by Kat Smith
Teona squeaked out a scream when the door opened, and Devan stepped in with the gun in her hand. Her eyes were wide with fear as she still sat in the chair by the computer where Devan had ordered her to stay. “Come with me.”
Teona clutched Devan’s arm as she was led through the front of the house, back into her apartment, through the bedroom and into the bathroom.
“Get in the tub.” Devan helped her into the tub, then went back to the bedroom, pulled the single mattress from the bed, and dragged it one-handed back to the bathroom. “Stay here until I come back.”
Devan pulled the mattress over Teona, knew she was terrified and tried to console her. “You’ll be fine. I just want to make sure you’re safe.” When she was satisfied that she’d done everything she could to protect Teona, she went back into the bedroom, pulled the other mattress off the bed, and dragged it to the sitting room.
“Lay down and keep this over your body until I get back.” She hauled the mattress over Christopher and moved back to the kitchen.
She gave the package a long look as she formed a plan. It was flush against the outward swinging screen door. There was no way to reach it without causing the package to tumble off the steps. She went back into the bedroom in the adjacent apartment and fought to raise the window sash.
She had two options. Leave the package on the steps until dark or go outside in broad daylight and risk one of the neighbors spotting her. She contemplated her choices and decided to take the risk. Her dark hair and complexion could pass as Russian if one only got a glimpse.
She stuck her head out the window and surveyed the neighboring yards on each side, then dropped to the ground in pain as the impact reverberated up her leg. She hobbled over to the package and studied it from all sides, then gently picked it up and walked gingerly to the back of the property and knelt beside the cinderblock fence. If it was a bomb, she thought, Teona should be safe if it blew when she opened it.
Devan pulled a knife from her pocket, flipped the blade out, and cut the tape on each end, then ever so slowly lifted the first flap. Even in the bitter cold, she felt sweat beading on her forehead. She lifted the second flap and frowned when she saw the contents. She dropped to the ground and leaned against the fence in relief, then sat for a good five minutes waiting for the trembling in her legs to stop while she collected her thoughts.
Payton twisted the lid onto a to-go cup of coffee and handed it to Mara. “I’ll give you a call as soon as I hear something.”
Mara took the cup, set it on the counter, and pulled Payton into an embrace. “Thank you for always keeping me steady.” She planted a quick kiss on Payton’s full lips. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Payton hugged Mara and smiled. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing you’ll never have to find out.” She brushed her lips across Mara’s. “You’re stuck with me.”
Mara chuckled. “Unless you decide you would prefer to have a torrid affair with Frank Gilbert.” She yelped when Payton pinched her butt.
“Never.” Payton’s face contorted in consideration. “Now that cute as a button sergeant on Devan’s team. What’s her name—Lena Taylor? Well…” She jerked when Mara’s thumb dug into the soft spot just above her collarbone. “That’s just mean.”
Mara retrieved the coffee cup from the counter and turned to pick up her backpack. “Keep your eyes and hands off my soldiers, Director, or you’ll see just how mean I can get.”
They walked out of the house together and got into their respective cars. Payton watched Mara drive away and silently prayed that the day would bring more good news, more smiles, and perhaps, just perhaps…a solid plan to bring Devan home.
Devan dropped the package on the kitchen table and went to give Teona the all-clear. She pulled off the mattress that had provided her protection. When Teona’s questioning eyes met hers, she reached out with her good arm to help her out of the tub. “It’s okay.”
“What was the box?” Teona stepped out of the tub and rubbed her sore knees.
“I’m not sure yet, but it’s not a bomb.” Together, they took the mattresses back to the bedroom and remade the beds.
Christopher knew something was happening and strained to hear Devan and Teona as they spoke in low voices in the next room. He heard footsteps as they moved into the adjacent apartment, then a few minutes later, Teona came through the door from the foyer and turned into the bedroom. When she came back out, he scowled. “What’s going on?”
“No babbling.” She shot him a look as she passed through to the kitchen.
Devan pulled the satellite phone from the box and examined it closely. “It has no markings.” She pulled out a camouflaged vest, shook it open, and spread it out on the table. “This looks like one of ours.” She remembered a new vest the Army had commissioned that had a unique coating, invisible to the naked eye, that could only be seen with a specialized sight that was calibrated to a specific range in the light spectrum.
The Army had tested the vest the previous year, but it had not yet been rolled out as part of the standard special operations kit. She supposed the Russians could have something similar, but her gut told her the package had been covertly delivered for her.
She asked Teona to keep watch over Christopher while she went into the adjacent apartment, turned on the computer, and opened her lifeline to home. She deliberated a moment, then opened a blank email and began typing.
Payton was in her office when Alex rushed in without knocking. She continued reading the document in front of her. “It’s still common practice to knock and wait for consent to enter this office.” She shot an annoyed look at Alex.
“We have a new email, but I can’t interpret it.” Alex waved her arms toward the door. “I need your eyes on it.”
Payton followed Alex down the hall to the ops center and leaned over Vincent’s shoulder. “Show me. Better yet, put it on the wall.”
