Stories by Claudia

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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Twelve hours later

Monday mid-morning

March 31 – 10:05 P.M. MDT
Denver, CO

Alex sighed.

Back to Joiner.

Back to work. Secure in her basement office, Alex spent the morning with the quiet solace brought by a map of a section of North Korea. Joseph had decided they needed a better work environment. The men spent the morning setting up the carriage house. Alex had to smile at their work. The carriage house was clean, furnished, and ready for action.

Her desk was located on the second floor between Matthew and Joseph’s desks. Raz’s desk sat collecting dust in front of her. She heard the laughter and conversation of the men hard at work around the carriage house.

Right now, she was waiting for the arrival of her key witnesses. Bobby Lopez and his daughter, Beth Ann, had been interviewed by the Texas Rangers. Their report told her everything she already knew. Tristan Joiner had come to live with them last fall. He was a good kid, blah, blah, blah.

She’d checked on Tristan this morning. He and the other children were malnourished, beaten and more puzzling, suffering from Mercury poisoning. They were alive, if only barely, in a secure hospital in Texas.

Alex blocked the mothers from seeing their children. Until she had satisfactory answers, the children would remain safe and secure. The last thing she wanted was to release the surviving boys only to have them held hostage again.

“Krystal Jo Joiner is here, sir.” Larry stuck his head in the door. “She’s been escorted to the bedroom with the table in it. Downstairs.”

“Thank you, Sergeant,” Alex said.

“Oh and sir?” Larry asked. “She’s pissed off.”

“So noted, Sergeant,” Matthew said.

Krystal Jo Joiner was her other key witness. Why weren’t her male Joiner children held hostage? She was so indignant during her interview with the Texas Rangers that they didn’t get much out of her.

“You coming Joseph?” Alex asked.

“No, I need to work on the Weasel’s file,” Joseph said. “I’m compiling the information you received from the Weasel with the Joiner information. I meeting with James in about an hour to go over the information SIS has on the Boy Scout.”

“Troy?”

“He’s made headway on the Fey bank account. He said it should be ready by this afternoon.”

“Good,” Alex nodded. “Vince?”

“He’s working with the Texas Rangers on the bombs in the Mariscal Mine. They aren’t sure how the bombs were ignited.”

“Larry seems quite chipper.”

“He’s researching Joiner’s holdings while his honey studies for her exams.” Joseph smirked.

“His honey?” Alex raised her eyebrows.

“Don’t worry fairy godmother. He has a crush on your Helene.”

“A crush?” Matthew laughed. “He worships the very ground she walks on.”

“Anyway, nothing happened last night. Or so her father said. By the way, Ben said he was returning to Paris. You know how to get a hold of him?”

Alex nodded.

“Weasel then?”

“Weasel it is,” Joseph said.

She looked at her watch.

“When Robert Lopez and his daughter get here…”

“White Boy and Trece are on their way with them,” Joseph said. “Trece says Bobby’s a great guy. They want to play cards. So don’t worry. We’ll let Trece and White Boy entertain them for a while.”

“Those boys come in handy,” Matthew said.

“We need to talk about the men.” Noting Alex’s dark look, Joseph said, “Later.”

“Later,” Alex said. “Krystal Jo then Bobby and Beth Ann.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Joseph said.

“Thanks.”

Alex touched his sleeve. He looked up and smiled at her. She nodded. He put his hand over hers in a gesture of support.

“I always hated Joiner.”

“I know,” he said. “See you in a bit.”

Alex and Matthew walked down a short hallway to a straight flight of stairs.

“How are you feeling?” Matthew asked.

“Yes,” Alex said.

She turned down the hallway to the small bedroom on the first floor. Matthew laughed.

“Good answer.”

“And you?” Alex asked. She nodded to the Texas Rangers standing next to the door.

“Yep,” he said.

She smiled.

“At least you don’t smell anymore,” he said under his breath as they walked into the room.

A medium sized blond woman stood with her back to the door. She was staring out the window at the melting snow in their backyard. Wiping her eyes, she turned to watch them enter the room.

“Hello. I’m Lieutenant Colonel Alexandra Hargreaves and this is Captain Matthew Mac Clenaghan, US Army. You may call us Alex and Matt.”

“Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?” Krystal Jo Joiner asked. “The police came… and I don’t know where my boys are… and…”

She sniffed at a tear then squared her shoulders. Her eyes sparked with strength.

“What has Cee Cee Joiner gotten us into this time?” she asked. Her voice was as fierce as her Texas accent deep.

“May I get you some water or iced tea?” Alex asked.

“You can bring my babies to me,” Krystal replied with a shake of her yellow hair. “They have never been away from me.”

Alex smiled.

“Matthew, can you bring us some iced tea and some cookies?” Alex asked.

Matthew nodded his head and left the room. They’d agreed that Krystal might feel more comfortable speaking with a woman, but Matthew refused to let Alex work alone. Matthew left to let Alex get started.

“Please sit down,” Alex said. She indicated a chair at a small square oak table. Krystal took the chair nearest her and Alex sat across from her.

“I’m not sure what to call you. Do you go by Krystal? Krystal Jo? My bunkmate at basic was from Texas. She said people’s second name was very important to Texans.”

Shaking her head, Krystal furrowed her brow.

“Is this a joke? I’m arrested, my babies are God knows where and you want…”

Raising her eyebrows, Alex smiled at Krystal.

“I’m sorry,” Krystal said. “I’m too exhausted and worried to remember polite conversation. What was your bunkmate’s name?”

“Catherine Susan Lesser. Cathy Sue for short. She would squint her eyes at anyone would called her ‘Cathy’ and not ‘Cathy Sue.’”

“What happened to her?” Krystal asked.

“She met,” Alex’s voice changed to imitate Cathy’s accent, “the sweetest boy.”

Krystal smiled at Alex’s imitation.

“Somehow, Cathy Sue happened to get pregnant after we received orders to go to Bosnia. She got out on a medical discharge. They live in San Antonio. He works for Whole Foods Corporate office.”

“Everyone calls me Krystal,” she said. “Joiner is my father’s name. Not Cee Cee’s name. Our grandfather’s were cousins. You probably know this but I’m an insurance agent. That’s how I met Cee Cee. I manage the insurance plans for Pecos Oil.”

“And?”

“And what?” Krystal’s blue eyes raked Alex’s face. “You’re the girl who beat up that guy in the parking lot. I wondered if you were injured. That’s some cast.”

“I had surgery yesterday.” Alex raised her aluminum and gauze arm in her blue sling. “I’m hoping to get a real cast tomorrow.”

“Looks uncomfortable,” Krystal said.

