Free Tess Awakening by Andres Mann Page B

back to the base and see if we can get some time
off from the Army.”

 
    Chapter 11
Naples
    “So, what’s the plan?” Jake asked.
    “I think that we should get time off and
start looking for the bastard in Istanbul where according to his
servant he has a house,” Tess replied while driving the Humvee at
breakneck speed.
    Jake, ever the practical planner, looked at
her quizzically. “And how are we going to go to Turkey from here?
There is a war going on, in case you forgot.
    “I thought that you are the one who is
creative. Since you imagination is temporarily in neutral, let’s
see if we can get military transportation to the American air base
at Incirlik or maybe Izmir in Turkey.”
    Jake shook his head. “You will need orders to
go there. It would be better to go to Italy, either Sigonella in
Sicily or Naples Naval Base. We will still need orders, but it will
be easier because the Turks are a pain. They are likely to heavily
scrutinize any movements from Iraq. They don’t want to get involved
in what we are doing here.”
    Tess swerved the vehicle to avoid hitting a
stray goat. “So, mister spook, do you think you can get us orders
to Italy? I wouldn’t mind having some nice pasta.”
    “I will call my contacts and see if they can
find a reason to send us there.”
    Jake and Tess reached the base, and for the
next two days endured a series of briefings and medical
evaluations.
    Military operations were rapidly reaching a
climax with some units entering Baghdad with little active
resistance. At this point, it was just a matter of time before the
Iraqis finally gave up.
    Jake had to pull all his chits, but was able
to get orders for both him and Tess to go to Naples to purportedly
brief the local CIA operation there on the progress of the war. The
next day, they boarded a transport plane and arrived in Naples in
short order.
    Stepping off the plane, Jake pointed out the
obvious. “Okay, Major, now that we are here, we are on our own. We
can get leave, but we must fund our flights and expenses in
Istanbul. I don’t think my CIA salary will go that far.” Jake
actually did have a significant amount of private money; he just
wasn’t sure it should be used on a wild goose chase.
    Tess responded: “That is not an issue. I have
money.”
    “Nice to know.”
    In fact, Tess did not have a lot of
money. She could rely on dad to help, but she didn’t want him to
get involved in whatever she was planning to do. She had no
intention of worrying him by telling him that she and her partner
were going on a dubious adventure.
    As soon as they disengaged themselves from
the military, they got a cab to downtown Naples. Tess said that she
had already made reservations at the Grand Hotel Vesuvio, a
beautiful place with balcony rooms and sea views. This was one
Tess’s favorite places to stay. Located right on the seafront, the
establishment overlooked the Gulf of Naples, the island of Capri
and Mount Vesuvius.
    Tough as she was, Tess fully enjoyed the
creature comforts that her privileged upbringing afforded. She had
stayed at this establishment often, as a waystation to her aunt’s
vacation place in Capri.
    Jake said that he had a better idea.
    He directed the cab through the dingy,
ancient streets in Naples and stopped by a decrepit iron gate in a
lugubrious lane flanked by tall residential buildings with laundry
lines on both sides.
    Tess was a little dismayed. The entrance from
the street was gloomy and uninviting.
    Jake grabbed her hand and walked up concrete
stairs up to the second floor. He stuffed both of them and their
small bags in an old elevator, then started rummaging through his
pockets. A little sign advised that you have to pay 10 cents to use
the lift - not ideal when you arrive with heavy luggage and without
any 10 cent coins! Now Tess understood why Jake had insisted they
buy a cup of coffee at the airport.
    Miraculously, the coin got the decrepit
elevator working, spilling them into the reception area