Logan's Salute

Chapter 11

Connor's POV

Connor's thoughts are focused on Kristin and their heated conversation, minutes ago, as Connor jogs his away to his old neighbourhood. Kristin angered him at the mention of her marriage and Matthew's status, thus he needed to leave, before he blew his cover. Connor feels his anger flare up again, just thinking about it. No one is able to make him this angry, and he hated it. 'Why did he have to stay there?' he asks himself. 'Why did she still affect him this way?' Connor grunts with anger. 

Connor's whole body drips from sweat as he reaches his parents house, which is now better known as, Logan's Cabin. The building had the similar concept as Kristin's Cottage, only Logan's Cabin is a little more rustic. Connor, breathless, glances around the empty streets, noticing changes to his old neighbourhood. 

"Mr. Deveroux?" Connor hears a familiar voice and turns to find David approaching him. "Good morning, sir." David said, smiling happily.

"David!" Connor says. "Hey, how are you this morning?" 

"I am well, sir," David says and allows his gaze to flash over Connor. "Out for a run?" Connor was wearing a full length grey jogger and black long sleeved runners t-shirt.

"Yeah," Connor says with a smile. "I like jogging early in the morning. Keep the blood flowing."

"You're not scared of getting lost?" David asks. "I mean, you are not from around here." 

"This is not my first time in South Africa, David," Connor says, glancing at David curiously. 

"Yes," David says. "It is just that this area is not exactly safe." 

David goes silent as Connor notices six men coming out of the shadows and surrounding them. Their intent clear.

"Just leave us, guys," David says, in an attempt to diffuse the situation. The men silently move closer.

 "We don't have to do this, guys," Connor says, addressing the young men surrounding them.

"He's American," one man says.

"That is a nice iPod you have there," a young man says and Connor turns towards the voice. As he does this, one of the men sucker punch him and Connor drops to the floor. 

"Bad idea," Connor whispers as he spits out the blood from his mouth. Another guys steps forward and kicks him in his face. Connor follows the flow of the kick and lands on his back. As the men approach him, Connor sees David being held at knife point, unwillingly watching as they close in on him.

Connor grabs the next foot that aims to kick him and twist the ankle, pulling him down in pain. He gives a scream and drops to the floor. Connor kicks the one near his feet and manoeuvres himself up to fight. One by one he drops them like flies, injuring them bad enough to send a message but breaking nothing. Connor then turns to the one holding David and he flees, leaving his buddies behind. 

"Get out, you stupid idiots!" David says, kicking one guy under his bottom as he waddles away. "WOW! That was amazing." Connor chuckles at his words and feels an stinging pain in his right eye. He touches it and finds his hand filled with blood. "Ooh, that is going to leave a mark." David says and guides Connor to his car. "Let me get you back to Kristin. She is probably worried about you, by now."

"I doubt it," Connor says, as he enters the car. David pulls a face.

"No, Kristin is the sweetest most kind woman I have ever met," David says and pulls away. "Other than my mom, of course. She treats her guests like family." Connor smiles. "I don't ever think I have seen her angry or even say a bad word about anyone." 

"If you say so," Connor says and places pressure on his bleeding eye. David reaches into his glove-compartment.

"Here," David says, passing him a box of tissues. 

"Thanks," Connor says.

Minutes later, they pull up in front of the B&B. Gabriella comes rushing out first. 

"Here he is!" She shouts over her shoulder and runs to the car. "What happened?" She asks David as he exits the car.

"We got jumped," David answers her. "At your place." Gabriella shoots Connor a look and opens her mouth to speak.

"Where the hell were you?" Kristin asks, sounding genuinely concerned. Connor makes eye contact with her and she bites her bottom lip at the sight of his eye. "What happened?" 

"They were jumped!"  Gabriella answers.

"Oh, my goodness!" Kristin says and grabs Connor's arm. " Come inside, so I can take look at your eye." Kristin turns to Gabriella and says, "Gabs, thank David." 

Connor is placed in the kitchen and sat down. Kristin fetches her first aid kit and places it down on the counter beside Connor. 

