Chapter One

"Run back in as she shut the door falling to the ground holding her baby Kathy as the gunman stood outside firing at them."

Julia laid Kathy down on the sofa as she lifted the wooden plank exposing her AK47 being the dangerous and robust person she is. Julia opened fire using the wall as cover below the window, killing the three gunmen as the car sped off.

Looking down at her hand it was covered in blood.

She feels no pain, who's blood is this?

Looking over at the sofa their she lies motionless.

This is beautiful Julia. You got to come to see this. "I will be right over Robert."

Robert is sitting in the lounge by the table smoking a cigar, reading a newspaper. He is wearing brown pants with a brown coat and a blue shirt.

Robert was six foot, he had straight hair and looked like an ordinary family man. His wife Julia was five foot seven and had long brown curly hair and was light in complexion was brown eyes always wore a fitted skirt.

They lived in one of the biggest houses in the neighborhood. Robert was a businessman, and he was well known amongst politicians. The work he did made him spend little time with his family.

Robert would go away for days and return. Julia knew before she married him how much he traveled on business and knew she would barely see him.

Julia was a former Central intelligence agent. After spending years on the force, she had to resign for the sake of Kathy.

Kathy was born in mid-summer when Julia was twenty-nine, and Robert was thirty-three years old.

After Kathy was born, Robert spent more hours working than he was at home, putting a lot of strain on Julia to raise Kathy alone.

Having such a big house made Julia feel alone most of the time. Being a retired Central intelligence agent made Julia constantly aware of her surroundings.

Even though Robert was forced to higher extra security to watch over her.

Her recent mission before retiring made her a primary target after going to Afghanistan and bringing back a few people who were implicated in murdering Americans.

One day when walking out of the house with Kathy in a carrycot, she saw an SUV driving by, and they pulled out machine guns. Luckily, she ran inside and locked the door before they could fire. She ran to the window, firing back at the SUV, hitting the three gunmen as the vehicle took off.

Her daughter's safety is all that matters.

Knowing her daughter's life was at risk, Julia had to get more burglar bars around her house.

Robert started working more from home. He had his office set up and soundproof. Robert had a close friend Charles, Charles was working with Robert in the company.

Charles being thirty-two years old, no wife or kids made Charles always want to be around. Robert wanted to accompany him wherever he went.

"Julia had her suspicions on Charles since he attempted to kiss her when Robert went overseas on a business trip."

One evening when Charles came over unannounced and was so drunk, he said he loved her, and he always had feelings for her. If it were not for Robert, he would Marry her, and he would spend his life treating her like the Queen she is. Julia tried to keep him calm by listening to him attentively and telling him to focus on him and do what made him happy.

Julia was adamant she was not condoling this behavior of his, and she threatened to call the police on him if he continued.

Julia let him sleep over on the couch, not wanting him to get into an accident while being overly intoxicated with alcohol.

That evening she let Kathy sleep in her room and locked her room door. She felt safe being around her mother and her mother felt at ease knowing her daughter was safe.

From what she witnessed in Syria and Iraq, she would never let her daughter go near that place, the culture, their beliefs, and how strict they were towards their wives. Robert returned, she told Robert what had happened, he confronted Charles, Charles apologized, and everyone went on with their lives as this incident never happened, except Julia.

Julia knew from day one that something was off about Charles as he wanted the life Robert was living.

Julia walked over to Robert while reading his newspaper, "yes, what is it that you wanted to show me?"

Robert points to a vacation house two hundred kilometers from where they stay.

"This looks beautiful, says Julia,"

Julia looks at Kathy playing with her dolls; she will be happy to get out a bit. "This indoors is driving us crazy. "

"Great, let me make calls and arrange the bookings says Robert walking to his office."

"Kathy, your breakfast is ready, honey."

"As her mom always instructs her to wash her hands before eating."

"The doorbell rings as Julia peaks out of the window."

Charles is wearing his long leather Jacket with black Jean and a blue T-shirt. Hi, Mrs. Hamilton. Is Robert here? "Yes, he is. She says he is in his office you can go through."

Charles was a sociable narcissistic sense of humor that would charm most people. Julia, however, saw him as a hypocrite. Since the evening of him trying to move on his best friend's wife.

"Never judge a book by its cover, her Mom always said"

Charles, can I offer you some Tea?

"Yes, please, MRS Hamilton"; Julia now leaves Kathy's food on the table as she goes boils the Kettle.

Charles walks up to Kathy, "Hey, little one, what are you doing?"

"I am having a tea party says, Kathy."

Playing on the floor in the lounge playing with her dolls, and having tiny cups on a small wooden table, she now looks at Charles.

"Sir, this is your cup. Careful now, do not burn."

"Charles laughs"

"I will be extra careful not to burn, he says."

Pretending to hold the cup with two hands, he then hands the cup back to her. This was delicious Tea I must come to join for another cup, he says

"Yes, you must, Kathy grins."

Robert exits his office as he walks over to Charles and shakes his hand Just the man I am looking for.

Julia now looks at Charles in the eyes as she hands him the tea, a tense moment of awkwardness as they both think of what happened that evening.