True Deceptions (True Lies)

by Veronica Forand

  Cassie tried to listen to the main parts of Simon’s conversation, but the two men spoke low amid a thousand competing sounds, and she could only understand every fifth word or so. Simon gave Mr. Lee his most reserved smile, the one that said he’d take everything into consideration, but offered no guarantees. Mr. Lee glanced over at her with a frown, obviously not wanting the assistant within hearing range. Simon simply ignored her.

  She left them, and their secrecy, to get a better look at the new generation of Pelican drones. Three different models were on display. Two were quadcopters, and the third looked like a large model airplane. Fairly basic, nothing game changing, but if they handled the tasks the buyers required, then no one would complain.

  “Beautiful machines, aren’t they?” a friendly American male voice said from behind her.

  Cassie turned around to see one of the most handsome men she’d seen in her life. Wearing faded jeans and a moss-green golf shirt, he stood at her height and had a lean build. His face could be on the cover of GQ, no Photoshop necessary. Not cute, not rugged like Simon, but more debonair, with a five o’clock shadow emerging several hours before dinner. His short brown hair fluttered in the breeze revealing blond streaks, like a halo.

  “Yes. My father flew model airplanes.”

  “These are a bit more sophisticated than a model airplane, but if you’re game, I’ll let you chose one. We can fly it together.”

  “That one?” She pointed to her favorite, the black quadcopter with the remote viewing goggles. It allowed the controller to enter a virtual flight simulation from the perspective of the camera mounted on the drone. She’d already flown similar models extensively while in San Diego.

  He lifted it and moved to a launch circle. Then he walked over to a table and picked up the hand held controller and goggles.

  His smile was so welcoming, she had a feeling he had no problem with women.

  “I’m Dane, the sales representative for Pelican.”

  “I’m Cassie.”

  She glanced back to Simon who sent a warning in her direction, but didn’t budge from his conversation with Mr. Lee. Fine, she could have some fun while waiting for him.

  “It’s nice to meet you. It’s not easy to find beautiful women here.” The salesman’s eyes crinkled as he smiled, and Cassie felt appreciated for a moment, even if it was only for her looks. At least it was something. He handed her the remote and the goggles, which looked like high-tech sunglasses.

  When Dane powered up the copter, he provided a brief description of the controller and how to operate the machine. She could see a full visual field from the perspective of the small camera mounted at the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV.

  With a soft touch on her shoulders as a heads-up, Dane’s arms reached around her. He placed his hands over hers to control the flight pattern and took control of the machine. He helped her guide it around the display area as though she hadn’t flown one like this for several hundred hours in war game simulations.

  She laughed at the absurdity of her cover. “Thanks. You make it look so easy.”

  “You just need a little practice. You’re doing great.” He pressed closer into her back and continued to control the drone, only pretending to give her any freedom to fly it—similar to Simon’s technique in bed.

  After a few minutes, Dane brought the drone back and parked it in the landing circle.

  “What did you think?”

  “Fantastic.” She removed the goggles and handed them back to him. “I’d love your job, demonstrating how to fly these machines.”

  He laughed as though his job were a big joke. “It’s great. The job permits me to travel all over the world and meet people like you.” He remained in her personal space. “What brings you out to the desert?”

  “She’s with me.” Simon arrived and stretched his hand out to shake Dane’s hand. Mr. Lee had disappeared into the crowd.

  “Lucky you. And you are?”

  “Simon Dunn.” He almost growled the words.

  “Dane O’Brien,” Dane replied, with a smirk that contained hostile undertones.

  They shook hands. Both men seemed to tighten their grips in an almost adolescent struggle before they let each other go. In terms of might and brutal force, Simon had Dane by inches and width. Dane, however, acted as though he wasn’t intimidated. When they backed away from each other, they transformed into friendly business associates.

  “Mr. O’Brien, just the man I’m looking for. I seem to be in need of about twenty micro-drones with vertical take off and landing capabilities.”