"Let me see here," she says and removes his hand with the tissues. She pulls her face at the sight of his wound and says, "It doesn't look so bad."

"You are the worst liar in the world," Connor says with a chuckle. Kristin smiles and proceeds to clean his wound.

In silence, Kristin very gently works on his wound, surrounding his nostrils with her fragrance. Connor tries to ignore the old feelings the fragrance arouse deep within him. Slowly, he closed his eyes as she leans in to him. He feels her blouse fabric brush against his lip and he opens his eyes. Her breast inches away from his lips, Connor's gazes into her cleavage. Her scent intoxicates him further, making him swoon. "You smell amazing," Connor says in a thick voice. The words escape his lips, before he could stop it. Kristin freezes and looks down at him with an odd expression. 

"I'm sorry," he says, realizing how inappropriate it was. 

She smiles and slowly moves away from him. "There. It does not need stitches." Kristin packs up the first aid kit.

"Thank you," he says and she smiles at him. "Maybe, we got off to the wrong foot." He eyes her for a response. "I am still very much jetlagged and I can get a bit cranky when I'm tired."

"I was also out of line," Kristin says. "I should not have shouted at you. It was unprofessional."

"I agree." Connor says and Kristin shoots him a look. "I'm kidding." Kristin chuckles. "Let's start over." Connor then stands up and extends his hand to Kristin. "Hi, my name is Connor Deveroux," Connor says with a smile. "But my friends all call me Connor. And you are?" 

"Kristin Stevens," Kristin says smiling back while shaking his hand.

"Please to meet you, Kris," he says and she winced. 

"I don't know why I even bother speaking," Gabriella says and stops at the sight of them holding hands. "Is everything okay here?" she asks.

"What did you call me?" Kristin asks him.

"I called you by your name," Connor says.

"You called me Kris," Kristin says softly.

"Did I?" Connor asks.

"Yes," Kristin says.

"Shouldn't I have?" he asks and notices the look on her face. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No one calls her that," Gabriella says as Kristin slips into a catatonic state. Connor watches Kristin's face and notices her eyes fill with sadness. "No one," Gabriella finishes her thought. Kristin looks away and releases Connor's hand. Connor watches as she walks out of the room, dazed. 

"I'm sorry," Connor says to Gabriella. "I didn't know."

"How could you?" Gabriella asks. "I am going to check on her. Please help yourself to some breakfast." Gabriella also disappears out of the kitchen, leaving Connor alone. 

The back door suddenly flings open and in walks a tall, young man dressed in Connor's old high school clothes and a backpack, followed by one of the young men that attacked him earlier. The one who had asked about Connor's iPod. He too was dressed in the school uniform. The young boy sees Connor and all the blood disappears from his face.

"How do you fall off your bike and hurt your ribs," the tall young boy asks as he makes his way to the freezer, oblivious to Connor and the boy staring at each other. The other boy slowly exits the house again, and stares fearfully at Connor. "Here, for your eye," the boy at the fridge says, passing hoodlum an icepack. The tall boy then sees that the other boy is unresponsive and follows his gaze, finally seeing Connor. 

"Hey," the tall boy says and approaches Connor with an outstretched hand. "My name is Blake. Kristin's son. You ran pass m earlier this morning, in the passage," Connor shoots Blake a look. He had black hair, dark eyes and a olive skin. 'He looked nothing like Matthew' Connor thought, shaking his hand in silence. 

"That's my friend, Bradley," Blake says, gesturing to the other boy. "but we all call him Slang."

"You need better friends, Blake," Connor says, eyeing Bradley curiously.

"Logan," Bradley says, sounding very anxious. The mere call of his old name sends shivers down Connor's spine. "It is getting late." 

"Yes, now there," Blake says and turns back to Connor. "Catch you later, sir." Blake runs out with his friend. Connor follows them out. Bradley nervously looks back each time before taking the corner. 

Connor returns stopping at Kristin's door, before finally reaching his room. He listened at her door, but heard nothing. 

His cell phone rings as he enters his room and he answers it. "Deveroux." 

