“My skills?”
“You’re fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and you have an MBA from a top school. That’s not an easy combination to find in the agency, especially for someone who doesn’t have any Chinese heritage.”
“So what is my job going to be?” Devin asked, still trying to process the possibilities.
“You will be going undercover to work with a capital management group. We submitted your résumé over a year ago, hoping we could get you into this position.”
“Over a year ago? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Not at all. These types of undercover operations take years to set up. Your internships were tailor-made to enhance your résumé for this particular job.” He leaned forward in his chair and lowered his voice. “For more than two decades, the Chinese intelligence service has managed to ascertain information they shouldn’t have any prayer of accessing. Analysts have looked at the leaks and plugged some of them, but there is a significant number that remain unsolved. We don’t know where they’re coming from, and we haven’t been able to identify a common denominator.”
“How do I play into the picture?”
“Your mission is twofold: first, we have identified several Chinese nationals at this particular firm who we believe could be cultivated to provide us with valuable information. In this new position, you will have sufficient access to identify individuals the agency can recruit as assets.”
“Wait a minute. I never planned to be an operative. I’ve always been slated for a support position.”
“As corny as it sounds, your country needs you on this one.” His expression remained serious. “The financial stability of this country hinges on our relationship with the Chinese.”
“Doesn’t spying on their soil create negative ramifications for that relationship?”
“Only if we’re caught. The second part of your mission is to help us identify who has been leaking information to the Chinese. Chatter has picked up several indications that Hong Kong has become a hotbed for the sale of government secrets, and this firm seems to be a favorite place for Chinese intelligence to filter money to their sources. We need to know who is involved and when money transfers are occurring so we can counter any possible threats against our government as a result of these intelligence leaks.”
Devin rubbed both hands over his face. “This is a lot to take in.”
“I know. Believe me, we have looked at a lot of options on securing the intelligence we need on this. We had another operative we intended to send in as well. He only speaks Cantonese, so he wasn’t as strong a candidate. When he got married six months ago, he was reassigned since he was no longer fully eligible to go.”
“What does getting married have to do with anything?” Devin asked, suddenly wary.
“A married man wouldn’t be able to socialize freely in the right circles in Hong Kong, and we didn’t want to risk his wife inadvertently revealing his true purpose.”
“We may have a problem. I’m married.”
“What? Your file doesn’t show anything in it about you being seriously involved with anyone, much less married. When did this happen?”
“Right before Christmas. I ran into my old high school girlfriend, and we eloped.”
“You do realize you were supposed to notify me before this happened, right?”
“I was told I had to inform you if I had any close and continued contact with anyone who is a foreign national. Grace is American.”
“Even if that’s the case, you should have told me.” A hint of panic laced his voice. “Does she know you’re CIA?”
“No. I didn’t know what I would have to do to get permission to tell her, but I knew there was some kind of procedure in place for that.”
“There is a procedure in place, but I’m afraid even with the proper paperwork, your request will be denied.”
“What? Why?”
“We’ve been working on your placement for months. We can’t put someone else in your place at this point. It’s too risky for anyone, even your wife, to know who you really work for.”
“Can my wife come with me?”
“No. As I said, you won’t be included in the same social circles if you’re married. You’ll have to go unaccompanied.”
His heart sank. “For how long?”
“Usually this type of assignment is for at least three years.”
“Three years? I can’t do that.”
“With any luck, we can get what we need within six months. A year tops.”
Six months. It sounded like an eternity, but he and Grace had already managed to survive three months apart.
The internal debate continued to wage as Jalen handed Devin a thick envelope. “Your official offer from the capital group, Revival Financial, is in there, along with your airline tickets, the keys to your new apartment, and a new cell phone.”
“Why do I need a new cell phone?”
“It has the ability to receive encrypted texts. It also prevents anyone from using your current phone to track you.”
“What about calling home to friends and family?”
“Keep it to a minimum. The more you contact people you know at home, the more at risk you all are.” He stood. “You have two weeks before you fly out. We assumed you would want to spend some time with family and friends before you leave, so your flight will come out of Phoenix. From there, you will fly to Los Angeles and stay for a couple days to be briefed on our interests in Hong Kong.
“Of course you know all of this information is top secret and can’t be shared with anyone outside of our unit,” he said.
“What you’re telling me is that my friends and family will think I really work for Revival Financial.”
“You will really work there. You’ll just work for us too.” He stood, and Devin followed suit, then shook the man’s extended hand before he turned to leave. “And, Devin?”
“Yes?”
“Like I said, these situations don’t happen often. Take advantage of it. This can make your career.”
With a nod, Devin turned and headed for the door. The moment he stepped into the hallway, he closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face again. What was he going to tell Grace? And how was he going to survive without her?
