Single Lady Spy 01 - The End of Me

and walked to the helicopter.
    The pilot started it up.
    I started to sob.
    Servario pointed at me. Coop grabbed one of my hands, dragging me to the cave entrance.
    We stepped into the darkness and all I could think about, was the light behind me.
    We walked for a while before my eyes adjusted. The dark of the tunnel was annoying and never ending. My eyes were sticking from the tears.
    Coop never let go of my hand. He squeezed tight, pulling me through.
    My CI brain switched on about halfway. Our pace slowed and I knew what was happening.
    I never doubted for a second, that each one of us assumed it was a trap of sorts.
    We didn’t trust Servario, not completely.
    We never heard Roxy’s story or James’.
    We took everything Servario had said at face value.
    In the dark, Jack whispered, “Is anyone else seeing that last scene in the movie The Usual Suspects rolling around in their head? You know where Kevin Spacey leaves the police station and his limp slowly leaves.”
    I nodded, “I have that same bad feeling I had on the plane.”
    Coop nodded, “I don’t know what to expect on the other side of this tunnel.”
    Luce laughed bitterly, “I’m waiting for him to shoot it with bombs and collapse it.”
    That was it.
    We all started running.
    I tripped but Coop dragged me up.
    “Light!” Luce shouted back.
    We slowed when we saw it get brighter.
    It was a door.
    When we got closer we could see the light around the edges.
    Coop went to the front. He ran his hands on the metal of the door, making an almost-silent scratching noise against it.
    “No handle.”
    I shrugged, “Knock.”
    He banged lightly.
    Something made a grinding noise, and instantly, dust moved in the beams of light we had around us from the door.
    It pulled back and light filled the dank space.
    My eyes needed a second to adjust, but when they did I didn’t believe what I saw.
    My father.
    “Daddy?” I whispered.
    The man looked much older, grey-haired and more wrinkled than before, but he was my father.
    His face split into a grin, but I could see the panic in his eyes.
    His smile was fake . He wasn’t happy to see me.
    I wanted to cry but the commander didn’t like crying. At least I didn’t think he did, but tears leaked from his old, green eyes.
    He held his arms out for me. I leapt into them. He wrapped and squeezed and I couldn’t breathe but I didn’t care.
    “Mommy!” I caught the word being screamed from beyond my father and I.
    My ears caught it in the distance.
    Dad kissed me on the cheek and pulled me back, “Go see them. They’ve missed you, something fierce.”
    I nodded and felt the collapse of the walls inside of me.
    I broke free of him and ran along the cobblestone. I dropped to my knees and they jumped me.
    I cried as hard as they did.
    “You took too long!” Jules squeaked at me.
    I cried and sniffled, “I’m so sorry. It was more work than I thought.”
    Coop ruffled Mitch’s head, “Hey, kid.”
    Mitch stood up and crossed his arms over his chest, “Hey, Coop.”
    I smiled at the way he tried to be a big boy around Coop. They seemed to hit it off the moment they met, back at the house after James’ funeral. Jules clung to me for a second longer and then pulled my hand, “Come see. There’s a real princess.”
    I smiled and looked back at Luce and Jack. He mouthed, “I knew it. Ise Grand Shrine temple.”
    I nodded and gave him the thumbs up, “I don’t know what that means?” I mouthed back.
    Jack made a face, “What?”
    I laughed and said aloud, “Nothing.”
    I looked back at my dad, “How?” I asked, being cryptic because of the others around us.
    Dad grinned, knowing I meant how had they fooled me all along. He shrugged subtly, “A hell of a lot of work.”
    I nodded, “I bet. So Mom and you both?”
    He laughed, “Your mom more than me.”
    I shook my head, still baffled, “How?”
    Dad laughed again, “A hell of a lot of work!” He linked arms with me as Luce and Jack introduced themselves to Jules. She dragged them up the road. Coop and Mitch walked behind them.
    “You were right about James, Daddy.”
    He nodded, “I know, princess. I tried to make him do the right thing by you and I made a bigger mess. I’m sorry. I should have been honest with you. I liked to imagine my rank had an effect on him. The guy was a wiener.”
    I laughed.
    He gave me a sideways glance, “A dead wiener?”
    I nodded quickly, knowing he would want full details when we were completely