“Yeah,” Alex shrugged. “Shall we?”

Krystal nodded.

“What’s your relationship with Cee Cee Joiner?”

“He’s the father of my children,” she said.

The door opened and Matthew came in with glasses, a pitcher of ice tea and a plate of lemon drop cookies.

“You have to try these.” Alex picked up a cookie. “My brother-in-law is a baker. He made these last night. Matthew, Krystal wants to know why she’s here.”

“Cee Cee Joiner’s male children have been kidnapped.”

Matthew gauged his voice for maximum impact. They had to know if she was involved.

“What?” Panicked, Krystal jumped to her feet.

“You didn’t know?” Alex asked.

“Some man called on Friday to ask about the boys… when they were born… where they went to school… stuff like that. He said he was from Homeland Security. I called the police to make sure he was legitimate before I answered even one question. Did he kidnap my babies?”

“Please sit down,” Alex said.

“My boys… Are they safe?” she asked.

“Your boys are safe,” Alex said. “They are with Cathy Sue. Last time I checked, they were playing Guitar Hero with Cathy’s boys. Cathy lives in a gated community but to be safe, there is a Texas Ranger with the boys. It’s my understanding that he sucks at Guitar Hero. But you didn’t hear it from me.”

Krystal looked from Alex to Matthew then sat down again.

“Why am I here?” Krystal asked.

“Cee Cee Joiner’s male children have been kidnapped,” Matthew repeated. “All of them except your boys and his current wife, who is pregnant with a male child. They didn’t get him either.”

Krystal’s lips dropped in a pensive frown.

“When?” Krystal asked.

“Tristan is the only one we have good data on because a missing person’s report was filed.”

“By Bobby Lopez?”

“How…?” Alex started.

“I manage their health insurance. I know all the dirt,” Krystal said. “Tristan’s lived with them since Cee Cee fired Bobby from Pecos Oil.”

Alex blinked.

“Didn’t know Bobby worked for Pecos Oil?” Krystal asked. “He worked for them since he was fifteen years old. Started in the oil fields. Tristan went missing? When?”

“Around Christmas,” Alex said. “We rescued Tristan, Cory, Cody, and Kyle last night.”

“Cee Cee has a few more boys. Let’s see… There’s Daniel and David…and Marvin, of course. What?”

“Ma’am, Daniel, Marvin and David are dead,” Matthew said. “And…”

Krystal gasped in horror. Her hands flew to her face. With her nose and mouth covered by her French manicured fingertips, only her eyes showed her shock.

“We aren’t sure Cory will make it. Cody and Tristan have been poisoned with mercury,” Alex said.

“Tristan is older, bigger. The doctors expect him to shake the mercury. However he’s been beaten. He’s in reconstructive surgery now and…”

Matthew stopped speaking in response to Krystal’s increasing distress. They had planned on pounding her with the facts to break the truth from her. That wasn’t going to be necessary. His voice softened.

“But Cody is very ill and Cory is only two years old.”

“Cory was always sickly. He has bad allergies and asthma. Oh God…”

Krystal wept in earnest. There was no mistaking her reaction. Krystal Joiner had no idea the children were kidnapped.

“I know I’m not helping,” Krystal said. She swiped at her tears with her hands. Matthew held a box of tissues out for her. “I loved those boys. My boys will be heart broken. Poor Sue Ann. Daniel and David were her life.”

Krystal squinted her eyes with determination then squared her shoulders.

“You want my help figuring out what happened,” Krystal said. “Let’s get the bastard who did this. If you can beat up that big guy, I bet you’ll find out who did this. Ok, what can I do?”

Krystal reached for a cookie. She bit into the cookie as if she was biting into this problem.

“What do you know?” Matthew asked.

“Nothing,” Krystal replied. “I had no idea the boys were… well… wait a minute.”

Krystal tapped her upper lip with an index finger.

“We usually get together with all of Cee Cee’s kids, and their Moms, for the holidays. We Moms hate Cee Cee so much that we are actually pretty good friends. Well… the wives are very tight. A couple of the other mothers work for Buffy. She’s Cee Cee’s first wife and acts like the Queen of the Joiner harem. I’m not a part of the inner circle. After all, I have a job. But they usually include us in their holidays. We saw everyone at Thanksgiving but at Christmas… Huh.”

Krystal lapsed into silence while she finished her cookie.

“What?” Alex asked.

“We were supposed to get together before Christmas. Tristan was going to be home. My boys worship Tristan. We usually meet at Buffy’s house. This year, she canceled at the last minute. I figured she was mad that Tristan was living with Beth Ann. But… Why wouldn’t she tell everyone?”

“We don’t know,” Alex said. “The Texas Rangers are interrogating the mothers. We spoke with all of the mothers on Friday. They denied their children were missing.”

“Every single one,” Matthew said.

“That is… odd.” Krystal lapsed into silence again. “I was relieved we didn’t have to go to Buffy’s house. She can be impossible. We had such a nice Christmas this year… just me and my boys.”

“How are you and your boys different from the other children and mothers?” Matthew asked.

“I’m financially independent. That’s probably the biggest difference. I don’t get money from Cee Cee. My father was in insurance. I joined his practice after college and I took the practice over when he died. I owned my own house when I met Cee Cee.”

“How… I mean…”

Alex started then stopped. She wasn’t quite sure how to ask Krystal why she had a relationship with the awful Cee Cee Joiner. Krystal laughed at the look on Alex’s face.

“Cee Cee can be fun. After my Dad died, I felt very alone in the world. I took over insurance at Pecos Oil and I met Cee Cee. It happened like one, two, three, four: Daddy falls over dead; take over his large insurance practice with this huge oil contract; meet Cee Cee Joiner; get pregnant. I think everything happened in less than six months.”

Krystal shook her head then took a drink of iced tea.

“You aren’t from Texas.”

“We are not. Why?” Alex asked.

“This tea is not sweetened,” Krystal smiled.

“Would you like some sugar?” Matthew asked.

“No, thank you,” Krystal said. “Ok, why Cee Cee? Cee Cee isn’t the kind of man like I bet you are Matthew. No, he’s not kind or thoughtful. He could care less about anyone but himself. But he made me laugh. He took me out on the town. He’s fun in bed.”

“I knew he was married… It’s not my proudest moment.” Krystal shrugged. “I got pregnant with Lance and Cee Cee started bossing me around. I needed to do this and that and whatever else for his child. That was it for me.”

“How…?”

“Sperm bank,” Krystal said. “I didn’t want Lance to grow up alone and I wanted them to have the same father so we would look like a family. Stupid huh? Cee Cee banked sperm so I used it to have Jason. I’m not sure Cee Cee even knows.”

