Prologue
Friday, Mar 13, 2020
Robert Ulrey’s team was gathered in the conference room at Hanscom AFB, reviewing the latest reports from Germany. There had been a bombing at a large nightclub in Munich and WIJO was claiming credit for it. WIJO was the Worldwide Islamic Jihad Organization comprised of former Al Qaeda and Taliban extremists from Afghanistan and Pakistan. There were twenty-one dead and over fifty wounded as a result of this latest bombing. The investigation was ongoing and it had not yet been determined just how the bomb had been placed there, avoiding security.
The CIA representative on the team did have a list of names of all those who had been killed. He passed that around the room and emailed a copy to those at “P” Branch.
“I’m really sorry, Robert,” said Dale Hewson from Homeland Security. “I know you were hoping things would stay quiet for a while but the world is just too big and there’s always going to be a crisis somewhere. We want you and Connie to ignore this. Go off and enjoy your honeymoon. Let the rest of the team here deal with this and whatever else comes up while you’re away.”
Robert smiled and said, “Yeah. I know. Even though there will be plenty for me to do when I return, I’ll try to ignore this. I know the rest of you will manage well enough without me. And, General Blake will have his invisible spy back in Afghanistan. I’m sure she’ll wreak a little havoc over there with the WIJO leaders about this latest attack. She warned them.”
Les Gooding and his wife Marsha had called in from “P” Branch’s Washington D.C. office. “We want to keep WIJO on the defensive as much as possible. Hopefully, that will interfere with further acts of terrorism.”
Marsha said, “Since the WIJO leaders already know about Oliver and Candace, we’ve been wondering how having them make an embassy visit somewhere might help. You know … to keep WIJO on the defensive.”
“Well, you can have them go to our embassy in Berlin,” suggested Gene Tremblay. He and his wife Amanda were now translators on Robert’s team but had worked for more than ten years at various U.S. embassies overseas. “That might give those terrorists in Germany something to worry about.”
Amanda said, “General Blake had Colonel Chory introduce them during the visits they made to the embassies in the Mid-East. But Germany is outside that theater of operation. Maybe Gene and I can help since we know some folks at our embassy in Berlin.”
“Yes. And we have another reason for wanting to go there and go after those terrorists in Germany,” said Gene. They had been studying the list of names which the CIA representative had provided. “One of the couples on this list which was killed in that nightclub? We actually knew them. They were werewolves. The man was the son of the Beta in the pack which Amanda came from. And, the woman was originally in my pack in Montreal. She was the girl who went to Germany twenty years ago in exchange for Amanda coming to live with my family.”
This was a surprise and brought several comments and condolences from those in the room and on the phone. Having the tragic outcome from a WIJO attack affect some of their own personally made it all the more horrific. There was a lengthy discussion. While Gene hadn’t known the girl very well and Amanda had barely known the man who died, she had known the man’s father quite well because he was a close friend of her father’s. The team was interested in finding ways they could help.
Linda Rayburn said, “Hey, if Oliver and Candace are willing to go over there and Gene and Amanda want to go along as well, helping with introductions, then I’d like to go as the “P” Branch support person. I know Les and Marsha will be busy in Kabul, supporting Missy and Mike, so they aren’t really available for that.”
The team discussed this at length and made a call to Oliver and Candace. When it was confirmed they were definitely interested, a plan began to formulate. The “P” Branch jet was already leaving from Boston on Sunday night, after Robert’s wedding, to bring Mike, Les and Marsha to Kabul. It would be an easy stop on the way to drop people off in Berlin. When they needed it, there was a train they could take from Berlin to Munich which only took four hours.
Lieutenant Colonel Schermerhorn said, “I think what’s needed for this Germany adventure is a little more firepower. If you want to stir up those terrorists and make them scramble, Oliver’s presence might not be enough. I think we should see if Tracy is willing to go along as well. She’s on spring break as of today. Let’s give her a call.”
Tracy and John were halfway home to John’s place when Robert’s call came in. John was driving but Tracy switched to speakerphone so he could participate in the call as well. Were they interested in helping the team? Spending a week in Berlin? Oh, yes! Tracy had brought her passport with her, as usual, never going anywhere without it. They could be ready to leave Sunday night, right after Robert’s wedding. Absolutely!
