Page 30 of Unintended Love

As the three walked to the insurance man waiting next to his car, Clint explained, “My men will find and bring your suitcases. Everything else of yours will be loaded onto that U-Haul. I hope you did as I asked and made arrangements for a self-storage unit.”

“Yes.” Theodora never took her eyes off the white-haired insurance representative. “I did everything you asked as soon as you gave me the US cell phone.” She took it from her pocket and held it out to him.

“You keep it,” Clint explained. “It’s a prepaid phone with over one thousand minutes of talk and text. We figured, by the time you used all those, you’d have your own plan. You can just throw that phone away when you’re done with it.” He’d never tell her it was one of many burner phones that the Riggs Corporation owned. Dell, their computer guru, would track it for at least a year after it had used all its minutes.

He held out his hand as they approached the man, who looked to be in his late fifties to early sixties. “Good afternoon. I’m Clint Riggs. You must be Mr. Lamplighter. Thank you for meeting us here at the airport.”

With a smile, the grandfatherly-looking man shook Clint’s hand. “No problem,” he assured, then turned to the two women with his hand out again. “You must be Theodora Castillo. I’m terribly sorry for your loss, but I guarantee you that I will get you your money as soon as I can.” He opened the back door to the car. “I’ve arranged a conference room for us inside. Of course, there’s paperwork that you’ll need to sign, and I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable in the air conditioning.”

While Theodora slid into the back seat, her mother sashayed up to Mr. Lamplighter. “So nice to meet you.” She held his hand so long he looked uncomfortable. “I’m Kimmy Parsons, Theodora’s mother.” When she finally released his hand, she flounced around the car to the other side and waited for him to open the door for her. Standing too close, she reached up and raked her fingers through his nearly white strands. “I simply love your hair.”

With a practiced smile pasted on his lightly wrinkled face, the insurance agent nearly hit her with the door, forcing Kimmy to step back. “My wife really likes this new style. My daughter reshaped it a little this time. She’s a beautician not far from Charlotte. I can give you her number if you would like.” He ran his nails through his hair, readjusting it, before he closed the door and walked to Clint, who was waiting at the front of the vehicle.

“Kimmy is a piece of work,” Clint warned her with his back to the car. “Theodora has been nice in all my dealings with her, but I don’t know her very well.” He handed the man the CRDA. “You said on the phone you’d be able to put one hundred thousand dollars immediately into her account and the remainder after the official US certificate of death is issued.”

“I’ve dealt with women like Kimmy before. They’re always trouble. Hopefully, I can speak honestly with Theodora without her in the room.” Mr. Lamplighter shook his head.

Clint smiled. “I can help with that. I’ll send one of my men to get Kimmy, under the guise that we need her to watch the unloading of Theodora’s household goods. It may be a few minutes, though. We need to get the body into the hearse.”

“That’ll work. I can handle her for as long as you need.” The insurance man turned and got into the car.

As Clint walked back to the plane, several black SUVs pulled up, blocking the view of the tailgate from anyone inside the terminal. He grinned. These men had obviously done this before. The armored vehicles were borrowed from another government contractor who greeted Van with smiles and handshakes. Obviously, the Riggs Corporation had previously loaned them his brother’s services.

“The men are going to stay in one of their safe houses in Pleasanton, about a half-hour drive from Charlotte,” Van announced as soon as Clint joined the small group of drivers. He held up two keys. “And they’ve secured the house next door.”

“There should be plenty of room for your men,” the obvious leader declared. As usual, no names were exchanged.

“Thank you so much for helping us out.” Clint held out his hand, and the other man quickly took it.

“Happy to repay the favor. We have to be going.” He glanced at the hearse where Clint’s men were loading the VA-provided casket. “Sorry for your loss.” With a barely seen hand signal, the drivers headed to a nondescript van that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The next two days flew by with preparations for the funeral. His men were enjoying what could be their last free days before their mission started, although they had been given no details, except a conference room number and which Homeland Security building to report to in three days. Those instructions were not unusual.

The best part of being on US soil once again was that he could video call Ashlin every night. She’d mentioned a Michelin five-star restaurant she’d been wanting to eat at, so he’d immediately called in and made reservations for her birthday, which was less than a week away. Clint glanced at the black velvet box, sitting on the desk at the house he had rented for himself and Van.

The real estate agent made them pay for the small two-bedroom ranch for the entire week, plus a cleaning fee, but Clint didn’t care. It was in Charlotte, where Theodora was temporarily staying with her mother, while the same real estate agent showed her homes. When Theodora narrowed it down to three houses, she’d ask Clint to look at them with her. Thankfully, her mother wasn’t able to go with them.

“So, how are things going for you?” Clint queried when he’d picked her up.

“Everything seems to be moving along well for the funeral. I’ve heard from several of our classmates who will be attending everything, the viewing, the funeral, and the meal following the cemetery burial.” Theodora then rolled her eyes. “I need to find a house right away. Mama is driving me nuts. This afternoon, she’s insisting that we go shopping for appropriate funeral clothing.” She made finger quotes around the last three words. “Which really means I will buy a black dress and she will buy several outfits with my money.”

“First, you know my men who worked with Javier for several years, both for the Riggs Corporation and while we were in the Army, will make an appearance at the viewing and be the pallbearers at the funeral and at the cemetery. I understand the local VFW has chosen to do the twenty-one-gun salute. I had no idea that Javier’s father was such an active member of the organization. They really want to be part of the ceremony. My men insist on folding the flag, and I will present it to you. I am very sorry, but we will not be able to stay for the meal. We’re expected in Washington D.C. tomorrow morning, and we have to get settled into our new quarters.”

“That’s exactly what I mean about everything going smoothly as far as the funeral. The ladies of the church where Javier and I attended as children will handle everything for the meal. I think I’m going to go back to church there. They welcomed me as though we’d never left and were genuinely sorry to hear of the loss of Javier, but that’s a small community for you.” She grinned. “Mama, on the other hand, is not welcome in that church. It seems she used to use the social gatherings as hunting grounds and had affairs with several of the husbands. I guess she didn’t listen to the commandment about adultery or ever read Exodus or Deuteronomy.” At that, she laughed out loud. “I can’t imagine my mother ever reading the Bible.”

Clint, wanting to change the subject, asked, “What are your thoughts on each of these houses?”

Two hours later, Theodora had picked an adorable three-bedroom house in a nice neighborhood. It had recently been remodeled, so it was perfect for immediate move-in, with all new appliances and even included the top-of-the-line washer and dryer, which were not present in the other two homes. In Clint’s opinion, it was perfect for her. A bedroom for her, and one for the baby’s nursery, and the third she’d mentioned changing into an office. She’d decided to buy herself a real desk. The best part was that the house was a foreclosure, so she could close immediately and move in right away.

On the way to drop her off, the real estate agent agreed to stop by the only car dealership in the area. With his help, they quickly found a nearly new SUV with good tires, low mileage, and very good safety ratings that Theodora paid for right then with her bankcard and got another discount. She drove it off the lot with Clint in the shotgun seat, and they both said goodbye to the real estate agent.

Theodora, in the new-to-her SUV, pulled up to the rental house to drop him off. “I’ll see you this evening at the viewing, right?”

“Yes, we’ll all be there, but we won’t stay long. Together, we’re rather intimidating.”

Theodora smiled. “That was one of the things I loved most about Javier. I always felt safe with him.”

Clint gave her a small smile. Javier was one of the most deadly men he’d ever met.