By BonniAgent Belden's Secret Assignment
Twenty-seven-year-old Trixie Belden hurried out of the Pentagon to where the cab was waiting curbside. She opened the door, threw her bag across the seat and slid in right behind it. "Ronald Reagan International and step on it."
She laughed to herself thinking, I've always wanted to say that. Twenty minutes later the cab dropped her off in front of the main terminal and Trixie quickly paid her fare and dashed inside.
"Hey, Belden, over here." a voice called out. Trixie turned around and found her partner of nine months, Erin Bernard, waiting for her. "It's about time you got here. Reynolds called me on the cell and told me you'd left, but he didn't think you'd make the flight." Bernard, was a vivacious redhead and Trixie couldn't wait to get her back to Sleepyside to introduce her to Dan Mangan. All that energy ought to wear him out. She was looking forward to seeing it.
"Belden, are you in there?" Erin asked.
Trixie smiled up at the other girl and nodded, but didn't share her thoughts. "Yeah, Bernard, I'm here. Have you been briefed?" She dropped her bag on the floor and started to dig through her small purse for a scrunci and brush. Quickly making short work of her long blond hair, she pulled it up out of the her eyes and out of the way.
Erin shook her head and said, "No, which I thought was weird. Reynolds said you'd do it on the flight. Come on let's get checked in." She led the way to the check in area for international flights. It didn't take too long for their passports and tickets to be processed before they headed down the concourse to their gate. "I hate these two hour check-in-before-flight-time-waits. We could be doing some good out there if we didn’t have to wait."
"Do you know that when you're aggravated, your brogue is a little bit stronger?" Trixie teased the other girl. "Get used to it. Your job is always going to be a hurry up and wait situation." She lowered her voice and whispered, "Remember what they taught you in FBI 101."
Erin looked at Trixie and rolled her eyes. "Very funny. So, tell me, have you ever been to Ireland, before?"
Trixie shook her head. "No but I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I'll find a leprechaun's pot of gold, it being St. Paddy's day, you know."
Trixie was actually looking forward to being in the land of Eire on that particular holiday. "Tell me why, on today of all days, would you wear red? Especially that shade? You’re a disgrace to your former homeland."
"Well, given the bright orange color of my hair, I can't wear most shades of red, but I think this one is just right for me." It actually was an exquisite color for the younger girl. "Sort of cranberryish. Besides, me own Ma made this suit for me. I wear it for her and the old country." Erin laid the brogue on strongly, making Trixie laugh. "Although, you really outdid yourself with the green, Belden."
Trixie looked down on her own clothes. A nice suit jacket and skirt with black heels and hose. "What's wrong with my suit? It's a perfect kelly green. I know I'm a day early with the "KISS ME I'M IRISH" button, but it worked on my husband." She laughed and sat down at the rows of chairs closest to the gate they would be departing from. "Since we're on an overnight flight, I think it's perfect.
"Belden, if you’re Irish, then my sainted Uncle Pato will rise up out of the grave and do his famous jig for us while swilling the very ale that killed him," Erin teased, a smile lighting up her pretty face and made her emerald eyes twinkle. "When are you changing your name, anyway? You've been married for eleven months now, right? At least that's what you've led me to believe." She'd become Trixie's new partner only a month or so ago.
"You shouldn't laugh when you want me to believe the swill your trying to get me to swallow, Bernard. And what do you mean, what I've led you to believe? I showed you my wedding pictures when the formal album finally came in. Come on, they just called our flight to be boarded." Trixie and Erin gathered up their briefcases and small carryon bags and headed to the back of the line. It didn’t take too long before the two young women had boarded the plane and were taking their seats.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome aboard Eire Lingus flight 1703 bound for Shannon. Please stow your belongings in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you." The flight attendant was on the intercom giving out instructions and introducing the flight crew. "We'll be serving dinner on our flight tonight and on the menu is corned beef and hash or steak and potatoes for the adults and bangers and mash for our wee lads and lassies."
Trixie looked at Erin in puzzlement. "Bangers and mash? What the heck is that?" She'd certainly never heard of it before. "Here are our seats. Do you want the window or one next?"