  “No problem. Your Cassie seemed quite capable of handling our base model quad.” Dane clasped Cassie’s shoulders from behind her. She couldn’t see Dane’s face, but Simon’s scowl returned.

  “Fine. If she can fly it, a ground unit of soldiers would be able to learn to operate them quickly. What temperatures can they fly in?” Simon leaned toward them almost daring Dane to continue holding her.

  Cassie nodded, pretending to be a party to the conversation, although she hadn’t been informed what the drones would be used for and where they’d be flown.

  “Do you need to handle extreme temperatures?” Dane asked.

  Simon nodded. “And wind and rain patterns.”

  “Then you’ll need the Pelican Quad 680. It’s capable of handling wind up to a ten on the Beaufort scale and will work fine in temperatures from minus twenty-nine degrees Celsius up to forty-three degrees. It can fly by remote control or autonomously with the aid of a GPS navigation system. The other is a mere toy compared to this one. I’d be happy to explain more during dinner.” He turned his focus to Cassie with more attention than Simon had bestowed on her since they’d arrived in the desert.

  “Sorry, I have plans. Maybe we can meet later,” Simon said in a voice that revealed not one ounce of pleasure.

  “Send me the time and location.” Dane turned back to Cassie. “Will you be joining us?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Cassie, we need to go.” Simon walked away, and she hustled to catch up, leaving Dane behind.

  The sooner Simon could finish the task and remove Cassie from Jordan, the better. There were too many things that could go wrong—risks he’d accept for himself, but not for her. In addition, their inability to share a room while here drove him batty. Not only did he miss her in his bed, he missed their long conversations about everything from world politics to the best running paths around London.

  When she arrived in the lobby for dinner, Simon’s powers of speech disappeared in a fog created by the woman he shouldn’t want so much. She wore a white gown that covered from her clavicle to the pulse point in her wrist and then flowed down her body, pooling on the floor. Modest, yet the material made the most of her subtle curves. She was sexy as hell. She’d twisted her hair up to reveal that swan’s neck, and ears that begged to be sucked on. Everyone in the restaurant, men and women, stopped and stared at her entrance. The queen herself would not have garnered as much attention.

  Simon escorted her to a table on the garden terrace. A thousand stars against a black sky provided the ambiance. The table contained three small candles and a vase of black irises. Cassie observed the restaurant with wide eyes. Her enthusiasm made treating her to the best a pleasure.

  “A bottle of Saint George Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, if you have it,” Simon ordered.

  “Excellent choice, sir.” The waiter departed.

  Cassie seemed enthralled by everything in the room except him. No doubt she was frustrated, but he refused to reveal her expertise to anyone. She needed more patience.

  She stared across the restaurant, never meeting his gaze. “We can drink wine in Jordan?”

  “Yes. And they’re especially happy about this bottle, because Saint George is a Jordanian vineyard. Several vintages have been rated in the exceptional range.”

  “Nice.” Her frown, however, chilled the mood.

  Why did his chest ache when she made such
a sad face? He wanted to reach out and touch her, comfort her. Would the world end if he did? No. But could he stop at just one touch? Doubtful. They weren’t married, and she was supposed to be his assistant. In other parts of the world, a businessman could flaunt his relationship with his assistant, but here it would draw unnecessary attention to them.

  “Trust me, angel. Your time is coming. Patience.”

  “And then what? After all this?” She gestured around the room. “When we’re done. Are we done?”

  If he could keep her with him indefinitely he would, but life never worked in his favor. “You don’t belong here. The quicker I can move you to a safer job, the better.”

  The waiter returned with the wine and poured them each a glass. Simon sniffed his glass as though a sommelier, except he was looking for deadly impurities. It wasn’t foolproof, but it might prevent another Anna Marie incident. The thought of Cassie harmed in any way tormented his conscience.

