by Becky McGraw
“If you’re going to be my wife, I thought I needed to find out if we’re compatible. If I kiss you and you cringe, or kick me in the balls the gig will be up. I don’t want this mission to turn into a goat fuck like the last few you’ve been involved with. You need to be the docile little subservient trophy wife, or this isn’t going to work.”
Docile? Subservient? Trophy Wife? Susan shook her head, because her brain just wouldn’t process his words around the overload of endorphins swimming through her bloodstream. “Your what?!? What isn’t going to work? What in the hell are you talking about?”
His chin inched up, and a smug smile kicked up the corner of his lips. “You want to be an agent at Deep Six? Well, you’re hired for this one mission. After that, you need to have another job lined up, because you’re fired. You can’t cry foul then can you? I gave you a chance, hired you for a job you were qualified for, but I’ll no longer need your services after this mission.” Dave’s eyes challenged her, as he finished, “I also called in favors to try and get you two interviews for next week. You better impress the hell out of one of them. Tell them you can start in three weeks. I figure that’s how long it’ll take to wrap things up on this mission.”
She was promoted, but she was also fired? He’d gotten her job interviews? Why? “You’re a study in abnormal psychology, Dave Logan. They should document your case in a medical journal somewhere. You hate me, but you’ve kissed me silly to see if we are compatible for a mission. You’re promoting me, but you’ve just fired me. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.”
“Welcome to my world since you walked through my front door, sweetheart.”
“Do you have a case brief?” Susan might be fired after this case, but she was going to redeem herself. Restore her confidence in herself at the very least. “I’d like to be prepared.”
“I’ll brief you this weekend at the compound,” Dave replied gruffly, as he walked behind his desk and leaned down to rifle through his desk drawer. He came out with a pistol which he shoved into the holster inside the waistband of his jeans. His voice changed to brisk and business-like when he continued, “Our appointment probably won’t be until the end of next week at the earliest. Dex has to work up a portfolio for us, and Mac will need to make an appointment once the new Mr. and Mrs. Dave Lawrence exist in a background search.”
“I’m going to see my sister this weekend,” Susan informed just as briskly. She had to visit with the bursar at the college and see if they could work out payment arrangements for Jenna’s tuition. Jenna said she had it handled, but Susan wanted to make sure. She also wanted to find out more about this project. If it paid only a small portion of Jenna’s tuition, she could well end up on the curb in front of Wellington College. But Susan was torn, because being given work as an agent here would give her more money to actually pay that tuition instead of just delaying the inevitable. And it would give her an opportunity to prove herself to Dave Logan.
“Well, that’s too damned bad. I was going to see my parents this weekend too, but the plan has changed. Since you can’t afford to do it yourself, we’re going shopping for some appropriate clothes for you, and I need some things too,” Dave replied as he walked around the desk. “We’ll stop by your house so you can pick up whatever you need, before we head out to the compound. You can stay in one of the spare rooms until we’re finished with the mission.”
Anger bristled the hair at the back of Susan’s neck. “You might want to ask if I want to do this, first of all,” Susan snapped, as he grabbed the door to open it.
“Docile and subservient, Susan. I know it’s a stretch for you, but that’s how it’s going to be, or I’ll find someone else to go with me.”
The only thing stretched right now was her patience with Dave Logan. The man was overbearing, obnoxious, a total tool. But he was also her temporary boss. Susan hoped she could manage to keep from telling him to fuck off like she had her last boss, because the words danced at the end of her tongue at that moment.
She stopped in the doorway to look up at him. “We can both do what we need to do on Saturday, then go shopping on Sunday,” she suggested, trying to keep her calm. “Surely it won’t take a whole day to buy clothes. I hate to shop anyway, so it shouldn’t take more than a few hours at the most.”
Logan looked like he would argue, but he nodded, surprising her. “I want you at the compound by seven a.m. on Sunday morning. Don’t make me wait, or I’ll leave without you. We have to be back in time for our meeting with the guys.”