“How did you arrange it?”

“He signs a lot of insurance papers for me. I slipped the permission form in with the papers. He spends about two minutes signing thirty pages of insurance forms. We have no relationship. Here. Sign these papers. Thank you. That kind of thing.”

“Do they have much interaction with their father?” Matthew asked.

“No. They see him once a year at the most. Cee Cee says he loves my boys but I think that’s because they don’t cost him any money. Cee Cee loves himself and money. That’s all.”

Not sure where to go next, Alex was about to terminate the interview when Krystal began talking again.

“Cee Cee has life insurance policies on all of these boys. Not the girls, only the boys. Could he have…?”

“Anything is possible, ma’am,” Matthew replied.

“I’m sorry. I want to be helpful but I’m kind of grasping at straws,” Krystal continued. “You know, Cee Cee had mercury poisoning once. We had to petition the insurance company to cover it. He picked it up in some South American country… Peru, I think. Shale oil. At least that’s what he said. With Cee Cee, you never know. We were seeing each other at the time. He stayed with us. My housekeeper and I nursed him back to health. Oh… I probably shouldn’t have mentioned her. She’s not legal.”

“We’re only interested in finding out what happened to these boys,” Matthew said.

“What can you tell us about your housekeeper?” For the first time, Alex’s pulse quickened. Something about the housekeeper was important. Alex had to work to keep the excitement from her voice.

“I don’t know what there is to tell. Her name is Luana Melo. She’s from a small village in the Brazilian jungle. I met her… oh… about a year, maybe two, before Daddy died. She was twelve and I was twenty years old. I was in Rio for Marti Gras. I found her on the street. She was selling… well… She was selling herself. I… bought her.”

“So you and she…” Matthew started.

“Oh no,” Krystal said. “We aren’t lovers, if that’s what you were going to ask. We were standing on the same street corner. I felt a strong connection with her. People talk about soul mates or whatever. I felt like I’d known her all my life. I paid her pimp for the weekend then brought her back to Texas. She’s stayed ever since. Her sister, Yaritza, came to help when Lance was born. Yaritza lived with us until Jason was five or six. She married a guy from Columbia. We had the reception at our house.”

Alex nodded her head. The wheels in her head began to spin. People can get mercury poisoning from burning shale oil… but that’s only done to create electricity… which they do in Brazil. Mercury is released when they extract oil from shale. It’s almost impossible to extract fuel from shale oil with out creating an environmental disaster. Brazil also has enormous shale oil reservoirs.

“I don’t like the look on your face, Lieutenant Colonel Drayson. Luana is a saint. She would never hurt a fly, let alone a child.”

“She wouldn’t happen to be from the Amazonas Basin? Near the center of South America?” Alex asked. The first time they rescued Cee Cee Joiner, he had run a foul of the people of the Amazonas Basin.

“How did you know?” Krystal asked. “Her family still lives near the border of Brazil and Peru.”

“Lucky guess,” Alex said.

“Are we done?” Krystal asked.

“For now,” Alex replied.

“Alex?” Krystal called. “Isn’t there more that I can do?”

“We’d like you to stay in Denver for now. We’ll take care of the arrangements. We may need to speak with Luana and maybe Yaritza. But not right this minute. Thank you for your assistance.”

“Luana won’t speak to you. We have a plan so she won’t be deported. She went into hiding when the police came to the house. If my boys are playing Guitar Hero, they won’t miss me for days. Why don’t I get her and bring her here?” Krystal asked.

“That won’t be necessary,” Alex said. “I apologize for keeping you.”

Krystal Jo Joiner hugged Alex then whispered, “I know you’ll sort this out.”

Alex nodded then followed Matthew out of the room. She gave the Texas Rangers instruction to take Krystal to a hotel downtown. At least she would be comfortable while she waited.

“What do you think?” Alex asked.

“What you see is what you get,” Matthew said. “I think she’s on the up and up.”

“Me too,” Alex said.

“And that means?”

“Fuck if I know,” Alex said.

A loud cheer came from the front room.

“Bobby Lopez?”

“Probably,” Matthew said.

Shaking her head, Alex followed Matthew to the front room.

F

Learning to Stand is the second novel in the Alex the Fey thriller series
written by Claudia Hall Christian.

The novel is available in paperback at Amazon, our store, your local library and bookstore.
Entire chapters are be published at
StoriesbyClaudia.com and AlextheFey.com.

Join the Alex the Fey Facebook Group

Previous Chapters
Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and SIXTEEN

Four days later
Tuesday — 11:20 A.M.
Children’s Hospital

“Where am I?” Sissy said as she sat up in her hospital bed.

“Children’s Hospital,” Sandy said.

Sandy sat down on her little sister’s bed.

“How did I get here?” Sissy asked.

“You don’t remember?” Sandy asked.

“I remember seeing Charlie. I remember meeting Noelle and Nash and Teddy and his Dad. He’s your pilot. Right?”

“He is.”

“I remember thinking I was going to see you!” Sissy said. “We went to some place…”

She shook her head.

“Everyone ordered burgers and fries,” Sandy said. “You ate most of yours then collapsed. You had a seizure at the restaurant. The EMTs thought you were stable but you had another seizure in the ambulance.”

“A seizure? I’ve never had a seizure before,” Sissy said.

“You almost died.” Tears ran down Sandy’s face. “Well, you did die in the ambulance. They were able to get your heart started. You…”

[Read more →]

Previous Chapters

Learning to Stand is the second novel in the Alex the Fey thriller series
written by Claudia Hall Christian.

The novel is available in paperback at Amazon, our store, your local library and bookstore.
Entire chapters are be published at
StoriesbyClaudia.com and AlextheFey.com.

Join the Alex the Fey Facebook Group

Previous Chapters
Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and FIFTEEN

“You’re a prostitute right?” the only brunette at the table said.

“No, she was a prostitute,” the platinum blonde woman said. “Remember?”

“We certainly can see how you tricked Aden into marrying you,” the first woman nodded to Sandy’s belly.

“Tricked Aden? What are you talking about?” Sandy asked. “I met Aden…”

“As a prostitute. Yes we know,” the brunette woman said. “Can’t blame a single man for seeking a little company.”

“Aden’s never seen a prostitute.” Sandy jumped to her feet. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s alright. We’re very liberal here,” the platinum blonde woman said. “We just don’t want your… values to influence our daughters.”

“Maybe you should speak with your daughters and not me.” Sandy turned away from the table and said, “I think…”

“Sandy!” Bambi, Honey’s boss, gave Sandy a hug. “I’m so glad to see you. I don’t know a soul. My goodness, you’re shaking like a leaf.”