"Oh, I'll take the window. That way I can watch the sun rise over Shannon. Hot dogs and mashed potatoes." Erin could see that her partner had forgotten the question all ready and laughed as she slid into her seat and fastened the belt across her lap.
"What are you talking about? Oh...sorry, I get it. Bangers and mash are hot dogs and mashed potatoes. Doesn't sound very appetizing." It actually sounded disgusting, but Trixie kept that thought to herself. "Have you given anymore thought to coming home with me for the weekend when we get some time off? The country is a great place to relax and I'd love to show you my husband's school. We can horseback ride or just laze around the lake." Boy, I miss Sleepyside more than I ever realized. Trixie thought to herself.
Erin nodded her head. "It sounds just like what the doctor ordered. We both need a rest after that last assignment. It was a killer. No pun intended, of course." Erin was right and Trixie knew it. Their last assignment had been brutal. They'd been tracking a serial killer who's goal had been to kill a woman in each of the fifty states. His plan had been to commit the murders in the order that the state joined the union. As an added bonus he would kill the same number of women that equaled the order in which the states were ratified.
Trixie shuddered thinking back to the discovery of that particular piece of scum. "I hope that we never come across anybody that sick again. Thankfully, he's on death row down in Florida. Old Sparky will get him in the end." Trixie referred to Florida's ancient electric chair that had been known to set peoples hair on fire during the electrocution. "I don’t know what galled me more? The fact that I actually knew him or that I was on his list for the state of New York?"
"I’m trying not to think about it, Trix."
"Did I ever tell you about the time I spent down in Orlando working for Disney?" Trixie changed the direction of their conversation quickly, knowing Erin was still struggling with that particular assignment. She'd been used as a decoy and the situation had almost blown up in their faces, when the suspect had dragged her off to what Trixie called his lair. Luckily, they caught him before he was able to follow through.
Erin looked at her in surprise. "You worked for Disney"? She was stunned and it showed.
Trixie nodded. "I took a semester of courses down there during my undergraduate studies and didn't want it to be all work and no play. So I got a part time job with them and had a ball. Playing one of the characters was a blast."
"You were a character? I don't believe it." Erin was almost envious. "Which one?"
"Chip and Dale, Roger Rabbit, Piglet, just to name a few." Trixie smiled, glad to see the shadows disappear from Erin's eyes. She wasn’t sure Erin was going to be able to get past the ugliness, but it would take some time and Trix was there for her. Now if only I. could get Dan in on it, too, she thought wistfully.
"Would you like something to drink? We have a very special treat for you tonight." The flight attendant broke into their musings and held up a plastic cup full of green liquid before passing it to the man sitting across from Trixie in the next row of seats.
"Lime Kool-Aid? I don't think so." Trixie shuddered and wrinkled her nose.
Erin burst out laughing. "Trix, that's green beer!" she exclaimed and reached for a cup of her own. "I'd like some, thank you."
"Green beer, huh? OK...I'll have to try that, but you can leave me a diet coke as well." Both girls pulled down their tray tables and eagerly, or tentatively, sipped the green beer.
"Dinner will be served shortly...enjoy your flight." The attendant moved onto the next passenger in the row behind them.
The long flight passed by without any mishaps and before either of them knew it, they were being awakened by the flight attendant to prepare for landing. "Wow, that didn't take very long. It seems like we just took off."
Erin looked at her wrist watch to check the time. "It's almost 8:00! Don't we land about 8:30?"
Trixie checked the ticket she pulled from her purse. "We do. I'm glad we slept through most of it. How did you sleep?" she asked, knowing from past experience the nightmares that could come after a bad situation like the last one.
"Surprisingly, well. I'm amazed. You still need to brief me." Erin reminded Trixie.
"I know. It can wait for the time being. We have a contact that's going to meet us outside of customs when we get off." Trixie was going to love this assignment. "Excuse me, but do I have time to make a call?" she flagged down the attendant and asked, knowing there were strict rules about using electronic equipment during landings.
"Yes, but not overly so. You'll have to be quick."
"OK, I will." She pulled out her credit card and used the phone inset in the seat in front of her. "I hope Jim doesn't kill me for calling this early. I meant to do it last night, but didn't." She waited as the phone rang for her husband to pick up. "Hi, Sweetheart."