Tired of his overbearing attitude, Susan snapped, “Yes, Master.”
“I like the sound of that. That wasn’t so hard was it?” Dave replied, with enough snark to set her teeth on edge. A nasty snicker punctuated his words and magnified her anger.
Susan knew right at that moment, she needed to remove herself from the situation, before she did what she really wanted to do right then. Kick him in the balls hard enough to send them up to choke him. But it seemed Dave Logan didn’t realize just where she was mentally when she passed him in the doorway, because he slapped her on the ass, and not lightly.
Without thought, Susan rounded on him gave him a quick punch to the gut. Logan’s breath left him in a whoosh and he bent at the waist. She leaned down over him. “Remember that when you think of doing that again, asshole,” she growled, her fists bunched at her side as she fought the urge to finish him off.
She wasn’t a violent person, usually only used her skills for self-defense as she was taught. Logan was down, not a threat right then, but Susan wanted to teach him a lesson so bad she could taste it. Somehow she managed to hold back. Just barely.
“Just practicing for wedded bliss,” Dave said sarcastically, as he stood back up. “And getting my money’s worth for that lawsuit you’re going to file.”
“You’re practicing for your funeral, is what you’re doing. Do that again and I won’t sue you, I’ll kill you,” she hissed through her teeth.
A door opened down the hall and they both turned that way. Slade walked toward them, and Susan couldn’t stop from taking the opportunity to give the frustrating man behind her another quick jab with her elbow. He grunted, and cursed loudly.
“Remember that if you have the urge to play caveman again, boss man. Keep your damned hands to yourself,” she grumbled under her breath as she walked to her desk.
Slade strode to her desk with Lola on his heels, and cast a glance at Dave who was back upright and glaring in her direction. “Looks like you’ve had a rough week, Susie Q,” he said with wide grin for her, and a nod at Dave. “I better get you out of here before you kick his ass. You want to go have a drink before you head home?”
“No, she does not,” Dave growled as he walked over to her desk to stand between Slade and her desk. “Susan has other plans.” He looked almost like a pit bull claiming his territory as he gave Slade a push. Lola growled and Dave threw the dog a hot glare. “If you want a drink, go find Carmen. We’ve got work to do this weekend.”
“Oh, yeah?” Slade asked, glancing at Susan curiously.
“I need you, Mac and Dex to be at the compound Sunday afternoon so we can prep for an op. Let the other guys know.”
“Mac and Dex? Do I need to call any of the guys back from Houston?” Slade asked.
“No, it’ll be me and Susan, with you three as support,” Dave replied. When it looked as if Slade would question him further, he held up his hand. “I’ll brief you on Sunday.”
Huffing a breath, Slade backed up then turned. “Fine, I’ll see you Sunday.” He walked a few steps toward his office, but stopped to turn and wink at Susan. “Call me if you need me, Snapper.” Susan bit back a laugh when the big goof snapped his teeth shut making them click.
“She won’t need you, Slade,” Dave grated, drawing her attention. Their eyes met, and his anger singed her. “I have things under control.”
“Sure you do, big guy,” Slade replied, with another bodacious wink for Susan. “You just keep thinking tha
t.” He threw his head back and laughed loudly, as he walked down the hallway.
Slade was right, Susan thought. Logan might be her boss, but he was not going to control her. She could be a team player, and would let him be the coach, but he was absolutely not going to run over her. She was not a doormat, and wasn’t about to become one.
“I’ll be at your compound on Sunday morning at eight. I have to drive back from west of Austin and I’m not getting up at the asscrack of dawn to do that, or breaking the speed limit to get a ticket you’re not going to pay for. The stores at the mall don’t open until ten on Sunday anyway.”
He looked a little shocked at that piece of information. He would, he was a clueless man, but Susan had to admit she was just as clueless. She didn’t shop either, not voluntarily anyway. The only reason she knew the mall hours was because she’d had to take her sister shopping when she was home on break.
“Maybe we should go on Saturday then,” he said gruffly. “That’s not going to leave us enough time to get back to the compound for our meeting with the guys.”
