"Speaking of insecurity" Jackie deadpanned. "What about us?"
Scott raised an eyebrow. "Our business?"
Jackie suspected Scott was teasing her but she wasn't sure. "Our future, you and me. We cant keep doing what were doing until we re senior citizens. We wont live that long."
Scott nodded. "Were committed to finding Shayhidi. Agreed?"
Jackie smiled knowingly. "Yes."
"After we locate him, well concentrate on our aviation consulting business and safety audits and step away from the clandestine operations."
She tilted her head up. "Do you mean it?"
"Absolutely," he said firmly. "We have plenty of money and we dont need to take the risks."
Jackie sat up, surprised. "No more Commando Crazy adventures in the middle of the night?"
"That's right."
"Strictly legitimate, safe business operations?" she asked.
"That's the way I see it--already used seven lives."
She paused a second, schooling her voice to be calm and assertive. "What about us, our personal relationship? Where do we go from here?"
Scott chuckled quietly and looked her in the eye. "This is really coincidental."
"What?"
Scott's cell phone rang.
"I thought we agreed to banish the phones," Jackie protested. "At least for this trip."
"Sorry," he said, reaching into the boat bag, "but after our latest experience I feel safer with a phone around."
The conversation was mostly one-sided, with Scott saying "Yes, sir," a lot before he tossed the phone back into the bag.
"I detect trouble," Jackie said, disappointment in her voice. "Whats the problem, Hartwell?"
"Yes," he said grudgingly "There's something in the wind-- couldn't say much over a cell phone. He wants us on a plane to Geneva as soon as we can be ready"
"Shayhidi?"
He nodded, concealing his disappointment. "They want him now--one way or the other."
Scott briefly touched the engagement ring in the pocket of his nylon water trunks. This is not the opportune time.
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