We’re Not in Kansas Anymore - Chapter 6
In the house next door, Theo put down his night vision binoculars and picked up his cell phone, touching a digit from his speed dial list. His call was answered after only one ring.
“I think we need to move on this situation. I’ve lost contact with Mike.” Theo listened intently to the voice at the other end. “I’m pretty sure she clocked him,” he said, stifling a laugh at the thought of Mike being knocked out by an elderly woman. “She had two visitors today: one was ours and one was a local police officer.” Again, he listened. “Just alert the team. I’ll contact the daughters. That will be the tricky part. It always is.”
Theo flipped the cell phone closed, put it back on his desk, and massaged his forehead with his fingers, trying to rub some ideas into being. This was going to be messy and complicated, but he had handled crazier situations. He was sorry that the end of this job would mean another move for his own family, but that was how life had been during his illustrious career as a caretaker and clean up man for the organization.
It would be less alarming for her daughters if he called them in the morning. It also gave him the easy way out in trying to explain things, and after decades on the job, he preferred the easy way. He unlocked his bottom desk drawer, removed a binder, and flipped it to the page that contained the information he needed.
*****
The following morning, at Theo’s request, the daughters arrived at their childhood home. He had said it was nothing urgent, but he usually alerted them by phone if Mom had been up to something. He had never before asked for a meeting.
They let themselves in at the back, as usual. The house was quiet and their mother didn’t respond when they called. The younger daughter saw a large envelope on the kitchen table with their names carefully printed on it. “This can’t be good,” was all she said before opening the envelope. She removed a sheaf of legal documents topped by a letter from Theo. The sisters sat down and started to read.
“I know you’re wondering what is going on, why I asked for a meeting, and most importantly, why your mother isn’t here. The explanation follows; please keep an open mind as you read.
My family and I moved here right after your father died. I remember telling you that I relocated here because of my job. That is true. What I didn’t tell you was that my job was to keep an eye on your mother.
Before you were born, your mother held a secretarial job. She thought she was working for the public works system. She was trained and did her job well. What she didn’t realize was that she was actually involved in borderline espionage for our agency. She transferred code from one system to another. It was minor, low clearance work, but it paid well.”
“That’s preposterous!” The younger daughter blurted out. The older daughter giggled.
“Your father also worked for the agency, but in a much deeper capacity. His ‘business trips’ were very lucrative ‘information gathering jaunts,’ and even though he was debriefed thoroughly after every trip, we had a feeling that he may have told your mother about some of his, shall we say, adventures. You girls never knew that he was traveling in other countries, but she did.
When your father died, we planted listening devices in the house as a normal precaution. Things were fine until your mother started to show signs of dementia. We picked up conversations she had, thinking that your father was still here. We heard her discussing details of trips that should not have been in her memory. We realized that this could put her in danger, should anyone, including the two of you, hear them and perhaps mention them in conversation. Governments always walk a fine line where espionage is concerned; our agency cannot afford more negative press right now.
Yesterday, things came to a head. Your mother had a very busy day. She first attempted to knock out one of our agents when the woman came to check on her in the afternoon. It seems your mother brews her own special blend of tea, and it is very potent. She actually succeeded in sedating one of the local police officers a few hours ago. Luckily, the female agent was still here, dining with my family, and we were making a late night of it. She smoothed things over with the officer. He thinks she’s the social worker assigned to your mother’s case. She told him that your mother accidentally put some of her medication into the tea. She has told me before that your mother reminds her of Martha from “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Actually, that story sounded plausible, considering your mother’s current mental state. Another agent was cold cocked by your mother with a tea kettle and she rolled him down the basement steps. He had just found the police officer and was afraid something had happened to your mother. When he went upstairs to check, she was ready for him.
The agency, can’t allow your mother to continue to live in the house and possibly jeopardize some operations that are still in place. We have moved her to a facility where she can be cared for and will be free to say whatever she wants without potentially bringing harm to herself or her country.”
“You’ve got to be kidding! Mom? Dad? Espionage? I think perhaps Theo needs his medication levels checked. I don’t think he can just swoop in and take Mom away without our permission. Where is he, anyway?” The older sister stood up, prepared to go next door and face Theo, but sat down again when her sister motioned to the legal documents under the letter.
“Remember when she first told you about intruders? She was right. We had people who would go in from time to time to check on her, and to make sure the listening devices were still operational. It’s a good thing you two didn’t believe her and start snooping around. We have excellent psychiatric staff on board, and they will work with her and make her transition as smooth as possible. You’ll see that all of the documents are in order and all arrangements have been made. By the time you have gone through them, I’ll be back and will take you to see your mother. If, after seeing her, you are still uncomfortable with the situation, the agency will work with you to make things right.”
Time passed as the daughters scanned the various documents in the packet. Everything seemed to be covered, and every document had signature lines for the two of them. At least events did not seem to be set in stone. Decisions could be made once they saw their mother and spoke with Theo in person. Until then, all they had was a pile of documents and Theo’s strange, unbelievable letter.
“So,” the younger daughter said, “I guess we wait for Theo. Then we’ll go to see our own little Mata Hari.”
“Who would’ve ever thought it?” asked the older daughter. “While we wait, why don’t we have a pot of tea?”
The women looked at the unmarked canisters on the counter.
“Maybe that’s not such a good idea,” said the younger daughter. “I think we should stick to water from the kitchen faucet.”
“Good idea. Let’s go sit on the glider and wait. Once Theo gets here, I’m going to need some caffeine. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long day.” The older daughter pulled two glasses out of a cabinet, filled them from the faucet, and gave one to her sister as they left the kitchen.
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
