Uncle Ron

Sad, I felt surprised and profoundly sad because I had just received notification Uncle Ron died yesterday in Albania. Why was he in that odd little country, followed by wondering what happened to him were the first thoughts that entered my head accompanied by my sadness. Ron was Dad's younger brother and my favorite uncle. He traveled a lot and always brought back neat stuff as presents for our family but I loved his stories even more than the gifts; well except for that $100 chip from the casino in Monte Carlo he gave me with his promise to take me there on my twenty first birthday to wager it. He had kept that promise and I hit a bet on number one at the roulette table for three thousand five hundred dollars.

I had not seen Uncle Ron for a couple of months and was certainly not expecting news of his death. The news came from a fellow dressed like a cheap attorney in a gray flannel suit. The fellow was saying something but my hearing was off as I was processing the terrible news, when I realized he was still talking I apologized and asked him to repeat what he had said. "Certainly" he replied "I understand my news is difficult for you, before he died you uncle asked that you be the one to come and retrieve his belongings he has a plane ticket purchased for you. Please come along now."

"Oh of course just let me grab my coat." With that he led me out to a waiting car, a car that looked like it was government issued. " Who are you?" I asked the man thinking I ought to have asked this a while ago, but things had transpired fast only a matter of a couple of minutes had passed since he had told me the news and I was out here in the car on the way to the airport.

"Me, ahh I am a friend of Mr. Russell, we have worked together for years on special assignments."

" Special assignments? Uncle Ron never spoke of special assignments."

"Well he wouldn't have your Uncle was an on again and off again asset with the company. It is very important we recover his belongings especially his address book. You as his representative are the only one who the Hotel will release his things to."

" What is so important about his little black book?"

" Names in it could compromise other assets he has worked with over the years and a lot of people could end up dead, Ron would not have wanted any harm to come to any of them."

"Oh I see The bad guys are after the address book I surmise."

"Yeah the very bad guys. We want you to sell it to them ...."

"What?!?"

"Oh not sell the real book but one we will give you with names in it of people we know have worked against the interests of the United States, double agents. You can keep the money you get for your trouble."

"Did they kill Uncle Ron?"

"Yes"

"So there is some danger involved."

"Yeah but I will be watching over you like I did all those other times for Ron."

" Were you watching over him when they killed him?"

" I guess I should let you in on a secret, I was watching over him and he is not dead, hurt and in Bethesda but alive. It was his idea to get you involved and to sell the alternative address book. Poetic to have them take out their own agents."

"Why lie and tell me he is dead?"

"I may be being watched and we needed you to react authentically."

"I understand."

"When we get to Albania I will take you to the hotel where they have his stuff, you will check in for the night and I will leave. but rest assured we will be watching over you. We have planted the idea that you have money problems here in the States and we expect that they will seek to contact you about the little black book. Don't be to willing to sell it to them but do finally give it up."

"Ok. Is that all there is to it?"

"Yes basically, after you sell it just return to your room, order room service and sleep through the night and then fly home with Ron's belongings and of course your money, it should be many times what you won when he brought you along on the Monte Carlo assignment."

"You know about that?"

"Yes, Ron said to mention it to you so you would know it was he who told me. It is information the bad guys would not know and he felt you would be put at ease knowing I am somebody he actually told about you."

"He was right."

Things went off just as planned, the bad guys paid me a couple hundred thousand dollars and II flew home, oh and the Albanian room service food was not memorable. I Have been contacted by the Company a few more times since and I am glad to note Uncle Ron and I have done a couple of assignments together since. But those would be other stories.