This work is fictitious, and any similarities to any persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental. Mention is made of persons in public life only for the purposes of realism, and for that reason alone. Certain licence is taken in respect of medical procedures, terms and conditions, and the author does not claim to be the fount of all knowledge.
The author accepts the right of the individual to hold his/her (or whatever) own political, religious and social views, and there is no intention to deliberately offend anyone. If you wish to take offence, that is your problem.
This is only a story, and it contains adult material, which includes sex and intimate descriptive details pertaining to genitalia. If this is likely to offend, then don't read it.
Unfortunately no politicians or lawyers were injured or killed in the writing of this story, and no one else was either.
If you enjoyed it, then please Email me and tell me. If you hated it, Email me and lie.
I will always welcome contact.
AUTHOR'S HEALTH WARNING
Dear Reader,
Life can be a crock sometimes, so if it all right with you, I actually prefer happy endings. So, if you want the hero(ine) to have a really miserable time, READ SOMETHING ELSE.
But if you want to see good prevail, and end up with a soppy smile, then I have achieved what I set out to do.
Please enjoy.
Tanya
tanya_jaya@yahoo.co.uk
The legal stuff.

This work is the property of the author, and the author retains full copyright, in relation to printed material, whether on paper or electronically. Any adaptation of the whole or part of the material for broadcast by radio, TV, or for stage plays or film, is the right of the author unless negotiated through legal contract. Permission is granted for it to be copied and read by individuals, and for no other purpose. Any commercial use by anyone other than the author is strictly prohibited, and may only be posted to free sites with the express permission of the author.

Monique

by Tayna J

Part 19.

I was up at 06:00, and going out for my run, when the General came to collect his newspaper from the front step.

“Jeesus. Monique, you are an early bird,” he said.

“Bonjour Howard, ca va?”

“I’m fine. How far are you going?”

“Four miles, or as near as I can get,” I replied.

“Good for you, do you do this every morning?”

“When ever I can,” I said, and took off.

The American block system was good for me, as I simply ran in a square, with a mile on each side. I returned to the house, to find that still only the General and myself were up. I grabbed a quick shower, and came down dressed in a skirt and blouse.

“Coffee?”

“Thank you.”

He poured me a coffee, and told me where all the fruit juice, cereal and bread could be found.

“I watched you do the push-ups outside. Was that a hundred I saw you do?”

“Yes,” I said, feeling embarrassed.

“Unusual for a student,” he observed.

“Perhaps, but I like to look after myself,” I said.

He reached over and felt my biceps.

“You are in good shape.”

“Thanks.”

He looked at me for a while, a curious smile played across his lips.

“Who are you, really?” he said, very quietly, and my blood ran cold.

“Your French is perfect, but so is your English. The accent slips every now and again, but not so most people would notice.”

I said nothing, I just looked at him.

“Do you know my security clearance?” he asked.

I nodded.

“What is it?”

I told him.

He nodded again.

“Only two organisations know that, the NSA and the CIA.”

I said nothing.

“Look kid, I am in the business, heck, I probably authorised your vetting procedure,” he said.

“Do you know Colonel Harry McLean?” I asked, with the French accent still.

“Ah,” he said, and smiled. “The milk is in the refrigerator.”

I poured myself some milk on my cereal, and he watched me like a hawk. I was strangely calm, and didn’t shake at all. I sat down and started eating, and he laughed.

“Okay, I do not seek to compromise you. All I need to know, is my family in danger?”

I stared at him. My mind was racing. How much should I tell him? Then I made a decision.

“No. Absolutely not! This is purely social, and has no bearing on my task. I am embarrassed to have given myself away so easily.” I lost the accent now.

“Don’t be. It has been my job for too many years. You are just too damn perfect to be a student. You have a level of confidence and self esteem that I only ever see in specialist service officers. It is hard to dumb down, even harder to look like a sloppy civilian.”

I smiled.

“Army?”

I shook my head.

“Air Force?”

I nodded.

“Officer?”

I nodded again.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Are you French?”

“Yes, and no.”

He laughed.

“Come on, I ain’t a threat.”

“My mother was French, my father English. I am whatever I want to be, or what they want me to be.”

He nodded.

“Promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Keep Stacey clear.”

“I will, as there is no reason to involve her. We just live in the same house, and we have become real friends,” I said

“Thanks. It’s funny, you see movies, but you never really believe it can happen in your own back yard.”

I munched in silence.

“How long have you been with the company?”

“A few months. This is my second operation, and I will get busted now for being made.”

“Don’t be silly. You need not fear me. I helped appoint Harry McLean, for Pete’s sake.”

“I have still failed the first rule,” I said, feeling awful, I almost started to cry, and he sensed it.

“Hey, you are dealing with a pro. I only noticed because your English was too grammatically correct, even for an American. I take it you were educated in England?”

I nodded.

“Your French is perfect, if you stayed with just the French, I would never have found out.”

“You have no idea how difficult it is to speak your own language with an accent,” I said, with a smile.

“How the hell did we manage to recruit you?”

