The Turn

Posted on Friday, 20 November 2020 - 3:14pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

A man in his early thirties sat in a wooden, rickety chair. Fear kept him from moving, his eyes fixated on a young Adrianna who was cleaning her nails with a small dagger. "Come on, it won't happen again, I just need time. Time," he pleaded.

The Italian stood up from being perched at the edge of a window sill and smiled, looking to the man. Her tone was even and well-controlled, "Demitri, you've had time. In fact, you've had three opportunities, of which your last one, you decided to run."

"Please," the man pleaded, the word falling from his quivering lips repeatedly.

"I'm afraid that 'please' won't work this time, so I shall give you two options," the woman crouched down, so she was looking up to the man's eyes, "I kill you now, slowly because that is what Don Baciami desires most." She paused.

The man shook his head, tears beginning to form at his eyes, "or?"

"Or, you pay your debt off, using my terms, and I fake your death, but you have to leave Earth. If you're caught, I kill you. If you talk to anyone, I kill you." she replied.

"That. That, I can do. What do you need?" Demitri replied, eager, the wet eyes fading to focus.

"You are not the only one that needs a way out," she replied, "I want his name and a way of contact."

"Commander Solomon Dayley," Demitri replied, "he's an intelligence officer. He pays for your time but mostly for knowledge on shipments. But may be able to get you a pass."

Adrianna nodded, making a mental note, "stay here, tonight. Don't leave. I'll keep my word. I need to make a call."

*****

Adrianna blinked out of her memory. Looking back to her PaDD, Adrianna sighed, "should I really risk going back? I lost so much to leave, but hold almost certainty that the risk of going will end in pain."

The woman flicked through her tight agenda for Earth. She knew the inconspicuous routes and where they could hid if things went south. She had back up plans for back up plans and even a check list of what to take and wear. Sure, she'd be armed, but Baciami's could be spotted a mile off. The way they held themselves and, no doubt, Adrianna would go back into habits when she returned to the familiar.

Her mother was her goal though, and to see Orte and Rome again. Her homesickness may be pacified; the knowledge of her mother being well would bring her joy; seeing her mother, in general, would bring some wholeness. Adrianna wondered if her mother would like Leopold.

She supposed she would find out soon.

Was she being stupid for putting Leopold at risk? He was one of the only people she trusted to not just the situation. He was decievingly strong too. He'd be fine. She'd protect him if she had to.

"Stop it," Adrianna chastised herself as images of Leopold getting hurt or killed. The guilt would kill her.

"Stop!"