by Vicki Hinze
She glanced back at him, saw the vulnerability she felt mirrored on his face. “Oh, yeah.” She smiled and tapped the back of his executive chair. “Very.”
“Good.” He walked over, set the water bottles on the desk. “Because I’m really happy with you.”
Her smile lit up his world. “I’m glad. Saves us both the trouble of getting testy.”
He stretched over to boot the computer. She stayed him with her hand. “Later. Right now, I think we need to define the perimeters of this relationship.”
“I thought you wanted to just let things ride.”
“The doors opened. You complaining? Planning the six-date ditch already?”
“No. Absolutely not.” He reached for her. “I’m in.”
“For how long?”
He stroked her hair, pushed it behind her ear. “For as long as it takes.”
“For as long as what takes?” Her forehead wrinkled in confusion.
“For you to realize you’ll always want me in your life.”
She glared down at him, half startled, half confused. “You want to share your life…with me?”
“Yeah, I do. If it doesn’t freak you out.”
“What if it does?”
“I’m banking on you getting used to the idea.”
“This isn’t possible,” she mumbled. “It’s mission fatigue. You’ll get over it.”
“It’s not, and I won’t.” He smiled at her twisted mouth, all primed to blast him. “It’s clear to me. Us—it’s an all in, package deal.”
Inside, her spirits soared. “You resent that? This package deal?”
“Depends.” He shrugged. “In your world, how long do package deals last?”
“As long as it takes,” she said, throwing his words back at him and punctuating them with a tap to his chest.
“For what?”
She rolled her gaze ceiling-ward and held it so he wouldn’t miss it. “To see if we’re as good together when there’s peace as we are in crises.”
He looped his arms around her shoulders. “Honey, I hate to point this out—in fact, I’m thinking I’m a fool to do it, especially when you’re looking at me like you could side with me on this.” He tilted his head, and took a different tact. “Have I mentioned that you’re gorgeous, Amanda?”
“No, I don’t believe you have.” She captured his hands and coupled them with hers.
His Adam’s apple bobbed hard in his throat. “Well, you are.”
“You know, your judgment is looking better all the time.” She smiled. “What do you hate to point out?”
“What?” He hesitated, obviously having second thoughts.
Darling, that. “You said ‘Honey, I hate to point this out, but—’”
He had to dig for it, weigh saying it, but finally voiced what he was thinking. “But in our jobs, we’re seldom at peace and we’re nearly always in crisis.”
“I know that, but still it seems like sound judgment.” She gave a little shrug. “We won’t always be in these jobs.”
Thinking long-term. Really long-term. That was a good sign. “Logical.” He kissed her lightly then grunted and kissed her again. “Completely.”
As if any of it really mattered. They’d taken the fall and that was that. It was just a question of how long they’d both fight the inevitable. From the looks of things, the fight was over before it had really begun. It was the admitting it that was over, holding out. “Good.” She smiled against his mouth. “Now show me how to win this game, and I’ll forgive you for out-fishing me today.” She stretched to reach for the computer.
“You’re going to love this logic bender.” He sat down and smiled up at her.
“It’ll be hard to beat the one that’s already happened.”
“Which one?” He looked genuinely confused.
“Us falling in love,” she mumbled. “We have, right?”
“We have.”
Relief poured through her that mirrored his in his expression. Sure yet stunning. “Who ever would have thought it’d take a Black Market Body Double dealer to pull this off?”
“Anyone who knows either of us.” He said.
He was probably right about that. She hated Kunz with every atom for nearly all he had done and would do. But not for this. Not for bringing Mark and her together.
The computer screen lit up, and content, they focused on the game...
Chapter Twenty-One
Promptly at 10:00 a.m. Amanda and Mark entered headquarters. For the past two hours they had been discussing the challenges of long-distance relationships and how they could avoid them. The thing was, as best either of them could tell, there were no real solutions. The challenges were facts and they could only be endured.
