by D. K. Hood
Washington, DC
Two years later
As Dave stood to one side of the stage as POTUS gave a speech, he listened to the chatter through his earpiece and reflected on his time in the Middle East. He’d yet to find Annie and take her up on the offer of a coffee, but after so long, he’d likely become a distant memory. Such was his life of late. His debriefing on his return had been illuminating in more ways than one. He’d discovered a terrorist organization in Syria had placed a bounty on his head and had spread his photograph all over their media. The risk to continue as a sniper was too great, and they wanted him to remain Stateside until things cooled down but he’d refused the offer of a desk job. It would have killed him with boredom. He’d turned to his handler for guidance. Terabyte, a man he’d never met but whom he trusted with his life, knew him better than anyone. His advice was to do something he enjoyed. Dave had mentioned his interest in investigating crimes of every description but didn’t really want to join the FBI. That path was always an option. With his skill set and numerous degrees, he’d walk into a position after a short course of study.
The problem was he’d become too much of a loner. He didn’t mind traveling and had no one to come home to apart from his sister, Josie. Divorced, without kids, and a genius, she’d become a professor at Georgetown University at twenty-two. Due to his busy lifestyle, they only spoke on birthdays and holidays. Taking all this into consideration, Terabyte had suggested the Secret Service. Dave liked the idea. It covered a wide variety of skills and opportunities. Strangely, after speaking with Terabyte, within a week, he’d been summoned back to the Oval Office. Dave hadn’t been overly worried. POTUS had awarded him a medal for rescuing Annie, so he couldn’t have done anything to upset anyone and he’d known the president since he’d been a kid. His father had been POTUS’s best man at his wedding and they’d been close family friends until his parents died. Although apart from Christmas and birthday cards, usually from his wife, the man who’d become president hadn’t interfered with his life—until that day.
Dave had listened in stunned silence as POTUS informed him of his promise to his father. If anything should happen to Dave’s father, POTUS would watch over him and his sister. Although the president understood that as the son of a two-star, Dave wanted to prove his worth without help, he’d stood aside and allowed him to make his own way in the world without assistance. But now, with a bounty on his head, he wanted him close, fearing retribution even on home ground. POTUS had echoed Terabyte’s suggestion to become a Secret Service agent. Dave agreed and headed down to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers based in Glynco, Georgia, to complete a ten-week Criminal Investigator Training Program. After completion, he returned to Washington, DC, to complete a seventeen-week special agent training course at the James J. Rowley Training Center. He’d returned with his black suit and sunglasses, feeling like a fish out of water, straight into the role of personal protection for POTUS and as an unusual crimes investigator, the latter he enjoyed.
The most significant thing that happened during his second talk with POTUS was the revelation his father had left him a fortune in an offshore bank account. He’d inherited the family house, and both he and his sister had more than they’d ever need from the inheritance from his grandparents and the life insurance policies of his parents. However, his grandfather had shares in mining companies worldwide, and due to a disagreement, his father had refused to accept the lucrative dividends. Instead, he’d set up an offshore bank account in Dave’s name. It had been left to accumulate on the off chance, due to Dave’s activities on behalf of the government, he might need to disappear one day. Now with a bounty on his head, the day could be soon or never, but a failsafe had been activated. He would retain Terabyte as his handler, who, if necessary, had the contacts to obtain all the assistance he required. If in the future Dave needed to vanish, his handler could obtain passports in various names and had cash stashed in safety deposit boxes in banks all over. The offshore account, set up as a company, could be used to transfer funds without undue suspicion. Such were the dangerous times he lived in.
Dave scanned the room behind his shades. He used to think they were part of the costume or whatever, but often with the glare of the lights he needed to see everyone in all areas of the room. Agents had been posted everywhere and he’d been in constant contact with them during the speech. One of his colleagues had requested an urgent visit to the bathroom and Dave moved into a better position, closer to POTUS, to cover the missing man. He’d been in communication with the other men, constantly checking any possible threats throughout the speech. One thing that the instructors had drummed into them during training was to deactivate their com if they needed some personal time. Needless to say, the man in the bathroom shouldn’t have eaten the shrimp.