Robert said, “Colonel Schermerhorn is going to ask Captain Bonomo if he’ll go along. He’ll be up here for my wedding and we think having him there in Germany with the rest of you might come in handy. We don’t know what might come up but, hopefully, this will lead to something. If it does, having someone there with military connections will be good.”
“Well, John and I are looking forward to this,” said Tracy. “But we’re also looking forward to watching you and Connie get married again on Sunday. See you then!” They ended the call. She turned to John and said, “I know I spoke for the two of us but I assume you’re okay with these new plans. You are, right?”
“Yeah, I sure am.” John glanced at her with a big grin. “As long as I’m able to be with you, twenty-four-seven, then I don’t care where we are. Germany? Werewolves? Maybe some terrorists? What’s not to like?” He focused back on his driving and they continued up to his apartment in Easton, just south of Boston.
Chapter One
Saturday, Mar 14, 2020
Tracy McGonagle awoke gradually, aware of being in John’s bed rather than her own bed at West Point, aware of being naked rather than wearing the nightgown she typically wore at the academy, and aware of John’s warm naked body being closely wrapped around hers. Shelovedbeing naked. It was naughty, it was sexy and it was fun. Even more than that, shelovedexperiencing John’s naked body in such close, intimate contact with hers. Most of all, shelovedthe way John’s lovemaking always made her feel so wonderful, in every possible way. Now, fully awake, she stayed right there and allowed herself time to reflect and enjoy thinking about the man she believed was her soulmate.
John McCrea was six feet and had a very nice build. With his handsome features, deep blue eyes, thick reddish brown hair and that winsome smile of his, combined with the wry mischievous expression he always seemed to have … well, she knew exactly why he had captivated her so much, right from the beginning. And, after all their lovemaking since then, she knew she’d never have eyes for anyone else. She felt very secure about the love they shared for one another. She had no doubt he was her soulmate and, the way her witchy powers had magnified once they’d committed themselves to one another, it was obvious the Fabulous Fates had agreed.
Before they made love, there was the anticipation. Always exciting, always such a thrill. She never would know exactly what they might do but she could always be sure whatever they did, it would be great. During their lovemaking, there were no words adequate for the experience; she and John would become one in mind, body and soul. And after? Her sated, satisfied essence would soar. Sometimes, she would then fall asleep and that essence of hers would freely find its way through whatever fantasies awaited her while she dreamed. Other times, her feeling so fulfilled would result in her drawing energy from all around, immediately replenishing whatever had been expended such that she was more awake and alive than ever. Ahh, the wonders of being a witch!
She slipped out of bed without waking John up and used the bathroom. Then, she crept back into bed and began rubbing her now cold breasts up against John’s warm back … herpretty, perky, perfectbreasts according to John, who loved to exaggerate and, though he was certainly biased, nonetheless was always praising them. She had actually stopped wishing they were bigger, thanks to all his words of admiration. And, of course, thanks to all the attention he typically gave them which left no doubt as to how he felt about them. Today she and John were not in any hurry and planned only on enjoying one another. So, she wanted them to leisurely start enjoying one another right now. Right away. Right?
John had actually snuck out of bed earlier, using the bathroom and returning before Tracy had gotten up. He’d been aware of her every movement and, when she’d returned to bed as he’d hoped, he felt his clandestine actions had been well rewarded by the way she was behaving now. He loved teasing her so he said, “Hey, what did you do with my girlfriend? You better be careful … she can be a real witch sometimes!”
Tracy chuckled and said, “You mean that poor, shriveled up old hag I found sleeping with you in here earlier? Obviously, she bewitched you into thinking she was your girlfriend, just so she could have her way with you.”
John laughed and rolled over so he was on his back, pulled her onto his chest and then ran his hands down to grab and hold her ass. “Gosh, the things she had me doing last night! Why, I was worried the sex police were going to show up and arrest me any minute.”
“Thesexpolice?” Tracy loved the way he always surprised her with silly stuff like that. “Was your concern perhaps due to anyperformanceissues? I understand they have pills you can take …”
“Oh, no! Just the opposite. In fact … I’m not all that surprised you found her shriveled up and looking worn out.” John was getting very aroused by the way Tracy had kept wriggling while he was holding onto that lovely rear of hers. “Especially that last thing she had me do with my thing.” He shifted his position so his erection had a bit more room and so she would definitely be feeling it throbbing against her lower abdomen.