"Connor," Natasha's voice brings him back to his purpose. "Is everything to your liking?" She asks him. Connor walks to the door and opens it, checking to see if the hall is clear. 

"It's only temporary, right." He says once happy that the area seems secure. He closes the door and locks it. "I miss my view," he says, looking out his the window of the B&B, facing Table mountain. 

"Hopefully your living arrangements will improve sooner rather than later," Natasha says and adds, "I have forwarded the details of the mission to you. Have you received it?" 

Connor checks his emails on his laptop and says, "Yes, but there are no photos attached." 

"Yes, well according to the Pentagon, there seems to be a leak in the department," she says. "So, we are still awaiting that info. But that should not stop you. You and I have worked with less info and still we were successful." Connor was the best agent America has recruited, after South Africa declared him dead in Iran, eighteen years ago. 

"Sure," he says, browsing through the information she forwarded to him. "I will see what I can find. Listen, I will check in a bit later, so that we can set up a time good enough for the both of us. I know it is just after mid-night in New York right now. So, until then, do not contact me until it is absolutely necessary." 

"What? So, no phone s*x?" Natasha jokes with him. 

"Good night, Natasha," he says smirking. 

"G'night, Connor," she says. 

Kristin's POV

"Hey," Gabriella catches up to Kristin in her room. "You okay?"

Kristin felt like she was hit by a truck. Her insides were in pain. So many years have gone by and just one word places her back in that hospital, eighteen years ago. Lost and sad.

"Connor feels very bad," Gabriella says, running her fingers through Kristin's hair. "He obviously was not aware of that... And how could he have been?" 

"It was not so much what he said," Kristin says softly. "it's the way he said it."

"I know. He reminds me of Logan, too," Gabriella says without thinking. Kristin shakes her head.

"I feel like I am going crazy," Kristin says. 

"Really?" Gabriella says. "I thought that ship has sailed for you in the late nineties." Kristin shoots Gabriella a look and they both burst into laughter. "You are not going insane. My dumb brother was a very big part of your life and you lost him, very suddenly. It is normal for someone in your shoes to feel the way you do. It is called grieving." Gabriella places her arms around Kristin and they hug.

"Thank you, Gabs," Kristin says.

"That is what sisters are for, right?" Gabriella says and kisses Kristin's temple.

They stay in a quiet embrace for minutes, until Gabriella's phone rings. 

"Oops," Gabriella says and checks her phone. "Oh! I have to take this."

"Go," Kristin says with the wave of her hand. "I will be fine." Gabriella gives her a thumbs up.

"Hello, Gabby here," Gabriella says as she exits Kristin's room. "No! Don't you freaking...,"

Kristin smiles as she hears Gabriella still arguing outside. 

"Hi," Kristin hears Connor's voice behind her, as she had her back to the door. She slowly turns around to face him. 

"Are you feeling better?" he asks. He was wearing a dark blue pinstriped suit with a crisp white shirt and red tie. His hair, though already in a neat cut, was styled to perfection and he was freshly shaven. Besides the knock on his head, he looked good enough to eat. Kristin swallowed as she took in his appearance. 

"I am doing better, thank you, Mr.," she stops herself. "Connor." He smiles and it feels like the world smiled with him. "I am so sorry about that whole drama, it's just that," Kristin stops to sniff the air. "What are you wearing?" 

"Wearing?" Connor asks, and tugs at his suit.

"No, your cologne," she says and walks towards him to get a better smell. 

"Oh, well," he says. "I forgot to pack my cologne, so I purchased one at the shop here on the corner." 

"Old Spice," Kristin says after breathing in the air one more time. 

"Yes," Connor says with a smile. Kristin slowly moves closer to him, with half opened eyes, just smelling the air.

"I love Old Spice," Kristin says sucking in the air around him, with her eyes closed. "That's gorgeous."

"Thank you," he says and she opens her eyes. She did not realize how close she was until she opened her eyes. Connor was focusing on her mouth as he stared down at her with a smile. 

"What is going on here?" Matthew's voice breaks the moment. Connor pulls a face as he steps away.