Dave glanced over at his colleague’s twitching lips and smothered a grin. Laughing during POTUS’s speech was not part of his job description. He scanned the crowd again and his eyes settled on someone very familiar, and she was looking straight back at him. Annie Parkes stood out in the crowd like a shining beacon. Dressed in a neat business suit with her long hair hanging over her shoulders, she was a distraction. He dragged his eyes away from her and swept the room again, but as his gaze moved over her again, there she was smiling broadly at him. She held up her hand mimicking a cup and sipped. He gave her an imperceivable nod and kept on scanning the room. He had a president to protect and his safety was his first priority, but he’d get her number and give her a call. It had been two years, and not a day had gone by that he hadn’t thought about their time in Syria and how he’d allowed her to slip from his life. He’d often wondered what Annie Parkes was doing and today was the day he’d find out.
Chapter Nineteen
Excitement tingled through Annie as she stared at Dave standing straight and tall on the stage. The horror of the kidnapping washed over her at the sight of him but the good memories of their time together replaced it in an instant. Seeing him again made her toes curl. Their attraction had been magnetic, but when she’d said goodbye to him, she understood his duty would get in the way of any relationship for some time. But now he was here and it took all her willpower not to run across the room and throw herself into his arms. She couldn’t believe she’d just walked into the hall to listen to the president’s speech and found him. It was as if her father had asked her to come along because he knew Dave would be there. Maybe he’d relented after her persistent requests to find him, because no amount of coercion had made her father give her any details of what had happened to Dave after their arrival in the US. She’d been bundled into her father’s sedan and whisked away to a hospital, where she’d undergone so many tests, both mental and physical, she didn’t know what day it was. Each time she’d asked how Dave was doing, she got a stony blank stare. Of course, no one had any idea who Dave was, but she hadn’t given up, and devised a plan of sorts to find her elusive rescuer.
After leaving the hospital, she decided to visit her father’s office when he wouldn’t be there. She’d checked his diary and found he would be attending a meeting. She’d insisted his desk sergeant put a call through to the command center and offered to take full responsibility for disturbing her father. She’d gone into his office, picked up his phone, and waited for the switchboard to answer. “This is General Parkes’ office. Connect me with Terabyte.”
“Copy, is there a problem, General?” A Texas drawl came down the line.
Annie swallowed hard; this was breaking every rule in the book. “This is Annie Parkes. I know you’re the handler for the man who rescued me. I call him Dave. Is there any way I can get in contact with him? Is he okay? He took a bullet for me. I owe him my life.”
“Ma’am, as the daughter of a three-star, you know I’m not at liberty to give you any information.” Terabyte sounded stiff and cautious.
Annie let out a cry of frustration. “I know he speaks to you. Look, fine, don’t tell me anything, but let him know the coffee offer
is still on the table and will remain there.”
“Copy. But I can’t guarantee he’ll get the message. I don’t have the authority to pass on messages to him, but I’ll do my best.” The line went dead.
That had been two years ago. Although she had to admit for a while there that she’d attended functions with her father in the hope she’d see Dave in the crowd, but it was as if he’d vanished. He’d almost faded from her memory and then the moment she’d set eyes on him again, out of the blue, all her feelings had come rushing back. Now he was standing a few yards from her, as large as life and twice as handsome. She couldn’t stop staring at him but he made no contact with her at all. The slight nod he gave her was the only indication he’d recognized her. Now what could she do? As a Secret Service agent, he’d be glued to POTUS right up to the time they reached the safety of the White House. She looked around the room, seeing the other agents spread out all noticeable in their suits and earwigs. She took out one of her cards and wrote a note on the back: I owe you a coffee.