She turned toward a wall of monitors and waited for the email to appear on the screen. She read it twice, didn’t respond, and turned toward the door. “I’ll be back.”
Alex raced after her. “What is it? What does it mean?”
Payton revealed nothing. “I need to make a call.”
“Director, tell me.” She grabbed Payton’s arm to stop her, then lowered her voice to a whisper. “Mom, please.”
The tug at Payton’s heart was fierce. Alex had never once referred to her by her first name, much less Mom when they were in the office. Alex had always understood the complexities of having Payton as her boss, had always maintained a professional demeanor.
Payton turned to look at Alex, and the face she saw was that of a petrified child. Her resolve shattered. “I think I know what it means, but I don’t want to give you a false sense of hope before I confirm my suspicions.” She squeezed Alex’s arm. “If I’m right, it’s good news. Very good news.”
When she got a frustrated look, Payton could almost visualize Alex stomping her foot in frustration. “Patience, grasshopper.” She smiled at her. “Go back to the ops center. I’ll come as soon as I have an answer.”
Payton watched Alex retreat down the hall, then turned into her office and closed the door. She picked up the phone, punched in a number, and drummed her fingers on the desk as she waited. She snapped up the handset when she heard the familiar baritone voice.
“Frank. Payton Cardina at ICC.”
“Good morning, Director. I thought you might be calling me this morning.”
“So, it was you?”
“I take it the package arrived in good order.”
The conversation was clipped and veiled with innuendo. “Yes, we just received confirmation.” She chose her next words carefully. “There was a concern about the method of delivery.”
“I had someone in the area but couldn’t provide any further assistance than the delivery.” She could hear him breathing over the line, knew all incoming and outgoing calls could be recorded at the ICC and the CIA, so he chose his words carefully. �
��I’ll email the phone number to you.”
“Thank you. The sweater was an added surprise.” She hoped he understood.
“I thought she might like that. It’s a brand new design, won’t be on the market for another six months or so.” He chuckled. “The designer will appreciate any feedback she might be able to provide on the comfort and wearability. She can contribute to the official market test.”
Payton grinned into the phone. “I’ll be sure to pass that request on to her.” She sat back and took a breath. “I really appreciate this, Frank.”
He chuckled into the phone. “After the holidays, you can take me to lunch to properly thank me.”
“You bet.” She rolled her eyes. “We’ll talk soon. Thanks again.” When she ended the call, she looked at the phone with disgust. “In your dreams, asshole.”
She punched in another number and waited until Mara answered. “Hey there.”
“Hey, any news?” The usual stress was absent from Mara’s voice.
“Yes, but I’d rather tell you in person. I also have some questions. Can you meet me for coffee at the usual place?”
“Sure. I can be there in ten minutes.”
Payton hated to hear the tension return with Mara’s reply. “I’ll see you there.”
Payton grabbed her coat from the coat tree in the corner and draped it over her arm. She peered down the hall, looking to see if Alex was lurking. When the coast was clear, she hurried to the end of the hall and disappeared through the security doors.
Devan checked the email account every twenty minutes and huffed out a frustrated breath when she’d received no reply. She paced the bedroom and reminded herself that she’d only sent the email three hours earlier. She wasn’t sure how often they checked the account on the other end, but her patience was beginning to shred. She also knew she had to hold steady. This nightmare was almost over, she could see the end in sight. She would focus on the image she had in her mind of seeing Alex again. Holding her, feeling the embrace she’d dreamed about on so many painful, lonely nights.
When Payton walked into Starbucks, Mara was already sitting in the corner with two steaming cups of coffee on the table. Payton slipped into the seat across from her and instantly saw the stress in Mara’s face. “It’s all good news, Colonel.” She smiled at her partner of over twenty-six years. “Well, ninety percent of it anyway.”
Mara relaxed her shoulders. “Tell me.” She listened as Payton explained the events of the morning, how Frank Gilbert had managed to have one of his men get to Makhachkala and deliver the package to Devan.
“Obviously, he couldn’t risk pulling Devan and possibly this Christopher fellow out, but he’s given us one hell of an advantage over sending covert emails.” Payton took a sip of her coffee. “The reason I wanted to meet face-to-face is I have a question about a sensitive subject.” She paused and looked around before continuing in a hushed voice. “I know you might not be able to reveal everything, but I’ve heard rumblings about a new vest the Army is designing with a coating that can only been seen with a special sight.” She watched Mara’s face for a sign, then continued. “Apparently, one such vest was included in the package, which would help considerably when we move in for the pickup.”
Mara nodded. “You heard correctly, but the vest hasn’t been released for use.”
“That’s what Frank alluded to during our conversation this morning.”
“He has connections high up the chain if he was able to get his hands on a test unit.” Mara toyed with a napkin and considered that statement. “We’ll need it if we use the proposed pickup site.” She looked at Payton. “You said ninety percent was good news. Tell me the ten percent that’s bad.”
Payton laughed. “Nothing really.” When Mara gave her a look she knew too well, she rolled her eyes. “Frank said, and I quote, After the holidays, you can take me to lunch to properly thank me.”
