Operation: Endeavor (When The Mission Ends) Read Online Free PDF Page A

new with your hair?” Her mother looked at her critically. “That messy look seems to be so in right now.”
    Okay, now Penelope knew something was up. Her mother always hated her hair when she left it down. Always. Not that she didn’t realize that was a dig, because it absolutely was. But her mother was never that subtle with her criticisms.
    Unfortunately, there was a whole protocol in dining with her mother and diving right into a discussion about why she called did not fit those parameters. Penelope tried to settle her jumping nerves and looked over the menu. After they’d ordered, Penelope settled into small talk. “I didn’t even know this place was here. It’s cute. I like it.”
    Her mother nodded distractedly. “Yes, Denise Morgan’s daughter opened it last year. She’s such a model daughter. She does all this,” her mother waved her hand over the dining room, “and she’s married with two small children. She also sits on the Junior League Executive Board. She’s always so put-together and such a benefit to the community. ”
    Penelope sighed internally. Denise Morgan’s daughter was obviously everything her own mother wished she could be. She chose to ignore the hurt that inflicted and instead took a sip of her tea. They settled into an uneasy silence which was finally interrupted when their waitress brought them their food. 
    “Have you heard from Dad lately?”
    “Yes, his trip to Europe has gone rather well.” Her father was an Economics professor at Texas Tech. This semester, he was working on behalf of the University in a cooperative program with several international Universities on a Global Economy symposium. “He should be back this weekend.”
    Penelope nodded her head. “That’s good. And how are things in the Anthropology Department?” Her mother was the head of the Anthropology department of Texas Tech and took her job very seriously, not that anyone ever considered anthropology to be anything less than serious. Growing up, Penelope had certainly tried, but her mother had never found her antics humorous. For some reason, she didn’t find it funny when the eight year old Penelope removed all the erect penises off her priceless fertility statue collection.
    Her mother studied her for a moment, before hesitantly speaking. “That’s actually why I asked you here today.”
    Finally, it was time for the true reason for her summoning. Penelope steeled herself and searched her mother’s face, waiting. “Yes?”
    “The anthropology department is facing some difficulties. As more and more funding is cut throughout the University systems, there are fewer opportunities for our research and, as you know, our field research is vital to our programs.”
    Penelope nodded. She knew all this, but had no idea how any of this had to do with her.
    “There’s an important archeological dig happening on the border between Belize and Mexico. The signs are already there that this is a discovery which none of us have ever seen before.” She looked earnestly at Penelope. “It’s going to mean a lot to the anthropological world.”
    Penelope nodded, “I could see that.” But she was still confused as to why her mother was trying to sell her on the importance of this dig.
    “The gentleman in charge of the dig is Dr. Damon Lopez. He’s a brilliant archeologist who works for the National Explorer Society. This weekend, he’s going to be in town, and this is our chance to get the University in on the dig. Saturday night, the University is hosting a reception in his honor and I hoped you would serve as his escort for the night.”
    Penelope followed the conversation just fine, until the very end. “Wait. What? His escort?” She gaped at her mother in disbelief. Her mother normally tried to keep Penelope as far away from her professional life as possible. Penelope had been a source of embarrassment to her parents her entire life, especially when it came to their professional careers. Also, in her