  “Could we have your mezze dishes without meat, but served with shrak?” he ordered.

  “Yes, sir.” The waiter took off again, leaving an open mouthed Cassie at the table.

  “We’re finally eating normal food today?”

  “No, normal would involve meat, but I thought you’d prefer something lighter.”

  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you cared.”

  He did care, but he wished he didn’t. “A healthy partner doesn’t complain as much.”

  “Have you ever had a complaining partner?”

  “The biggest wimps I’ve worked with tended to be young men who thought they could handle life and death situations. They couldn’t. When they had to make the big decisions, they crashed like a house of cards in a tornado. So far I’ve been impressed by your calm and your patience.”

  “Thanks.” Her smile arrived at the same time the waiter brought eight small dishes of food including fresh olives, vegetables, hummus, tabbouleh, and dolmas, perfectly prepared stuffed grape leaves. Her smile brightened even further. A man could become lost in that smile. Simon needed to remember that and take precautions.

  “What did you think of flying the drone today?” he asked.

  “It was fun.”

  Using a slice of cucumber, she scooped up some hummus and popped the entire piece into her mouth. A small moan escaped her throat. A tiny bit of hummus remained on her lip, and she used her tongue to lick it off. If she continued to eat her meal in such a sensual manner, he’d be tempted to clasp her by the hand and drag her up to his room.

  He tightened his fist and pictured her walking around the exhibition hall, all business. The environment in Jordan at this time of year would be intimidating for most people, but Cassie had handled it like a pro. Tons of military brass, diplomats, and businessmen either looked through her or at her most intimate body parts, and not many spoke to her as an equal. Things had changed in the world since Simon had started his arms business under the umbrella of MI6. Women were more and more accepted as players. Cassie’s beauty, however, blocked her from the good old boy’s club. They didn’t want a woman at their table distracting them from the millions to be made.

  His hand inched over to touch hers, but he held back. Jordan’s mores were more liberal than the rest of the Middle East, but he couldn’t be too forward with her in public. “Does Pelican meet your expectations?”

  “Depends on what their final use will be.” A small spark of intelligence and confidence flickered in those blue eyes of hers.

  “According to Mr. Lee, we need long distance drones capable of carrying five extra kilograms.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Good. The UAVs will be operated by ground personnel.”

  She remained silent for a few minutes, completely lost in her thoughts. After a sip of wine, she continued. “There are drones that can hover without having the operator constantly maintain the controls, allowing the operator to multitask. Depending on their purpose, that might be a better option.”

  As she spoke about her specialty, her confidence rose. He needed to bring her up to speed with what Mr. Lee had requested in their meeting. “We’ll ask Mr. O’Brian if the more advanced one has that capability.”

  She nodded. “Good. What are the add-ons?”

  “I’ll tell you later.” He couldn’t tell her yet what the drones would be required to carry, or she might back out. He sipped his wine.

  “I hope it includes a small winch or hook. They’re useful, especially in smaller UAVs.”

  And then the night took a nosedive. Dane, aka “Satan with a West Coast attitude,” stopped at their table.

  Acting as though he didn’t know Dane’s actual position with the CIA took all of Simon’s control. Cassie would only see the friendly salesman instead of the cold-blooded killer he really was. And his old friend would use that cover to try to win Cassie away from him.

  “Mind if I join you?” Dane asked Cassie.

  “Yes,” Simon replied.

  His words were futile as Dane had already pulled up a chair and waved at the waiter for another wineglass.

  “How are you enjoying your visit to Jordan, Cassie?” He ripped off a piece of the shrak and scooped up some of the eggplant and tomato dish.

  “So far, all I’ve seen is the SOFEX complex, but I hope to see Petra before we leave.”

  “If I have time on Wednesday, I’d be happy to escort you around. Petra is breathtaking. There’s a small café there that serves the most amazing pizza. I bet your favorite toppings are black olive and peppers.”

