Wanda: A New Life - Hidden Secrets

By Margaret Gregory

Even before beginning as a covert agent for the US Government, Wanda is abducted by a foreign operative. After being rescued, there are signs that she had been subjected to hypnosis.
With an important government gathering imminent, her handler must ensure she is not a security risk.
Can Wanda’s psychic extra senses help her recognize and resist the implanted commands and clear her for secret work?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Margaret Gregory
• Release date: Jun 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781925332636

Margaret Gregory

I have loved writing stories since I was in high school. Now...some years later...I am enjoying making them come alive again.After being a scientist for years, I have since turned to writing fantasy for upcoming publication and creating science articles for The Australia Times.

Book preview

The Third Generation Series

Book 5

Wanda: A New Life

Part 1 – Hidden Secrets

by

Margaret Gregory

Copyright © 2019 by Margaret Gregory

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

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Please note that I use Australian spelling throughout.

You will see ‘ou’ (colour) and ‘re’ (centre) as well as a few other differences from American spelling.

Cover designed by msgdragon

Cover Image Credits: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / alistaircotton

Cover Image Credits: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Chaloemphan

Cover Image Credits: © Can Stock Photo Inc. /robertasch

Cover Image Credits: Pixabay (Country Road)

Table of Contents

Part One

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Wanda: A New Life

Part One – Hidden Secrets

Chapter 1

The Defence Department Facility at Rockwater was an extensive establishment amongst the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and about seventy-five miles from Los Angeles. It served many functions, being used mainly as a training and evaluation centre for government agents. It was also used for convalescing agents as it had its own hospital and research centre. On rarer occasions, it was used as a detention centre.

Wanda Martin hadn’t quite worked out which category her presence fitted into. By rights, she could have been thrown in jail for twenty years or more. Since, for about six years, she had been performing lucrative break-ins for organised crime boss Harrison Franklin. She had been his top agent, but she had turned on him and helped put him and his two sons in prison.

Technically, she was in the witness protection program, even though certain parties had convinced the crime boss that she was dead. It hadn’t been hard, because at the time of the trial she had been battling a recurrence of a chronic genetic disorder, and had in fact come close to dying. She was still trying to get back to top fitness.

Then, the parties that had made her seem to be dead, had recruited her to do hush-hush stuff for the government. The people in the Government that had to okay that were antagonistic. They didn’t doubt her skills, just her – well morals or ethics or whatever. They wanted to be sure she would limit her crimes to what she was told to do – and not go to work for herself.

Of course, having her claim that it was the thrill of danger and the associated adrenalin rush that had made her a criminal had not helped them be sure of her mental state. The powers wanted her ‘evaluated’. At least, Jim Phillips, her new ‘handler’ or ‘boss’ or whatever the jargon was, knew that it had been her way of fighting her chronic problem.

So, Rockwater was her home for the while. She wasn’t going to be sent to prison, but she wasn’t strictly free. That was something she could live with – for now – even though sometimes it irked. There were some restrictions on her movements. Officially, it wasn’t like a prison sentence. She had not had anything added to her criminal record. However, she had overheard one of the powers call it – ‘six months precautionary detention’. Or had she heard the man think it? She wasn’t sure. It meant that she was not allowed to leave the base, but she had free access to much of the base and nothing to prevent her from making use of the facilities.

It also allowed the various ‘shrinks’ and others to find her for evaluation purposes. At least she had the base psychologist firmly on her side. He had examined her when she had first arrived and listened to her own summation of the compulsions that drove her. He had since told her that his own observations agreed with her comments.

Even so, it was hard for some people to be convinced that she could be trusted. Only someone that really knew her could comprehend and understand the method in her apparent madness. Or that the compulsions that drove her were not devised in the mind of an irresponsible child.

Wanda privately decided that the ‘detention’ was meant as a test of her ‘obedience’. The implication being, step out of line once and you will go to prison. She didn’t want to step out of line. The types of work Jim Phillips wanted to use her for, excited her. She couldn’t wait – but she had to.

A new identity and a new life – that’s what she had now. And once they had finished their comprehensive psychological tests, and their exhaustive security checks – she could get on with it.

In the meantime, she was slowly getting herself to the peak of fitness, and enjoying being Mrs David Martin. She and her new husband had the use of one of the small cottages on the base. So while all her movements outside of the cottage were noted and recorded, the space within the cottage was her private unmonitored refuge.

While David was off doing secret stuff with Jim Phillips, Wanda consoled herself with knowing that her turn would come to use her ‘talents’ for her country. Jim didn’t have any doubts that she would be cleared to work for him. He trusted her with a great deal of the organisational details of his work.