Bambi toward the table.

“What did you do?” Bambi asked the platinum blonde woman. “This is Aden’s wife, the mother of his children.”

“We know what she is,” the brunette said.

[Read more →]

Previous Chapters

Learning to Stand is the second novel in the Alex the Fey thriller series
written by Claudia Hall Christian.

The novel is available in paperback at Amazon, our store, your local library and bookstore.
Entire chapters are be published at
StoriesbyClaudia.com and AlextheFey.com.

Join the Alex the Fey Facebook Group

Previous Chapters
Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and FOURTEEN

Thursday early morning — 4:52 A.M.

Charlie wandered down the hall toward the living room. He wanted to talk to Aden when no one was around. Last night, he’d heard Sandy say she was too tired to get up when Aden left for work at five in the morning. Aden had assured her he could get his own breakfast. She’d laughed and made pumpkin muffins.

And Charlie had made a plan. Not wanting to miss his chance, he’d barely slept. When he heard Aden moving around, he got dressed and waited until Aden came out of the bedroom. Sliding into the living room, he saw Aden tying his shoes with one foot on a dining room chair.

Aden had a black box on his ankle.

“What’s that?” Charlie said.

Aden looked up at Charlie and finished tying his wing tips. He pulled out a chair and nodded for Charlie to sit down.

“Join me for breakfast?” Aden asked. “You look like you have something to say. I bet your sister’s pumpkin muffins will make this easier.”

Charlie nodded and sat down. Aden set two muffins on Charlie’s plate. He took some eggs and passed them to Charlie. For a few minutes, they ate in silence.

“The box is an ankle monitor,” Aden said. “I’m on house arrest for beating up Sandy’s biological father.”

“Did you beat him bad?” Charlie asked.

“I did,” Aden said.

Charlie raised his hand. Laughing, Aden gave Charlie a high five.

“I did the deed. I have to pay the price,” Aden said. “I also hurt and betrayed Sandy. I’m much less proud of that.”

Not wanting to know anymore, Charlie nodded.

“Your Uncle sentenced me,” Aden said.

“Uncle Howard?” Charlie laughed. “How did you get that unlucky?”

“It’s a long story,” Aden said. “Suffice it to say, your uncle and I have some serious history.”

“You’re lucky he didn’t throw you away for good,” Charlie said.

“Three months in prison. No good time,” Aden said.

“Prison?” Charlie asked. “That sucks.”

“I ran into my brother there,” Aden said. “Let me tell you about suckage.”

[Read more →]

Previous Chapters

CHAPTER Twenty-EIGHT

Three hours later

Sunday afternoon

March 30– 3:35 P.M. MDT

Buckley Air Force Base Jail

Alex rubbed her sunburned nose. Caught up in John’s presence, she hadn’t realized she was getting so much sun. In the small capsule of time, she soaked up every morsel of her lunch and husband.

Of course, the MPs caught up with her and she was whisked back to a quiet corner of the Buckley jail. Trece and White Boy stood with their backs against the bars of her cell. With a Trece and White Boy wall to the world, she sat on the bed in her cell.

At least Trece wasn’t talking.

She debated whether to celebrate the quiet with a nap or work on the pocket computer her Sergeant had smuggled her. Her arm throbbed. No pain meds in jail. Thanks to Bestat, her abdomen felt whole and strong.

Closing her eyes, she tried to force herself into sleep.

The moment her eyes closed, her mind filled with sadness. Simon. The boys in the tunnel. Raz. Forcing the sadness away, her mind jumped to the puzzle of Cee Cee Joiner. She shook her head. No Joiner. With a will of their own, her eyes drooped. And her mind wondered about the betrayer.

Crap. Even exhausted, she couldn’t sleep.

Turning on her handheld computer, she read Larry’s report on her resignation from Homeland Security. She saw an email from Troy at Raz’s bedside. The Joiner witnesses, Buddy Lopez, his daughter, and Krystal Joiner, were on route to talk to her. Everything was on track.

That is, if she ever got out of this cell.

“Very interesting,” she heard an English accented man’s voice. “But Her Majesty is not interested in local police or politics. This order? You will notice the signature. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II doesn’t really track Denver Police issues. Personally, I doubt she cares.“

“Yes sir.”

“Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service is taking custody of this witness and Robert Powell. I will take custody of him when he’s ambulatory. I will take custody of my witness today.”

“We need to confirm…”

“Do what you must,” the voice said. “I will wait with my witness.”

Trece and White Boy stiffened on guard as the British intruder approached.

“Da nuit Alex. Look at these guys! You do like the beef,” the man said in Irish Gaelic. Switching to English, he said, “Don’t worry gents. I’m an old friend.”

“And that means what to me?” Trece snarled.

“I’m not going to kill The Fey.”

Alex went to the bars.

“Lieutenant Colonel, do you know this man?” White Boy asked.

“I can’t see him,” she said.

White Boy shifted to his left leg so she could peek between the men. In the dim light, she saw a medium sized blue eyed man.

“I knew you weren’t dead,” she laughed. “I just knew it.”

“You see!” the man said. Laughing, he added, “I’m hard to kill.”

Trece did something she’d never seen him do. He took out a pocket computer then asked the man for his thumb print. The man puzzled for a moment at Trece then gave him his thumb. Trece watched the screen then nodded. He stepped aside.

“Fancy guards you have Alex,” the man said.

“Captain Ramirez? Captain Blanco? I’d like to introduce you to the illustrious James Kelly,” Alex said. “You know him as James Bond.”

“THIS is James Bond?” Trece almost giggled with glee.

“He is.”

FFFFFF

June 2002

Prague, Czech Republic

“I have him!” Alex squealed into her cell phone. She was imitating her basic training bunkmate Cathy Sue’s heavy Texas accent. “He’s so handsome and very big. You don’t think he’ll be too big for me.”

“Good work, Alex,” Charlie O’Brien said.

She had purchased a week of sex with James Bond from two Czech mobsters. A thousand dollars bought a week for one British Secret Intelligence Service Agent named James Kelly. Now she had to make his freedom a reality.

“Well, you say that,” she continued. “You know how much I love James Bond.”

Alex had just finished scrubbing away the filth which covered his body. The last seven months of captivity had taken a strong, vibrant man to skin and bones. At least he hadn’t been tortured. She left him soaking in a fresh bath while she checked in.

“You have five days,” Charlie said.

“That’s the great thing,” Alex said. “He looks exactly like him. Yeah, totally hot.”

“You’re grossing me out,” Charlie said laughing. “The room has audio surveillance.”

“I thought so too!”

