He decided he would go. David would get on the next plane. He committed. Cautiously, but firmly. For now, David chose to believe that Tom was being truthful. After all, no one in the CIA ever told a lie. Talking to Brooke helped. After the first five minutes of speaking to her, David instantly liked and trusted her. And she was smart. If he had learned anything from his days at the Naval Academy, it was to follow smart people. It almost never failed. Almost.

David leaned against the hard plastic of the plane window. One thought led to another. If China truly was planning an invasion, then David felt a patriotic obligation to help. If this so-called Red Cell was what help looked like, he would work hard to contribute.

He saw a pen and paper on the table and decided to write his wife a note. He wrote what he thought he could say. Mostly he just wanted to let her know that he was okay. He put in a few details to let her know that it was really him. Then he leaned back into the window and shut his eyes. Sleep was not quick to come. The cold window pressed up against his forehead, and his mind began to drift to thoughts of what a war with China would really be like, and what kind of world his daughters might grow up in.

*****

David awoke to a firm shake of his shoulder. It was the big guy in tactical gear.

“We’re here. Time to go. ”

He looked up, dazed and still sleepy. “Okay. Where is here?”

“Let’s go.” replied Big Guy.

The plane was shut down. David hadn’t intended on sleeping but eventually the fatigue got to him. He had slept through the landing. The note. He grabbed it off the table, got up and walked out the open door of the plane.

An empty twilight sky cast grey and purple hues over a silent runway. There were two identical planes parked next to each other. Other than that, the airport seemed deserted. The faint runway lights were the only man-made illumination.

Tom walked around the nose of the plane and handed David a large black duffel bag. “Here. It’s clothes and toiletries. Not your own, but they should fit. You’ll get your phone and wallet back when you return. Sorry about the inconvenience.”

Suddenly David realized that there were voices coming from the other plane. He ducked under the fuselage to see a similar-looking private jet that had people getting on.

“Who are they?” David asked.

“A few of the other consultants. That’s what we’re calling you guys. Consultants. You’ll meet them on the plane.” said Tom. “We’ve got to go. Like I said, I’ll tell your wife you’re okay, and don’t worry about work. It’ll be there when you get back.”

He grinned, but the wrinkles stopped at his eyes. David didn’t have a good feeling about this.

David handed him the note and said, “Here. Please deliver this to my wife.”