Chapter 12
Grace couldn’t wait to tell Devin the news. The offer from Anderson Enterprises was in her backpack, and she could choose to work in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, or Washington, DC. Devin had mentioned three of the four as possibilities for his new job, so things had to work out.
The financial package was more than she had hoped for, and she could already imagine house shopping with him. She made her way through the airport to the security checkpoint, grinning when she saw Devin waiting for her with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. Her footsteps quickened, and she practically ran into his embrace.
“I missed you,” he said, his voice low.
“I missed you too.” She saw the redness in his eyes and narrowed her own. “Have you gotten any sleep lately?”
“Had a paper I needed to finish by this morning,” he admitted. “Tomorrow’s a study day, so I can sleep in for a change.”
He took her bag from her with one hand and kept his other firmly around her waist. “Do you have more luggage?”
“No. Just this.” She managed to keep her news contained until they made it out to his car. As soon as they were settled inside, she turned to face him. “You aren’t going to believe what happened.”
“What?” he said, sounding as excited as she was.
“Anderson Enterprises offered me a job, and they’re giving me a choice of four cities to work in.”
“Grace, that’s fantastic.”
“Have you met with your personnel officer yet? Do you know where they want you to work?”
“They’re still trying to work a few things out. How soon do you have to let Anderson know which city you want?”
“I have to tell them in three weeks. I figure y
ou’ll already be working by then.”
“Probably.” He kept his focus on the road, and Grace felt unease creep in.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“I’m just tired.” He managed a smile. “I’m glad you’re here though. My world doesn’t feel complete when you’re not with me.”
“I feel the same way. I can’t wait until we’re both living in the same house together.”
“I know what you mean.”
* * *
Devin walked into his apartment to the scent of chili and an underlying aroma of lemon furniture polish. He looked around. Several white moving boxes were stacked against the far wall, neatly labeled, and his few pieces of furniture gleamed from a fresh dusting.
“Oh, you’re home.” Grace emerged from the kitchen and greeted him with a kiss. “How did your final go?”
“Okay.” He linked his fingers around her waist. “I can’t believe it. I’m done. No more school. No more studying. No more tests.”
“Don’t gloat too much. I still have five more weeks.”
“Sorry.” He leaned down and kissed her. “But I have to celebrate a little bit. This is big stuff.”
“You’re right. It’s huge. What do you want to do to celebrate? I made chili, but we can go out if you want to.”
“I’d much rather stay in.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. The moment her breath caught, he deepened the kiss. How many times would they be together like this before he had to leave her behind? How many days and weeks and months would it be until they could settle into a home together?
He knew he should tell her the truth, but more than anything, he needed this weekend to get his bearings. His parents would arrive tomorrow, and he wanted to present a united front when they learned he was keeping Grace in his life.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he circled Grace toward the bedroom.
She pulled back and motioned to the kitchen. “What about dinner?”
“We can eat later.” He kissed her again. “Much later.”
* * *
Grace’s hair was still wet from the shower when the doorbell rang. The oddity of answering her husband’s door struck her as she turned the knob. When she saw the stunned expressions of the couple standing on the other side of the threshold, she realized she may have made a mistake in not letting Devin answer it himself.
“Grace.” Catherine’s cool tone vibrated on the crisp spring air. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Shanahan.” Flustered, she stepped back and motioned them inside. “Please come in. I’ll tell Devin you’re here.”
They stepped inside, and she had no sooner closed the door than Devin called out, “Hon, do you know where my white shirt is? I can’t find it.”
“It’s hanging in the bathroom,” Grace called back. She started toward the bedroom, but she had taken only two steps before Devin appeared bare chested in the doorway, shirt in hand. He was so focused on her, he didn’t notice the newcomers.
“Why was my shirt in the bathroom?”
“I hung it there after I ironed it.” She shifted her gaze to his parents and felt his tension rise the moment he saw them.
Devin shrugged his arms into his shirt. “Mom. Dad. What are you doing here? I thought you were going to meet me at graduation.”
“We thought we would drive over with you. We didn’t realize you had company,” Boyd said, looking past Grace.
“Grace’s spring break was last week. She stayed a couple extra days to be here for my graduation.”
“I see.”
Devin motioned to the couch. “Why don’t you sit down and make yourselves comfortable while Grace and I finish getting ready.”
Grace felt her cheeks heating beneath the Shanahans’ glares.
Devin took her hand and pulled her into the bedroom, closing the door between them and his parents.
“I’m so sorry,” Devin whispered. “I had no idea they were going to show up here.”
“I thought you talked to them,” Grace said uneasily. “Do they even know we’re married?”
“Yeah, they know.”
The tone of his voice and his parents’ reaction added up, and Grace managed to put the complete picture together. “They don’t want you to stay married to me.”