“Remember, they are hoping to gain a hostage, not lose one.”

“He does!” Alex said. “I’m going to have myself a good time.”

“Get out if it gets bad.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she said. Hearing the agent groan, she added, “Got to go! My man is ready for me.”

Helping him to sit on the commode, she pushed up her left sleeve and pointed to her blue fairy tattoo. The agent ran his fingers over the blue lines while she dried him with a towel. As if he was working something out, his eyes looked away then searched her face.

Smiling, Alex winked at the agent. His eyebrows furrowed in a silent ‘what?’ She began her audio porno performance.

“Oh… oh… oh. Yeah that’s it. You’re so big. Oh don’t hurt me.”

Surprised, the man’s mouth dropped open.

Alex gave him a toothbrush then helped him stand to spit in the sink. When he was clean and feeling more human under her gentle care, Alex screamed a fake climax, flushed a condom down the toilet and left the wrapper in the trash. The agent clapped his hands in quiet appreciation for her performance. She curtsied then helped him to the bed.

The simple activity of moving from the bathroom to the bed used what little strength the agent gained from the warm bath. He collapsed in the bed and fell fast asleep. Alex set up an antibiotic IV, a catheter, and kept him comfortable with pain medications. The agent would not move from the bed for three days.

Changing into a T-shirt and jeans, Alex retrieved her psychology texts from her suitcase. She hoped to spend the next few days studying for her Ph.D. exams while the agent recovered. Propping her legs on a coffee table, she settled in with her books. Near midnight, she checked the agent and gave him more pain medications. After another round of fake sex, she fell asleep on the couch.

The days passed. Alex woke at dawn, showered and studied while the agent slept. Every couple of hours, she continued her audio sexual performance. Alex assured anyone listening of the agent’s sexual prowess.

By the evening of the forth day, Alex needed to get the agent moving. They would escape the hotel and meet up with the team tomorrow evening. She stopped the agent’s pain meds around noon but he hadn’t woken. She was going to have to wake him.

Reaching to touch his shoulder, the agent grabbed her arm and flipped her under him. He pressed his forearm across her throat.

“Good morning,” she whispered.

His eyes gleamed with fear and fever. He closed and opened his eyes then shook his head as if to wake up. Seeing her for the first time, he raised an eyebrow then shifted to the bed.

“Sorry.”

She shrugged. “How are you feeling?”

“Worse… and better at the same time. Is that possible?”

“I’ve heard it before.”

“Will you help me to the toilet?”

She nodded. She unhooked his IV and removed the catheter. The agent sighed with relief. The agent stood, weaved, and then dropped to the bed.

Alex smiled and held her hands out to him. She pulled him to standing. With her arm under his shoulder, she helped him to the toilet then left him in a warm bath while she got his liquid food and medications ready.

He came from the bathroom with a towel around his waist.

Alex pointed to the ceiling then her ears signaling the audio surveillance. Nodding, the agent drank the Ensure and water she had set out for him.

“Clothing?” he asked.

She pointed to a pair of soft cotton sweats and an old soft T-shirt. She turned her back so he could dress. He touched her shoulder then pointed to the couch. She picked up another nutrition drink, as well as his meds, and sat next to him on the couch. He slipped his arm around her shoulders.

“When do we leave?” he asked in her ear.

“Tomorrow night,” she said. “You need to eat as much as you can keep down. Will you eat?”

She gave him the nutrition drink and a packet of raw almonds. She handed him some pain and antibiotic pills. They sat in silence while he ate. He washed the pills down with another bottle of water. He rubbed his stomach as if he was going to burst.

“We estimated you would need five days to be ready to travel. You need to rest and eat.”

“I’ve been here a long time.”

“Seven months,” she said. “We’ve been looking for you for two months.”

“How?” he asked.

“I paid a thousand dollars for your sexual services for a week.”

“And am I worth it?”

She laughed and began another audio sex performance. Smiling, he grunted in response.

“I need a favor,” he asked.

She nodded.

“Would you… I mean, if it’s not too much trouble, could you hold me?”

“Of course.”

Standing, she led him to the bed. Stepping out of her jeans, she slipped between the sheets and held an arm to him. He lay with his head on her chest and his arms around her waist. In her kind arms, his pain and despair came forward. With a heavy breath, he began to weep. She stroked his hair and shoulders until well after he fell asleep. She drifted off to sleep with him lying against her shoulder.

She woke around midnight to find him watching her. She smiled and retrieved more food and medication. He drank the nutrition drink, took his meds then made a wobbly trip to the restroom. He was sound asleep when she went through another round of audio sex.

Waking at dawn, she moved from the bed and he opened his eyes. He watched her walk to the bathroom. His eyes remained on her while she dressed in her jeans and T-shirt. He watched her pull pieces of a handgun from the lining of her suitcase. With quick practiced motions, she assembled the handgun. She was screwing a silencer onto her 9 MM Glock when there was a brush against a connecting door.

Alex began an audio sex performance to cover the sound of her cocking the gun. With her gun in her left hand, she flipped open the lock to the adjoining door with her right. While continuing her performance, she opened the door to a mocking Jesse.

He carried a large duffle bag into the room and took her suitcase to the other room. Before closing the door, he held his hands out in a ‘show me’ gesture.

Alex screamed her Texas orgasm.

Shaking his head, Jesse closed the door. Alex flipped the lock and set her handgun down. While the agent watched, she retrieved more food and medications from the duffle bag. She brought the food to the bed.

“What is your name?” he propped himself against the headboard.

“It’s better if you don’t know. People call me ‘Fey.’ That works.”

He nodded.

“Promise me,” he said. “If I don’t make it, promise me that you’ll remember me.”

“Oh, I’ll remember you.”

He laughed at her tone.

“Sleep,” she said.

“Would you mind? Please… don’t leave me. I cannot take being alone.”

“You must eat.”

She gave him another nutrition drink and his medication. He ate then made a less wobbly way to the bathroom. Settling back in bed, he held the covers for her. When she lay down next to him, he shifted to his side and kissed her lips.

“Please don’t,” she said.

She pressed him away from her with the palm of her hand.

“Married?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Happily?”

“Very.”

“I’m sorry about that,” he said. He stroked her face. “I’d marry you too.”

“Sleep,” she said. “We move tonight.”

“Stay with me?”

“Yes,” she said.

He was already asleep. She got up to get her books. Leaning against the headboard, she moved his head to her lap. She woke him at noon for more food and meds. He seemed to want to chat, but his eyes sagged within moments of eating. She took the empty nutrition drink from his hand then settled in to study. When the day moved to evening, she woke him by getting out of bed.

