“Sorry you got dragged into this,” Deion said.
Valerie reached across and placed her hand on his knee. “This group you’re in? It’s crazy.”
Deion tended to agree with her. Since his recruitment they had stopped a bombing in New York City, a truck full of explosives in France, averted an airliner shoot down in London, not to mention tamping down on a few more troublesome terrorist groups around the United States.
The terrorists had grown smart. It wasn’t just a matter of killing Americans. Osama Bin Laden had taught them they could bleed the enemy financially. “Val, you see what we’re up against. Our group? We keep America safe.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Nancy watching. She shook her head.
“I can’t tell you exactly what we do,” he continued, “but you’ve seen a glimpse. You understand.”
“It’s okay, Deion. I do understand, God knows I do, but the way you go about it is… sketchy.”
“It’s for the greater good,” he insisted. “It’s necessary.”
Valerie searched his face, frowning. “Terrible things have been done for the greater good.”
Taylor eased the van through traffic, safely depositing them at the terminal drop off.
“Valerie, we’ll drop you off in Chicago,” Eric said. “Sorry, Deion. I’m cutting your vacation short. Taylor, join John and Mark. I’ll see you back home.”
Taylor nodded. “Maybe we can stop at the Ryman on our way back to Arnold.”
Eric gave Taylor a sour look. “It’s not even close to being on your way back.”
Taylor winked. “I’ll get the kids home, don’t worry.”
They piled out of the vehicle and Taylor drove off. Valerie turned to Eric. “It’s been interesting.”
Eric smiled. “Would you be willing to work with us in the future? We could use someone like you.”
Nancy appeared startled. “Eric—”
“Valerie has her own career,” he interrupted. “I’m sure she has a full plate.”
Eric smiled pleasantly. “She’s an excellent agent, and could really make a difference. Let her think about it.”
Valerie watched the exchange with a frown. “Am I being recruited?”
“Not necessarily,” Eric said. “You have been involved in two of our operations. You handle yourself well. That kind of performance doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Deion wasn’t sure of Eric’s game. Was he trying to bring Val into the fold to protect her? He’d filled out the necessary paperwork, notifying Eric of their relationship. Eric hadn’t voiced any objections, but the idea of an OTM agent romantically involved with a CIA case officer was far from ideal. “She doesn’t know enough to make an informed decision. Don’t shanghai her.”
Nancy said, “I think Ms. Simon can speak for herself.”
Nancy’s reasonable tone was the last thing he expected. He didn’t know which was worse… Eric recruiting Valerie, or Nancy’s psychopathic approval.
“I will need some time to consider your offer,” Valerie said.
Eric continued smiling. “There’s no rush. Take a few days. Hell, take a few weeks.” He took her hand. “Know this. We do incredibly important work. Deion can vouch for that. Let’s get going. Greg’s waiting with the Gulfstream, and Deion, Nancy, and I have to get home.”
“And where is home?” Valerie asked.
Eric winked at her. “That’s only if you accept the job.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Dawn brought highlights of orange and pink across the desert floor of Groom Lake. Greg landed the Gulfstream at Groom Lake and Deion followed Nancy and Eric off the plane, through the dry morning air, and into a Humvee. He couldn’t stop thinking about Eric’s offer since dropping Valerie off in Chicago. “Are you really trying to recruit my girlfriend?”
They roared over the dusty road. As they approached the entrance to the underground base, Eric checked the LCD screen in the Humvee’s dash for satellite overflies. Satisfied they were in the clear, he pushed a green button on the LCD screen and the desert floor in front of them rumbled open. Eric’s attention flickered from the tunnel’s glassy walls, to Nancy in the driver seat, then to Deion in the rear. “We need to scoop up good talent when we find it.”
They approached the steel door to the base and Eric braked hard, then spun the Humvee around and pointed it back to the surface. They got out and showed their identification to the guard at the door, who waved them through.
As they climbed into a small electric cart, Nancy spoke up. “It was a little unexpected.”
Eric guided their cart down the long stone tunnel until they reached the second checkpoint. He turned to Deion and raised an eyebrow. “It would make your relationship easier. She’s smart. She’d do well here. What’s really bothering you?”
“She lacks a certain… moral flexibility,” Deion said.
“I’ve read her file,” Eric said with a knowing grin. “Her real file. I’m not sure you’re giving your lady enough credit.”
He’s right. During their time together in Afghanistan, some of Valerie’s operations approached the edge of legality. “I would have appreciated your speaking to me first about it.”
They reached the underground base proper and navigated the final checkpoint. “I’d love to listen to you continue questioning my judgment,” Eric said with an impish smile, “but we’ve got work to do. Get cleaned up and meet me back in the War Room in thirty.”
When he entered the War Room, Eric noticed the subdued click-clacking of the analyst’s keyboards. Then he saw Karen waiting for him and noticed the way her eyes lit up when he smiled at her.
“Clark has your team assembled,” she said, before he could speak.
He nodded. “Good.” He gave her a small nod, then strolled through the room, stopping by several analysts to check other threats the OTM monitored while he waited for Deion and Nancy.
Karen followed him, keeping a respectful distance, but not so close that it would cause gossip. Satisfied the OTM was running smoothly, he turned to her and asked, “Have you found any intelligence on the North Koreans?”
Karen shrugged. “For a country that’s been economically devastated, they have a fantastic ability to hide.” She leaned close. “How was the mission?”
She smelled faintly of lilacs. Perfume, perhaps, or maybe shampoo. “Mrs. Kryzowski, how forward of you,” he said softly.
She smiled and his heart thumped in his chest. For a moment he imagined them in bed together, then shook his head, trying to ditch the mental image.
At that moment, Deion and Nancy entered the War Room, refreshed, having changed their clothes. They returned Sergeant Clark’s salute and nodded at him. He quickly made his way to the conference room, following them in.
They sat around the table as Karen ran down the information on their Nashville mission. “I was able to pull a log of phone calls and video conferences, all connected to that same coffee shop in Syria. There was nothing else of interest on Sadir’s laptop.”
“Did the FBI find anything on the Nashville shooter?” Eric asked.
“Nothing,” Clark said, frowning. “It was a professional hit. They identified an empty apartment three blocks away with traces of GPR. No witnesses. Forensics came up clean.”
“Just doesn’t sound right,” Deion said, shaking his head. “A shot from that distance? Sounds like somebody with serious training, not Al-Qaeda.”