Piercing the Darkness by D. A. Bale

Author:D. A. Bale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, suspense, mystery, politics, russia, new york city, hitler, intrigue, washington dc, secret society, marines, us president
Publisher: D. A. Bale

Chapter 25 – Christmas Around the World

Joe walked out of his apartment building and stared off into the starlit sky, pulling the muffs down to protect his ears from the bitter cold. After suffering for over a month, he’d finally broken down and bought a proper Russian hat as a Christmas gift – even if it was only to himself. The fur hat and mittens did wonders to keep out the winter chill. If he could just afford the matching coat, then his ensemble would be complete. Even though he acted the part of a tenured professor, he still got paid the wages of a lowly FBI agent – but at least he was now a grade above a rookie. Special assignments carried some perks anyway.

Sparrow Hills sparkled bright in the crisp air, the Christmas lights draped like icicles in the bare branches, along streets, and in windows. For a country that hadn’t been allowed to publicly celebrate Christmas for generations, they seemed to be making up for lost time. How sad and dreary it must have appeared under communist rule. His present mood better matched the old days.

The lack of sleep and the last few days working in the musty basement had taken a toll. A headache nagged his waking moments like a persistent telemarketer. The investigation needed to retain his primary focus, but Joe hadn’t gotten anywhere with the documents translated back at the apartment. They hadn’t opened a window into the world of Hitler’s possible survival after World War Two. The papers hadn’t even left a scratch on the pane of glass.

Some days he felt like the whole idea of Hitler’s survival was insane. But obviously there was merit in it somewhere. If only he could go back to that last day with Frank in his office, take a risk and question directly about the conspiracy comment. He just hadn’t wanted to appear too eager and blow cover. Sometimes in acting the role of an educator, he forgot to live the role of an agent. But then, if Hitchens hadn’t believed he was onto something, Joe wouldn’t be walking around the streets of Moscow alone at Christmastime.

A walk in the refreshing air had seemed like the best way to cope with an overwrought brain. Couples roamed the walkways near Moskva River, resurrecting the old familiar heartache – he still missed those days growing up with Sam. What would it have been like to have her hand in his, strolling together along the sidewalk at Christmastime in Russia?

When they’d had snow days as kids the whole neighborhood would get together, pulling sleds up and down freshly covered streets and having impromptu snowball fights until their cheeks glowed like Rudolph’s nose. In high school, he and Sam had enjoyed the days off, shoveling their respective driveways, taking frosty walks under the stars, and ending snuggled by the fireplace with hot chocolate. Then stealing a kiss or two when her grandmother wasn’t looking.

Reality forced its way back in as Joe scanned the Russian crowds, surprised to see so many people out and about at such a late hour.

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