“We need to get going,” she whispered.

While he showered, she worked to get ready. Taking the parachute from the duffle bag, she laid out his body armor, jeans and long sleeved shirt then helped him dress. He was almost dressed when there was a tap on the door.

“It’s time to go,” she whispered.

She pulled a parachute from the bag. He held his arms out so she could strap the chute onto his back. He buckled it tight. She put on her own parachute and tightened the straps.

“What are we doing?” he asked in her ear.

Taking his hand, she led him to the window. The ancient building clung to the edge of a deep tree lined canyon. In the cover of twilight, they would jump from their tenth floor balcony then parachute down the canyon to where her team was waiting for them. Alex saw a flash of light, Tommy’s signal, designating that the team could see her. Using American Sign Language, she told Tommy they were on their way.

“We jump to meet the team,” she said in his ear. “You jump first. I’ll free fall. Follow me to the team. We’re still at least two days to safety. Can you do this?”

“I’ll make it.”

“We’ll split up when we reach the team,” she said. “You’ll stay with the team while I continue by rail. I’ll travel with one of the team to cover for you.”

“When will I see you again?”

“When we do,” she said.

“Then,” he said. Before she could protest, he scooped her up in his arms and kissed her lips. She pushed at him but he held her in place. “Thanks.”

“Fucking MI-6,” she said.

She followed him out the window.

F

Learning to Stand is the second novel in the Alex the Fey thriller series
written by Claudia Hall Christian.

The novel is available in paperback at Amazon, our store, your local library and bookstore.
Entire chapters are be published at
StoriesbyClaudia.com and AlextheFey.com.

Join the Alex the Fey Facebook Group

Previous Chapters
Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and THIRTEEN

Wednesday early morning — 2:47 A.M.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

“Jill.” Jacob shook her shoulder. “Jill.”

Lying next to him, Jill was sweating and shaking her head. Her hands were up near her face and she was crying. Her lips were moving. He leaned close to hear what she was saying.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Jill whispered.

“Jill!” Jacob said again. He shook her shoulder.  “Wake up!”

Jill opened her eyes. Seeing Jacob’s face, she threw herself into his arms and cried. He stroked her hair and her back. He kissed her neck. When she seemed to have stopped crying, he leaned back. She was asleep. Confused, he lay her back on her pillow. Her head had not hit the pillow when she started crying and shaking her head.

“Jill!”

Jacob’s voice was insistent. Jill opened her eyes. She looked confused.

“Jacob, what’s wrong?” she asked.

He clasped her to him.

“What is it?” she asked. “What happened?”

[Read more →]

Previous Chapters

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Five and a half hours later

Saturday night

March 29 – 11 P.M. MDT
Buckley Air Force Base

“I don’t get it,” Alex said. The Black Hawk began descending toward the Air Force base. “Where’s John? He always meets me when we get back. Especially on a Saturday night.”

“Something’s up, Alex,” Joseph said. “We’ve been trying to get in touch with your Sergeant. We lost connection about a half hour ago. Then… nothing.”

“What’s the media say about last night?” Alex asked.

“Texas Rangers saved four boys in Big Bend National Park,” Joseph said.

“Cell phones?” Alex asked.

“I wasn’t able to get the replacement phones before we left. Our bank account is fucked up.”

“The Fey Special Forces Team account? I totally forgot about that.”

“For the life of me, I can’t figure out what’s going on.”

“Boy Scout,” Alex said.

“Boy Scout fucked up.”

“Give the bank account to Troy,” Alex said. “He’s really good at that kind of thing.”

“Troy?” Joseph glanced at Troy. Troy was using his finger puppets Enrique and Frieda to embarrass Larry with their pornographic exploits. “You sure?”

“His last tested IQ is 187,” Alex said. “He’s a genius, especially with numbers. What about Vince’s phone? Wasn’t it military issue?”

“Vince’s doesn’t work – shut off.”

“From the electromagnetic pulse?”

“I called Nancy to check in after we reached the Hercules. Now it’s off. Your pocket computer?”

Alex pulled the computer from her back pocket. Flipping open the cover, she pressed a few buttons. Nothing.

“It’s not working. I mean it was an hour ago. It’s not now. But you know it breaks all the time. It doesn’t really mean anything,” Alex said. “Satellite internet?”

“Same thing. Last half hour or so.” Joseph shook his head.

“Zack?” Alex asked through the intercom.

“You better come up,” Zack said.

Alex walked down the hallway to the cockpit.

“Fuck! You smell! God damn, Hargreaves!”

“I’ve been worse,” she said. “What’s going on?”

“MPs are waiting for you. They’re going to arrest you for assaulting the Boy Scout. While you were getting pungent in the mine, the Denver Police went looking for you. When they didn’t find you, they assumed you skipped town. Of course, Gordon wouldn’t tell them your location. Samantha didn’t know. You’re a fugitive from justice, Alex!”

The co-pilot laughed. Alex sneered at him.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “I was just with the Texas Rangers. They could have arrested me.”

“What would you like us to do, Lieutenant Colonel?” the co-pilot asked.

“Do you still have the beach house in the Saint John?” Alex asked.

Zack laughed. Hoping to impress her, he told a twelve-year-old Alex he had a beach house on the island of Saint John.

“You may as well land,” Alex said.

“We gain nothing by avoiding the inevitable,” Zack gave her a Patrick Hargreaves quote.

Alex laughed. She turned back to the passenger compartment when Zack said, “Hey.”

Turning back to him, the co-pilot had taken over flying. Zack flipped his visor up and shut off his mike. He gestured for her to come close to him.

“Back there? Those last bombs? They were designed to kill you, Alex. Texas Rangers believe the captors were collecting on your contract. More money they could bleed from Joiner.”

“Nice to be popular. How did you find out?”

“Your Sergeant passed it along before the MPs shut him down. I think they arrested him.”

“I’ll take Trece and White Boy. They have badges that will make the MPs sweat.”

“You’ll be safe?” Zack asked.

She nodded. Walking back to the passenger compartment, Alex prepared for what was to come.

“Ah fuck no,” Troy said. Peering through the window at the MPs, he said, “There’s only one person they’re coming for.”

Before she could say ‘boo,’ the men had grabbed machine guns and jumped from the landing helicopter. She reached her hand out to Max.

“I can take your place,” Max said. “Who would know?”

“We gain nothing by…”

“Avoiding the inevitable,” Alex, Max and Colin said together.

“Can you stay with Raz, Colin?” she asked. “He’s terrified of this surgery.”

“Of course,” Colin said. “Julie’s mother is throwing another baby shower tonight. I’m happy to miss out on another shower! How much ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ does one guy have to do?”

