my heart, I knew there were children whose parents I might have saved, simply by removing Hakeem’s money from the hands of the terrorists.
If you’re wondering about the money left to you upon my death, it came from Hakeem and his oil funds. He set that money up for you when you were born; the CIA and I prearranged that it be transferred to you when you turned eighteen or upon my death. It was not dirty money.
I am so sorry that everything I’ve left for you has been so secretive, but it’s all for good reason. There is a very important file that you must find Gemini. It contains information that I won’t disclose in this letter, but trust no one. This is very important. Your life may be in danger over this. I’ve gone to great lengths to make it difficult to find, but when you do, I hope you understand everything.
In closing, you will make up your own mind in the end about the choices I made in life. I understand that. But remember one thing: I loved you with everything I had in me, Gemini.
With undying love,
Mom
By the time he finishes reading, I’m weeping. Her life was filled with such profound sadness it’s hard for me to believe I never suspected it. Drex kneels in front of me and hands me a tissue to wipe my tears away.
“Her life was so sad.”
“No, it wasn’t. You filled it with great joy.”
Shaking my head, I say, “Not really. She sacrificed her happiness.”
“Maybe so. But you would do the same. If you found out someone you loved were a terrorist, you wouldn’t want hundreds to die because of that person. She knew that she did the right thing. The sad part is that she was killed before she could tell you face to face. She deserved to have at least that much.”
“It all makes sense now. She always told me I would know when I met the man I loved because love would rule all. She must’ve loved him a great deal.”
My heart is so tangled up over this letter, I can’t decide if I’m relieved he read it. The truth has now been revealed and I’m no longer in the dark about who my father was.
“Do you think he’s still alive?” I ask.
“Who? Your father?”
“Yeah.”
“We can check.”
“And I guess the other thing we’re searching for now is the file she took off his computer that she didn’t give to the CIA.”
Drex is holding my hand, sliding his thumb across the top of it. It’s distracting. “Yeah. I wonder what it is.”
“Just another list.”
“No. That’s not it. It’s something much greater than that.”
Oh, Mom! What the hell did you do? Why didn’t you just take what they told you to get and be done with it? Why did you do all this?
“What are you thinking?”
I roll my head, my muscles screaming at me. “I’m pissed off at my mom.”
“For this letter?”
“Nah. For taking that extra information. If she’d left it alone, she’d probably still be alive.”
“No doubt you’re right.” He stands and grabs my hands. “Come on, let’s get out of here for a little bit.”
We leave the den and Jeff is there , wanting to know if we need anything. Drex asks him if he’d mind going over the papers from the box to see if we missed anything.
“Don’t mind at all.”
“We’re hunting for clues and I’m not saying anything else. I want you to have an open mind on this.” Jeff nods. “We’re going for a walk. We’ll be back in about thirty.”
Drex walks me through the house . We go out the back door and head down a gravel path about thirty yards. I hear water and we reach a patio area with a lit fountain. The stars are out. It’s a nice quiet night.
“My head’s exploding.”
“You need something for pain?”
“No, I need some answers on what my mom hid.”
“Listen, Gemini, there’s always that chance you may never get them.”
That’s a discomforting thought. I can’t stand it. My breath leaves me in a rush. “I’m not prepared for or willing to accept that.”
“We need to straighten out your hair,” he
If you’re wondering about the money left to you upon my death, it came from Hakeem and his oil funds. He set that money up for you when you were born; the CIA and I prearranged that it be transferred to you when you turned eighteen or upon my death. It was not dirty money.
I am so sorry that everything I’ve left for you has been so secretive, but it’s all for good reason. There is a very important file that you must find Gemini. It contains information that I won’t disclose in this letter, but trust no one. This is very important. Your life may be in danger over this. I’ve gone to great lengths to make it difficult to find, but when you do, I hope you understand everything.
In closing, you will make up your own mind in the end about the choices I made in life. I understand that. But remember one thing: I loved you with everything I had in me, Gemini.
With undying love,
Mom
By the time he finishes reading, I’m weeping. Her life was filled with such profound sadness it’s hard for me to believe I never suspected it. Drex kneels in front of me and hands me a tissue to wipe my tears away.
“Her life was so sad.”
“No, it wasn’t. You filled it with great joy.”
Shaking my head, I say, “Not really. She sacrificed her happiness.”
“Maybe so. But you would do the same. If you found out someone you loved were a terrorist, you wouldn’t want hundreds to die because of that person. She knew that she did the right thing. The sad part is that she was killed before she could tell you face to face. She deserved to have at least that much.”
“It all makes sense now. She always told me I would know when I met the man I loved because love would rule all. She must’ve loved him a great deal.”
My heart is so tangled up over this letter, I can’t decide if I’m relieved he read it. The truth has now been revealed and I’m no longer in the dark about who my father was.
“Do you think he’s still alive?” I ask.
“Who? Your father?”
“Yeah.”
“We can check.”
“And I guess the other thing we’re searching for now is the file she took off his computer that she didn’t give to the CIA.”
Drex is holding my hand, sliding his thumb across the top of it. It’s distracting. “Yeah. I wonder what it is.”
“Just another list.”
“No. That’s not it. It’s something much greater than that.”
Oh, Mom! What the hell did you do? Why didn’t you just take what they told you to get and be done with it? Why did you do all this?
“What are you thinking?”
I roll my head, my muscles screaming at me. “I’m pissed off at my mom.”
“For this letter?”
“Nah. For taking that extra information. If she’d left it alone, she’d probably still be alive.”
“No doubt you’re right.” He stands and grabs my hands. “Come on, let’s get out of here for a little bit.”
We leave the den and Jeff is there , wanting to know if we need anything. Drex asks him if he’d mind going over the papers from the box to see if we missed anything.
“Don’t mind at all.”
“We’re hunting for clues and I’m not saying anything else. I want you to have an open mind on this.” Jeff nods. “We’re going for a walk. We’ll be back in about thirty.”
Drex walks me through the house . We go out the back door and head down a gravel path about thirty yards. I hear water and we reach a patio area with a lit fountain. The stars are out. It’s a nice quiet night.
“My head’s exploding.”
“You need something for pain?”
“No, I need some answers on what my mom hid.”
“Listen, Gemini, there’s always that chance you may never get them.”
That’s a discomforting thought. I can’t stand it. My breath leaves me in a rush. “I’m not prepared for or willing to accept that.”
“We need to straighten out your hair,” he
Similar Books