Susan grabbed her duffle from under her desk and threw the strap over her shoulder. “No,” she said flatly. “I’m going to see my sister, and the guys will wait if we’re late. Have a good weekend at your parent’s ranch, and I’ll see you Sunday.” Dave opened his mouth, but Susan turned her back as if she didn’t notice. This was not up for discussion, she thought, as she headed to the front door of the office.
Dave Logan might not care about his family enough to go check on them often, but Susan did. Jenna was the only family she had left, and she meant everything to her. The vague phone call she’d had with Jenna the other day had been bothering her since she hung up. Susan had gotten that feeling she got when something just wasn’t right at that school. That same feeling had saved her own life more than once working for the FBI. Before she left Wellington College this weekend, she was going to know what was going on with her sister, and she was going to know everything about that special project Jenna was involved with.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“I’m fine—I just have the flu!” Jenna said with frustration, her voice sounding stronger than it had since Susan arrived to find her in bed in her dorm room. “I’ll stay in bed this weekend, and rest. I’ll be better on Monday.” Jenna groaned and shut her eyes, putting a hand over her stomach. “I have to be better.”
Susan doubted that. Jenna’s fair cheeks were bright red, her face was oddly swollen, and her hands were too. The diamond-chip ring their father had given Susan on her sixteenth birthday, which she passed down to her sister on her same birthday, was nearly embedded in her usually long and thin ring finger. That was not a symptom that went along with the flu to her recollection.
Worry filled her, as Susan sat on the edge of the bed to wipe Jenna’s blonde hair from her sweaty forehead. “Then you need to let me take you to the hospital. Flu can kill you too.”
“I’m not going to the hospital, it’s just the flu,” Jenna hissed, batting Susan’s hand away. “Stop mothering me, Susan. I’m a grown up now, and can take care of myself.”
At her sister’s tone, Susan’s anger escalated too, but she tried her best to keep it from seeping into her own voice. They didn’t need to end up in an argument before she left here today. If she left. “It’s my job, kiddo. It’s been my job, since Mom and Dad died.”
Jenna sighed. “Thanks for all you’ve done for me, Susan. You have been a great mother to me. You did a good job, but it ended on my twenty-first birthday. I know I’ve been a burden to you, and I’m a big girl now. I’ll never know if I can take care of myself until you let me find out. You need to concentrate on your life now, find a new job.”
So that’s what this was about. Her sister was worried about her finances, and she knew exactly how expensive this school was now, so she was feeling guilty. “I found a new job,” Susan informed evenly. “I should have the money for your tuition soon.”
“I told you that was taken care of.” Jenna dragged her eyes away. “I wish you’d just trust that I can do things for myself. The tuition is paid, so you don’t have to worry. Use the money for something you want.”
“I want you to finish college, and be a kid while you can. Trust me, being an adult out in the real world isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
Jenna’s eyes flew back to hers, and there was fire there again. “If you don’t back off, I’ll never know that will I? I’m not a kid anymore, and I’m ready to be in the real world, Susan. I will finish college, get a job, and make a life of my own. It’s time for you to stop worrying about me and do the same.”
Her baby sister had just told her to get a life. That was hilarious, but sad at the same time. Jenna had grown up, Susan just wished she was making better choices. “I will always worry about you, even when you’re thirty-six like I am. You’re the only family I have, kid—Jenna.”
“And you’re the only family I have. I want us to stay close—I just need some breathing room.” She lifted her hand weakly to pinch her fingers together. “Just this much.”
Suddenly, Jenna’s eyes widened, her cheeks puffed out and she clamped that hand over her mouth. The other she used to throw back the covers and swat Susan off of the bed. Jenna’s feet hit the floor, she stumbled toward the small bathroom in the corner of the room, but when she tried the knob, it was locked. She cast frantic eyes at Susan, and pounded on the door.