“You’ll take care of the Homeland thing, Max? Please. For me?”

Smiling, Max nodded. They pressed their foreheads together. She hugged Colin and stepped out of the helicopter.

“Captain Ramirez? Captain Blanco? With me,” she said.

Trece and White Boy moved to either side of her.

“Stand down,” Alex called. “This is a paperwork snafu. I need you to continue our investigation while I get some rest.”

“Yes sir,” the men called.

Between Trece and White Boy, Alex met the Air Force MPs. She smiled when they attempted to handcuff her hands behind her back. Colonel Gordon batted them away.

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Hargreaves,” Colonel Gordon said. “This was the best I can do.”

“No civilians?”

“You’ll stay in the Buckley jail until we get this resolved,” he said.

“I need to get my arm looked at,” she said.

She watched Trece and White Boy flash their black ops security badges. The MPs saluted the men.

“Shit, Lieutenant Colonel, your arm needs surgery. I’ll have the Medics look at it but you’re going to have to go to the VA in town,” Colonel Gordon said.

“I’d prefer to go to Anschutz with Agent Rasmussen?” Alex asked. “Please.”

Colonel Gordon looked away from her for a moment then nodded.

“You still have that fancy insurance?” he asked.

“Yes sir.”

“We’ll send you to Anschutz. A surgical team, including one Dr. Drayson, is set to work on him first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll have your Sergeant place the call. You’ll have to hang out here tonight.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said.

“We need to get her processed, sir,” the MP said.

“There was no way to avoid this,” Colonel Gordon said.

“I’m certain that’s true. Someone is pulling the strings.” Alex looked up into the face of her old friend. Under her breath, she asked, “Who is Geppetto?”

“I asked the same question,” Colonel Gordon said.

“And the King?”

“The Army is my King, Queen, my life,” Colonel Gordon said.

Alex startled. She watched his face harden, and then saw a smile creep across his face until it settled in his eyes.

“Enjoy your rest.” Leaning close to her, he added, “I’ll tell your Sergeant to leak your video to the ED at Anschutz. You’ll get star treatment.”

“Yes sir.” Alex laughed.

Walking between Trece and White Boy, Alex was almost to the MPs car when she heard the Black Hawk’s engine rise. She turned to see the helicopter take off.

“Where are they going?” Alex asked Trece.

“The men have a little business to attend to,” Trece said.

“Do I want to know?” Alex asked.

“About what?” Trece asked. He scooted in beside her in the back of the MPs car. “Did you know this base gives early warning for the entire theater?”

“I always wondered what that meant,” White Boy said.

“I’m not exactly sure, but I think they mean the entire United States,” Trece said. “I wouldn’t mind if one of those hot lady techs came to help me install my theater.”

“What theater… WAIT.”

“I’m glad you asked, Alex. This White Boy and I have purchased a home here in Denver.”

“A house,” White Boy said. “A swanky remodeled house.”

“A swanky house in the old Officer’s Quarters,” Trece said. “It’s called the Gallantry after some dead officer. I’m not quite sure who. We are sharing a SWEET bachelor pad. And…”

Alex shook her head. There was no way to stem the flow of words coming out of Captain Andrew ‘Trece’ Ramirez’s mouth. Never was, never will be.

“Damn Alex, you stink. What the hell?” Trece broke into her silence with a jostle of his shoulders.

“Wood smoke, sweat, panic, dirt, mercury mine, garbage,” she said.

“HEY.” Trece pushed on the MPs seat. “Can you open the windows back here?”

“She won’t escape?” the MP in the passenger seat asked.

“Nah, but at this rate we’ll die of stinkation back here.”

The MPs unrolled the window.

“Like I was saying, we bought a fine home on the old Air Force base.”

“Lowry,” White Boy added.

Alex sighed. The fresh air was wonderful. She rested her head against the seat and fell asleep to the droning noise of Trece’s chatter. She woke when they arrived at the jail. She fell asleep the moment the cell door closed.

FFFFFF

Five hours later
Sunday morning

March 30 – 6:30 A.M. EDT
Over Washington DC

“This is a test to see if you’re qualified for a position on the new Fey Team,” Joseph shouted over the Black Hawk’s engine. “In waves, I want twenty pushups. Everyone except Mac Clenaghan.”

Three at a time, the men pumped out push ups.

“Remove all but your tank tops,” Joseph ordered.

“Sir, no disrespect meant, but what are we doing?” Larry asked.

“We are going to pay a visit to a certain Homeland Security Assistant Director. I’m asking you to play the part of the new Fey Team,” Joseph said.

“And that means?”

“Vince? What does it mean?”

“You’re pumped, glistening but do not smell of body order, sir,” Vince said.

“Matthew?”

“You’re cool, distant and tougher than anyone else,” Matthew said.

“You don’t smile. You don’t speak to anyone other than a team member,” Joseph said. “No matter what, you’re tough and cool.”

“Max,” Zack asked over the intercom. “You’re sure of the address?”

“Yep,” Max said. “Google satellite shows enough room to land on the golf course.”

“How’s Alex doing?”

“She’s asleep,” Max said.

“Get dressed Max,” Joseph said.

Max changed into a pair of digital fatigues and a tank top.

“Where’s our glasses?” Troy asked.

Joseph opened his backpack. He passed out pairs of dark Ray Ban Wayfarer glasses.

“You wore Oakleys before,” Matthew said.

“New team, new glasses,” Joseph said. “Matthew, I want you to stay with the chopper. You don’t need the excitement and he’ll know you’re not one hundred percent.”

“Machine gun?” Troy began passing out Uzi machine guns. “Check that they are loaded, safeties off.”

“How do you know all of this?” Larry asked.

“Alex’s team dropped her off every time we’d get together,” Troy said.

“Me too,” Matthew said.

“Yep,” Vince said. “They dropped in once while I was on ship. Scared the crap out of everyone.”

“For good reason,” Joseph said. “Our image precedes us. This is our first ‘How do you do’ for the new Fey Team. We have to do this well.”

The helicopter descended onto a golf course.

“Your orders: You will not speak. You will not look at anyone. You will not smile. You are silent and deadly,” Joseph said. “You gain access to the building then hold the space for Hargreaves. This twin is your practice. Do. NOT. Fuck this up.”

The helicopter landed.

“Go.”

Throwing open the door to the helicopter, Troy led the wave. At the point of a V formation, Troy moved with practiced ease across the golf course to the home’s back entrance.

“What the fuck?” A man came to the entrance of the house. “You can’t land there. Who the fuck are you?”

While the men stood like silent pillars, Joseph walked from the helicopter.

