Deadly Interpretations

by Andie Alexander

“Probably better.” I crossed my arms for effect.

  “Better? You’re kidding me, right?”

  “Your last name is Bond. It would fit. Use the women then move on. Well, bucko, this is one lady who’s not going to be used. I’ll meet with these people, then I’m done…with you, with the DHS, and everyone else. I’ll find a job out of the country and hide out from everyone.” I felt a tear in my eye, because I did love the United States and really didn’t want to leave. This acting stuff would come in handy at some point.

  Jim studied my face. “You’re serious?”

  “Dead serious. I’m not going to be laughed about or made fun of after I’m done meeting with these people.”

  “No one would ever laugh about you. Ever.” He checked his watch. “We have to get to work and I’m driving, whether you like it or not.”

  “No.”

  Chris walked back into the apartment with duct tape in his hand. He started to peel off the top layer, but Jim stopped him.

  “As much as I’d like to do that,” Jim said. “We really can’t. I think we’d both lose our jobs if we did.” Jim addressed me. “We’re going to work and if I have to arrest you to get you there, I will. This is important and you need to be protected. You’d think after being kidnapped yesterday by Pablo’s men who also ran my guys off the road, you’d be more worried. It could happen at any time by anyone. Also, once Sami figures out those are fake codes, you’re in even more trouble. Your life is in so much danger right now, it’s not funny.”

  We were at more than an impasse, even for acting. It suddenly hit me. He wasn’t acting at all. I picked up my purse and headed toward the door. Jim joined me, and we walked toward his car. He tried to touch my arm, but I shrugged away from him. No touching. That was my new motto, for any camera, anywhere.

  As soon as he checked the car for bugs, we both got inside. He began driving down the road. “You were acting, right?” he asked.

  “If you were, then yes.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You seemed really angry at me, and I wasn’t sure if it was real or not.”

  He began to laugh. “Not real. Not for my sweetheart. The move to ride your motorcycle was brilliant. You know, you really need to get rid of that couch. The floor was more comfortable.”

  “So what’s up now? Did we kiss and make up yet?”

  He grinned. “Not to the agency, but I’d love to kiss and make up with you. I could pull over for a quickie—”

  “One more day, Mr. Studly, then we’ll see what happens.”

  He started to chuckle. “Mr. Studly. Right. We’ll just see about Mr. Studly and if he doesn’t become Dr. Sexfiend after all this is over.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at him. “We’ll just see about that. Remember, I don’t sleep around but require commitment for anything to happen.

  “Noted and processed.” He chuckled.

  I had no idea what was funny, so I moved on. “Any ideas for work?”

  “Yes, but I want to keep you guessing. Just remember I’m acting, and I want you to do the same. Boris needs to think we’re arguing.” He blew me a kiss with a wink then pulled into the parking garage. His cell phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket just as he parked the car. “Bond here.”

  He kept his gaze on me, giving one or two word answers. “I understand.” He ended the call and stared out the front. “The hostages are still being held in the commune, but they’ve opened a line of communication with them. They’re saying that they won’t talk until after the discussions tonight.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “Sure does.” He looked at me. “No one’s been hurt yet, but they’re keeping guns pointed toward Jonquil and Scotty.”

  Sadness filled my thoughts and I felt the tears in my eyes.

  He studied my face, reached up, and touched my cheek. “They’re making it personal, and we all know what that means, Harley. You have to do whatever they say tonight and you know it.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  He touched my hair. “I hope so. I don’t want to lose you, because I love you more than you know. Just don’t tell anyone.”

  “The feeling’s very mutual,” I whispered. “Are you sure I still have to hate you?”

  “Yes. I have to protect you the best I can. My little sweetheart.”

  I felt a tear in my eye. Could life be so cruel to me to take me away from someone who actually loved me instead of just used me?

  “It’s show time,” he said.

  We both got out of the car, and I had to keep up the anger, so I walked fast, sucking up my tears. As we headed toward our offices, Jim was running to keep up with me. I had a mission. I wasn’t about to let some stupid agency rule about dating clients mess with me. I had to save my brother and new nephew, if he was even related.