Erin sat back and watched as Trixie talked to her husband and wondered if the other girl knew how lucky she was to have someone worry over her that way. Sure, her parents worried about her living in Washington. It was so far away from the little town in Kansas that had been home to her parents since they'd moved from Ireland all those years ago. But, somehow, it just wasn't quite the same as having what Trixie had. And Erin wanted that. Badly.
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to hang up now. We've been cleared for landing." The flight attendant was back and Trixie finished her call to Jim.
"So was he upset that you woke him up? It's only what, almost 2:30 AM back in New York?" Erin teased.
"No, he was glad that I called. He's a good sport about my job."
Erin believed it. "See, Belden, what did I tell you about an Irish sunrise? You just can't beat them."
"I believed you, Bernard." Trixie gazed out the window to see the sun rising. It was then she noticed it. "Wow, I can't tell you how many times I've heard the Song The River Shannon, and it's talk of forty shades of green. I didn't think there could be forty shades of green. Holy Cow!!! It's beautiful! And look, there are mountains, too. This will be the best St. Patrick's Day I've ever had. Maybe we can do some sight seeing when the assignment's through." Trixie laughed to herself. Assignment? Yeah, right, she thought.
"I guess I'll have to repeat myself. When are you going to go over this assignment with me!? We've never left before with my having at least an inkling of what is to take place or be expected of me." Erin was getting frustrated with her senior partner. She was only a rookie, but come on, now.
"Have a little patience, Bernard. Everything will be made known to you in due time. Now tighten your seat belt. We're landing."
Once the plane had stopped and was in the process of unloading, Trixie decided to wait and let all the other passengers get off first. Sometimes being last was better, she thought. It didn't take too long for everyone to gather their things and file out. Soon she and Erin were bringing up the rear.
As Erin walked out of the customs area and into the main terminal, she saw a huge sign that said WELCOME HOME ERIN in big green letters, but paid no attention to it until she was about to pass one of the people holding it up.
"I suppose you’re thinking you can walk right past your old Da and not even be kissing my cheek, now! Shame on ya, Erin Mary! Tis crushed my heart, ya have..," A huge redheaded man with a big booming voice called out.
Erin stopped in her tracks and looked at the older man who had spoken to her. "Da, is it really you? What are you doing here? And Ma, too. Oh look, there's Sean and Stephen." She pointed to her brothers. "And Uncle Pato and Aunt Colleen." Erin looked around at all the people who were near and dear to her heart. And then she looked at Trixie. Trixie, her partner, who'd fast become one of her closest friends. Trixie, who stood holding the hand of another redheaded man.
Trixie smiled at her and tugged on the hand that she was holding. "I know. You have a lot of questions. Suffice to say that you're on vacation Agent Bernard and that's an order. I'm on vacation, too." She smiled broadly and said, "This is the husband that you think I don't have." She started to introduced Jim to her partner, but stopped when the other girl's eyes filled with tears.
"But how, why?" Erin was stunned to think that all this planning had gone on and she didn't even know about it. "When did you get here?" She directed this to her parents, trying to find a tissue to wipe her eyes. She smiled her thanks to her Aunt as Colleen handed one to Erin.
"Your friend here arranged everything for us. We're here for two weeks to visit with the family and wait till you see the shindig that we're having down at Pato's pub!" her father answered her and enfolded her into his arms.
When he was done hugging his daughter, he called Trixie to his side. "I'll be thanking you for the good care you've given to my Erin Mary. You'll always have a place at our table." He gave Trixie the biggest bear hug she'd ever had and made her laugh.
As the large group of people moved off toward the exits, Trixie pulled her younger partner aside and gave her some advice. "Erin, sometimes this job isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Sometimes it's worse. But not all of our assignments are going to be as bad as this last one. You did a good job. It was a gutsy move and you made it work. We both know it could have ended differently, but it didn't. That's the most important thing. So, put it behind you. Take this time with our family to heal before the next crappy job comes down the road. It will be here before you know it."
"OK, Trix, I get the picture. I'll even come with you to Sleepyside the next time we get days off." Erin promised.
"Great! By the way,... have I ever told you about my friend Dan?"
The End