Chapter Twenty-Eight
They spent the day, once they finished making love and taking a shower together, visiting their families. It was a holiday and rather than it being winter outside, it was a beautiful summer day instead.
Missy did call Lisa of course. Since Robert Ulrey had alerted the SOD Group about Mike claiming to be a psychic over in Queenstown, everyone had learned about the rescue of those two Clarkson brothers.
Then Lisa wanted to hear about all the other activities which she and Mike had been up to on their honeymoon.
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 about Nikolai Vassiliev.
Marie managed to document some huge transfers out of his accounts and those coincide with the same amounts which we found were deposited into Stepan Valnovitch’s account.
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.
-----
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 before going 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 was telling 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.
-----
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
When the Team Twenty-Two members working in the Operations Center noticed Missy entering the room, they all welcomed her back and congratulated her on now being married.
Staff Sergeant Morgan asked, “Do we call you Lieutenant Ryan or Lieutenant McCrea?”
Missy grinned and said, “I’m keeping my maiden name so it’s still Lieutenant McCrea. Mike and I talked about it and because of all the confrontations I’ve had with terrorist leaders, we agreed I should keep being Missy McCrea while I’m in the Army.”
Ruby was standing next to Staff Sergeant Morgan and she said, “I’m not surprised.
For the last fifty or so years, between ten and twenty percent of married women have kept their maiden names for one reason or another.
I guess being both well-known and greatly feared by terrorist leaders is a pretty good reason.
” Everyone in the Operations Center laughed at hearing her say that.
Missy smiled to herself, recalling her conversation with Tracy. They had discussed this issue and Tracy had said there was no way she would become Lieutenant McCrea with Missy being known by that name. No, she too would keep her maiden name for as long as she was in the Army.
Major Grimes told Missy she had been missed and that General Hingham had been anxiously waiting for her return.
“He learned from the SOD Group how you’re going back to Moscow this weekend.
He’s been chomping at the bit to have you lead another mission into Russia and wasn’t happy when he learned you intended to continue spying over there in person. ”
Missy nodded and said, “Yeah, Lisa told me how he was very upset when he learned about my nearly getting killed over in Beijing. Then he pleaded for my discontinuing any further spying like that since I’ve already infected the devices of so many people in the Russian regime.
It was the Defense Secretary who insisted that I be allowed to keep going now that I have a new role I can play. ”
“The general has no control over you whatsoever when you’re doing your Moscow gig. No doubt he believes he knows how to best utilize your many abilities but he’s biased. The Defense Secretary is all in on whatever you think you can do. Ever since those earthquakes in Iran, he’s fully backing you.”
“I know he is and I really appreciate that,” said Missy with a smile.
“He told me as much when I talked to him at my wedding. I assured him that my new role over in Moscow was worth pursuing. The fact that Yury’s widow has decided I’m someone to be rewarded and likes the idea of having me be on the board of that company?
I would never have guessed that would happen. ”
The major nodded and said, “We can see the many possibilities for your role over there. Good luck this weekend.”
After the major had left, Mel came over and asked, “Did he mention where he’s going tonight, Missy?”
“No, why?”
Mel giggled and said, “I know you’ve already met that Captain Sofia Petrova, Colonel Horvath’s aide, right?”
Missy nodded and answered, “Sure, why?”
“Well, during the two weeks you’ve been gone, the major has started seeing Sofia quite often. I’m pretty sure that’s where he’s going tonight.”
“Are you saying those two might be dating?” asked Missy. She raised one of her eyebrows. “I can vouch for the fact they have not been sleeping together.”
“I don’t know how serious things may have gotten, as yet,” explained Mel with an impish smile.
“But I do know the major has put in a request to the SOD Group for her to get clearance to know all about what we do here. As I have often heard you say … when one thing leads to another …!” She paused and giggled again.
“Wow! That’s very interesting! We will have to wait and see how those things turn out.” Missy was thinking the Fabulous Fates might once again be asking their buddy Cupid to lend a helping hand.