When she was not needed for that, she threw herself into her personal training program. Working out in the gymnasium when no one else was around, observing the activities of others on the base to strengthen her ability to notice and recall details, learning new languages, and generally training herself to be an undercover agent. One of Jim’s best. She practiced the unlawful art of opening locks when the occasion permitted – to keep those skills sharp – but never anywhere near restricted areas.

Dr Paul Matheson, temporarily in charge of the Rockwater base, did not know Wanda well. Nor was he impressed by her. Two days ago, he had found her performing dare-devil manoeuvres in the two storey part of the gymnasium. She had remained unimpressed by his rendition of the riot act. When he had finished, she had factually pointed out that he had no authority to prevent her from using the gymnasium. She declined to add that she was simply copying ‘stunts’ that certain select members of the defence department performed as part of their training.

That confrontation was still in Matheson’s mind. Wanda sensed it and it may have been the cause of his unwillingness to listen to her now.

This time, Wanda was in the wrong and she knew it. If Matheson wasn’t being so pig-headed, she would willingly admit it. If Matheson had listened to her in the first place – or if David had been there – she wouldn’t have gone off and proven how easy it was to get out of the base unnoticed.

I did ask to be accompanied, Wanda pointed out in a very reasonable voice. She shook off the grip of the two guards that had bodily marched her into the director’s office. She seemed to have anticipated the tirade Matheson then unleashed.

Why did you attempt to leave? You are officially restricted to the base. This action of yours will be reported to the highest levels and may mean the rescinding of your pardon and reinstatement of criminal charges.

I told you…why I wanted to be accompanied, Wanda reminded him. But you didn’t consider it important that two men appear to be keeping the base under observation. I for one, wanted to know why.

I sent out two men. Two of the best. They found no one, Matheson told her severely.

The same men are still in the place I specified two hours ago, Wanda insisted, still holding her anger in check. What are you going to do about it?

I have your report. I have taken appropriate action, Matheson told her coldly. The matter is now out of your hands. You will take no further unauthorised action.

Wanda glared at him. It’s your hide, she snapped.

Matheson clearly didn’t appreciate her retort.

This matter will be reported, he told her. You may go!

Wanda pushed past the guards that had accompanied her from the gate and stalked from the room.

David! Wanda interrupted her husband’s remonstrations. I am a big girl. I knew what I was doing. And I don’t need to be reminded of what is at stake. Matheson deserves to be getting a right dressing down. It is not because they think I tried to get out. It’s because he was being a pig-headed idiot. I told him there were men up there acting suspiciously. I told him exactly where they were. He ignored my information. Eventually sent out two men, who went nowhere near where I said, and were spotted by the two watchers.

Calm down, David told his wife, as he dropped into an adjacent chair. They are taking the proper steps now.

Now! Wanda snapped up straight, eyes flashing. Matheson could have had those men in custody now. Instead, they are probably half way around the world with...

With what? David asked. What is the matter with you?

It’s arguing with Matheson, Wanda claimed, forcing herself to calm down and relax back into the chair. I have had an appalling headache all day and that didn’t help.

That’s not all, David commented thoughtfully. You are as twitchy as a spooked horse. What are you afraid of? Matheson’s threat to have your pardon revoked?

No. He hasn’t the authority. And if General Addison is treating my report seriously, there won’t be trouble.

So what is it? David insisted. Something is troubling you. I can tell. I know you. Take a good look at yourself!

Wanda shook her head as if to deny anything was bothering her, and then stopped still. You are right, Dav. I haven’t been able to think straight with this headache. I feel…felt…that somewhere out there, Wanda pointed towards the higher mountains, someone was terrified – needed help.

So that’s why you took off, David murmured, understanding. I assume Elizabeth is alive and well in LA?

What? Wanda asked, her attention returning to David.

Elizabeth? Your sister? Is OK? David spelled it out.

Yeah. I called her earlier. She’s fine. Oh! It feels like it would if Lisbeth was in trouble. How odd. Wanda seemed to be considering something.

David reached over and began to gently massage Wanda’s temples. After a few minutes, Wanda pushed his hands away, and used her hand to cover her mouth. David gently pulled it away.

What is it?

David, don’t ask me how I know, but whoever I sensed before, is still up there, is still terrified and still needs help.

I think we need to tell someone, David suggested softly. What haven’t you told me?

If asked, he would say he had absolutely no ESP. But he knew Wanda and knew she often ‘just knew’ things. He respected that ability, whatever it was.

Your two missing Russians, Wanda said very softly.

David stiffened. He had not even told her about his last mission. Or the reason why he had been