“It is a long story.”

“It is seven am on a Saturday, my family will not get up for about two hours.”

So, I told him an edited version of events, leading to my current situation. I knew I was breaking every rule in the book, but I needed to talk. I neglected to inform him of my gender difficulties, and the identity of my father. I knew he would be able to check if he wanted to. I was careful not to name names, and hoped that this wasn’t a test.

“I appreciate your honesty and openness. I have no intention to look into anything you have told me. I was aware of the operation, but only because I lost two men from my direct command. As I said, you never really believe it can happen in your back yard.”

Marianne appeared in her dressing gown.

“Hi Monique, you are another morning person?”

“So it seems,” I said, slipping back to the accent. Howard smiled.

“Monique was just telling me how she came to be here,” he said, teasing me.

Marianne poured herself a coffee and went to get dressed.

“That’s nice, dear,” she said, as she went up the stairs, still half asleep and not listening at all.

“I’m going for a shower. It has been very educational, Monique. Bon chance,” Howard said.

“Merci,” I said, and finished my breakfast.

Marianne came back down, looking more awake this time. She and I chatted about all kinds of things, and we got onto the subject of cooking. She wanted to cook something French, just for the novelty, and asked me for a recipe.

I thought about a dish my mother used to make, and remembered her Lamb Cutlets Périnette. So I told Marianne about them.

“Lamb? We don’t get lamb very often in the States,” she said.

I described how the dish was prepared, and she said that it sounded very nice, and quite easy. She asked me to write down the ingredients, and recipe, which I did.

“How about a dessert?”

“Profiteroles au Chocolat?” I suggested.

Before I knew it, she and I were off in the car. The huge store was not far away, and I was amazed at the sheer volume of goods available.

We spent a crazy half hour, trying to find everything for our French meal. She bought cheeses and French bread, and asked me which wines would be best.

We returned to find Stacey up and annoyed at being left behind, and a very moody John. Feeling guilty, I went and apologised for embarrassing him.

He smiled and looked sheepish.

“I only got mad because you almost fulfilled a fantasy, and I knew you were teasing me.”

“I am sorry, but you did ask for it,” I said.

“Yeah, but I enjoyed the kiss,” he said.

“Well remember it, because you are not going to get another for a while,” I said.

Howard went off to play golf, and after a light lunch, I organised the evening’s menu.

I divided the meat into cutlets, trimmed and rolled them in seasoned flour. Then Stacey chopped up the ham with the crumbs, and brushed the cutlets with egg, and rolled them in the crumb/ham mix. Marianne prepared the garnish, of peppers, tomatoes and leeks, and sliced the potatoes to make the sauté potatoes. Then I made the choux pastry, and whipped the cream for the filling. I made a chocolate sauce, and worked out when everything needed to go on.

The meal was a great success, which was lucky, as I think it was one of the few meals that I could remember my mother preparing.

Nothing was left over, and Howard toasted me with his wine glass.

“To our friend Monique, a truly gifted individual,” he said.

I was up at 06:00 on the Sunday morning, to find Howard in a tracksuit waiting for me.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Not at all, I will be glad of the company,” I said.

I set off at my usual pace, and slowed slightly for him to keep up.

“Sorry honey, I am getting old.”

I just smiled.

I expected him to be chatty, but I think he was just having enough to do with the breathing.

We returned and he was breathing quite hard. I was hardly puffing at all. I started on my push-ups on the lawn. He matched me, right up to one hundred, so to spite him I kept going, and he dropped out at one twenty. I stopped at one twenty five.

“Show off,” he said, and I laughed.

“I played golf with a good friend yesterday,” he said, at last.

“Oh yes?”

“Harry sends his regards.”

I just looked at him.

“Don’t worry. I said my daughter had come home with a delightful French girl from University, and told him all about you. He asked me some leading questions, and eventually he told me who you were. So, you do not have to worry about me any more. I am in the loop.”

“I wasn’t worrying about you,” I said as I stretched. “I was just wondering how I was going to kill you.”

He laughed, but without humour.

“What kind of life is this for a beautiful girl like you?”

“An exciting and interesting life, where I can actually make a difference,” I said.

He nodded again.

“When you get bored by doing what you do, come work for me. I could do with someone like you as my number two.”

“Do I get a sexy uniform?”

“Would you like one?”

“Of course.”

“Then any uniform you like.”

I laughed.

“I will hold you to that,” I said, and went in for a shower, leaving him laughing on the porch.

We went to church that day, the first time I had been to church for a very long time. I found it a curious experience, as I had never really thought about the spiritual side of life.

I found myself actually praying little prayer of thanks, just in case God did exist, and He had anything to do with my present condition. For I had never been happier in my life.

The rest of the day was spent with a lovely family, and watching Stacey wash more clothes than even I owned. When we returned to the university, I felt privileged to have been permitted to share the time with them. Howard kissed me on the cheek as if I were a dear relative, and Marianne gave me a hug, and told me that I was always welcome. I gave John a big kiss, just for the hell of it. I knew I would be back.

since 08/26/04