Callie, Jenna’s roommate, must be in there, Susan thought as she sprinted to the small trashcan beside the desk. She shoved it under Jenna’s chin, and she promptly threw up. After a few heaves, Jenna shoved the can back at her, before stumbling toward the bed again. She sat on the edge and held her arm over her stomach, leaning over it, while she rocked and moaned. It was obvious to her Jenna was in a lot of pain, and there was more going on here than the flu. Susan pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “You’re going to the hospital, now.”
Jenna shot to her feet and grabbed Susan’s hand. “No! I’m not going!” she said with a growl that was very unlike her happy, bubbly and very mild sister. “If you call them, I’m still not going. I have a trip with the project staff next week, and I have to go.”
Susan had to wonder if that project didn’t have something to do with her sister’s illness. Maybe Jenna was just stretching herself too thin with schoolwork, and participating in that project. She was going to find out in just a few minutes. “About that project, I want to know what it’s about, so I’m going to speak with the bursar bef—”
“You aren’t speaking with anyone, Sue. I’ve taken your name off of the list of people they can speak with about my education. I’m the only one responsible for me now. And I also signed a confidentiality agreement, so I can’t discuss the project with you either.”
Heart pounding in her ears, Susan rushed over to grab Jenna’s shoulders. “What?!?” she shrieked, her stomach taking a lurch of its own.
Jenna shrugged. “I had to do that to get into the project.”
“They won’t speak to me now?” Susan asked, trying and failing to keep the anger out of her voice. She had every right to be angry.
“No, I’m the only one the bursar or dean will speak to now, since I’m responsible for myself.” Jenna lifted her chin, and swallowed. “I signed the paperwork to participate in the program, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Nothing she could do about it? Susan would just see about that. She had no idea who this belligerent, hardheaded young woman was, but she couldn’t say she liked her one bit. This girl was definitely not Jenna, because she would never do this kind of thing. Susan released her shoulders and stepped back. “I’m very disappointed, Jenna. I’m also pretty shocked that you’d do this to me.”
“It’s done. There’s no undoing it, Susan. Just accept it, and trust me for once. You really don’t have any other choice,” Jenna replied.
She did trust Jenna. The person she didn’t trust was the bursar at this college. The pinch-faced old woman
had obviously talked Jenna into doing this. The woman didn’t like Susan, had never liked her, and didn’t bother to try and hide the fact. Susan was sure she was more than glad to be rid of her, to deal solely with her more impressionable sister.
The bathroom door opened and a cloud of steam billowed out, before Callie walked out of the cloud wrapped in a white bath towel. Her dark, wet hair hung in clumps at her shoulders, and as she walked over to her, Susan saw that the usually waif-thin girl had either gained a great deal of weight, or her face was just as swollen as Jenna’s. Maybe a little of both.
“Hey, Susan,” Callie said, her voice sounding as weak and tired as Jenna’s.
“You have the flu too?” Susan asked as she watched the girl shuffle over and plop down on her bed.
Callie’s eyes flew up to Susan’s, before she dropped them to her hands in her lap. “It’s the drug—” she started, but Jenna cleared her throat very loudly and shot her a glare. Callie glanced at her, and revised what she was about to say. “I must have it too, because I don’t feel so hot today either. I heard it’s going around.”
A cold breeze zipped down her spine before shooting up to raise the hair on the back of her neck. Something wasn’t right here. Callie had almost let the cat out of the bag, but her sister had stopped her. The drug? Ice water flowed through Susan’s veins as she asked, “What drug and who all is sick?”
Callie’s eyes flew up again, and her hands stilled. “Oh, um—” she stumbled, sent a panicked glance at Jenna, then obviously lied, “I think the flu medication is making us sicker. Several of the girls involved in the project are sick. We must be passing around the bug.”
The mysterious project.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll all feel better next week for your trip.” A trip her sister wouldn’t be taking if she had anything to do with it. But arguing with Jenna wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Susan was going straight to the horse’s mouth…or face. Bertie Williams the long-time bursar at Wellington College was about to be visited by The Barracuda.