I knew it was going to be a Wet Affair when Tony told me to go by the safe house and pick up the passports and weapons. There was going to be some serious blood spilled. Wet work didn't scare me, it excited me. My lack of fear worried me a little. Questions filled my mind "Why did I like the danger so much? What's wrong with me?". My hands would start sweating and my pulse doubled just talking about a mission. Most women would run as fast as they could  from a fire fight. I lived for them. It felt sexy to me. What could be more exciting than hanging out with a bunch of intense military guys. True risk takers; men who looked death in the face and lived to not talk about it.

 

The safe house was in a gated community  with a guard at the front gate who obviously knew I was coming and what I'd be driving. That bothered me. I don't like people knowing in advance my comings and goings. "Terra Moore?" he asked as I pulled up to his window. I just nodded. "They said you'd be in a Porsche. This looks more like a Corvette" "Yea I felt Vetty today" I responded sarcastically. "I.D. please". He asked, unimpressed with my humor. I handed him my Florida Drivers License, leering back at him with the same blank expression he was giving me. "Who ya here to see Terra?" "The Map Maker" I answered, knowing my response to this question was my real pass to getting in, not my drivers license. He handed my license back and calmly said "He's been expecting you Terra. The address has changed. He's at 391 Cole Street. Go three blocks down and turn right on Cole Street. It is the third house on the left". As I drove through the gate alarm bells starting going off in my head. "They've never changed safe house addresses this late in the game. Tony must not trust me. It's a set up. My covers compromised. Stay calm. They're just being extra careful. Stay focused and just work the mission".   

 

The houses were nice. All of them appeared to be over a million dollars with manicured lawns and lots of wrought iron. 391 Cole sat far back from the road down a long driveway that was blocked by another ornate iron security gate.  I turned into the drive and stopped at the key pad. I punched in "629" and waited for the gate to open. Instead a voice came over the speaker "May I help you?" "I'm here to see the Map Maker". The gate opened and I slowly drove down the stone driveway. The house was even more massive than the ones I just passed. I turned up the circle driveway to the front door. As I stepped out of the car I felt the small of my back to make sure my gun was still there, instantly remembering Tony's warning "That nervous habit's going to get you killed!". Men in my business recongnize the unconsious gestures checking for hidden weapons.  As I popped open the trunk of the car to get my briefcase, the massive front door of the house opened and out stepped a well dressed man appearing to be in his fifties. He quickly walked up to me peering inside the trunk as I pulled out my second bag. Another younger man reinforced him standing at the door. "Can I help you carry that Terra" he politely asked. "No I'm fine. Let's go talk to the Map Maker" I said as I moved past him toward the front door. The second man stepped out putting his hand up to stop me. "Ma'am we are going to have to search you and your bags before you go in." "Bull Shit! You're not searching me. I can just turn around and go home." "Easy Easy" the older man said with his smooth southern drawl. "Joe lighten up. Just search her bags. We don't do body searches on ladies" "Boss said we search everyone before they come in with no exceptions" the younger guard responded nervously. "No you guys don't get it. I don't give a rats ass if you frisk me; your not searching my bags. No one is touching these bags but the Map Maker". "We've got to search the bags Terra. It is just too dangerous now days...." Before he could finish I put both  my hands up, slowly shaking my head said "Don't worry about it." I threw the bags back in the trunk and walked towards the front of the car. Opening the door I stood for a moment and said. "Tell the Map Maker I was here but that you wouldn't let me in. Then explain to him why I flew half way across the world for the meeting only to be harassed into leaving by you two. Now open the damn gate and let me out of this place." I got into the car started the engine, revving it up implying I was willing to drive through the gate if needed. The handsome older gentlemen calmly put his hands on the door of the car, leaned in the window and calmly said "Now Terra you know and I know your not leaving without meeting the Map Maker so turn the  engine off and let me go see if we can break protocol just for you."

 He knew I wasn't leaving and called my bluff.  In order to save face I told him I would wait in the car. He put his finger up gesturing to wait one and walked back into the house. I kept the engine running hoping to worry him but he knew all too well how big of a deal it was to get a meeting with the Map Maker.

Dirk Lemmons