Chapter 24

Chapter 24—Arriving at the cottage

5:55 p.m., Tuesday, December 20

Allison did arrive on time—only James got there before she did. He had found the key in the place described by Jerry, and had completed the sweep for bugs.
As Allison drove up, James motioned for her to park beside his car, which was nearly fifty yards from the cottage. She had no notion as to why he would make that request, but she complied. Before she got out of her car, she removed Bernadette’s wig and glasses. “I think I can conduct this meeting best as Allison,” she had concluded.
As she approached, James explained.
“If we keep the vehicles a reasonable distance from the cottage, I will not have to wand them for pick up devices. It will save time and trouble. Hope that’s okay?”
“No problem. You’re in charge of security. Do what you think best.”
Before James allowed Allison to enter the cottage, James had her stop, remove the battery from her cell, and then he scanned her entire body, just as he had done at the first meeting.
“Now you scan me,” he said, holding the wand out for Allison to take.
She then proceeded to pass the wand over his body, head to toe.
“Looks like you’re clean.”
The two old friends smiled at each other, and walked into the cottage.
“Jerry said he had not been up here in some time,” Allison said. “Looks pretty lived-in to me. I had expected it to smell musty. I hate that. It messes with my allergies.”
“It wasn’t bad when I arrived. I did find some cleaning stuff, and tidied up a bit. I’ve got allergies too. And we all know Jerry. He’s a walking sneeze machine. Get him going and he’s useless.”
“What time did you get here?”
“Around one.”
“Damn. You’ve been cleaning up that whole time?”
“Pretty much.”
“God, James, is there anything you don’t do?”
James grinned, a little embarrassed.
Just then a pulsing sounder went off, startling Allison. “What the hell’s that?” She asked.
Jumping to his feet, James moved quickly to the door, picking up the wand on the way. “Jerry’s got this rigged with a driveway alert. I’ll bet that’s Jerry, and probably Steve,” he said, as he exited the cottage and headed out to meet the two arriving members of their group.
Jerry, seeing where Allison and James had parked, pulled his car in beside them.
“What the hell is this all about?” Jerry yelled out to James, as he and Steve started walking toward the cottage.
“Steve,” James called out, “you wait by the car for a few minutes, please.”
Jerry was beginning to remember the drill. As he approached James he slipped his cell out of its holder, popped the back off and removed the battery. “There, I’m clean as a newborn baby.”
Just as before, as Jerry approached the wand, it began to sound a warning tone.
“Hang on, Mr. Bionics,” James said, stopping Jerry a good twenty feet from the cottage. James then carefully passed the wand from each of Jerry’s shoes, on up his legs, and finally along his chest. As he reached Jerry’s head, the machine again went nuts.
“Leave it to you, Jerry, to make my life really difficult,” James complained. “I suppose I should be glad you don’t have one of those electronic penis implants. You know, like the one you’ve been checking out.”
“Go to hell! I don’t need any help with that. If anything, I need a reduction.”
“That’s not what I heard. Those interns have been saying something else. By the way, what’s in that box, Jerry?” James asked, pointing to a box Jerry was carrying in a plastic shopping bag.
“Sandwiches,” Jerry answered. “And some bottled water. Can’t really drink the water up here.”
“Hope you’ve got a raw hamburger in there for Reg,” Steve quipped, taking a few quick steps toward the door, wanting to enter the cottage before Reginald reached it. He had caught a glimpse of Reginald’s car coming up the drive, and he did not want to get caught up trying to make small talk with his nemesis. Steve flashed a smile in James’ direction, and started trotting toward him.
“No special orders,” Jerry said, “not even for Reg.”
“Steve, I’m ready for you, boy,” James said, lifting his wand in Steve’s direction. “Jerry, you’d better get in there, Buddy. Allison is locked and loaded. Flash her your disarming smile, before the rest of us come in.”
Jerry just flashed James the finger, and entered the cottage.
“Hey, James, how ya doin’?” Steve said as he approached. He had already removed the battery from his cell, and was ready for the wand. James checked him out and motioned for him to enter the building. He then focused his attention on Reginald, who had already walked up to where James was standing.
“Evening, Reg. How are you? Have any trouble finding the cottage?”
“I’m doing well, thank you. And Jerry’s directions were clear. Had no problem finding it. I take it everyone’s here?”
“You’re the last one. Don’t forget the cell battery,” James said, as his wand began to tweet as it approached Reginald’s pocket where he kept his Blackberry.
Reginald reached into his jacket pocket, retrieved his phone, and removed the battery. Reginald had not forgotten to remove the battery. He just wanted to test James’ thoroughness, and the effectiveness of the Mossad wand.
Once finished with Reginald, the last two members of the group entered the cottage.