“Yes, yes, we all know that you’re the elusive CIA operative capable of losing anyone,” smirked Jericho.
“I wasn’t CIA,” he growled.“My role was black ops and you know it.You have no idea what I’m capable of and what I can do.Just give me my fucking money.”
Jericho handed him an envelope filled with cash.He didn’t need to count it.He’d find them if it wasn’t the right amount.They thought they could escape him but they couldn’t.Not if they cheated him.
“Just for your information, what you’re doing to these kids is disgusting.I was in it for the money.That’s all.”He looked at Judy, glancing up and down her still lithe body.“I didn’t want anything else.Nothing.”
“Leave, Benjamin.We don’t need you and we’re smarter than you think.We won’t be caught.”
He stood there for a moment just staring at the two of them.There was so much on the tip of his tongue but he chose not to let loose.Instead, he opened the door, then turned back.
“You’d better hurry if you’re going to meet your next victim.Hope you can figure out if he’s real or not.Without me, it’s doubtful.”
Benjamin left the building, never looking back.As he drove away in his car, he thought about turning around and blowing the entire place sky high.Instead, he stared at the cash and nodded to himself.It was enough to carry him for quite a while.
He’d only gone to work for Jericho because of Judy.They’d been in love, out of love, and back in love for almost thirty years.In his line of work it was difficult forming long-term relationships.She was different.She didn’t care where he was, what he was doing or what country he was in.
When they were together, the sex was explosive but so were the arguments.It seemed to never end.But today he noticed something different.She was sitting too close to Jericho, aligning with him, siding with his argument points.He suspected it for a while but today confirmed it.They were lovers as well.
When his phone signaled a messaged, he stared at it then pulled over to the side of the road.He was still on the thread of the dark web site they’d created to find children.Judy had responded to a potentially overwhelmed single father this morning and now he was replying, placing a photo of himself for easy identification when they met.
“Holy fuck,” he muttered staring at the photo.He should turn around and tell them.He could just call and tell them.
He slammed his hand against the steering wheel several times, for the first time in his life, unsure of his next move.He looked up, staring at where he was.It was just another small town in south Louisiana and he was parked directly in front of a small Catholic church.
Slowly he pulled into the parking lot and walked inside.
“What are you doing, asshole,” he whispered to himself.Pulling the huge oak door, he immediately felt the overwhelming calm of the interior of the church.
Quiet pews, stained glass windows depicting the twelves stations of the cross, and a simple, elegant dais and altar where the priest would stand.
He slid into an empty pew about half-way up the aisle and took his seat.Lowering his head, he clasped his hands together and for the first time in years, he prayed.
“I will never be forgiven for this,” he whispered.
“It can’t be that bad,” said a man walking toward him.
He looked familiar but not someone he could place in his life.His hair was a brilliant silver and white, his full beard the same color.His eyes seemed to glow with an amber liquid and there was this sense of peace around him.
“Oh, sorry Father,” he said standing.
“No, no, no, just sit son,” said the man smiling at him.“I’m not the parish priest.I’m just a man who attends services on a regular basis.You seem upset about something.”
“It’s complicated, sir.”
“It always is son.”
“I’ve done some horrible things in my life.Recently, some things that I know I will never be forgiven for.Nor should I be.”
“I see,” he said nodding.“Well, we’re taught that all things can be forgiven.I’d like to believe that’s true.”
“I’m not sure about that, sir.I used to be proud of the work that I did.Proud of the things I was doing, the service I rendered.I lost that somewhere in the last few years.”
“Is there nothing that you can do for redemption?Perhaps make amends in some way?” asked the man.
Benjamin looked up at the man’s face and stared at him, absorbing the words.Then he lowered his head again, clasping his hands in front of him.When he looked up to speak, the man was gone.
“Hello?”He stood, turning left and right, looking behind him.Staring at the massive wooden crucifix above the altar, he swallowed back the emotions raging through his body.