Approaching a Secret Service agent on duty was probably like poking a lion but throwing caution to the wind, she wandered up to the closest Secret Service agent and stood beside him. She knew all about their open coms and raised her voice. “Dave, I’m leaving my card with the tall blond agent. Call me.”
Holding her breath, Annie watched Dave scan the room and rest on her for a millisecond before moving away. He’d heard her. She smiled at the blond agent, who’d not as much as registered her presence, and pushed her card into his top pocket. “Give my card to the big guy on the stage.” She turned away and eased through the crowd and out the room.
Leaning against the cool marble wall in the hallway, she tried to slow her racing heart. She glanced at her watch. It was a little after eight. She slipped out of the building, ran to the parking lot, and jumped into her Ford. In ten minutes, she’d arrived at her small apartment overlooking the Potomac. She showered and changed into casual clothes. Would he call?
Not hungry but needing something to occupy her mind, she filled the coffee pot, made a ham on rye sandwich, and sat in front of the TV. But her mind wasn’t on the program, it was stuck on Dave, as if she’d superimposed the image of him on her brain. She couldn’t stop smiling. She’d found him. He worked for the Secret Service. She sighed as the time dragged by. The ball was in his court now. She rubbed her arms. He could be married and the slight nod might have just been recognition, not anything else.
After talking herself out of the possibilities of him calling her, her phone chimed just after ten. She grabbed it up and accepted the call. “Hello.”
“I was surprised to see you.” Dave’s voice filled her head. “You know obstructing a federal agent in the course of his duty is an offense?”
Annie giggled. “It was worth the risk to hear your voice again. I’ve been trying to find you. I have a debt to repay.”
“No, you don’t.” Dave sounded serious again. “I was just following orders is all.”
Annie let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Dave. It’s just a coffee, but unless you’re married or involved with someone and meeting up will cause a problem, the invitation is still on the table.”
“Uh-huh.” Dave sounded highly amused. “I’m not involved with anyone, but thanks for asking. Are you? I’m a little old-fashioned about meeting up with married women.”
“No, not at the moment.” Annie chuckled. “So, are we on?”
“Yeah, I’d love a coffee.” Dave sounded so relaxed.
Wanting to squeal with delight, Annie took a deep breath. “When and where?”
“I’m outside your building, buzz me up.” Dave cleared his throat. “You do have a coffee machine? I’ve never been able to drink instant coffee since returning to the States.”
Dashing across the room, Annie pressed the door release beside the intercom. “I sure do. Sixth floor, the apartment opposite the elevator.”
“Oh, I know where you live. Once you gave me your phone number, I traced you. I wasn’t planning on you vanishing twice.” Dave chuckled and the line went dead.
Annie dashed into the bathroom to brush her hair and add a little perfume. The knock came on the door seconds after. She opened the door and stared at him. No longer in his black suit, he’d dressed in a dark blue sweater that matched his eyes and black jeans. He was taller and broader than she’d remembered and not so tanned. His hair looked darker, no longer in a buzz cut, but fashionable, and he looked relaxed and at peace. She must have been ogling him for some time because he gave her a slow smile. Heat rushed to her cheeks and she stepped to one side. “Hi, Dave. Come in. It’s so good to see you. What took you so long to find me? It’s been two long years, you know?”
“Hi, Annie. If I’d had your number, I’d have contacted you the moment I came home, but I wouldn’t have been able to see you before now anyway. POTUS hasn’t given me five minutes to myself since returning to the States.” He stepped inside and looked at her, his eyes dancing with amusement. “You sure look good, Annie. I couldn’t believe it was you in the crowd. I’m back in DC for good now.” His gaze scanned her face. “After two years, I thought you’d have forgotten me. I’m sure glad you didn’t.”
Annie laughed. “You’re not someone I could forget in a hurry, Dave. I asked around to see if you were okay when we got back, but Terabyte shut me down.”