Headquarters was wild: phones hopping, people running from desk to desk information sharing, updating each other in informal briefings. A task force was operational and pulling simultaneous arrests on known Kunz doubles, and three OSI agents had been assigned responsibility for tracking and maintaining the umbrella: keeping tabs on the big picture of what was going on where and with whom at all times. They would issue all future Compilation, Assimilation and Assessment Reports.
“Looks chaotic, but it’s actually pretty well organized already.” Kate slid off her seat and walked around the edge of her desk to where Amanda and Mark stood observing. “Colonels Drake and Gray are waiting in the conference room. We have a 10:10 teleconference with Secretary Reynolds.”
“General status briefing?” Mark asked. “Or is Reynolds going to announce his decision on my reassignment?”
“I wasn’t informed, but I don’t think it’s general.” Kate dropped her voice, checked for extra ears within hearing distance. Assured there were none, she added, “Whatever it is has a briar up Colonel Drake’s tailpipe and a feather up Colonel Gray’s. It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile since we’ve been here.”
“He never smiles unless someone else is in pain,” Mark warned Amanda. “Prepare for anything.”
They walked into the conference room and took their seats. The colonels were the only other people present and, as warned, Colonel Drake looked as if her face had been carved out of rock and Gray looked as giddy as a circus clown. If they got out of the briefing without Drake decking him, Amanda would consider the meeting a resounding success. “Morning,” she said.
“Morning.” Colonel Drake nodded for them to sit down.
Amanda wasn’t slow. Whatever this was about, it was part of the battle of wills between the two commanding officers. She motioned to Mark, and they sat down on Colonel Drake’s side of the table. So did Kate. The move earned Mark a glare from Colonel Gray that would shatter steel, which Mark resolutely ignored. Clearly, he felt no obligation for loyalty to a commander who had sold him out to the FBI, where he’d be kept at arm’s length because he was an outsider. The different branches of security and defense were extremely territorial, and Colonel Gray certainly knew it. That added insult to injury for Mark, and for Amanda and Kate.
The conference link came through at exactly 10:10, and Secretary Reynolds’s face appeared on the computer screen. “Morning, everyone.”
“Good morning, sir,” they all replied pretty much in unison.
“Thanks for joining me,” he said. “I’ve just been updated by Intel, who consulted with the task forces there and in Afghanistan, and with the FBI at the compound down in Texas. Across the board, they’re convinced GRID has been severely crippled with Paul Reese dead and Thomas Kunz in custody. I’m assured we have enough hard evidence to keep Kunz in jail for the rest of his natural life. Dr. Joan Foster has delivered extensive reports detailing some of the duplicates. The SAIC in Texas reports locating a small cache more.”
From where? Amanda slid a look at Mark. He’d seen the empty records room, too, and his puzzled expression mirrored Amanda’s.
“Apparently Gaston,” Secretary Reynolds went on, “one of the detainees you rescued, had been responsible for hand-carrying this cach
e to the Middle Eastern compound when they were evacuated. He buried them instead.”
Ah, Amanda relaxed. Now it made sense.
“There’s no way to determine how many doubles are operational at this point. Intel has proof of nearly ninety.”
“Sir?” Drake interrupted. “I’m told Thomas Kunz literally laughed at that number, which has interrogators certain there are far more of them currently installed and operational in sensitive positions within our ranks.”
“That’s the report I’ve gotten, too, Sally.”
“S.A.S.S. will eventually get them all, sir,” Colonel Drake said. “GRID leadership and the black market doubles.”
“I have every confidence it will,” he said. “Which is one of the reasons I’m transferring Captain Cross to the S.A.S.S. to assist you. I’m impressed with the work he and Captain West have done together. Have his security clearance reinstated right away.”
“Yes, sir.”
Everyone at the table, including apparently Colonel Drake, knew that Mark’s clearance had never actually been downgraded. But no one so much as blinked. The order was for show, and to get it on record in case the subject ever arose in this room, in the unit, or outside it.
