride at the mention of the
boy. “His brothers went down to the dock to entertain your friends
there. Even brought them some biscuits.”

Shaking her head, Alex smiled at the
woman.

“
I’m happy to help,” Cliff
beamed.

“
Go wash up,” Mammy said.
“We’ll have a proper breakfast. You remember where the washroom is,
Miss Alex?”

“
Yes ma’am,” Alex
said.

She waved to Trece, Zack and Cliff. The men
followed her down the hallway to a small bathroom. Alex used the
bathroom and scrubbed her hands.

“
Better really wash up,”
Alex said when she came out. “She
will
check your hands.”

Zack went into the bathroom.

“
What are we doing?” Trece
asked.

“
We’re having breakfast,”
Alex said. “And waiting. He’s probably not here. We’ll find out
after breakfast.”

“
But…?” Trece
started.

“
Can’t rush southern
living,” Alex said. “We have to adapt.”

“
Are they trying to get us
off guard?” Trece asked.

“
No,” Alex said. “After a
lifetime in this game of death and politics, the pleasantries of
life, such as a good meal, interesting conversation, pictures of
babies, time with family, or working the farm becomes the only
thing that really matters. Relax. Have breakfast. Enjoy them. If
you’re lucky, they’ll teach you more than you will ever learn
anywhere else.”

“
Why do I have the sense
that they are dangerous?” Trece asked.

“
Oh, they’re deadly,” Alex
said. “But don’t worry. If they wanted us dead, we’d be
dead.”

Smiling, she patted his back and he went
into the bathroom. When he was done, they went back to the kitchen.
As predicted, Mammy checked their hands for cleanliness. For no
reason other than the fact that she could, she sent Cliff back to
wash his hands again. When he returned, she escorted them to a
sunny table near the kitchen. The two men who’d met them at the
dock were drinking coffee at one end. Mammy told each of them where
to sit, leaving Alex on the end. Mammy disappeared into the kitchen
and returned with platters of food.

“
You do this at your
house,” Zack said to Alex.

“
Imitating the best,” Alex
said. “I’d love your biscuit recipe.”

“
Now Miss Alex,” Mammy sat
down next to her. “It ain’t nothing but a little flour and
butter.”

“
No recipe?” Alex
asked.

“
Not that I’m going to give
you, child,” Mammy laughed. “You can’t cook worth a damn. Where’s
that handsome caramel-colored man? He used to visit Mammy at least
once a month. I’d give that man almost anything if he
asked.”

Mammy blinked her eyes dramatically and Alex
laughed. Raz and Mammy had an instant and abiding love for each
other.

“
Raz gave me a present for
you,” Alex said. “It’s in my backpack.”

“
He loves Mammy,” Mammy
sighed.

Alex laughed.

“
Who’s going to thank the
Lord for this meal?” Mammy asked. “Young Clifford?”

“
Yes ma’am,” Cliff
said.

“
She wants you to say the
Hamotzi over the bread,” Alex said.

“
Yes sir,” Cliff said to
Alex. “Blessed are you, Lord…”

“
You can say it in Hebrew,
son,” the man with the beard said.

“
The Hamotzi is beautiful
in Hebrew,” Mammy said. “We speak it.”

“
Yes ma’am,” Cliff began
again in Hebrew.

FFFFFF

Sunday morning

October 25 – 8:05 a.m. EDT

The Greenhouse at The Jefferson Hotel,
Capitol Hill

“
Elizabeth!” Rebecca
Hargreaves said.

She waved Troy’s mother, Elizabeth Jasper,
over to her table. Perfectly coifed and wearing a linen dress suit,
Rebecca looked every bit the heiress and Senator’s wife. The maitre
d’ had seated her along the row of windows under the arched glass
ceiling. Elizabeth wore the same elegant dress, but when Rebecca
hugged her old friend, she felt Elizabeth’s body shake. Rebecca
gestured to the chair across from her.

“
How are you dear?”
Rebecca’s eyes took in Elizabeth’s haggard face.

A controlled woman, Elizabeth gave a small
shake of her head. Rebecca reached for her hand and gave it a
squeeze. Rebecca and Elizabeth had been friends since they were
young mothers just starting out in life. Rather than press the
issue, Rebecca changed the subject.

