Melissa

I, Melissa Baudoin, who, in our school days, loved Julian more than my own life, am now charged with his, and his lovely wife Sarah’s, protection. I stand at JFK airport, just behind the Immigration line. Their plane landed half an hour ago. I don’t expect them to have a huge amount of luggage, as they are here only for a few days.

Gabrielle and Helga will meet with them at our Brooklyn safe house tomorrow. In-between, they are my flock to look after, I am responsible for their protection. Perhaps I should tell you who I am, really. Last time you saw me, I was with Julian on that strange military base, near the German border, where we attended a media circus organised by the Alliance. When Julian noticed Helga there, I did not have the courage to explain to him the reason for Helga’s presence in the middle of the Alliance’s top brass. Now I will, when they meet again tomorrow. 

I report to the Coven, the collective who, ultimately, was responsible for my rebirth, after I got murdered by those thugs, so long ago, after Julian abandoned me. No, please don’t think I have a grudge: he did what young men then did. He went to war. We, the mothers, the sisters, the lovers, stayed behind; that was how it was then. 

My mission is protection

My mission is protection: to ensure our human witnesses are kept safe. Above all, Julian and Sarah. Here in New-York, they will be appraised of the plot that we are trying to unravel and defeat. The step after that is for Julian and me to go to Berlin, so that we can meet with the centre of power that will soon decide our fate on this planet.

I see Julian and his wife. They are such a lovely couple, and despite the inherent frigidity of this body, my heart swells at the view of him, for how I loved him, the virgin boy who was my platonic lover, and yet I never truly possessed him. They smile as they walk toward me. 

I hug Sarah first, and, yes, we kiss, long, on the mouth. Then I hug Julian, and I am aware of a tear running down Sarah’s face.

“Come,” I say, “I have a car, I am driving you to your house.” 

I have arranged for a nice place for them to stay, on Long Island, a hundred miles from here. In the car, I explain the plan, and my role as their protection. Tonight will be a peaceful evening at home. Gabrielle will join us, and I have dinner all sorted out. They will have the evening for themselves, once we have briefed them on the schedule. I will stay in the house, watching over them, discreet, invincible. 

I check the holster

As I sit down at the wheel of the Mercedes, I check the holster down my thigh and the 9mm Heckler & Koch handgun in it. I cannot be too careful. In the car, we chat, Sarah sits next to me, and Julian is in the back. I pull out of the airport traffic quickly and take the main highway to the north. 

Sarah’s talkative, and I share with them my experiences here. Julian is silent, smiling, observing me. Sarah tells me about their last stay in the US, some five years ago in Chicago. They are both keen jazz lovers. I smile, Julian was already that at school. I recall us discussing Miles’ and Juliette Greco’s relationship.

A black van overtakes us briefly flashing its lights, our US Air Force guardian angels. We get to the house, which is some distance from the main road, behind high walls, and close to the shore. As I stop, Julian makes his first statement of the evening, about the sight of tall sailboats in the bay. We laugh. 

the front door is open

As I park the car, I notice the front door is open. I tell Julian and Sarah to stay near the car and walk to the house, the H&K drawn. One of the US officers appears at the door and apologises. We were a bit faster than they expected, they had to scan again the house. He salutes and disappears behind the house, where I expect their van is parked. 

Still holding the gun, I wave to my friends to come in, while I get their suitcase from the car. As I walk back to the house, I see Julian and Sarah hugging in the hall. I smile and say cheekily, “Plenty of time later, let me show you your room.” Soon, we are chatting in the lounge, comfortably sitting on the huge leather armchairs, savouring bourbon on ice. Then Gabrielle arrives and there is a clatter of greetings, hugs and kisses, while I rush to the kitchen and get the cook going. The H&K is quietly back to its holster, fully loaded.

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Picture: Heckler & Koch P30SK, source: Heckler & Koch