  “I love black olives,” she responded with an uncharacteristic giggle.

  Dane flashed his best smile directly at Cassie and ignored Simon. She responded with a welcoming laugh.

  Damn.

  The waiter set a new glass on the table, pouring Dane too generous an amount for a person who was about to be evicted.

  He raised his glass in a toast to Cassie. “To amazing pizza and beautiful women to share it with.”

  Simon took a sip of his wine in order to keep from punching Dane in the face. His timing, as always, provided the maximum disruption in Simon’s evening.

  The eyes that had nearly stopped Simon’s heart a minute ago now focused exclusively on Dane. “I haven’t had a good pizza since leaving the States.”

  Dane gave a mock show of surprise. “Where have you been living, under a rock?”

  “She’s been living with me. Don’t you have someone to meet with tonight?”

  “Nope. I was hoping to enjoy the company of a surly Englishman and a beautiful blonde. Where were you before finding yourself stuck with such a stick in the mud?”

  “California.”

  “So am I. I have a place in San Francisco.”

  “I grew up in San Diego.” She beamed at Dane as though she’d been introduced to a long lost relative.

  “We’re practically neighbors. I’ve been down to San Diego for work. Where did you live?” Dane leaned on the table, all elbows and bad manners, but Cassie didn’t seem to mind.

  “Solana Beach. Just a small condo, but two blocks from the ocean.” Memories of her home must be flooding her mind, because she appeared dewy-eyed. San Diego was one part of her fabricated history that held a link to Catherine Wallace.

  “A great place. Less crowded beaches, good restaurants. We should travel there together sometime.”

  “Dane,” Simon growled a warning.

  The worm grinned and continued his pursuit of Simon’s date, as he’d done with many of Simon’s companions in the past. He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “If you ever want to get together, call me.”

  She took it.

  Mission accomplished, Dane downed the rest of his wine, paid for by Simon, clasped Cassie’s hand, and kissed her good-bye on the cheek. Cassie stared after him, her smile still lingering. Simon tightened his hand into a fist and took a long slow breath. He required Dane’s assistance to finish this job…and then he could kill him.

&nb
sp; Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, Simon met with a few suppliers he’d used in the past. Cassie was less than enthusiastic to return to the exhibition site. He tried to include her in some of the more benign conversations, but most of his contacts didn’t trust anyone they hadn’t known for years.

  Her fidgeting hands never rested, tapping at her leg and pulling at the edge of her blazer. She had to be bored. She wanted more responsibility. Her role, however, would be more effective if she didn’t give away her background. At least, not yet. Her eyes shifted to the clock in one of the displays. Perhaps this was for the best. He needed to get rid of her for an hour or so in order to meet with Dane in private. The less she knew about certain players in this world, the safer she’d be later on.

  “Cassie, would you run over to the Omnicore Explosive Site? I need the price for thirty-five pounds of gray smokeless powder. They have a special exhibition price list that offers discounts if I order the supplies while the conference is in session.”

  “What about lunch?”

  “You can grab something on your way there. It’s in Hall C. I have a fairly long meeting to attend. We’ll reconvene in two hours by the Raytheon platform.”

  “Have a good meeting.” She strode off, catching the attention of several nearby men, who grinned at her hasty exit. She’d caught the attention of the entire conference. Many of his associates had asked about her status. He was firm in saying she was off-limits to everyone, especially to Dane. In another lifetime, she’d be free to find someone else. As long as she worked with Simon, however, she’d remain his companion and, hopefully, his bedmate.

  He walked over to one of the more exclusive private dining spots in SOFEX and met up with his old rival.

  Clasping Dane on the shoulders with more of a punch than an embrace, Simon focused his thoughts back on business. “What the hell are you doing on this side of the world?”

  They walked through flowing silk curtains into a room filled with dark wood tables and chairs and were seated at a table covered with crystal glasses, silver pieces, and red linen napkins.