“
Did you have any trouble
parking?” Rebecca asked.

“
It’s always crazy
downtown,” Elizabeth said.

“
My kids are in town for
the marathon,” Rebecca said. “Whatever possesses them to run
twenty-six miles? I cannot imagine running five miles let alone
twenty-six.”

Rebecca gave Elizabeth an infectious smile.
Elizabeth smiled in return. The waiter brought coffee, water, and
menus.

“
Still, it’s fun to have
them in town,” Rebecca said. She looked up and caught Elizabeth’s
eye. “They’re staying at Gerry’s house.”

“
Lamberton?” said
Elizabeth, startled.

“
I know,” Rebecca said.
“But you know how children are. They refuse to stay with
me.”

Rebecca put cream in her coffee and took a
long drink.

“
I always tell myself I’m
going to stop drinking coffee,” Rebecca said. “I can hear my mother
in my head. ‘Stains your teeth, Rebecca. It’s poor people’s
cocaine, Rebecca.’ And on and on. I guess I feel a little
rebellious with every sip. My Alex is absolutely addicted. Do not
get between that girl and her coffee.”

Rebecca laughed. Her eyes traced the
exhaustion and worry on Elizabeth’s face.

“
Does Hector Senior know
you’re here?” Rebecca asked.

“
Having breakfast with the
enemy?” Elizabeth shook her head. “Not a chance.”

She took a sip of her coffee and set it
down.

“
I remember you used to
drink your coffee with cream,” Rebecca held out the cream to
Elizabeth.

“
Mr. Jasper says the cream
makes me fat,” Elizabeth said.

“
Mr. Jasper?” Surprised,
Rebecca’s eyebrows shot up. “When did that start?”

“
Wedding night?” Elizabeth
gave a soft sigh.

“
Well, my dear, he’s not
here,” Rebecca offered her the cream again. Smiling, Elizabeth
poured some in her coffee. She drank the entire cup. Rebecca
wiggled a finger and the waiter filled their cups.

“
He wasn’t this bad,”
Elizabeth said. “When we were young and the kids were young. At
least that’s what I tell myself. I was going to cancel today
but…”

The waiter asked about their orders. Before
Elizabeth could speak, Rebecca ordered Lobster Eggs Benedict and
the Lemon Ricotta Maple Pancakes for them to share.

“
After all, someone has to
make up all the calories my children are burning at the marathon,”
Rebecca laughed.

Rebecca’s eyes followed the young man when
Elizabeth grabbed both of Rebecca’s hands.

“
I came today because I
know you’ll tell me the truth,” Elizabeth said.

“
It’s been a long time
since you’ve wanted to hear the truth, dear,” Rebecca
said.

“
My son is dead,” Elizabeth
said. “Everyone around me is screaming lies at the top of their
lungs. Every time I turn around, there’s another closed door and
another secret meeting. Lawyers… scary looking bodyguards… I don’t
have any idea where my only grandsons are. My daughter stomps
around saying crazy things. I want to… No, I need the unvarnished
truth. Will you give that to me?”

“
Of course,” Rebecca
said.

“
And all the reports?”
Elizabeth asked. “Photographs?”

“
I have them with me,”
Rebecca said.

Elizabeth let out a breath and leaned back.
She looked as if an enormous weight had been lifted from her
shoulders.

“
Why are we meeting today?”
Elizabeth asked.

“
I originally invited you
because Troy and Dahlia were engaged yesterday,” Rebecca said. “I
was going to throw them an engagement party tonight. I thought
you’d like to know everything.”

“
And why did you keep this
appointment after…” Elizabeth swallowed hard.
“…everything?”

“
I thought you’d like to
see a familiar face,” Rebecca said.

“
Is the General here?”
Elizabeth asked.

“
He’s waiting for us in the
lobby,” Rebecca said. “Would you like him here?”

“
Can we go somewhere more
private?” Elizabeth asked.

“
He hoped you would say
that,” Rebecca said. “Are you ready?”

“
What about breakfast?”
Elizabeth asked.