  A pretty, dark-haired, brown-eyed woman sat in the chair beside me. Elizabeth had been replaced already and it made my heart sink. To replace my friend so quickly just seemed wrong.

  Jim didn’t say a word to me, but went to the Arabic section while I sat in the Russian section.

  “Hello,” the woman said with a definite Russian accent. “My name’s Yelena and I’m from Russia but have lived in the United States for years. They brought me in yesterday to fill in for the lady who sits here. Is she sick?”

  I glanced over at Jim, who was watching. “No, she died on Saturday night.”

  “I’m so sorry. Now what am I to do here?’ Yelena asked.

  I studied her face in confusion. “Didn’t you have training?”

  “Sort of, but this is my first assignment.” She looked over at Jim. “Who’s that guy? He’s so handsome.”

  I had to ignore her comment, because we were supposed to be fighting. “Your job is to interpret whatever is said into English. We take turns. I’ll go first to show you.”

  Her eyes stayed on Jim and he smiled, but not at her. At me.

  “Easy job,” she said. “Is he available?”

  “Go ask him.” I pulled on my headphones and got ready to do my job, searching all over the floor of the General Assembly for Felix. No matter what they said, I had to warn him.

  Yelena got up and walked over to Jim, flipping her hair and flirting like crazy. I ignored it, because I had to find Felix before work started.

  The door to my small booth opened and a guard entered, then stood beside me.

  I looked up at his face, not quite sure who he was. “Yes?”

  “I work for the Russian delegation, and Boris wants me to fix your necklace. We heard it was broken by one of the Saudi Arabian guards.”

  “It’s fine.” I held onto it with my hand at my neck. “I had it fixed. It was just the clasp.”

  I smiled at him, but he narrowed his eyes. “No, Boris insisted. I’m to take it to get it fixed.”

  “But he told me to wear it, no matter what.”

  He reached out to take the necklace just as Kent entered my cubicle. “Is there a problem here?”

  “No,” the guard said. “I was going to fix her necklace for her, but it seems like she got it fixed already.”

  “Well, we’re about ready to start, so if you’d just leave, that would be fine.”

  The guard shot me a nasty glance and walked away. Kent leaned down to my ear. “You okay?”

  “Yep.” I looked down at the floor again, hunting for Felix. My window of opportunity was diminishing and I had to get rid of Kent.

  “What’s Jim doing?” he asked.

  “Flirting.” But I was still hunting for Felix, so my attention was divided. “Good luck to the girl.”

  “The new girl? What’s he thinking?”

  “I don’t know and don’t care. Now I think we have to get to work.”

  Kent muttered something unintelligible as Yelena walked back to our cubicle. “He asked me out,” she said.

  “He what?” Kent asked, looking over toward Jim. “Who asked you out?”

  “Jim. He’s so dreamy.” Stars see
med to fill her eyes as she swooned. “We’re going out tonight.”

  Kent headed toward him, but one of the other interpreters intercepted him and he went back to his office.

  I glanced toward Yelena, but was still looking for Felix. “You’re going out tonight, huh?” I looked over toward Jim and he winked at me. So he’d dump me on the night I was to be the interpreter to find out if the United States was in big trouble. What a great employee for the DHS. When Kent found out, Jim would be in so much trouble. But it would be a great diversion. He was right—and Dr. White would be occupied for days over this one.

  Just as they were ready to get started down on the floor, Felix walked in, looking very agitated. I turned on my earphones, but couldn’t make out what he was saying.

  The members at the table began to speak, and my day began. I did my job, but my head was a million miles away. For some reason, I was jealous, letting Yelena’s date with Jim get to me. I had to keep my head and not let my heart interfere, because in my head, I knew it wasn’t going to happen. He was just playing a game for the higher-ups.

  We worked until lunchtime, when Kent called Jim and me into his office. He shut the door and stood in front of us. “What happened?”

