Extraordinary
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Deleted Scene – General Saunders HomeThis scene took place at General Saunders home but was reduced to a few sentences in a another scene. The general’s home was in an upscale neighborhood. Huge homes with palms and perfect tropical landscaping. Several parked cars lined the street and filled the driveway. As Honey approached the house, a florist van pulled away from the curb. She parked the rental car in the space vacated by the van her heart and lungs constricting at the possible reason the van was there. She steeled herself and walked to the door. Instinctively she checked her gig line then remembered she wasn’t in uniform and reached for the door bell. A man, in civilian clothes with a military haircut, opened the door before she could ring the bell. “Good morning ma’am.” He said solemnly. “Come in. the General and Mrs. Saunders are accepting condolences in the family room.” He pointed to the back of the house. Honey walked across a marble entryway to a room where several people congregated. The back walls of the house were floor to ceiling glass and looked out to a pool and the water beyond. Two men wearing Air Force class A uniforms spoke in low tones to a handsome couple who looked like their only child had been taken from them…again. General Saunders glanced over at her then put his hand on the shoulder of one of the men thanking them for coming. The men stepped away and Honey headed to Kelley’s parents as they moved to meet her. “Major Thornton.” He held out a hand and Honey took it. He squeezed and used his other hand to trap hers. “My wife and I can’t thank you enough for getting Kelley back to us.” “Sir, my contribution was. . .” “Was considerable.” Mrs. Saunders said firmly as she joined them. “Major, my husband is going to take you to his office to talk. I want you to know I agree with everything he is going to say. From what David told me about you,” She took a deep breath and gave Honey a regal look. “You are the one who can cut through the bull shit and bring the people who did this to Kelley to justice and closure for us.” Honey was stunned into silence. She nodded. The woman turned and went to greet a couple. The general led Honey to his office and handed her a nylon courier case. “Like Ramsey. All my notes anything I thought came close to having a bearing. Questions.” “Sir, I need to know if there is anything you consider sensitive in here.” “Just about everything.” Flaming fish balls. “Nothing that involves national secrets. Nothing outside your security clearance. Yes, I checked you out.” She said nothing. “I want to introduce you to some people here.” “No sir.” Her interruption caused a hard stare. “If this goes south I don’t want anyone making any connections. For your protection.” She felt her career was pretty much going south no sense taking anyone with her. He studied her a minute and nodded. “If you could get someone you trust to come in and escort me out that door,” she tipped her head in the direction of French doors leading to a patio. “And to my car.” Seemed she was making a habit of skipping out the back. “Wait here. I’ll get someone I trust. ” He opened the door and stopped. “Major, get those fuckers.” Geezus. No pressure or anything. She gripped the case handle tight and was startled when the man who greeted her at the door came in the patio door. “How do you want to do this?” he said. “As casually and quickly as possible.” She replied. “No attempt to hide, yet bring no attention.” She opened the case and put her small purse inside then lengthened the strap and slung it on her shoulder. “Let’s go.” He nodded and held the door open for her. “You related to the general?” she asked as they rounded the side of the house. “Yes. Nephew.” “Do you know what’s going on here?” He stopped and so did she. “No and yes. I know something isn’t right and I think you’re going to fix that.” His eyes narrowed. “And if I can do anything to help. My name’s…” “No. No names. The offer is noted.” She looked around. “I can take it from here.” “Ma’am, it was an honor to meet you. Thank you.” He held out his hand and they shook. Honey hustled to the car putting the case on the floor beside the door and removed her gun from the console putting it under her thigh.
Honey walked from Tampa to Nashville. Sitting only for takeoff and landing, she’d paced the plane treating the accumulation of information like mental puzzle pieces. Frustrated as hell none of them fit together and having no success fitting them together. Working with what she was calling friendly’s required a whole new skill set. One she was learning as she went. All of them, Moore, Ramsey and Saunders were hiding or holding back information. Not to mention what that bastard Bristol was doing. She expected O’Brien would also. She not only had to figure out what they were hiding but why. Or maybe figure out the why and the what would follow. It had all seemed so straight forward in the beginning. Get in. Do the job. Get out. Now it was a huge pile of steaming, stinking, crap. |