EMIT (THE EMIT SAGA) Read online

  EMIT

  A novel by: Barbara Cross

  Copyright © 2012 by Barbara Cross

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Library of Congress TXu 1-832-801

  EMIT: a novel/ by Barbara Cross. First e-book edition: Dec 2012

  Summary: After Paige Devon, 17, meets Daniel Haydin, 19; her normal life is thrown into utter chaos when she discovers that he works for a secret U.S. agency. Her home is bugged and she is under constant surveillance by a team of agents. Besides keeping Paige alive, Daniel has a big secret he is hiding from her.

  ISBN-10: 0988478307

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9884783-0-5

  West Cove Press New Jersey United States of America

  The cover photo ©Alix Cross 2012. All Rights Reserved (re-use requires permission).

  Longing, I Want to Tell You, Long Distance Relationship, A Little Bit Different and Mental Crossroads are songs written by ©Alix Cross 2012 and ©Jane McKee 2012. All Rights Reserved (re-use requires permission).

  This is dedicated to my beautiful daughter, Alix, who inspired Paige.

  To my niece, Jane, for helping mold Lily.

  To my mother, Gabriela, for her love and being the best “Gabby.”

  To my sister, Maria, for all her support in everything and telling me to never give up. Thanks for believing in me.

  I love you all.

  Contents:

  Dedication

  Preface

  Epigraph

  1. Central Park

  2. Haven

  3. Meeting

  4. Storm

  5. Block Party

  6. Photograph

  7. Ambush

  8. Surveillance

  9. Assault

  10. Hit & Run

  11. Dream

  12. Boat Ride

  13. Harrow

  14. Secret

  15. Greenport

  16. Return

  17. Concussion

  18. Envelope

  19. London

  Acknowledgement

  LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY

  The fountains mingle with the river,

  And the rivers with the ocean,

  The winds of heaven mix forever

  With a sweet emotion;

  Nothing in the world is single;

  All things by law divine

  In one another's being mingle;--

  Why not I with thine?

  See the mountains kiss high heaven

  And the waves clasp one another

  No sister flower would be forgiven

  If it disdained its brother;

  And sunlight clasps the earth,

  And the moonbeams kiss the sea;

  What are all these kissings worth

  If thou kiss not me?

  - Percy Bysshe Shelley

  PREFACE

  As I stared at his unmoving form, my eyes filled with tears. After all, this was my fault. When I was asked to keep this secret, I never imagined anything like this was even possible. Everything I was involved in was dangerous, yet somehow I felt safe and believed that my family would be unharmed.

  My parents always said if someone told me to keep a secret from them not to listen. So what did I do? I ignored their advice. All the red flags and all the warnings screaming in my head didn’t dissuade me either.

  Because of that decision, I was standing in a hospital staring at my dad who was in a catatonic state. Why didn’t I tell my parents? I thought I was protecting them, but was I just being selfish?

  Entrenched in this bizarre world where everything seemed so impossible, but was actually real, I succumbed to the adventure. All my perceived notions about what I would and wouldn’t do went right out the window.

  1. CENTRAL PARK

  “Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift.” Einstein

  It was the end of June and more than the climate of Manhattan was changing. Residents were leaving the city to go to camps, vacations or their summer places. Throngs of tourists had invaded the city and the hustle and bustle was much more chaotic now.

  I loved spending summers in the city, but this year, I had plans to be in London with my grandparents. However, that all changed when five days before I was coming, Nana broke her leg. It was a rainy day and she tumbled down the slippery outside steps. A next-door neighbor called an ambulance and she was taken to a nearby hospital.

  Dad, an international law attorney, was working on a case at his firm’s London office and rushed to the hospital after Aunt Lucy, his sister, called him.

  A couple of days later, Dad called and said that I’d be staying at Aunt Lucy’s house.

  “Why?” I whined. “I don’t want to go there!”

  “Your visit will be too much for Nana right now.”

  “I could help her and Granddad,” I argued.

  “Sorry Paige, but there’s no discussion here. Nana feels horrible, but she has to rest. You can stay at Aunt Lucy’s house or you can stay home.”

  “Fine. I’ll stay home,” I said angrily and hung up the phone.

  I’d already nixed staying at Aunt Lucy’s when we were in London during my spring break. Aunt Lucy overheard that I might spend the summer in London and asked if I wanted to be her mother’s helper since she needed to hire someone. Watching my two crazy cousins, Liam and David, ages eight and ten, respectively, wasn’t at all appealing. I told her that I wanted to visit Nana, but maybe next year. If I went now, I’d be stuck with the boys and the babysitter in the suburbs an hour from London.

  As I played on the computer, I had an idea, so I ran downstairs.

  “Mom, can I stay at Emma’s? I’ll be really close to help Nana if she needs me.” Emma moved to Nana’s street when we were both four and whenever I visited, we were inseparable.

  “Absolutely not. It’s rude to invite yourself,” she answered.

  “What are you talking about? Her parents have asked me to stay with them for years.”