Mara felt an uncharacteristic pang of jealousy but shoved it back. She trusted Payton without question, but she didn’t trust Frank Gilbert any further than she could throw his sleezy ass. “And your reply was?” The tone in her voice was a bit harsher than she’d intended.
Payton shrugged. “I thought we’d both take him to lunch to show our appreciation.” Payton casually picked up her cup, took a sip, and hoped not to experience Mara’s wrath.
“I don’t share, Director.” She tilted her head and crossed her arms. “And I sure as hell don’t do threesomes.”
The snort sent whipped cream flying out of the cup in a snowstorm of sticky globules. A blob of it landed on Mara’s perfectly ironed uniform. “Damn it. Don’t do that to me.”
Mara picked up the napkin and blotted the whipped cream off her uniform. “Just saying.”
Devan spent the long hours waiting observing Teona as she practiced her newly honed email skills. When she was convinced that Teona could do it on her own, she logged out of the new account and into the account she had created so long ago for her and Alex.
That account had been a lifeline for them during long, difficult separations when one or both had been deployed. Now it had a new purpose. It was her lifeline to home. When the account popped up on screen, there were two new emails in the drafts folder. She opened the first one and read it, then read it a second time aloud for Teona.
Elated, they walked back to her apartment, and Devan sat across from Christopher with a grin on her face. “I just received word that your men have been captured north of…” She looked at Teona for help pronouncing the name of the city. “Yep, that’s right, Tskhinvali. Your mission has failed.”
“You lie.” He kicked out at her, but she quickly moved out of his reach.
Devan was reveling in their success when she suddenly remembered the second email waiting on her. She went back into the adjacent apartment and grinned when she opened the email. It was simply an image of a phone and a vest. She knew without a doubt the package had been sent for her, and she rushed back into the kitchen.
Payton walked into the ops center and saw the scowl on Alex’s face. She ignored it as she approached. “We have a meeting with the colonel in thirty. Grab your bag. I’ll drive.”
Alex jumped out of her chair and followed on Payton’s heels as they rushed down the hallway. “What’s happening? Why are we meeting?” The questions poured out, but Payton kept walking.
“I’ll fill you in once we’re in the car.”
Alex huffed but kept up with Payton as they maneuvered through the maze of hallways. When they were finally in Payton’s car, she couldn’t stand it any longer. She blinked back the tears threatening to pour out. “Will you please tell me what the hell is going on?”
Payton filled her in as they drove to the other side of the base toward Mara’s office. “So, there you have it. This gives us a much better chance for a successful retrieval.”
Alex snapped, “This isn’t a retrieval of some dead drop package. It’s Devan.”
Payton mentally kicked herself for her bad choice of words. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I’m just focused on the next steps and how we can support the colonel’s operation to rescue Devan and retrieve her prisoner.”
Fortunately, access to the colonel’s suite of offices took considerably less time than at the ICC. Five minutes after Payton slipped her car into a spot in the parking lot, they were sitting in the communications center waiting on Mara to finish her instructions to a sergeant in the back.
They flanked Alex in a silent move of protection as her anticipation grew and her patience wavered. “Good God, how long does it take?”
Devan turned on the sat phone the second she’d entered the kitchen and had sat willing it to ring for over an hour. Teona had given her space, but as Devan’s shoulders began to slump with the passing minutes, she decided to intervene.
She tried to look casual as she walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove. “I will make tea you like.”
Devan held the phone in her hand. “Why is it taking so lon
g?” She got up and paced the small kitchen.
“Get cups. Be busy,” Teona ordered.
Devan opened the cupboard and pulled out three cups. She placed them on the counter just as the phone rang. She dove for the phone and punched a button to answer the long-awaited call. “Hello, hello.”
“Captain Conner.” Mara’s voice cracked when she spoke.
Tears sprang like a fountain when Devan heard her voice. “Colonel. You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice.” Her legs were suddenly weak, and she dropped into the chair at the table.
Teona turned to see the look on Devan’s face, the tears streaming down her face, and decided to give her some privacy. She went into the sitting room and closed the door.
“Captain, I’m here with Director Cardina and Alex. How are you doing?”
Devan swiped tears away. “I’m great now. I got your last email. Congratulations.”
“Well, the congratulations go to you, Captain. Without the information you sent us, we’d have never found them.” The line went silent for a few seconds before Mara came back. “Captain, we don’t have much time before we hit a fifteen-minute satellite blackout. Tell me about your injuries.”
Devan told them about being caught on the tree limb, the resulting fall, and the injuries she’d suffered, as well as the nearly fatal infection. She told them about the capture of Christopher Bryzgalova and how they had managed to subdue and hold him, the items they’d found in his van, and the treasured computer that had given Devan the opportunity to contact them.
She also relayed to the colonel her luck in meeting Teona again and how she surely would have died without her help.
“We have a plan in place and should have the details confirmed within twenty-four hours, Captain. Sit tight, we’ll be there soon.”
“Will do, Colonel. Look, about Teona I need to ask a favor.”
Teona sat on the sofa and kept an eye on the closed door, knowing Devan was planning her escape.