Obviously
Louboutins
Simo sat in his office, watching the light show’s lasers lighting up the dance floor below.
Jessie walking security near the dance floor caught his attention.
She had traded out her skin-tight red mini dress for black, skin-hugging slacks and a red top that read ‘Security’ in black.
He noticed that instead of non-slip shoes, she was wearing high heels, and she towered over most people on the dance floor.
He shook his head and pressed his radio button.
“Jessie, come to my office.” He saw her look up and got a beep of acknowledgment.
He sighed as she came into his office and pointed at her shoes. “What are those?”
“Louboutins.” She smiled.
“You know what I mean.”
“Boss-man, I can do anything in these I can in regular shoes.” She winked and followed it with, “Trust me, I know this.”
Simo knew she was trying to play with him. He fought his aggravation for a moment as he remembered Eleni’s reminder about his mood. “Fine. If you break an ankle, it’s on you.”
“Understood. How are things going?”
He eyed her for a moment. “Too quiet.”
“Demetri told me he saw Joel at Club Posh in Beverly Hills.”
“I heard that, too.”
Jessie began to sit down, watching Simo as she did. He didn’t say anything, so she took a seat in front of his desk. “How are you doing?”
“Me? Why?”
“You look… upset. Is it because of Joel?”
“Yes… and more.”
“Me?”
Simo sighed. “You put a lot of pressure on me…”
“Oh. I’m sorry… I don’t mean to. You… just. Never mind.” Jessie smiled and began to get up.
“Sit. I mean, please sit.”
Jessie took her seat again.
“Finish.”
“Well… you treat me differently from everybody else.”
Simo shook his head. “No… I do not.”
“Yes,” Jessie countered. “You don’t mind Becky being up here, or anyone else. You don’t go out of your way to stay away from anyone else… like you do me.”
Simo stared at her for a long moment. He wanted to counter her, but deep down, he knew she was telling the truth.
“It’s like I am not a part of your team… it’s like I am excess baggage. Sorry, but that is how I feel.”
Simo sighed, leaned his head back onto his headrest, and stared at the ceiling for a long moment. Without looking at her, he replied, “It’s different between you and me.”
“Would it be better for you if I left?”
“You can’t.”
“Of course I can,” she countered.
“I mean, you will be in trouble if you do.”
“Trust me, they won’t find me.”
“So you want to leave?”
“No, not at all. But I don’t like being treated like a second-class person by you.”
“You make it hard.”
Jessie grinned. “That’s good…”
“That is not what I meant,” Simo shot back.
Jessie spiked her finger at him. “See! I hear you joking with everyone else about the same things, but when I do it? Bam! I’m the bad person all of a sudden.”
Simo shook his head and remained silent.
“What?” Jessie demanded.
“It’s different with me and you…”
“And it should be! Do you see Anastassia hanging from her hands above all that shit thinking she’s just a whore I took pity on?
Or do you see ME from our time in Athens at the hotel?
” She reached down into her shirt, pulled out half a bullet that she wore as a necklace, and showed it to him.
“Did you throw the other half I left you away?” He didn’t reply, but she saw him look over at a box on the bookcase.
“Is it in there?” She saw his eyes get big. “At least answer one of my questions!”
“Dammit, Jessie! You keep asking me that. How many times I tell you, ‘no’, I never saw you that way on the freighter or after.”
“Fine.”
He shrugged. “Even if you were, I wouldn’t care.”
Jessie’s eyes widened and suddenly became teary. “Oh, that’s just fucking great.” Jessie shot up out of her seat and started to rush out when Simo commanded, “Stop. Sit back down… please.”
Jessie kept her back to him, wiped her eyes, and stood there, not moving.
“I said that wrong. Dammit! You fuck with my head so bad!”
Jessie spun around and glared at him. “Why? Can you answer me that?”
“You know why!” Simo barked back.
“Because you saved my life, or because I wish we were both in bed back in that swanky hotel you put us up in Athens?”
“Leave Athens back there!”
Jessie’s mouth came open and she shut it as her eyes teared.
She crossed her arms at him and her demeanor shifted.
“Baby, maybe you can fucking forget it… but it’s not easy for me!
” She clenched her fists, squeezed her eyes shut, and raised her voice.
“Dammit, Simo! Right now you make me wish I could!”
Simo knew she was really angry and all he wanted to do was yell at her to leave him alone, but Eleni’s voice was in his head prodding him. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! I can’t even talk to you! You mistake everything I say! We always end up yelling!”
Jessie uncrossed her arms, walked up to his desk, placed her hands on it, and leaned forward at him. “So, what do you actually mean then?”