“We have a confidential message for you, sir,” Joseph said.

Turning, he motioned Max across the golf course.

“Good God, Hargreaves? What the fuck is this about?” the Homeland Security Assistant Director asked. As Max drew near, the man realized he wasn’t Alex. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Max Hargreaves, sir. I’m here on behalf of Alexandra Hargreaves and Arthur J Rasmussen,” Max said. He gave the man two letters. “They are terminating their positions with Homeland Security. The letters have been emailed to the Secretary.”

Max turned in place to walk back to the helicopter. He did not respond to the Assistant Directors calls to him.  The men followed him. Larry was the last man into the chopper. He closed the door before the men started laughing.

“Very well done!” Joseph said. “Jakker, get us home!”

The helicopter began its flight over Washington DC to Bolling Air Force Base when they caught a shuttle home.

FFFFFF

Seven hours later

Sunday mid-day
March 30 – 12:04 P.M. MDT

Anschutz Medical Center

John had no idea why he was called out of Raz’s surgery.

Sure, surgery was going well.

And he wasn’t really needed.

But attending Raz’s back surgery was his way of being involved. In some small way, he was connected with his Alex.

No one would tell him where she was. Last he heard, she’d been arrested for assaulting the cretin Boy Scout. The very idea made his blood boil. Following the nurse into a private recovery room, he had to focus on the floor to keep from screaming: “What the fuck is wrong with people?”

He looked up when a woman cleared her throat.

“Planning our trip some place warm?” Alex asked.

In a breath, she was in his arms. In a moment, he was kissing her. He set her down and stepped back.

“I TOLD you,” Trece said. “You stink Alex.”

John had been so focused on the ground he’d walked right past Trece and White Boy.

“Sorry.” Alex wrinkled her nose.

“What IS that?” John asked.

“Fire smoke, bombs, mercury,” she said.

“And GARBAGE! I told her you were going to spurn her because of the stench. But she wouldn’t listen to me.”

John kissed Alex’s lips. With his mouth in her ear, he whispered that he loved her. He was glad she was safe. She kissed him then whispered how much she missed him in the dark. When they broke off, Trece was still talking.

“I’d think a woman would want to smell good for her husband but that’s how it is. Once you’re stuck with them, they let themselves go. I mean…”

Pulling her to him, he whispered ‘stuck’ in her ear. She giggled then whispered, ‘Twenty-eight days.’ He whispered, ‘Twenty-seven.’ She whispered that she loved him. He flushed, as he always did, with delight and passion. They kissed.

“I’ve got to cover my eyes around you guys,” he said.

“How is Raz?” Alex’s face pinched with worry.

“Really well, actually,” John said. “It’s amazing to everyone, but he’s going to be walking as soon as he’s out of anesthesia.”

“That’s very good news.” Alex sighed with relief.

“You’ve a new cast.” John reviewed the gauze and aluminum contraption encasing her left arm tucked into a blue sling. “Why the surgical cast?”

“I had surgery.”

“You did?!”

“I re-broke my arm in one of the blasts. They said my ulna was ‘scored’ from last fall’s adventures,” she said. “I’d probably have had to get surgery anyway.”

“But no infection?” John asked.

“No sign of infection. Thank God.”

Alex and John shared a look of relief. Alex had antibiotic resistant sepsis last fall. After four months of infection, she kicked the infection using a Chinese treatment her acupuncturist found.

“Shouldn’t you be out?” John asked. He stepped over to read her chart.

“They did locals and a spinal. Anything for a YouTube star.”

“But no shower?” Laughing, John looked up from her chart.

“No time. I’m still on the Joiner case,” Alex said. “I’m hoping for a real cast in a few days.”

“Not until the wound heals.”

“Lifestyle issues.”

John shook his head at the logic needed to keep her health intact.

“The docs told the MPs I needed time to come out of anesthesia. We have an hour or so.”

“Really?” He dropped the chart to hold her again.

“White Boy went out for a snack,” Alex said.

White Boy held up two bags from McDonald’s. John sputtered.

“I’m almost a vascular surgeon! I can’t eat fat laden food here! At the hospital! Where I’m hoping to get a placement! Holy Crap, Alex, what are you thinking?”

Alex smiled her crooked smile. Her smile made him laughed at himself.

“Can you stand her stench?” White Boy asked. “The docs said she can’t get the cast wet.”

John nodded.

“We secured a little patio upstairs. It’s pretty nice. White Boy and I will guard the doors so you guys can have some alone time.”

John’s mouth fell open in surprise. He hadn’t thought he would get time alone with Alex.

“Alone? Really?”

“She’s famous, Mooch,” Trece said.

Shaking her head, Alex furrowed her brow at Trece.

“Sorry, man, bad habit,” Trece said. “I can change. I will change. I’ll be better than I was before. Better…”

“Stronger, Faster,” Alex, John and White Boy joined Trece in his usual saying.

Walking down the hall toward the elevator, they laughed.

“How ‘bout them Texas Rangers?” Trece asked.

“They are impressive,” John said as they stepped onto the elevator

“Those good ole boys get the job done. I told Alex. I said, ‘Alex…”

The elevator doors closed.

F

Learning to Stand is the second novel in the Alex the Fey thriller series
written by Claudia Hall Christian.

The novel is available in paperback at Amazon, our store, your local library and bookstore.
Entire chapters are be published at
StoriesbyClaudia.com and AlextheFey.com.

Join the Alex the Fey Facebook Group

Previous Chapters
Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and TWELVE

Monday evening — 6:45 P.M. MDT

“Ok,” Valerie said. “Let’s go through it one more time.”

She and Delphie stood in a bathroom at DIA. They kept getting interrupted as women wanted to take Valerie’s picture or get an autograph. Valerie laughed and introduced Delphie to them.

“They’re going to put me in the plastic cage,” Delphie said. “They have to because of what happened before. But you’ll be there.”

“I will,” Valerie said.

“Right,” Delphie straightened her back. “I can do this.”

Valerie hugged Delphie tight to her.

“You didn’t have to come all this way,” Delphie said.

“Yes, I did,” Valerie said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help the first time.”

“What did the movie people say? What about Mike?”

“Mike was ready to champion his Delphie!” Valerie laughed. “And the movie people flew us here to help. We’ve all been through this with TSA. Everyone has some awful experience. They wanted me to help if I could. Especially since it’s my fault.”

“Your fault? How?” Delphie asked.

“I forgot to tell you that the fancy Italian bras set off the metal detectors.”

“I mostly never wear one,” Delphie said.

“You have since your stroke,” Valerie said.

“I have,” Delphie smiled. “I wonder why.”

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