Chapter 65
65
The next thing I did was call the housing department. I lived in a furnished apartment administered by the base. Soldiers were always coming and going on deployment, so the apartments were only rented month-to-month and could be canceled anytime someone deployed. Married guys tended to buy houses near the base, which their wives and children stayed in while they were gone – but single guys like me typically took advantage of the short-term accommodations.
I let the housing department know I would be leaving in the next couple of days. They told me to remove any furniture I’d bought and throw out everything in the fridge.
After I hung up, I stood in my tiny bachelor’s apartment and looked around. Table, chairs, wall-mounted TV, desk… and a simple bed and bureau in the bedroom. That was it. None of it was mine, so none of it would go with me.
I owned next to nothing except clothes, a laptop computer, and an old motorcycle. I would probably have to sell the bike for cheap if not outright give it away.
It was like my entire life had been one long waiting period for the next stage to start.
And despite the mixed reception I’d gotten from Rachel, I was ready.
There was nothing left for me here.
Onward to better things… and the woman I love.
The news of my departure spread like wildfire through my unit.
Correction – my old unit.
As soon as the guys found out, they badgered me into going out drinking one last time. Truth be told, I didn’t need much convincing.
I was happy to start my new life, but I was still leaving behind people I’d fought beside and counted on for the last two years. Good friends and fellow soldiers. Brothers in arms. I wanted to say goodbye properly.
Which meant a lot of alcohol would be involved.
A dozen of us had dinner at a restaurant, then hit the bars.
There were a lot of questions.
“How the fuck did you do it, man p>
Can’t tell you that. Sorry.
“What’s the job p>
Can’t tell you that, either. Top secret.
They tried to get me smashed so I’d start spilling secrets, but I never let anything slip.
“What about that hot chick in London? You gonna put a ring on that p>
I grinned. I’m thinking about it.
“Seriously – how the fuck did you get out early p>
Can’t tell you.
“You’re bug-fuck crazy, right? That’s what it is – you like smearing yourself in peanut butter and dancing around in women’s underwear under a full moon – right p>
I laughed. Fuck YOU.
“Take us with you, bro p>
Can’t do it.
The one thing I did do was ask one of my buddies to borrow his phone for a minute.
I figured MI6 might be monitoring mine, but I doubted they were keeping dibs on everybody in my squad.
Once I had his phone, I opened the Google app and searched for ‘Alistair Webb p>
Nothing came up.
At least nothing that mentioned MI6 – and there were no pictures that looked remotely like the man I’d met.
Hmm…