THE LAST ARK

CHAPTER 35: BETRAYAL OF TRUST

King David Hotel, Jerusalem Two Days Before Temple Ceremony

Jenn admires the subtle grace of the King David dining room, which is beautiful, with a touch of classic elegance. Aft er the fl y cam fi asco left Jenn with a sense of thwarted justice, she’s throwing back the wine glass refi lls a little too fast. Unfortunately, she’s a bit too distracted to be good company for her date with Geoff . “So why didn’t we ever reconnect aft er Annapolis?” Geoff keeps trying to pull the conversation back to their aff air that almost cost her a career and absolutely cost her a slice of the admiral’s respect. She smirks, thinking of the irony of her non-relationship with Taylor which actually cost her a career but won the admiral’s respect. “We moved on, I suppose. We were young, maybe overly energized by the entire experience of Annapolis and becoming an offi cer. Annapolis was an honor, a privilege, and we took that honor for granted by fl aunting the fraternization rule.” “Nah, see, I don’t remember it that way.” Geoff grins. “I remember all the sweaty nights of hot, passionate s*x, only to sneak back to our barracks in time for a twenty-mile run.” “During which you passed out from exhaustion, if I recall.” Jenn digs it in. At least she completed the run before she barfed and then passed out herself. “Yeah, girl, you exhausted me all night long. Good times.” Geoff lifts his glass in a toast. Jenn raises her glass. “Good times.” She might as well give into the nostalgia. Still grieving for the admiral, and missing Taylor, maybe Geoff is a much needed distraction. Annapolis was a confusing time, as college can be for any young woman. Perhaps still vulnerable after her mother’s death during her teen years, Jenn had lost herself within the identity of being the admiral’s daughter. She wanted to please him. No, more than that, she wanted to emulate him, to impress him. Only twenty years old, maybe she also needed her femininity reaffirmed. No question, the hedonistic passion with Geoff more than made up for a self image of battle fatigues with no jewelry or makeup. Jenn needed to know that she could be both a sailor and a woman without compromising either. After dinner, and a few more drinks, seduced by the international lounge entertainment, Jenn wonders about the real reason she never reconnected with Geoff. If they were too young to understand their duty then, they are both clearly more mature now. Their career isn’t on the line any longer, and Geoff certainly hasn’t lost his good looks. Unlike Taylor, Geoff made an honorable career serving his country. A patriotism Jenn can admire. But not now, not so soon after losing the admiral and not with lingering feelings for Taylor. Although maybe a new romance would be just what she needs to get over the unattainable ghost she never even dated. Why not date? But first, she needs to grieve, heal, and feel secure in herself before she will be ready for someone else, anyone else. At least, that’s what she tells herself as she indulges her indecision in the local Israeli cabernet. Her emotions and thoughts bounce around like a cat playing with a laser light. Giving into the luxury of flirting with an ex-lover, the fond memories, easy laughter, and wine soon lead to a little dancing where Geoff incessantly nibbles at her ear. The unexpected affection sparks an urge she hasn’t allowed herself to feel in years. “You know, I was thinking, ” coos Geoff. Jenn was thinking of seducing him but plays coy. “Go on.” “What if the former president couldn’t say anything earlier because of the lawyers?” Geoff says. “I wonder who he called, or what he said after they left. We should check out the cloud replay.” T he idea sounds like a total mood killer, but it resonates with her reason for coming to Israel, sparking her imagination. Geoff could be right. The FPOTUS would have waited and then called someone. In a moment of alcohol-induced poor judgment, Jenn nods her agreement. Drunken to the point of senseless giggles, they ride the elevator to her room and power up the bug app. The image is black and quiet, making Jenn realize how late the hour had become. When Jenn attempts to access the cloud account for a replay, she realizes only Taylor knows the login and password. An internal voice of the admiral admonishes her for trying to clear his honor in such a dishonorable fashion. Her conscience awakens. “You know, I just realized that I don’t have credentials for this account,” Jenn says, closing the app. “That’s OK,” Geoff shrugs. “I was just looking for an excuse to get you alone.” Without another word, he pulls her tight for a passionate kiss that she yields to instantly, hungry for someone’s touch, and remembering what it was like when they were together. Her hands fold up around his muscular shoulders. His hands quickly find her firm butt. Then reluctantly, slowly, painfully, her sense of judgment returns. Jenn’s not ready. Geoff is moving too fast. “Wait, wait, what are we doing?” Jenn objects, pushing him back. “I’m not, I’m not ready for this, or for you, or anyone right now. I’m sorry, really, but you caught me off guard. And I’ve drunk too much.” She nuzzles him away. “Agent Rhodes, I’ve had a wonderful evening, but I have a flight in the morning, and this sailor needs to turn in for some shut-eye.” Geoff grabs her wrist. “Ah, come on, you know you want this; I could feel it in your kiss.” He pulls her back forcefully. “We’ve both been craving it since Annapolis and thinking about it all night.” He kisses her again. Jenn pushes him away more forcefully. “Geoff, no, I’m sorry if I led you on, but I said no. Now let me go.” “Come on; you were into it a minute ago.” He twists her wrists, burning the skin. “Well, I’m not into it now,” she grunts, and then stomps on his foot with her heel while pushing back. Geoff retaliates with a slap across her face, which triggers an immediate instinct to kick his crotch, then Jenn slams his forehead onto the nearby desk. Stepping back, panting, trembling, intoxicated, terrified that he’ll fly into a rage, she grabs the Taser from her purse. “Get out now,” Jenn demands, “or I swear to God I’ll Tase your nuts and call the police.” Geoff’s bruised ego, forehead, and crotch should remind him she was always his better in the martial arts. Although after last year’s spinal injury, that may no longer be true in a genuine conflict. Geoff turns to huff out of the room, slamming the door behind him. After the door closes, Jenn sits on the bed, pulling her hands to her face, sobbing in heaving waves, terribly shaken from the unexpected betrayal of trust. Ashamed of herself for using the spy bug, she regrets getting Geoff involved in her unresolved grief. For a moment, Jenn really wanted to give into the desires, but her attraction to Geoff never went much deeper than his impressive looks and family heritage. Over time, she saw what the admiral could see from the very beginning: an overly ambitious cadet trying to curry favor in the wrong way until it backfired on his reputation. Now he’s worse. It took her years to understand how the admiral wanted his daughter to wait for a man who would do the right thing, regardless of the personal cost—a man like the admiral, or a man like Taylor. This entire trip was a mistake, an error in judgment. Jack will fly her home in the morning, which is just as well. She needs to focus on her career and allow herself to grieve the loss of a great man. Still traumatized and trembling, Jenn enters the bathroom to grab a tissue without bothering with the light. When her eyes lift to the mirror, a dark shadow in the shower closes quickly to slap a hot palm over her mouth and jab the prick of a needle in the back of her neck. Then the dark room quickly fades into nothing at all.