Vengeance

25 OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND

In the back of Christine’s armored SUV, neither she nor her companion said much during the trip north toward Baltimore. Moments earlier, she had picked up Jake Harrison after his arrival at Baltimore/Washington International Airport. Although they were back on speaking terms, their relationship remained strained. Despite their conversation in Medina Falls, Christine could tell that Harrison still blamed her for Angie’s death, at least in part. It would take time, Christine told herself again, to fully repair their relationship. To that end, she had offered to pick Jake up upon his arrival in Maryland and join him as he attended to his most important mission upon returning to the East Coast — visiting Maddy.

Thus far, Mixell had shown no interest in taking his vengeance out on Harrison’s daughter. The night Mixell killed Angie in her home, he had first sent Maddy upstairs, ordering her not to leave her bedroom until morning. However, Maddy had ventured downstairs after hearing the shots Mixell fired, putting two bullets into Harrison. When Maddy intervened as Mixell was about to slay Christine, Mixell had knocked the young girl unconscious in a fit of rage, fracturing her skull in the process.

Even though Mixell had displayed no intent to include Maddy in his retribution, Harrison wasn’t taking any chances, ensuring his daughter would be nowhere near him during his next confrontation with his former best friend. Prior to Harrison’s disappearance a few weeks ago, he had arranged for Maddy to stay with his parents inside a gated, guarded community. Christine had assisted, assigning a four-person team to watch over the girl.

Upon reaching I-695, Christine’s SUV traveled clockwise around the Baltimore Beltway until speeding outward on I-795 toward Owings Mills, eventually stopping before a tall metal gate. After the guard verified Harrison was on the visitor list, the CIA vehicle pulled forward, parking in front of a four-story condominium. As Christine and Harrison headed toward the building, Christine knew that two members of Maddy’s protective detail were somewhere nearby, monitoring the approach to the condominium entrance.

After knocking on the second-floor door, Harrison’s father answered, embracing his son in a short but firm hug. Jake had called ahead, letting his parents know he was coming, but it appeared they hadn’t told Maddy in case the planned meeting fell through. Sitting on the couch watching television, the young girl’s eyes went wide upon seeing her dad. She raced across the living room, jumping into her father’s arms. Harrison lifted her off her feet, holding her tightly for a while before lowering her back to the floor.

Harrison greeted his mother with a long hug, then Christine and Jake joined Maddy and her grandparents at the dining room table. At first, the four adults barely got a word in as the girl rattled on about how much she missed her dad, what her new school was like and the new friends she had made there, ending with a series of questions: where had her dad been, how long would he back, and when would they move back home together?

“Soon,” Jake replied to Maddy’s last question. “There’s one thing I need to take care of, and then we can be a family again.”

Jake’s words were meant to soothe his daughter, but tears formed in Maddy’s eyes instead.

“We’re not a family anymore. Mom’s dead! And you’re never home!”

Christine’s heart went out to the young girl. She had essentially lost both parents, at least until Jake returned home. To assuage Maddy’s grief in the meantime, Christine offered encouraging words.

“Your father is working on a critical assignment, one that gets briefed to the president himself.”

Maddy brightened at the revelation, so Christine enhanced Jake’s role. “Your father is a very important person. If you want, I’m sure he can arrange a tour of the White House and maybe even for you to meet the president himself.”

Maddy’s eyes grew wide, her gaze shifting to her dad. “You can do that?”

Technically, Jake didn’t have the connections, but Christine did. And there was an easy opportunity only a few weeks away. Easter was approaching, and the White House would be open for tours that weekend and on Easter Monday.

“Actually,” Jake replied, “Christine will make the arrangements, not me. She knows the president very well. She’s practically on a first name basis with him. In fact, her last job was in the White House itself.”

“Really?” Maddy asked.

“Really,” Christine replied. “I tell you what — I’ll take you on a personal tour of the White House.” She leaned toward Maddy and whispered, “I’ll even show you some of the special places most people never see. Sound good?”

“Sounds great!”

Maddy beamed with excitement, and Christine even caught a glimmer of a smile from Jake. It felt good to see Maddy excited and Harrison smiling. It had probably been a long time for both of them.