Page 47 of Caleb
2008
The Short-Tempered Perv Exterminator
September 4, 2008
TODAY WE LEAVE FOR DEAUVILLE, FRANCE.The Ambassador is attending the annual Deauville Film Festival, and this is the first time Red is going to join him. Her first day of school at the university is next Monday, so she barely made it to the festival this year. She never could in the past.
Deauville is only two and a half hours away by car, so we’re making the drive up there today since the film festival’s inauguration is tomorrow. But Aaron’s in Tel Aviv, so I will continue to be in charge of Red’s security for the weekend without him. But it’s not like it’s just going to be her and me. There are going to be plenty of DSS agents on this trip anyway.
Aaron’s father wandered out of his house again, and when they found him, he had a broken wrist and badly bruised knees. Apparently, he tripped and fell, according to a woman who helped him when it happened. She’s the one who took him to the urgent care clinic, where they were able to contact his family. He’s back home now, but Aaron flew to Israel a few days ago as soon as he found out about this incident. I’m glad he finally took the time to go.
Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve gone with him to show my support. Aaron’s family is basically part of ours, and I know it would do me well to see my parents. But knowing Aaron, I’m sure he would’ve refused to let me join him. He probably feels more at ease knowing I stayed behind to look after Red too. Not that this place isn’t bustling with capable agents who would’ve gladly covered for us.
And talking about agents, a few of them idle in the parking lot and have the black SUVs ready for the trip. I’m waiting for Red to come out, and I’m still unsure about the driving arrangements—who’s going to ride with whom to Deauville. All I know is I’m on whatever vehicle Red is assigned to this morning.
I can’t help but get a little tense whenever we’re around Ambassador Murphy. The air feels thicker, the protocol gets really stuck up and annoying, and Red’s back to being Miss Murphy.
“Morning, Caleb,” Scott, one of the agents, says to me with a grin. I greet him back with a firm handshake. I like him. He’s a year older than me, so we’ve always clicked well. “I’m assigned to Miss Murphy this weekend to cover for Aaron. So, I was thinking I could drive the car to Deauville if you’re okay with it.”
“Sounds good.”
The Residence’s front door slides open a moment later, and Annette is the first to walk out, followed by a few house staff members carrying the luggage. Ambassador Murphy walks out next and glides gracefully down the stairs while checking on his phone.
This man is one good-looking son of a bitch.
His hair is auburn too, but in a darker shade than Red’s. It’s almost chestnut mixed in with a few greys here and there. It makes him look sophisticated.
I don’t blame Annette for falling for him.
Finally, Red steps out of the Residence, and the resemblance to her father is uncanny. But I’ve never seen a photo of her mother, so she might take after her too.
Red’s wearing a white button-up shirt tucked into a classic blue pair of jeans, a black belt, and a silk bandana neck scarf that makes her look effortlessly elegant and French. And older. She’s left behind the girl I met three years ago. And I’ve seen how Paris has rubbed into her fashion sense lately. Not that I know much about such matters. All I know is she’s looking more like the girls I see walking around the city every day.
This Parisian girl style suits her well. Too well.
Annette stands in front of me, making me come out of the trance I was apparently in. “Hello,garçon,” she whispers with a smile, leaning in slightly. She looks happy. But dealing with her relationship with Ambassador Murphy has been rough on her, so it’s nice to see her smiling after all the crying she’s done late at night in my room whenever something awful happens withthe bastard.
The moment she tried to end it, Ambassador Murphy went nuts, or so she told me. He wanted to keep her all to himself while indulging on the side, the motherfucker. It took her more than a few long and excruciating months of breaking up and getting back together to finally break it off for good a couple of months ago. And being the professional she is, she’s managed to separate business and pleasure and keep her job.
The fact that she still gets to work here only tells me that Ambassador Murphy is nowhere near being done with her on a personal level and that she is an indispensable member of his staff. And she probably knows that and uses it in her favor.
“You and Scott will drive the Ambassador and Miss Murphy in the first SUV,” she says, pointing at it. Their luggage is already being stowed in the trunk. “And I’ll ride with the staff on the next one with Agent Lewis and Agent Martínez. The remaining agents are already in Deauville prepping the hotel.”
Red’s standing in the distance near the SUV. She waves at me with a smile, and it almost fucking melts me. I don’t know what’s going on with me today, but her presence alone is stirring up all this weird shit inside me, and I don’t know what to do with it.
I smile discreetly, trying my best not to look like a newly adopted puppy, and nod back. Red and I share a knowing look for a few seconds before she awkwardly turns around and readjusts her purse strap on her shoulder.
We know we can’t be “ourselves” when the entire heavenly court is out and among us. Behaving is necessary because we love being naughty and to call each other by our names, talk to each other like friends would, tease each other, and share personal stories both funny and sad.
Best fucking job in the world.
We’re all moving toward our assigned vehicles when Annette approaches Ambassador Murphy and hands over a folder with documents before he steps into the SUV.
“Thank you, Annette,” he says with his charmingly diplomatic smile. “Are you riding with us this morning?”
“No, Mr. Ambassador,” she replies politely. “I’m in the next car with the rest of the staff.”
“Good morning, Caleb,” Red says behind her father. She’s so goddamn beautiful. A few strands of her red hair are blowing over her face, and I wish I could reach out and tuck them behind her ear, but instead, I smile. Only this time, I’m almost sure I look like an idiot.