"I have a meeting to attend," Connor says and turns on his heel to leave. "Have a good day Kristin. Matthew." Matthew eyes Connor as he walks out the door. 

"What do you want Matthew?" Kristin asks, already knowing the answer to her question. 

"I want us to have a rational discussion about the whole divorce thing," Matthew says and Kristin sighs. 

"There is nothing to discuss," Kristin says and walks out of the room. 

"Kristin, please," Matthew says and Kristin stops at the kitchen door. "I feel like you and I have not explored all the aspects of our marriage yet."

"What aspects?" She asks him. "I don't love you. I never will. End of story." Kristin says and Matthew's disposition is replaced with anger. He grabs her left arm and she yelps at the pain.

"Listen to me, Kristin," he says, half growling at her. "I will never give you the satisfaction of divorce." His hand squeezes her arm tighter. 

"Ouch, Matthew, you are hurting me," Kristin says and he grabs her other arm. Kristin close her eyes in pain. Matthew loves his head down to the side of her head.

"Do I need to put you in your place, hey?" Matthew whispers in her ear. "If I wanted to, I would take you right here and now."

"Let me go!" Kristin says, pushing at his chest. Matthew glares down at her for seconds before releasing her. "Are you crazy? What is wrong with you?" Matthew steps away from her in silence as she rubs her arms. 

"You drive me crazy," Matthew says. "I so much want to make you my wife in every way, but you won't even kiss me. Do I really make you that sick?" Kristin eyes him as she still rubs her paining arms.

"I told you when we married, that it was only in name," Kristin says.

"You also said that you would at least try to make us work," Matthew says. "Blake is all grown up, now. Let us use this time to make us work. Give me a chance, babe." Matthew places his forefinger under her chin and tilts her head up, then gently places his lips on hers. Matthew's kisses were normally brutal and tasteless, but today he was soft and sweet. Kristin accepts his soft kiss and feels him pull her up against his hard frame. Slowly, he pulls away, breathless and very aroused. "Dress up tonight. Be ready by seven. I am taking you out for supper." Matthew spoke in a hoarse voice. 

"What?" Kristin asks and he places another kiss on her lips. 

"Don't be late," Matthew says and leaves. 

Connor's POV

After his conversation with Natasha, Connor called an Uber and arranged to rent a car for his stay in South Africa. Connor wanted to be able to move around Cape Town without the help of a guide. Though he notices that so much has changed from the late nineties to now. Many buildings have been demolished, like that of the cooling towers of Athlone near the N2 highway and then there was new developments on the N1 such as a place called Century City. He was saddened when he saw that his beloved Goodwood Show Grounds was now replaced by a casino. He had fond memories as a child at that place. 

Once he had his car, Connor takes a drive to his old induction base near the N1 highway. He was hoping to find someone who has served with Logan eighteen years ago, to help with his investigation. According the information received from Natasha, he needed to find the old Colonel, but Connor knew that somehow finding this man would be difficult. It has been eighteen years and the man is already retired, thus, he decided to go the base himself and just show up. He sees the soldiers on sentry duty, both move to the gate as he pulls up. The one not approaching him moves his weapon from his back to his front, with his finger on the trigger. Connor waits for the other one to reach him as he eyes the trigger boy. 

"Can I help you, sir?" The young man asks. 

"Hi, yes," Connor says, making full use of his American accent. "I would like to see the Colonel on unofficial business. Is he available?" 

The young boy looks into the base and then back at Connor.

"Who may I say is calling?" The young man says and smiles at him.

"Connor Deveroux," Connor says. "Tell him it has to do with the death of an old friend of mine. John Logan." The young boy nods and walks away, back to his command post. The other boy stood still, eyeing Connor with no expression on his face, while the friendly one called up the front office. Minutes later the young man re-appears and marches back to Connor with a clipboard in his hand. 

"Please do sign in, sir," the young boy says, handing Connor the clipboard. Connor signs in and waits for the other young soldier to open the gate. "That is where you need to go. Ask reception to help you further." The young man points to a building further down the road. Connor nods at them as he drives in slowly, making his way to the office.

