The Memorial Day Murders

Chapter 37 : Black site

"This isn't a dream, is it?" Bruce asked. "Are you really pregnant with our baby?"

"Yeah. It's real, Doctor Rhodes tested my blood. Two months old, could be a Christmas baby." I scanned his expression as his hand remained against mine. He then kissed my forehead and held me tight in his grasp, probably overjoyed that we're expecting a child together. 

"You can... go on with your team mission. Dick told me what I should know."

"You already knew, if George Duncan is in the Oval Office." I said. "After all, he is the only surviving commander aware of Elite Alpha's activities."

"He mentioned nothing about Syria, and South Korea."

"The benefit in being black ops." I said, exiting the room. "Plane's landing soon." It was night time when Air Force One touched down on Joint Base Andrews, with two Marine helicopters idling on the tarmac. "Weird." I said, slowly descending the stairs. The steps of the second helicopter unfolded and Jack Peterson, President Reagan's chief of staff, showed up from the interior of the plane. 

"Okay, what now?" Dom was the one who asked. Wearing a wool sweater and denim jeans the chief of staff approached, carrying a duffel bag in his hand.

"The President has formulated a plan, Madam Vice President." the chief of staff explained. "We're temporarily changing roles, your chief of staff will replace me for the time being."

"You know the location Jack?" President Reagan asked him as the engines of the plane slowed to a halt. 

"I do sir." he replied. "Come on, let's board the chopper." the nine of us, including Jack, all boarded the Marine chopper the pilot is calling Marine Two. President Reagan boarded the first one and the choppers lifted simultaneously into the air. Two Viper attack helicopters followed us, releasing flares to disorient missiles and protect us during our flight to an undisclosed location. 

"Dude, who wants a beer?" Gerry asked. "You down Isa?"

"No Gerry, I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm pregnant." I said.

"Oh." Gerry said, drinking a bottle. Five seconds later he spits out the beverage. "Wait, what?"

"You're freaking pregnant?!" the remaining seven voices asked simultaneously. 

"Yeah, sorry man." I said. "Have to stay away from booze-"

"Not to mention fistfights." Timothy added with a chuckle. "How many months have you been having the child?"

"Two months, per the test results performed by Doctor Rhodes." I replied. The helicopters landed an hour later and we disembarked on a grassy plain. "What is this place?"

"Illinois." Jack replied. "Private airfield, CIA owned it." the second journey is completed on wheels as he drove us towards a more clandestine area surrounded with barbed wire fences. A metal sign hung on one of the metal gates, bearing the words PRIVATE PROPERTY and TRESSPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED. The vehicles then grinded to a halt in front of a cabin and Jack stepped out. "This is it." he said, stepping onto the porch and unlocking the door. "This is one of CIA's black sites that we can use."

"That makes you a CIA agent Jack." I said. "Looks like my dad's chief of staff isn't one to be trifled with."

"Ex-CIA, Agent Black Bird." he rebuffed. "You have started your career when I retired."

"What work you specialize in?"

"MI department, we CIA guys know about your team but we said nothing about it."

"I did my MI job with the South Koreans." I said. "But I didn't do this when I'm with the FBI."

"Smart move, I guess." he said, stepping out to meet with the president. "Don't worry Jeffery, I'll keep the kids safe." he said when the president arrived in another. 

"I agree with your chief of staff Mr. President." I said, joining him. "Jack's ex-CIA, I trust him."

"You have three more assets here Madam Vice President." the president told me. "They're a stubborn bunch, eager to help."

"Major Isabella's the one calling the shots." Peterson said. "Including General Heyes of course, but I don't believe that he would make the decision."

"I have the bombing in Kabul to deal with Major, you have to decide that should they stay or not, as the world is still assuming that two of them are missing." the President said. 

"I have briefed the two of them, I'm sure George has also informed you guys in the Oval." I said. "But our main priority, Mr. President, is to find Sayyid Bin Masir."

"The case in Kabul, the IC concluded that Bin Masir could have a hand in this."

"DNI believed it?" I asked. "Bin Masir wasn't called The Wolf for nothing."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He is a sly terrorist in nature, but a ruthless hunter nonetheless. We know how to fight him but we are endangering them if they stayed to help."

"She's right sir." Jack followed up. "But we still need to protect both the vice president and her unborn child."

"Jack, it's fine." I said. "They're not involved, although I am aware that I have briefed them."

"How is the progress of your investigation by the way?" the president asked. 

"Not very concrete sir." I reported. "So far, we are aware of the existence of Bin Masir's unnamed twin brother, whom we have killed during that raid years ago."

"What about the recent murder? The one your team has been investigating in London."

"Was about to get more info, until you showed up at Switzerland." I said, casting an angry glance at his way. "But I still have a remedy, in the form of an intelligence file."

"And the assets are not staying." 

"No, Mr. President. My answer is no."