  “Sir?” I asked. “Didn’t I do my job?”

  “That’s not it.” He addressed Jim. “You two were to be dating and I heard that you asked out the new girl—for tonight. What are you thinking?”

  He glanced toward me. “If Harley won’t speak to me, I figured I’d find someone who would.”

  “She won’t speak to you?” He looked at me. “Fix this. It’s really important.” He glanced toward each of us. “Now go out for lunch, both of you, and come back looking like you’re in love. Make it good, because the entire world depends on this.” He turned toward Jim. “Dump the new girl. She’s a plant by the Russian team and we never approved her. They had some sort of clout to even get her here because English isn’t her native language. She’s probably even bugged.”

  He crossed his arms. “Asking her out was a psychological ploy.”

  “To make her jealous?” Kent pointed at me. “Are you stupid? Quit playing games and do your job.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He studied both of our faces then smiled. “Wait just a minute. I know what you’re doing. Good job. Keep Dr. White guessing and invite me to the wedding.” Kent sat down. “Go have some lunch and remember, I want to see something good when you get back from lunch. I’m watching and have to report back to my bosses.” He stared at Jim. “You know what you need to do.”

  “Yes, sir,” Jim said with a grin.

  I wasn’t giving Kent anything. I didn’t trust any DHS agent, worried for Jim’s job.

  We left the office and I grabbed my purse from my desk, and then stopped at the bathroom. Jim was waiting for me when I walked into the hallway.

  “You okay?” he whispered.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  He leaned up to my ear. “Boris’ men watched you go into the bathroom and I wanted to make sure you weren’t being harassed.”

  “Yelena was in there,” I whispered into his ear.

  “Figures.”

  We headed toward a local diner, but he grabbed my arm and we walked right past it. He pulled me into a jewelry shop, glancing at the rings with a grin.

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” I said, slack-jawed.

  “Want one?”

  I rolled my eyes and he rang the bell on the front counter. A middle-aged man walked out and smiled. “Yes, sir. Do you want a ring for this beautiful lady?”

  “Yes, but do you have something special in the back?”

  I looked over at Jim. He couldn’t be serious. Was he that in love with me?

  The man looked around the store, and glanced out the windows. “Back here.”

  What was going on? It was just a ring, right?

  Jim grabbed my hand and walked into the room behind the counter. As soon as we were taken to a back room, I realized he wasn’t buying me jewelry as soon as a man ran a wand over me with an earplug in his ear. He gave a thumbs down to Jim, who frowned.

  Jim took the wand and the earplug and ran it over me again. He started at the top, but winced as he moved downward. He took my arm and took me into an oversized handicapped single-toilet bathroom, pulled a piece of paper and a pen from his pants pocket and started to write. He put his finger to his lips, then handed me the paper. It said, simply, ‘strip.’

  I was obviously bugged and he wanted me to strip? That was all he could think about? What was this world coming to?

  Chapter 31

  I shook my head and he rolled his eyes. He put the earphone into my ear and handed me the wand. I ran it down my body and the closer I got to my waist, the thing screeched in my ear.

  I sighed and blew out a breath, handing him the wand and the earphone. Since my top was long and could contain a bug, I removed it and handed it to him. He ran the wand over that, and shook his head. He pointed to my bra next. Why did he want that, anyway? I shook my head and grabbed the paper. I wrote ‘but it’s at my waist.’

  He wrote back, ‘Fine. But eventually, it’s coming off. I have to make sure and eliminate everything.’

  Lucky me. I was sure it was just for a free peek. Hopefully, he’d find whatever he was looking for elsewhere.

  I took off my shoes and pants and handed them to him. He ran the wand over the pants and shoes, shook his head, and pointed at my hose. I removed those, but when he ran the wand over all of my clothes, he shook his head. He pointed at my underwear.

  “Are you sure?” I whispered. But considering it was either my underwear or my bra that was infected, something had to go.

  He nodded and put his finger to his lips, his eyes meeting mine.