“They’re still getting used to the idea of their only child getting married at all. It’s not you. They’ve never liked any girl I’ve dated.”
“I’m not exactly someone you’re dating. Not anymore.”
“No. You’re the woman I love.” He put his hands on her arms, and reluctantly Grace lifted her eyes to meet his. “They’ll adjust eventually. As for today, we’ll suffer through it together, okay?”
“Okay.”
* * *
Devin prayed for calm when he led Grace out of their bedroom, both of them dressed and ready to go. Surely his parents would remember today was an occasion he had been striving toward for years and was one of the few goals he had set for himself that they had wholeheartedly approved of.
“I thought I made myself clear,” his mother said the moment they stepped into the living room. “This is not a time in your life you should be tying yourself down with marriage.”
“Maybe Grace and I should meet you at graduation. I believe you already have your tickets.”
“We’re not finished discussing this.”
“I never said we were,” Devin replied coolly. “However, I’m ready to walk across the stage and receive my diploma. Everything else you want to discuss will have to wait until after I have accomplished that.”
Devin pulled his car keys from his pocket. “Please lock the door when you leave.”
Taking Grace’s hand in his, he pulled her out the door toward his car.
“You aren’t just going to leave them like that, are you?”
“Yep.” He opened her door for her. “For once, I’m going to do what I need to and I’m not going to let them get in the way of it.”
She studied him for a brief moment before sliding into the car. Once she got in and he was settled beside her, she looked at him. “I don’t want to make this day anything less than perfect for you. I’m so sorry being here has caused issues with your parents.”
“Please, Grace. I don’t want to talk about them right now.”
“Okay. How about we talk about how you’re going to walk away from here today with a degree in your hand with Stanford University scripted across the top.” The cheerfulness in her voice was forced, but he appreciated the effort. “How would you like it framed? Black? Wood? Gold? Silver?”
Some of his tension eased out of him, and he started the car. “You don’t have to frame my diploma.”
“Of course I do. This is huge.” She slipped her shoes off and tucked her feet up under her.
“You’re getting awfully comfortable for a five-minute drive.”
“Habit,” she admitted.
Devin glanced in his rearview mirror, hoping to see his parents preparing to follow him. His hands clutched on the wheel when he saw his apartment door still closed, his parents nowhere in sight.
Chapter 13
“Maybe you should call them again,” Grace suggested. She hadn’t seen Devin’s parents at graduation, although the crowd had been large enough that she hoped she had simply overlooked them. They had returned to Devin’s apartment two hours earlier, and thus far, they hadn’t seen or heard from them.
Devin dropped onto the couch. “They’re already gone.”
“Gone where?”
“Grace, I know they didn’t come to my graduation.” Devin looked up at her, his expression weary. “My guess is they waited until we were out of sight and then went straight to the airport.”
She sat down and curled up beside him. “I’m sure they at least went to watch you graduate. That’s why they came to California.”
“Did you see them there?” Devin asked.
“No, but . . .”
“Thei
r tickets would have put them in your section. There’s no way you would have missed them.”
“I’m sorry, Devin. I wish I knew what I could do to make this better.”
“There’s nothing that can fix this. My relationship with my parents was broken long before you came along.”
“Do you still want to go out to dinner?”
“Sorry. I’m not really in the mood.” He pulled out his phone. “Do you mind if we order in?”
“That’s fine.”
She watched him pull up a contact on his phone and dial. He spoke in a Chinese dialect, and she tried to figure out which one. As soon as he hung up, she asked, “Cantonese?”
“Very good.” He put his hand on hers and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Do you know that my parents had Jun and Liwei working for them for more than twenty years, and they still don’t know that they had to learn to talk to each other.”
“Why did they have to learn to talk to each other?”
“Jun’s native language is Mandarin. Liwei’s is Cantonese. My parents don’t seem to even know there’s a difference.”
“I thought it odd when we visited them how much it annoyed them when you didn’t speak in English.”
“I think it brings up bad memories.” Grace watched him expectantly, and he continued. “My first words were in Mandarin. When one of my mother’s friends realized I was speaking to Jun, not just babbling, my mom was embarrassed that I didn’t speak English yet.”
“Do you realize how cool it is that you can speak a foreign language at all, much less be fluent in two that are so difficult?”
“I can speak them,” Devin corrected. “My reading isn’t exactly fluent.”
“I still think it’s pretty amazing.” When Devin stiffened, Grace drew her eyebrows together. “What’s wrong?”
“You may not think it’s amazing when I tell you my news.”
“What news?”
“I got my assignment from my personnel officer.”
Grace was afraid to ask for details. If he had neglected to tell her earlier, it couldn’t be good. “And?”
“I’m being sent to Hong Kong.”
Her jaw dropped. “Hong Kong?”
Kept Secrets Page 8