  “You’re not staying there,” Mom repeated.

  “But why? It makes no sense,” I badgered.

  “I’m uncomfortable about those boys.”

  Emma’s older brothers, Lane and Damian, were nineteen year-old identical twins.

  “What? Why?” I asked totally confused.

  “Nana says they’re wild and they got arrested last month,” Mom said uncomfortably.

  “Come on. It was for jumping into the Chelsea Gardens. It wasn’t anything terrible.”

  She glared at me. “They were drunk and were writing graffiti on the walls. You’re not staying there, so just forget about it,” she ordered.

  “This isn’t fair,” I moaned.

  “You can go to London, but you must stay with Aunt Lucy.”

  “I’ll be bored to death. I want to stay in Chelsea!”

  “You can take the Tube anywhere.”

  “If I can’t stay in Chelsea, I’m not going,” I wailed.

  “That’s your choice, so stop complaining.”

  I skulked to my room frustrated with the outcome and Skyped Emma.

  “I’m not coming,” I blurted out angrily and sighed.

  “Why?” Emma asked sadly.

  “Nana doesn’t want me to stay with her and my only choice is Aunt Lucy’s house.

  “Stay at my house,” Emma begged.

  “I already asked and my mom said no.
” I couldn’t tell her that Mom thought her brothers were complete derelicts. “I’m bummed too. At least, I’ll see you the end of August. I have to go,” I said and rushed off the phone.

  Ever since I was eight months old, we always went abroad the last two weeks in August. While Mom and I visited with my grandparents the first week, Dad worked in the London office and then the second week, we went on a family vacation.

  Last year, it was Paris and the year before it was Rome. My parents never told me where we were going, so it was always a surprise.

  When I went back into the kitchen, the house phone rang and it was Nana.

  “I’m so sorry for being clumsy and ruining your summer.”

  “It was an accident. You just rest and take care of yourself. I’ll see you very soon.”

  

  When I came downstairs Friday morning, Mom was heading out the door.

  “Morning sleepyhead. I need to do some research at the MET. Want to come along?”

  “Yeah, I do, ” I said excitedly. “Let me grab a yogurt and throw some clothes on.”

  Visiting museums was something we enjoyed doing and the Metropolitan Museum of Art was my favorite. I loved to draw and paint and my so-called masterpieces were scattered all around the apartment.

  Mom waited in the living room and got on her computer. “Your father’s sleeping, please be quiet when you go upstairs.”

  “What time did he get in?” I asked.

  “It was after you went to sleep. There was a delay at Heathrow. Then he was in his office till almost four this morning. He’s going to work from home today.”

  When we walked outside, the air was warm and stifling. We lived on West 69th Street and Mom wanted to walk through the park. Seeing no empty cabs, I had to agree. Central Park, as usual, was swarming with people. Joggers, bicyclists, and dog walkers were everywhere.

  I asked Mom about working at Harper’s Bazaar. She was an art director there.

  “I asked yesterday and they hired too many interns this summer. They can’t use you.”

  “Too bad," I said sadly. “It would’ve been fun.”

  “If anything changes, they’ll let me know.”

  “Okay. I’ll ask Dad about his firm.”

  By the time we reached the museum, I was so hot and sticky.

  Mom said, “I have to go to the American Wing. Do you want to meet up later?”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  The sun was shining as we entered the Engelhard Court and as we rode the glass elevator, it felt like we were still outside. We roamed the period rooms and Mom took pictures on her cell

  While I was playing with a touch screen, I lost her. I glanced at my phone and we had been there almost two hours. I really had enough. I went downstairs, sat on the edge of the Frog Fountain and texted Mom that I was hungry.

  She answered that she’d be down in ten minutes and we’d go for lunch.

  I noticed a really cute guy walk by reading a museum guide. He was tall, very tan with light hair and looked like a model. I felt like I’d seen him before, but had no idea where. He went into the American Wing Café and disappeared from view.

  When Mom appeared, I asked, “Can we eat over there?” I hadn’t seen the boy exit and I wanted to get a better look at him. If he was a model, maybe Mom knew who he was since she worked for a fashion magazine.

  Noticing the long lines, she said, “Let’s go and see how long the wait is at the Petrie Café.”

  As we walked away, I turned and saw him exit the café and head in the opposite direction.

  Inside the restaurant, as I ate my pasta, Mom talked about a photo shoot in Central Park.

  “We’re doing it at Belvedere Castle and at the obelisk next week.”

  My gaze drifted out the window to Cleopatra’s Needle, the obelisk directly behind the museum. The tall four-sided stone pillar with the pyramid-like shape on top always made me think of an arrow pointing to heaven. Whenever I had plans with friends to go to the museum, the obelisk was our meeting place. No one could miss it!

  “I have to go to Madison Avenue and pick up your dad’s birthday present. I found a pair of fun cufflinks, but had to order them since they only had the display pair left.”