Simo shook his head as he met her red-rimmed eyes. “You make me feel like I’m back with Marina… she was always mad at me. I just try to do the right thing! You women make me crazy!”
Jessie shook her head at him. He missed what she asked, but she ignored it and countered. “I. Am. Not. Marina. I think you have a problem with women who actually, really love you…” Jessie leaned closer. “Am I right?”
Simo sat there staring at her, unable to answer through his anger. He pushed away the urge to yell at her to leave, but it cost him to hold back, as he couldn’t say anything further.
“Ok… Simo, I see that once again I royally pissed you off. I. Am. Sorry.” Jessie hung her head. “Maybe it is better we don’t ever talk…”
“No,” he replied fast.
“No?”
“Yes, no.”
“Do you want me to leave your office?”
“Yes, but no…”
“Fuck! Which is it?”
Exasperated, Simo shook his head. “No.”
“Fine.” Jessie took her seat and watched him watch her for the longest time.
Simo finally broke the uncomfortable silence. “Yes, I still have your necklace. I looked where I keep it safe so you will know. I know what you want from me. It is not an option.”
“Is that why you dumped Lilly and don’t talk to her anymore? She get too close, too? I’m not trying to be mean by asking…” It surprised him that she knew about Lilly, she thought with satisfaction.
“I just can’t…”
“Can’t what? Enlighten me?”
Simo pointed at her. “I can’t do my fucking job with you around!”
“And there it is. Simo, I am here to help you do your job! Why else did Mike Booker send me here? It would have been easier to send me to Guantanamo or put a bullet in my head. Fuck, honestly, I don’t think he dared letting me be killed because of you and what you might do…
didn’t think of how well he might know you, huh?
Ok, Simo, here it is: At the very least, I just want you to treat me like everyone else.
Shouldn’t we be able to joke and shoot the shit? ”
“But I know what you want.”
“Yes, you do. But right here, right now, that is my problem, nea, Kyrios Petras?”
“HA! You learning Greek now?”
“Stick to the argument…” To Simo’s surprise, Jessie answered back in Greek. “…to answer the question, I speak your language good. Eleni was correct back in Athens when she told me to leave our room when you two privately spoke.”
Simo was inwardly impressed, but it left him suspicious. “See, I can’t trust you…”
“Bullshit! You are deflecting now! I am one of the few that you CAN trust!”
“No…”
Jessie slammed her hands down hard on Simo’s desk. “I would NEVER, EVER betray you! Would I put up with all this shit from you every day? FUCK NO.” She sat back and glared at him for a long, silent moment. “Look me in my eyes and tell me you don’t trust me… I dare you.”
Simo held her eyes and couldn’t say it. “Fine.”
“Fine what?” Jessie demanded.
“I trust you.” He knew deep down she’d always have his back, then abruptly forced that thought away.
“Thank you…” Jessie pointed at Simo. “Stop and think for a minute, it is you who causes all… ok, fine, most of this tension between us. It doesn’t have to be this hard…
I get you are a man of few words and refuse to let anyone in…
” She sighed and held his dark eyes. “I am asking you to talk to me like a normal person... like at Christmas dinner?”
Simo could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he listened to her. Somewhere inside him, through his anger, he knew she had a valid point. He wanted to throw his hands up in the air, but resisted the urge. “I… will try.”
“Thank you,” Jessie said, letting herself relax and slump in her chair.
Simo’s desk phone lit up for an incoming call.
He ignored it as they looked at each other in complete silence.
A rapid, persistent knock on his office door caused them to both look to the monitors on the wall.
Chen was gesturing hurriedly to let him in.
Simo stabbed the unlock button and Chen burst inside smiling.
“Simo! You need to get on the phone to Ari right now! They found Halo Raines alive!”
“Fuck me…” Simo and Jessie said at the same time.
“Chen, does Joel know yet?” Simo asked, as he grabbed his cell phone.
“No. Jillian recently heard from the U.S. Navy.”
“Hey, is Halo ok?” Jessie asked.
“Jillian said she’s ok. It is all I know for the moment.”
“Shit is going to hit the fan with the little bitch…” Jessie chuckled.
“No shit. I need to call Ari.”
Simo gestured for Jessie to stay and in moments Ari was on the line.
“Ari, sorry I did not answer, I was speaking privately with Jessie. Chen is here…” Simo did not expect Ari’s next words.
“Good! It has been a long time coming. I hope it was a productive conversation with her?”
Simo met Jessie’s eyes. “It was a productive conversation… Chen told me about Halo.”
