Christine continued, “Lonnie’s out for revenge against the country he believes betrayed him. If you think he’s going to stop there, you’re wrong. You turned him in, and you testified against him. He’s not going to stop until his revenge is complete.”
“When do you need an answer?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Let me talk things over with Angie, and I’ll let you know in a day or two.”
“Thanks,” Christine said as she rose from her chair.
They walked Christine to the door and watched her step into the SUV, which drove slowly down the driveway before disappearing around the bend. After the front door closed, he turned to Angie.
She spoke first. “Your mind’s already made up, isn’t it?”
“I think so.”
“You said you were going to get a safer job. One where you didn’t have to put your life on the line. Think of me and Madeline, the impact on us if something happened to you. Your first responsibility is to your wife and daughter now, not your country.”
“Taking care of my family starts with money. I need a job, and one that pays well. We’ve got bills to pay and college to save for. Whatever job they have in mind can’t be any more dangerous than my previous one. Even more important, I have a responsibility to protect you and Maddy. Christine’s right — Lonnie will eventually come after me. You know as well as I do that he’s got a mean streak and a get-even attitude. Given what he’s done in New York, the sooner he’s back behind bars the better.”
Angie stared at him for a long moment, and he could see the tears welling in her eyes. He leaned forward and placed his forehead against hers and caressed her cheek with his hand.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. We’ll find Lonnie and put him in prison again, and this time, he won’t get out. I’ll be safe. You and Maddy will be safe. I promise.”
“Okay,” Angie said, forcing a smile as she wiped her tears away.
Without another word, she headed to the kitchen, Harrison following her, where she moved the coffee cups from the table to the sink. After rinsing them, she placed her hands on the edge of the counter. Her shoulders remained tense as she stared out the window. Something else was bothering her.
Harrison stopped behind her. “What’s wrong?”
She turned toward him. “It’s Christine. She’s even more attractive in person. And you’ll be working with her.”
“You’re beautiful too, and you’re the only woman I care about.”
“I know I’m attractive, but Christine is… elegant. I could never be like her. She’s polished and sophisticated, while I’m inner-city trash.”
Angie’s words reminded Harrison of how sensitive she was about her upbringing, growing up in inner-city Baltimore, reared by a single mom on welfare. Angie had clawed her way out of the morass, earning a college degree while working nights to pay her way through school.
“You’re not Bawl’mer trash,” Harrison replied, pronouncing Baltimore the way Angie did. He grinned as he placed his hands on her waist. “Christine had her chance and blew it. I ended up with a better woman, and I’m not going to trade you in for her.”
“She’s got different thoughts. I can tell when a woman is interested in a man, and Christine is definitely interested in you.”
“You have nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, right. A beautiful, successful, and powerful woman — someone you dated for ten years and proposed to twice — wants you to work with her on the other side of the country. What’s there to worry about?”
Harrison leaned forward and kissed Angie softly on the lips, then locked his eyes on to hers. “There’s nothing left between me and Chris.”
“I can tell when you’re lying, but at least you’re saying the right things.”
The tension faded from Angie’s body, then she rested her forearms atop Harrison’s shoulders, locking her fingers behind his neck.
“In case you get any ideas, I’d like to remind you that there’s no way Christine is as good as I am.” A devilish grin appeared.
Harrison returned the smile. “At what?”
Angie hooked one leg behind the small of Harrison’s back, then swung the other leg up lithely, scissoring her legs around his waist.
“A lot of things. I bet one or two come to mind.”
Harrison played along. “I’m drawing a blank. Perhaps you could remind me.”
Angie tightened her grip around his neck, pressing her body against his as she moved in for a kiss.
9
LANGLEY, VIRGINIA
“Harrison’s arrived.”
Deputy Director for Operations PJ Rolow delivered the news as he took his seat beside Deputy Director Monroe Bryant at the conference table in Christine’s office. “He’ll be here shortly, once he’s through security.”
“What’s the plan?” Christine asked.
“Harrison is well trained from a technical standpoint,” Rolow replied, “but he’ll need to get up to speed on CIA protocols, so someone will hold his hand for a while. When he’s working stateside, he’ll be teamed with Patricia Kendall from our National Resources Division, which handles issues we don’t want to hand off to the FBI or other domestic agencies, or want to pursue in tandem. To chase leads on domestic soil, Harrison will need to interface with the various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and there’s no one with better contacts and relationships than Kendall.
“While overseas, Harrison will be teamed with an appropriate officer. This just in — Mixell was spotted at the airport in Karachi, Pakistan — so that’ll be Harrison’s first destination once he’s through indoc. While in the Middle East or any of the stan countries, he’ll be teamed with Khalila Dufour.”
Rolow had referred to the group of seven countries in Central and South Asia ending in stan: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the five former Soviet republics, such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Their conversation was interrupted by the intercom on Christine’s desk; her secretary’s voice emanated from the speaker. “Director O’Connor, Jake Harrison is here.”
“Send him in.”
The door opened and Harrison entered, appearing not much different from the last time Christine had seen him, wearing jeans and a polo shirt. After introducing Harrison to the deputy director and DDO, she motioned him into the empty seat at the table. After a bit of small talk, Rolow got down to business.
“You’ll be assigned to the special operations group within the special activities center, which I’m sure you’re familiar with. For the Mixell issue, you’ll be teamed with two officers, one who will help you interface with the domestic agencies, and one who will assist while overseas. You’ll meet them shortly; they’re on the way up.”
Christine’s intercom buzzed again, and her secretary informed them that Officer Kendall had arrived. The door opened and an attractive redhead entered. Harrison rose from his chair as the woman stepped into Christine’s office.
“There’s no need for chivalry,” Rolow said, “especially in Pat’s presence.”
Kendall gave Rolow an icy stare as she approached, then turned to Harrison and thrust her hand out, adding a smile. “I’m Pat Kendall.”
Rolow explained the plan to Kendall, who seemed to have already been briefed on her role regarding Harrison. When Rolow mentioned he’d also be teamed with Khalila Dufour, Kendall’s demeanor turned cold.
“You can’t be serious,” she said. “I realize she’s your pet, but you should keep her on her leash.”
“Zip it, Kendall,” Rolow said. “Play nice or you’ll be riding a desk for a while.”
Pat was about to say something else, but clamped her mouth shut.