  Cufflinks were Dad’s obsession and Mom always tried to find something unique. At the store, I saw that there was an elephant on one side and a mouse on the other.

  “What are you going to get him?” Mom asked, as we exited the store.

  “I still have time, but probably a book.” Dad loved history books.

  We began our trek back through the park. The humidity had subsided and there was an intermittent breeze wafting through the air, which made it much more bearable.

  As we approached the Conservatory Water Pond, Mom ran into her friend, Bianca.

  While Mom updated her on Nana’s accident, I sat on a bench and pulled out my sketchpad and book. Looking around, I found myself engrossed with the adults and children casting their model boats. Tiny sails billowed in the breeze as the radio-powered boats zipped around the water. The adults were enjoying themselves as much as the youngsters.

  I heard a scream behind me and turned to see a woman picking up a crying child off the ground. The little girl had a bloody gash on her knee and the woman was comforting her. Directly behind them, I noticed a blonde-haired boy wandering under the trees and realized that it was the same guy from the museum.

  As I watched him, his actions really sparked my curiosity. What was he doing?

  It looked like he was picking up chestnuts, but some looked green, so I wasn’t positive. Whatever they were, he scrutinized each one by holding it up. Those he deemed acceptable were put in a shopping bag that lay on the ground nearby and those that didn’t pass muster, he tossed away. The vision of this gorgeous guy scouring for nuts made me laugh.

  Suddenly, he turned and looked right at me. Flustered, I looked away and pretended to watch a little boy chasing bubbles. Did he hear me? That was impossible! I was so far away. After a few minutes passed, I nonchalantly turned around to see what he was doing. At that moment, he looked my way and our eyes locked. He looked familiar. Who was he?

  Nervously, I grabbed my bag to get my book. I saw my street-vendor bought sunglasses at the bottom and put them on. I instantly felt somehow hidden. Emboldened, I peeked over my shoulder. He had resumed his foraging.

  When he started walking north, I looked over at Mom and she was still absorbed in her conversation, so I got up to follow him. Rationalizing that it was just keeping me entertained while I waited somehow made me feel better.

  As he walked on the grass, I stayed on the parallel pathway. I trailed at a safe distance and felt like a pathetic stalker.

  He looked about my age. He was wearing tan chinos, a white polo shirt, and brown loafers. On his left wrist, he wore a silver watch. His clothes were professionally pressed because of the meticulous seams on his pants. It was obvious that he cared about his appearance and that made me feel extremely sloppy. I had thrown on a pink tank top and a white cotton skirt. Both garments could’ve used the swipe of an iron. My hair was in a high ponytail, but I could only imagine how it looked by now.

  He began picking flowers off a bush and he put them in a small plastic bag. How weird! If I had the courage, I’d walk over and ask what he was doing. What if he didn’t speak English? I’d be standing there like an idiot pointing at a plastic bag.

  Abruptly he stopped, looked at his watch and glanced around like he was expecting someone. He plopped on the grass and reached for his cell. I walked a little further then nonchalantly turned around and returned to a bench facing him. That way, I wouldn’t have to turn around to look. He was lying sideways on the grass, leaning on his elbow, staring at his cell.

  Oblivious to everything around me, I realized that Mom was next to me talking. “Sorry. What did you say?” I asked, glancing up at her.

  “I’m running over to Bianca’s to see their new pug. Do you want to come?” As I th
ought of an excuse, she interjected, “Or I can meet you at home.”

  “Uh. I’ll stay here and wait for you. I’m …really tired,” I stammered.

  “Okay. I’ll be back soon.”

  I continued watching him behind my sunglasses. He was lying on his back and hadn’t moved in a while. He might’ve fallen asleep. Feeling pretty pathetic, I removed my glasses and buried my head in my book. After ten pages, I couldn’t remember what I read, so I slammed the book shut in frustration. Looking up, I was shocked to find him standing in front of me.

  “Oh!” I gasped loudly and dropped the book.

  “I’m so sorry. Did I scare you?” he said. His eyes were an amazing color blue.

  I shook my head and stuttered, “No… no. Not at all.”

  He bent down, picked it up and handed it to me. “Here you go.” I heard an English accent.

  “Thanks.” While reaching for it, our hands touched and I felt a spark.

  “I’ve been gone for a few months and was wondering if there were any good films out?”

  That’s what Dad called movies too. What was the last movie I saw? Nothing was coming to mind. “I’m sorry. I can’t think of anything.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He smiled and ran his fingers through his hair.

  I saw a man walk with a newspaper and quickly added, “You can check today’s paper.”

  “Thanks, I’ll do that. Enjoy the book,” he said as he left.

  I’d definitely seen him before. Maybe he was an actor.

  He sat down on the grass much further away than before.

  I texted my cousin, Lily, and realized how dumb I was. Why hadn’t I used my iPhone to search for movies? He had a phone too, so he could’ve done the same thing. Maybe he just wanted a recommendation instead of picking something blindly. Why didn’t I ask him about his plant collecting? Instead, I just stared at him like a fool.