“Good.” He looked as if he had mixed emotions on what he was to say next. “The president has been briefed and feels it would be wise to move the S.A.S.S. out of Washington. Intel, the FBI and the CIA have all advised him that it would be best to distance the S.A.S.S. from easy access by interested congressional parties, if you know what I mean. DOJ concurs.”
And to diminish deliberate leaks, Amanda thought, as well as interference.
“Where are we relocating, sir?”
“Providence,” he said. “Colonel Gray has been kind enough to offer facilities north of the actual base. You and the S.A.S.S. will have total autonomy.” He looked at Gray from the screen. “Should the S.A.S.S. need anything, I’m sure you’ll be a gracious host.”
“Of course, sir.”
Of course, sir? Gray would be a freaking nightmare. But this did explain why he was so happy. He would have control over S.A.S.S.’s facilities and well-being, if not control of its missions or budgets.
“Make it effective immediately, Colonel.” The secretary sighed. “I know it’s a pain to face the upheaval of relocating during an ongoing mission, but there’s always an ongoing mission with the S.A.S.S. Do the best you can to make it painless, Sally.”
“Yes, sir,” Colonel Drake said through gritted teeth.
“Dismissed,” Reynolds said, then the screen went blank.
Mark spoke up. “Colonel Gray, what quarters are available to the north of the base?”
“The abandoned bombing range.” Gray openly smiled, folded his arms over his chest.
Colonel Drake frowned but held her temper. Kate and Amanda kept their mouths shut. This was not a time to get in the middle of anything.
“But there’s nothing out there,” Mark protested. “No facilities, nothing but an abandoned water well and a dilapidated shack.”
“I’m sure Colonel Drake has served in more primitive conditions, and it won’t affect the mission—unless you think it’ll be a problem, Colonel.”
“It’ll be fine.” Drake stood up. “If you’ll excuse us, Colonel Gray, I need to confer with my staff.”
“I’m sure you do.” He sauntered to the door and as he closed it, he laughed out loud.
Drake turned to Mark. “Is it that bad?”
“I’m afraid so, ma’am.” He couldn’t lie to her. “But give me a week. You all have things to settle in D.C. before setting up shop here, right?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Then do that this week, Colonel, and leave Regret to me.”
“Regret?”
“That’s what we’ll call the range,” Mark said, his jaw tight. “If Gray thinks he’s going to give us a rash by pulling this stunt, he’s going to regret it. We won’t oblige him.”
“I like your style, Mark.” Colonel Drake smiled. “But Gray’s never going to authorize funds for a building, much less for the electronics we need.”
“We have the electronics. Shoot, we have all the equipment,” Kate reminded her. “We just don’t have a place to put it once we get it here.”
“You will.” Mark shook his head. “You know, sometimes it’s hard to remember that jerk is on our side.”
“Amen.” Colonel Drake smiled again. “It’ll have to come out of our budget.”
“Let me handle it,” Mark said. “Secretary Reynolds will fund it when he knows what Gray’s done.”
“You have access to him on things like this?” Colonel Drake asked.
“On anything,” Mark said simply.
“We’re in your hands then.” She nodded.
“Colonel,” Amanda interjected, uneasy about discussing this but knowing it was the right thing to do. “You need to know that Mark and I are exploring a personal relationship. I don’t expect it to adversely affect my work, and I’m sure Mark doesn’t either, but, well, you should know about it.”
“I’m aware of it, Captain.” The look in Drake’s eyes softened. “I’d about given up hope on you ever letting a man get close. Now I understand. You were just waiting for the right one.” Her eyes sparkling, she walked out of the room. “Come on, Kate. Let’s give them a minute or two.”
As soon as the door closed, Amanda stepped into Mark’s arms. “I’m going to miss you, honey,” he said.
“Me, too. But I’m grateful it’s just for a week.” A little wisp of doubt clouded her eyes. “This is going to work out for you—us working together, right?”
