I exited out the back door into the alleyway behind our house. David and my Uncle were right behind me. I stopped short when I saw what was parked next to my Uncle's gray car - the most amazingly, bad ass looking ride I had ever seen in my life. The sleek black car looked like a mixture between a NASCAR racer and one of those LincolnTown cars that ferried high powered executives around in Manhattan. I heard a faint hum coming from it. The way it sat there, I could almost swear that it had its own personality, that it was watching me just as I was watching it.
My Uncle's cell phone vibrated. He pulled it out and looked at the number, "It looks like I'm wanted at the Institute." He pulled me close and gave me another hug, "Sunflower, everything's going to be fine, I promise you."
"I know, Uncle Paul. It's all right. Go ahead," I said.
My Uncle nodded, wiped away a small tear from his left eye and got in his car. I watched as he backed out of the alley and drove away.
Beside me, David watched my Uncle leave as well. "You're Uncle is a great man. His insights into fifth dimensional string theory will someday propel humanity's space program outside of our solar system. That's providing we survive this current war," he stopped short before he could finish his thought.
With a silent swish the passenger window slide down and Agent Heidegger stuck her head out. "David, Nicholas called. He wants to see you in London immediately."
David shook his head, "Why didn't he just call me directly?"
"You know how Nicholas is," she answered.
"Don't I ever. All right, contact Colonel Nash and let her know we'll be a little late bringing in the new recruit," David said.
"She's not going to be happy about that," Heidegger warned.
"All right, I'll take care of it myself. She'll understand that Ross Family business comes first," David said. He motioned to his belt. His sliver Razor Phone flew up in front of him. I watched in amazement as David stabbed out a light speed text message and sent it. He finished and holstered his phone back on his belt and turned to me.
"A little change in plan. When was the last time you were in London?" he asked me with a mischievous grin.
"Never. I've never been to London," I answered.
"There's no time like the present." David looked at my clothing and frowned, "Although we're going to have to do something about your wardrobe. Nicholas is very particular about the patrons of his nightclub. That's all right, I know just the place."
A quick car ride back into Manhattan and David pulled up to a swanky boutique in Soho. He and Nicole sprang out and motioned for me to join them. I stepped out and gazed around in amazement. This was one of those neighborhoods where Hollywood Stars lived and bottled water from exotic islands in the South Pacific cost five dollars a pop.
Nicole looked me up and down with amusement, "I don't know, Ross. I don't think I've ever seen a worse looking recruit. You've got your work cut out for you."
David grabbed my hand and we walked to the boutique's entrance, "Oh, I don't know. I'm remembering a certain West Virginia farm girl who had never been more than thirty miles from home."
Nicole gave a small humph and shut up. I tried to imagine this sophisticated, lethal fighter, who almost got the better of me an hour ago, milking cows in West Virginia and couldn't do it.