Inside the cool building, Connor finds a waiting room and an empty desk, where the receptionist should be sitting. As Connor moves toward the desk, a short woman comes scurrying out of the Colonel's office with a notepad and a pen. On seeing Connor, she smiles brightly and sits down.

"Good day, Mr. Deveroux," She says. "My name is Ellen. The colonel is busy on a call and will let me know when he will see you, so please do have a seat." She gestures to the multiple seats available. "I am sure he won't be long, but can I get you something to drink perhaps?" 

"No, thank you, Ellen." Connor says as he sits down. "I am fine." She smiles at him and then focuses on her computer monitor. Connor looks around and listens to his surroundings, trying to get a feel for the place, without Ellen noticing. He hears the colonel's voice, softly talking on the phone. He smells Ellen's perfume and her breakfast. He also hears a familiar voice in the distance, commanding a bunch of troops to halt. This voice catches his attention and he stands up from his seat. He walks to the window and there he sees Samantha, drilling a platoon of troops. She was older and greyer, but she was still the feisty woman he met years ago, on this very base. Connor smiles as she shouts at one of the troops for making a mistake. After she orders the person to take a lap around the base, Ellen calls Connor's attention back inside. 

"He is ready for you now," she says and Connor thanks her. 

Connor enters the room and close the door behind him. He turns back and sees his drill sergeant-major of years back, siting in the colonel's chair. The man stands up as he enters and gestures to the chair.

"Good day, Mr. Deveroux," the colonel says. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"No worries," Connor says as he sits down.

"I believe you are here to enquire about Logan?" The colonel asks. He was never someone to mince his words, Connor recalls.

"Yes, well, we have reason to believe that John's death was not an accident," Connor says.

"We all know that he died as a result of a suicide bomber, if I recall correctly," the colonel says.

"Correct," Connor says. "I am surprised you remember the details, sir." The colonel takes out a pack of cigarettes from his desk drawer and takes one out, then offers one to Connor. Connor declines.

"I, er," the colonel begins and lights his cigarette. "He was a good soldier, Mr. Deveroux. One of our best." He takes a deep puff of his cigarette and kills it as he exhales. "His legend lives on here and he will never be forgotten." The colonel takes out a can of spray and turns on the ceiling fan. "Hate these stupid laws that we cannot smoke in our own offices." Connor smiles at the old man. The colonel quiets down and leans on his desk, staring at Connor square in the face. "What makes you think their was fowl play?"

"After a lengthy investigation, it has been determined that Osama Bin Laden was not aware of the troops existence in Iran eighteen years ago," Connor says. "We recovered all his files and found nothing."

"It could have been destroyed," the colonel says.

"I thought so too," Connor says. "But, it wasn't even in his interest, to eradicate the Americans at that time. He only fell victim to his irrational insanity years later. So, then all fingers pointed to South Africa. We believe that John must have had an enemy here, that wanted him dead. I am here to find that person and bring him to justice." 

The colonel's phone rings. "Excuse me, Mr. Deveroux," the colonel says and answers the phone. "Ellen, I said no." he goes silent. "Oh, send her in." The colonel drops his receiver. The colonel stands up as door opens and Connor does the same. He makes eye contact with Samantha as she walks into the colonel's office. She nods at Connor and then focuses on the officer in the room. 

"Sir," she says, coming to an attention. The colonel gestures to Connor as he speaks.

"This is Mr. Connor Deveroux," he says and she glances at Connor again. "He is here, from America, enquiring about Logan's death." Samantha's face becomes confused and she takes a step towards the colonel.

"Sir," she says softly, "please do not saddle me up with yank." Connor pulls a face as she speaks. "No offence, sir," she addresses Connor.

"None taken, slick," he says and she continues.

"I told you that I want," she stops talking and both men look at her as her silence was very sudden. She then turns all her focus on Connor. Her expression blank. 

"Finish your thought," the colonel says and she turns back to look at her superior.

"'Nothing, sir," she says and the colonel frowns at her.

"Are you sure?" He asks leaning on his desk. Samantha glances at Connor and nods. "Samantha, here, is one of our best soldiers. She was with Logan when he passed and after the whole Iran situation, she returned to us."