“Absolutely.” He let his fingertips slide down her face. “You know, Kunz’s successor has likely already taken the helm. It could take a long, long time for us to run down all the doubles and demolish GRID’S organization. Actually, it could take a lifetime.” He looked very pleased with that prospect.
And so was she. A lifetime with Mark might just be long enough to satisfy her. A day less, and she’d be left wanting. “I could live with that.”
“No term limits?”
They’d already waived the six-date ditch. He wanted reassurance. Odd, but so did she. “Definitely not.” She looped her arms around his neck and smiled into his eyes.
“You and me,” he said. “I’m thinking it’s a permanent assignment.”
Her heart seemed to expand and fill her chest. “I’m thinking we can take on that challenge.”
He winked.
She winked back. The words were still unspoken, but they would come… and who knew getting from here to there could be such fun?
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Read on for a free sneak peek of the next S.A.S.S. story, THE SPARKS BROKER. Kate, the explosives expert, takes on Thomas Kunz in his latest diabolical plan to destroy America.
Sneak Peek: The Sparks Broker
Chapter 1
“Okay, Home Base.” Staring through her diving mask, Captain Katherine Kane swam toward the rocks above the newly discovered underwater cave. Cold water swirled around her. “I’m almost there.”
“Roger that, Bluefish.” Considering the distance between Kate and Home Base, Captain Maggie Holt’s voice sounded surprisingly clear through Kane’s earpiece. “I don’t like the idea of you diving alone. The boss would have a fit.”
The boss, Colonel Sally Drake, would understand completely. “Sorry, no choice.” Captain Douglas and his tactical team had been diverted. “If we want to find GRID’S weapons cache, then I’ve got to do this now—before they have time to move it.”
Douglas and his men had assisted Kate on a former mission, intercepting GRID—Group Resources for Individual Development—assets, and when he’d summoned Kate to the Persian Gul
f, she’d known he suspected a GRID presence and needed help. The key players in the Black World community knew that pursuing GRID, the largest black-market sellers of U.S. intelligence and weapons in the world, was Kate’s organization’s top priority. And it had been designated such by presidential order.
“I still think we should follow the usual chain of command,” Maggie said. “If the boss were here, you know she would agree with me.”
If Colonel Drake was there and not at the intelligence community summit meeting coordinating on the war on terror, Kate and Maggie wouldn’t be having this conversation and there would be no debate. Kate resisted a sigh.
Maggie was new to this level of covert operations and still adjusting to tossing out standard operating procedure and assuming command in critical circumstances. But she had all the right stuff; she’d grow into the job eventually. Nothing taught operatives better than experience, and she’d get plenty in their unit. Still, for everyone’s sake, including her own, Kate hoped Maggie adjusted and grew into it soon.
“Look,” Kate said, speeding the process along. “Ordinarily, Douglas would have worked up the chain. This time, he came straight to us.” Secret Assignment Security Specialists—S.A.S.S.—were the last resort, and Douglas respected that. “I know this man and he knows us. He’s got a fix on GRID.” Kate couldn’t resist an impatient huff. “No offense intended, Home Base, but you’ve got to learn to trust your allies.” That included Douglas, his team and Kate.
“Yeah, well. I’m gun-shy. You have to prove you deserve trust to get it.”
That response surprised Kate. “How?”
“Don’t get yourself killed today. Do you realize how much paperwork I’d have to do?”
Kate smiled. Okay, she’d cut Maggie a little slack. The woman was trying. “Waking up dead isn’t my idea of a fun way to start the day, either, Base.” She reached the finger of rocky land jutting out into the gulf and, treading water, removed the black box from her tool bag.
Stiff-fingered from the cold chill, she flipped the switch to activate the C-273 communications device and affixed it to the rock just below the waterline. If this leading-edge technology worked as promised, she would still be able to communicate with Maggie at Home Base via satellite. Supposedly, the water would conduct Kate’s signal from inside the cave to this box and then transmit via satellite to Home Base, completing the link to Maggie. Kate hoped to spit it worked. “Okay, C-273 is seated. We’re good to go.”