“Yeah, he does that.” His gaze drifted over her. “You’re even lovelier than I remember.”
The electricity between them sizzled and, without thinking, Annie reached up, cupped his cheek, and looked into his eyes. He smelled so good it made her glow all over. When his arms came around her it was as if she’d known him all her life. This was where she belonged and coffee was the last thing on her mind.
Chapter Twenty
Six months later
Winter had come as usual with freezing temperatures and snow, but the entire world could freeze over and it couldn’t cool Dave’s love of Annie. She was the dream he’d never dared to imagine, the life he’d never thought possible. He wanted to marry Annie and had already purchased a set of rings, but he understood the risk involved. Before he asked her, he wanted to speak to her father to make sure he wouldn’t be called back to active duty. His work had become more involved of late, his time taken up with solving many types of crime. He often traveled to investigate, but POTUS still had his finger in the pie of his life. After so long without retribution from Syrian militants, it had become a little stifling. He couldn’t expect Annie to live her life never knowing if he’d come home. Life as a sniper or government assassin, whatever the fancy label, meant being expendable, and given the bounty on his head, his best-by date was closing in fast.
On arrival at General Parkes’ office, he waited for some time in the outer office. The room had a strange odor of cigars and stale aftershave. Once inside, he found the general to be formal to the max. Parkes ignored him for some minutes and when he finally raised his small eyes from his computer screen, he didn’t ask him to sit. Although inactive, Dave held the rank of colonel, and the general’s attitude surprised him. But he remained at ease before his desk. As Dave had never been discharged from service, with a flick of a pen, POTUS could order the general to send him back to the desert with his rifle.
“What can I do for you, Agent?” Parkes’ eyebrows drew together in the middle. “I’m not the person you should be speaking to if you have a problem. I’m no longer in your chain of command.”
Dave cleared his throat. “You’ll be aware I’m seeing Annie?”
“Yes, she never stops talking about you. You must have made a good impression on her in Syria.” Parkes gave him a long stare. “She calls you Dave. I imagine you’re not revealing your true identity to her by order of POTUS?”
The tightening in his gut came as a warning that Parkes wasn’t impressed by him. He nodded. “It’s better that no one knows my true identity, for the safety of everyone I work with, sir.” He met the general’s
hard gaze. “This is why I came to speak with you. I love Annie and want to marry her. It’s been over two years since Syria, and I figure I’m safe.”
“What does Annie say about this?” Parkes leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen in his fingers. “You could be called back into service at any time. You’re the best we have, and should the need arise, we might need you again. Would she be happy knowing the chances of your survival on a mission would be negligible?”
Uncomfortable, Dave straightened. “I haven’t discussed it with her, but she’s aware I might be called back to active duty. I thought it would be better to speak with you before I proposed. I don’t want to hurt her by asking her to marry me and then walking away if POTUS needs me.”
“You’re in love, you say?” Parkes stopped twirling the pen.
“We’re in love.” Dave smiled. “She means the world to me, but my fear is once we’re married, she becomes a target. I’ll have to use my real name to legally marry her.”
“There is a way to protect her.” Parkes dropped the pen into a cup. “If you married in secret and she retained her last name, no one would be the wiser. In fact, we could change your name to Parkes as one of your various identities should you need to travel, but I think traveling overseas might cause undue attention. The name is one thing but you can’t change your face—well that is an option, but only in the most extreme cases.” He paused, a beat. “I’ll do what I can to run interference should POTUS decide to call you back into active service, and we have other superb snipers I can suggest.” He smiled. “I do have POTUS’s ear in these matters.”
Euphoria poured over Dave and he stared at the general in disbelief. “So, we have your blessing?”
“Yes, you do. I’m sure you’ll make her very happy.” The general stood and offered his hand. “Welcome to the family. I’ll get the paperwork underway for her to retain her name and anything else you need. When do you want this to happen?”