Eventually, Missy asked, “What’s the latest on Russia and Ukraine? I’ve purposely ignored all news and since you’ve not mentioned anything about the war over there, I’m guessing there hasn’t been anything especially significant.”
“No, not really. Same ole, same ole. You haven’t missed much. Your team hasn’t gone anywhere although General Hingham has been planning a few missions which he wants to have you take them into Russia for, once you’re available. They’ve been training hard and Captain Novikov has been working with them on their Russian language lessons. He says they’re doing great.”
“Okay, what about in Moscow? Anything new going on there?”
“Well, I’ve got more info aboutNikolai Vassiliev. Marie managed to document some huge transfers out of his accounts and those coincide with the same amounts which we found were deposited intoStepan Valnovitch’saccount. While we cannot trace the actual transfers directly, the fact they are for the same amounts on the same dates is pretty conclusive.”
“Excellent!” exclaimed Missy. “With that and a confession from Stepan, I will have Nikolai at my mercy once again.”
“That’s what we figured. We’ve kept tabs on Stepan thanks to having access to his phone. He and his guys are keeping a low profile and have not been flashing their money around very much so far. They’re still in Moscow.”
“Okay. What about Gavriil Reznikov? Has he or any of Yury’s other associates been sending me any messages?”
“Yeah, I’ve been saving that info for last. He wants you to go with him to Zurich next weekend, assuming you’re still returning to Moscow by then. He has been invited to meet some of your German suppliers. They’re a bit anxious about those contracts they signed now that Yury is dead.”
“Will Julius de Weck be at those meetings?” asked Missy. “He helped convince those suppliers to sign those contracts.”
“Yes, which is why Gavriil is really hoping you’ll be available. I’ve already sent him a reply from you saying you think that will work and that you will confirm that with another message by this Wednesday. I’ve also cleared that weekend for you with Major Grimes assuming you want to go.”
Missy thought about this for a few moments. Then she said, “Yeah, I think that will be good. I’ve been away long enough to properly mourn Yury and it’s time for me to play my proper role as a board member for Boris-Apteka. Go ahead and send Gavriil that confirmation message. Tell him I am returning on Friday and I’ll meet him at the Moscow airport Saturday morning for whichever flight he wants us to be on.”
Lisa said, “I’ve also put together a number of documents for you to review. These will help you understand the medical supplies business which your Boris-Apteka company is doing. You asked us to make you smart concerning them and I think you’ll be pleased. I’ve sent those to all your email addresses.”
“Great! That will help me when I’m meeting with Julius and those Germans.”
They continued to discuss things and after Lisa had thoroughly briefed Missy, they said goodbye. Missy then returned to spending time with family. She learned from Patrick that his girlfriend Lila had reported to West Point the previous Monday and was now beginning her second week of Beast Training. He hadn’t heard anything further which, since that meant she was still there, was actually good news.
Missy knew the Superintendent was keeping an eye out for Lila as a favor to her but she wasn’t telling Patrick that. The Superintendent was the only one at West Point who knew Lila was a witch. Captain Bonomo, of course, was moving up to Hanscom Air Force Base for his new assignment with the SOD Group.
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Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Missy and Mike had driven down to the Missy Mansion at the end of the day on Monday and had spent the night there. Missy had told Fred she would spend all day Tuesday meeting with whichever pack members wanted to see her. Other than those who had attended her wedding, she hadn’t been with any of them since the full moon celebration in May. While she hoped to be there during the July thirteenth full moon celebration, she wanted to make herself available sooner than that, now that she was back from her honeymoon.
She also had invited Mark and Alice to meet with her there. Although they had been at Missy’s wedding, there had not been any opportunity then to discuss business and financial matters. With three communities now thriving nicely, there were plenty of important issues which she needed to be updated about. She was essentially a partner in the dozens of small businesses which were now operating inside those communities.
Plus, of course, Mark wanted to explain how her various other portfolio investments were doing. There were stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CD’s and several other real estate properties. He had leveraged this diverse portfolio such that it was risk-adjusted while producing greater and more consistent growth than ever.
For her meetings, Missy used the room at her place which everyone now called the Lion’s Den. For those meetings with her pack members, Mike gave them privacy and hung out with Fred and several others. He did sit in on the meeting with Mark and Alice, however. When it was dinnertime, the staff had prepared a wonderful banquet for everyone, as usual.
Then, when Missy and Mike finally retired to their bedroom, they spent some time just reflecting on things beforegoing to bed. So much had happened during the past two weeks and it was somewhat bittersweet to now be at this new threshold in their life.
“I know you’ll try to return for each of the pack’s full moon celebrations,” said Mike. “But I also know there will be instances once again when you can’t. That’s why my coming over and staying at your team’s headquarters for these next two months is so special for me.” He was flying to Turkey commercially after July’s full moon celebration and only returning home when his classes started back up at Tufts on September sixth.
“I feel the same way, Mike. You’ve been a civilian member on our team so many times during the past three years, it will be really great having you there with me. It was Colonel Schermerhorn’s idea to assign you as the SOD Group Liaison to the team.”
“Yeah, he and I talked about that several times during the past year. Your brother John will be getting similar liaison job assignments wherever Tracy goes. Our having those SOD Group credentials is really helpful. Since everything is so highly classified, we don’t have to explain to any outsiders what we do.”
Missy chuckled and said, “Well the whole reason the SOD Group even exists is to both support and take advantage of supernatural soldiers. Tracy and I might be the first but I’m sure there will be more. Look how Lila wants to follow in our footsteps. Then, of course, there are all the witches working for the FBI under Robert Ulrey. And, too, look at Oliver. He’s working for the Foreign Service as well as the CIA.”
“I know you’ve been encouraging your werewolves to consider jobs helping our government,” said Mike. “Fred wastelling me he knows of quite a few now looking to do that. All those Alphas who have been coming to meet with you since you took over here have returned to their packs with new ideas. Your influence has spread throughout the United States and will probably go even far beyond that.”
Eventually, they went to bed and made love. Missy waited until Mike had fallen asleep before she got up to begin her journey back to Team Twenty-Two. With a shimmer of light, she disappeared and teleported to her nearest anchor spot. Then after only a few minutes in her cat form, she continued on her way. With the time difference, she would arrive in Turkey at mid-morning local time the next day.
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Wednesday, July 6, 2022
