“So, when are you finally bringing him in?”

“Well sir, I guess when luck comes my way, hopefully sooner than later.” She smiled that cute innocent little girl smile, batted her deadly eyelashes with practiced skill, then continued: “I’ve never failed you before, have I?”

“No, you’re one of our best and most effective operatives.  But this can’t be too difficult, right? After all, he’s over 100 years old and has a cane, and now I imagine it’s even easier since the DNI decided to take away his trusty Shadow Men because they felt it wasn’t worth it anymore, apparently.  That’s all the better for us.”

“Yeah, you’d think so.  They did help him at Arlington National Cemetery when he attacked those protestors when that news reporter said the old man was vicious.  But I’ve never been able to meet him in person.  It seems I’m close, and then he’s vanished.  I was able to use my charms to get some information from Sam the bartender, who seemed hypnotized by my legs, or maybe something else, and then I was able to figure out he was in Wichita and that he loved to attend churches and quote bible verses.  But it’s strange —”

“What’s strange? Just get to the point, Veronica!”

“He’s got a friend, or associate, I’m not sure what.  He’s a doctor and part-time writer. Seems to know a lot about Ollie and perhaps, Vice-Versa. I met him at Walter Reed, and I am sure he was looking for his friend, and my gun convinced him to get in my Suburban for an information exchange, but he was not intimidated at all. He’s a little naïve it seems, and clearly doesn’t know what kind of deep shit he’s getting into. I warned him, but to no avail, but I must admit, he’s kinda cute. “

“Cute?  Have you lost your mind and become romantic, losing sight of your mission and our cause?”

She stopped smiling and crinkled her perfectly shaped eyebrows for a moment and looked down for a moment. “What I meant to say he is cute with his naïve soul. I am dedicated to our cause, because it’s an important mission that must not fail.  You can count on me.”

“Ok, for your sake, I hope so Veronica.  Now continue on…”

“It’s difficult to piece together.  I came to the church in Wichita, and I was right, this Carson guy was there in the sanctuary, and I sat by him, and he appeared to almost be expecting me. Then, the pastor started reading several bible verses and a piece by an anonymous parishioner, and it struck me.”

“How so?”

“I’ve thought of the words, and I feel as though after thinking about it a lot, that Ollie was aware that I was there, or going to be there, and he was speaking not just to the standard parishoners, but to me as well, I don’t know.  And I wasn’t sure if Carson was surprised, he wasn’t there too, but he didn’t seem disappointed, but instead, seemed inspired and strengthened.”

“Why are you telling me this?  I don’t have much time, Veronica.”

“I haven’t been able to figure out why the old man has chosen Carson as a friend, or maybe not a friend, perhaps he is an apprentice?  It seems this Carson is learning more and more from the old man, and will be difficult to crack.  On the other hand, I am beginning to think Ollie is using this Carson guy for his own benefit and as a decoy, because after all, how do you think the old man survived for all these years, without protecting himself?”

“Find him, and bring him in.”

                                                  Later…

She decided to go to a bar, but it wasn’t the now-famous beach bar.  She pulled up a chair and said, “I’ll have a Gurness”.  The bartender laughed, “you mean a Guinness?”

Her cheeks reddened, and said, “Yes, that’s it.”

She began drinking the new drink, thinking of Ollie, and his habits, then on her phone, pulled up one of the bible verses this anonymous parishioner offered the Wichita pastor: John 8:12:  I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.  She never was one for bible study, but that verse stuck with her. Then, she remembered the actual statement read by the pastor from this parishioner: Sometimes in life, there are surprises, disguised as temptations, and these surprises can sometimes sit right next to us, but we won’t fear who is near us, because we have the light of life as followers. Then, she finished her Guinness and thought, yeah, that was Ollie and he was speaking to me, or was he speaking to Carson, sitting next to me, or both?  Was he teaching Carson to not fear me?  Or, was he playing with us both?

She took another swig of the Guinness, wiped the foam off her upper lip and the thought came to her again: Why is this brilliant old man so important or dangerous, that I must bring him in at all costs, and to my personal risk?”

A tall man with a cowboy hat sat next to her and said, “Hey honey, let me buy you another Guinness.”

She looked at him, smiled and said, “Thanks, but my husband is a retired navy SEAL and a pastor, but he is a very jealous pastor, and ­—”

The man tipped his hat to her and left.

She thought, Carson is the key to Ollie and he will lead us to the prize. If I fail, which is highly unlikely, I have some friends who are also skilled in the art of feminine persuasion who will contribute to the cause.

© SRCarson Publications, 2025