“Are Chen and Jessie still there with you?”
“Yes.”
“Please put me on speaker if you would.”
“Done.”
“Here is what I know from my back-channel contacts: Halo was found with Xander Kostinos on an island called Millennium Island over a thousand miles away from where their aircraft ditched. According to the Commander of the USS Hopper’s initial report, it looks as though Halo has spent all this time vacationing at some resort…
apparently, Xander built her a house and has been taking care of her.
He stated that they are romantically involved. ”
Jessie chuckled. “Who wouldn’t be? How did they find them?”
“Good point. That is all… one moment! I have a new message. Oh, my…” Ari paused for a moment, then continued.
“I will paraphrase the follow-up reports: During the last cyclone, a Korean fishing vessel floundered in rough seas. The ship’s communication officer was the sole survivor due to having a severe injury.
His Captain had ordered him to the life raft.
Ok… further reports indicate that Xander swam out and pulled the life raft in.
Then there is something about an amputation.
The last comment was that this communication officer assisted in getting their…
wait… No. Ok, they had a malfunctioning satellite phone… Oh, my!”
Simo, Jessie, and Chen were all now huddled around the phone, listening to Ari’s emotional narrative in anticipation.
“He kept her there?” Jessie whispered.
Ari chuckled and continued. “No, Jessie. Halo kept HIM there… more or less. This is what she stated to the Commander. He indicated that she was telling the truth. A moment, more emails… I’m filtering through them.
Bastard!” Ari bellowed. “Simo, apparently an NTSB agent by the name of Tom Rafferty was on the USS Hopper to meet Halo and Xander. Oh, my… apparently, a few minutes ago, Halo threatened to fight this Rafferty as he demanded her cellphone… the Commander feels that Rafferty is not one to be trusted and is asking for orders…”
“That would be Joel’s inside man,” Simo growled.
“I concur. Here is more… Xander Kostinos is in custody aboard the Hopper in accordance with his outstanding indictments and warrants…”
Chen interrupted. “Ari, Xander Kostinos is legally deceased… his ex-wife had him declared dead recently. U.S. laws are very vague on procedure in these instances. It is doubtful they can legally hold him; I am sure the Navy is aware.”
“You are correct. The Commander has asked for advice from Naval JAG… my apologies to you all, I am getting various pieces of information from multiple sources. Please be patient… JAG advises holding Kostinos incommunicado under other pretenses, if possible. The Commander is wanting to release Xander… My God… one moment. Apparently, Halo Raines had made a video aboard the flight! Bloody bastard… the NTSB agent is in control of the sole remaining video. The Commander states that Halo showed him the video and that everything Joel Miller implied is wholly and totally false! There are many redundant and duplicate reports I am receiving…” Ari sighed.
“That is enough for the time being. Simo, we need maximum security set up for Halo’s return.
I would not put it past Joel Miller to make an attempt on Halo’s life when he finds out. Use the jet for Halo’s pickup.”
“Of course, Ari. Is there an indication where the Hopper will dock, or will Halo be airlifted?”
“Good question… let me see. Ok, here it is. When the Hopper approaches rotary aircraft range… the injured Korean officer is to be airlifted to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu first. Then Rafferty and Halo will be next…
to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, this to happen late afternoon our time tomorrow. ”
“We will be ready. How are Jillian and Ronson?”
“Ecstatic; I am in constant contact with them.”
Jessie spoke up. “Will the Kostinos daughter be accompanying the Raines?”
“No… I should mention that Athena, his daughter, told Jillian her mother Evie is en route to Greece from Ireland… with Xander Kostinos’s ex-agent, Eric Rose, they too are romantically involved.
As of yet, Evie is unaware Xander is alive.
Athena indicated she will relay that information to her mother…
I would enjoy being a fly on the wall during that conversation,” Ari chuckled dryly.
“Ari, one problem I see so far. We do not have any assets in Hawaii…”
“Yes, you are correct. Ronson is friends with Senator Stein, who is on the Armed Services Committee. I’m sure he can pull some strings. I’ll keep you informed of any details.”
“Copy that.”
“I’ll be in touch soon. Good day to you all.” Ari disconnected the call.
“I think it would be prudent to have Eleni down here,” Chen stated.
“Yes, I would prefer that Annabeth and Tina were closer.”
“I can take Eleni’s place…” Jessie offered.
“No. I will need you here… in fact, we may need those pilot skills of yours.”
Jessie grinned. “You will?”
“Yes.” Simo slashed his desk with his hand. “Let’s do this.”