"I just didn't see the reason for me to stay," she whispered under her breath. Connor eyes her and she makes eye contact with him. 

"So, why are you investigating Logan's death?" Connor asks her. She frowns and allows her eyes to flash over him before answering. 

"I won't say investigating," she says, glancing at the colonel. "But, I do believe there was some fowl play and I have a feeling that an old colleague of ours is behind it."

"Don't start that again!" the colonel says sitting back down and reaching for his half smoked cigarette. 

"I know he has a good alibi," Samantha says to her colonel." But I firmly believe he had to be apart of this!" 

"Who are you talking about?" Connor directs the question at the colonel.

"During basic training, I had a run in with one of the other soldiers," Samantha says, side glancing Connor. Connor then remembers the assault case the army made against a fellow troop member eighteen years ago.

"Of course," Connor says adding, "I forgot about him." Both the colonel and Samantha look at Connor and he notices the curious eyes on him. "We know everything. How do you think we recruited him in the first place? We were very much aware of his capabilities." Samantha smiles slightly as the colonel just stares back at Connor in confusion. 

"Anyway," Samantha says. "I have been trying to get this man arrested for the past fifteen years I have been back. but, he apparently has an air tight alibi." 

"He was in jail!" the colonel shouts at her. 

"So?" Samantha says. 

"No, the colonel is right, with this one," Connor says. "If I remember correctly, that man was more focused on you than he was on Logan." Samantha shoots Connor a look. "No, it had to be someone that hated him so much, that having him killed appeared to be their only option."

Samantha and the colonel go silent. Connor starts pacing the room as his brain tries to piece it together.

"Was there no one that got rich suddenly after his death?" Connor asks the colonel. "Maybe flashing cash around." The colonel shakes his head.

"That was a long time ago," the colonel says. "I can't remember." Connor gives a sigh.

"I could check the files of years back," Samantha says. "and see if there was anything that looked suspicious." Connor smiles and grabs her shoulders in excitement.

"That would be amazing," he says happily. "Thanks, Sam." Samantha smiles back at him and nods. "If that is okay with your colonel, of course."

"I have no problems with that," the man says with a smile. "It will keep this woman out of trouble and off my neck." Samantha pulls a face and Connor chuckles.

"Great," Connor says, adding, "then, it is settled." 

The door flings open and a man walks in, unannounced, with Ellen running in after him. The man was red in his face with anger.

"I'm so sorry, sir," Ellen apologizes. "He wouldn't listen to me. Mr. Gabriels, please wait outside." 

At the mention of the man's name, Connor focuses on the man's face. It was Matthew's father. He clearly has not changed. Demanding the presence of whoever he wants, whenever he wants. 

"That is fine, Ellen," the colonel says with a sigh. "We have an appointment." 

"I told you, woman," Mr. Gabriels says to Ellen. "I have an appointment!" He looks at Connor and then at Samantha. Connor's hands become fists, getting the sudden urge to beat the man to a pulp.

"Shall we?" Samantha says, gently tugging at Connor's right arm and guiding him out the door. 

Ellen closes the door as the three of them exit the colonel's office. 

"Okay?" Samantha asks Connor, still holding his clenched fist in her hand. "Logan?" she whispers and he shoots her a confused look. Samantha smiles brightly and pulls him further out of the building. "I know it's you." She whispers, so low only someone with super hearing can make out what she is saying. "Steve called me about a week ago and filled me in." 

"What?" Connor asks. "He didn't say anything to me. I didn't even know I was going to be here."

"He didn't want anyone else to know," she says as they reach his car. "He was scared someone in your organisation was leaking valuable information to the wrong people. He didn't even tell me your name. He said I will know you when I see you." She shrugs with a smile. "You called me slick and I knew." she drops her head as a tear rolls down her cheek. "Logan was the only one who called me that." she begins to sob. 

Connor embraces her and she places her arms around his mid-section. 

"I missed you, Sam," he says softly. "Let's go somewhere. Can you go with me?" he releases her and she nods. "Get in," he says glancing back at the building they exited minutes before.