  I took off my underwear and he ran the wand over that, finally pointing to the panty liner stuck on my underwear. At least it wasn’t dirty yet.

  He wrote, ‘They went there? I’m surprised they didn’t get to your tampon, too.’

  I grabbed the pen and paper and wrote, ‘The tampon was wrapped. That panty liner wasn’t individually wrapped. So I’m not surprised.’

  The thought absolutely disgusted me. I’d never be able to face Jim or anyone from the DHS again. Now I had to follow through with my threat to leave my homeland.

  He had me completely wrap the panty liner in toilet paper. He fished through my purse and found my stash of three tampons and panty liners, running the wand over them. He winced as he did, even pointing to the tampons. Now I was completely disgusted. Who in their right mind would put a bug there?

  He then grabbed a bag from beside the toilet and had me put everything inside. “Get dressed,” he whispered. “I’ll be back.” He wanded me one more time, along with my purse, kissed my cheek, and walked out the door. My hand flew to my cheek, because he still had my heart.

  I washed my hands, bought other items from the machine inside the bathroom, and got dressed. As soon as I walked out, the man who originally ran the wand over me did it again. He gave Jim the thumbs-up and we all could talk.

  “You’re getting too close,” Jim said. “That was just underhanded. I don’t think they trust you.”

  I said nothing but just crossed my arms and lowered my eyes from embarrassment.

  “I’m pretty sure the meeting’s tonight,” the one man with a British accent said. “They’re getting more security at Boris’ house.”

  “This is big,” Jim said. “I think it’s going to be bigger than we think, too, after talking to Pablo.” He glanced over at me. “We need to have lunch and I want to talk to you.” He turned toward his coworkers. “Are you guys going to be okay?”

  “Yes,” one big man said. He had dark hair and eyes, but a light and pasty complexion, which looked very odd. “We thought about bugging Harley, but we have to rethink this. If they bugged her feminine stuff, we could do the same, and they’d never know it wasn’t theirs.”

  These men weren’t thinking so I had to interv
ene. “But they’d try to listen in and not hear anything, unless they knew the frequency. I don’t think it’ll work.”

  The men all glanced at each other.

  “She’s right,” Jim said. He turned to me. “You’re very smart. I wouldn’t have thought of that.”

  My arms flew to my chest, crossing tightly. “I’m just mortified over the whole thing.”

  “Don’t be. It’s par for the course, getting whatever they can, any way they can.” He took my arm but addressed the other guys. “We’ll be back at work.” He directed me to the diner we’d passed earlier, and sat in a seat in the far corner. After the waitress approached our table, we each ordered the same thing—turkey deli sandwiches and bottled water.

  As soon as she walked away, Jim leaned closer. “Are you okay?”

  “Embarrassed. Good move with the Yelena date, by the way.”

  He smiled and took my hand. “She’s nothing compared to you.” His face was sincere as his eyes met mine. “And, you shouldn’t be embarrassed at all. No one else I know would’ve done what I just did for you in that bathroom. I wouldn’t have done it for any other woman, either, but only someone I feel completely comfortable with. You. You’re it, Harley, whether you believe me or not. I’m being serious and I’ve never met anyone else like you.”

  I instantly knew this was the real deal. I was head-over-heels in love, and it was much more intense than with any other man. It might have been the meat in my system, but I loved it. My heart loved it. My head even loved it, as hardened against men as I was. I stared into his eyes, feeling such a connection to him like I’d never had with any other man before.

  I reached out and massaged his arm. “You’re something special, Dr. Bond,” I whispered.

  His eyes met mine. “As are you. I knew that the minute you had me on the floor when I first met you.”

  “Nice comment. You’re still upset about that, aren’t you?”

  “Not at all. It’s good to know that you can take care of yourself and don’t bow to anyone. I love that in a woman.”

  I moved my arm away, so no one would see it. “Where do you live, anyway?”

  “My house is in southern Arizona, but that’s a secret. I’d love to take you there, but I know they’d find us, so we have to wait until after tonight.”