She knew he was in town. He had been at her place ever since. She'd said she had to work for her father for the next two days, but then she'd take the rest of the week off and they would explore the Virginia mountains.
He was looking forward to it. Some hills where no one would be shooting at him.
She came home early that day, and said she had cleared her calendar.
"Now, is it the mountains, or did you have enough of the outdoors for a while? We can stay here and gorge ourselves with great order-in food, wine, and cheeses you've never even heard of. I found this great little place-" She stopped. "What?"
"It's just good to hear your voice again. Going to take me a while to figure out that foreign language that you're speaking, but I'll come around."
She leaned back against him and pulled his arms around her. "I'm sorry that Kenya was such a bad one."
She felt him flinch. "Hey, don't be so surprised," she said. "I told you I know what you do. I also have some connections so I know where you go, when, and why. The senator can find out just about anything he wants to know that's going on in this town, in the country, or in the armed forces. He says it's part of his job. If he knows it, I know it."
"Damn few people know what we do or when we do it," he said softly.
"That's the way it's supposed to be. You're the undercover attack force of the CIA."
He turned her around to face him. "Don't you ever tell my mother. Dad knows, but don't ever let it slip to Mom."
"Promise. You like that lady, don't you?"
"A little."
She pinched him. He pretended he didn't feel it. She settled back with her head on his chest.
"Two-week leave, right?"
"True. Your spies do good work."
"Nope, just a guess." She turned and faced him. Her clear eyes stared into his. "Have you thought about what we talked about the last time? About maybe moving into some other area of Navy work?"
"Thought about it. You know we lost one man this tour. I've been with Red for over two years. A good man. Blown away by a damn trip wire on a hand grenade." Ardith shivered. He held her tightly. "Sorry," he said.
"No, that's why we need to talk, but we have time. We have most of two weeks left. I told Dad to expect me when he sees me come in the door."
She kept watching him. "I so desperately hope… I so hope…" He kissed her and she whimpered, and kissed him back.
He held her gently. "How about a week here in the lap of unmitigated luxury, making love all night and sleeping until noon. After a week of that, we'll decide on the mountains or the sandy beaches of Florida."
"Aye, aye, sir. Right now I want to be the only platoon you're concerned about."
Wednesday, August 20
1014 hours
Ardith Manchester's apartment
Washington, D.C.
Murdock woke from a dreamless, relaxing sleep to the chimes-type ring of Ardith's phone. Usually such a soft ringing wouldn't wake him. Ardith reached a bare arm across him and picked up the instrument.
"Yes?"
She paused and frowned. "Who?" She scowled. "Why would you think that?" Ardith listened a moment, then silently handed him the instrument.
"Yes?"
"Murdock. You're a hard man to find."
He recognized the sound of Don Stroh's voice. "How did you?"
"Hey, I have friends in high places too. Doesn't matter. Just wanted to alert you. There is something nasty building out there. No cause for action just yet. But we're keeping our eyes on it. Some of the satellite stuff is on the scary side. Didn't mean to spoil your leave. It's only half over. So enjoy."
"Stroh."
"Yeah, Murdock?"
"Why don't you…"
"What, Blake?"
"Never mind. When we have more secure communications, I want you to keep me up to date with briefings. Right?"
"You got it, tiger. I'll call you in a week. We're worried about something that's brewing. Nothing immediate. Two, three months off. Probably. I'll stay in touch."
"Oh, I bet you will. You sound worried."
"Could get terribly nasty. But not for a while. Have fun."
"Yeah, Stroh. You have fun too."
They hung up.
"How in the world did he find you… here?" she asked.
Murdock grinned. "Hey, lady. He's with the CIA. You think you have contacts? He probably knows what kind of wine we had last night with that amazing Indonesian dinner we had sent in."
"Oh."
She pushed over her bare body against his and purred. "Just so he doesn't have a camera in my bedroom." She yelped and sat up suddenly and looked around.
Murdock laughed and pulled her down beside him.
So, something big was brewing. Two months off at least. That would give him just about enough time to get two or four new men integrated and working smoothly with the platoon, get the new weapons tested and see if he wanted to order half a dozen, and go through some rigorous field training again with the whole platoon. Yeah, sounded about right.
"Blake Murdock, where in the world are you right now?"
He grinned, slid under the covers, and attacked her gently with her complete approval.
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Battleground sts-6 Page 26