The Shadow Mission an Eric the red and Mazie Jennings short story

Prologue

Ukraine, Kiev

Twelve Years ago

Avery Jennings looked out the window of the office on the sixth floor of the United States Embassy as the Covert station head. He oversaw their intelligence operations activities here. He loved the city and the atmosphere itself here. There was nothing like walking down old, worn, gray cobblestone sidewalks; covered with snow while passing by some trees and benches. His training through decades of his fieldwork; had taught him not to miss anything. Question everything. His moniker was the Shadow because one never knew he was behind or remained invisible.

He pivoted, walking back to his desk as his glance slept over the photograph of his daughter Maize. She moved here after he got assigned to the United States Embassy. Sitting down in his chair behind his desk, he opened the fourth drawer on his desk as his encrypted burner vibrated, and snatched it up before he clicked the accept button on it.

"Avery",    he answered in a low, soft tone.

"Avery, we need to meet. I have someone who you should meet," Alexsandr told him over the phone.

"Where should we meet? At our dead drop site? Avery asked.

"At my mansion, why don't you bring Maizie with you? She'll love looking out over my balcony at the  beautiful winter scene here," Alexander  stated in his native Ukraine accent

Avery ended the conversation as he placed it on his desk. They had never met at his mansion before, always at their dead drop site, he wondered why the change of location was right away. Whatever it was, it had to be vital. Plus, it thrilled to bring her along. He knew she loved going to Alexsandr's mansion and standing outside on his balcony. She often told him she just loved the view from there. He rose from where he was sitting, made his way over to his safe on the wall that was behind the painting, and removed it. 

 Placed it on his desk. He entered the passcode as the door clicked open, snatched some spare mags just in case he needed it and slid a fresh mag into a silenced tip Glock 21. He slipped it into his hip holster, closed the door on the safe and picked up the painting. He hung the painting back over the safe as he headed out of his office, walked over to the elevator and rode down to the main floor. He strode out and made his way out the automatic revolving doors of the United States embassy, where a marine stood alert and on guard outside.

Walking over to his White Toyota Camry grabbed the door handle and opened it as he slid into the driver-side, closing the door as he sped out of the embassy parking lot, and threaded through the congested traffic. He passed by 18-century baroque buildings. He glanced sideways into his rearview mirror to see if he was tailed by the FBI surveillance team. Knowing the phones were bugged in the embassy, Avery knew it was best to use their burners if they needed to meet about something classified.

A few minutes later, he arrived at his house, parked in the driveway as he waited for her to come out. The front door swung open. Maize sprinted down the sidewalk in her jean jacket wearing cap and made her way over to the driveway. She grabbed the door handle as she climbed, closing the door behind her. She glanced over at her father in the driver-seat and smiled at him. 

"Are we going to see Alexsander dad? I haven't been there a long time," Mazie asked.

Yes, we are, he knows that you love looking at the view from his balcony," Avery told her.

As they drove through the snow-covered streets of the city on their way to Alexander mansion, Avery glanced over at her and hoped one day that she would follow his footsteps wherever the path took her. He was sure whatever it was she would be great at, there was no doubt about that in his mind.  As they drove down the hilly streets, they pulled up to the five-story Georgian mansion outside, overlooking the upper town. Stepping out of the vehicle, they closed their doors behind them as they made up the pathway to the front entrance.