Deep Cover

CHAPTER 16

SHELBY LOOKED OUT the window as Kris drove through the small trailer park. Most of the dwellings were singlewide structures in various states of disrepair. Shutters hung haphazardly, and the few awnings still existing were rusty and dented. Dilapidated cars sat up on blocks, their tires long since removed, adding to the sense of apathy the residents seemed to exhibit toward their homes. Litter fluttered across the ground, its movement determined by the gentle breeze, and a couple of resident cats picked at the sparse offerings in the uncovered garbage cans.

Kris commented dryly. "Not exactly a trailer park I would want to live in."

"Tell me about it. This place should be condemned. No wonder he wants to move back in with Mom so badly." Trying to ignore her growing uneasiness, Shelby pointed off to the left. "There's his car."

Glancing in the direction that Shelby had indicated, Kris pulled to the side of the road in front of a small, dingy white trailer, and turned off the ignition. The operative half turned in her seat. "I'm going in with you."

Surprised at the change of plans, Shelby said, "I thought we agreed that you'd wait outside."

The operative wanted to assess Jonathan and assure herself that she wasn't letting Shelby walk into a lion's den. "We did. But I want to get a feel for him."

Shelby thought it over for a moment, actually happy that her partner was going to accompany her at the onset. "Okay, but then I need to talk to him alone. He won't give anything away in front of you."

Kris nodded her agreement, then, sensing Shelby's discomfort, reached over and squeezed her hand. "Fine. But I'll be waiting right outside and if I even hear him raise his voice, I'm coming in."

Shelby smiled and gave Kris' hand an answering squeeze, resenting the tendril of fear she felt at the prospect of facing her stepfather. "Well, it's now or never."

Jonathan tried to ignore the insistent knocking, until it finally filtered through his beer-induced sleep. Dragging himself up to a sitting position on the couch, he shook the cobwebs from his mind. He'd been furious when the cops had rousted him from bed that morning, asking him to provide proof of his whereabouts the previous evening, and when they'd departed, he'd sought solace in a six-pack of Budweiser.

He stalked angrily to the door, prepared to threaten the officers with harassment charges, knowing they had absolutely no evidence to tie him to the shooting. Totally oblivious to his appearance, Jonathan pulled open the door, his glare turning to a look of surprise at the sight of his stepdaughter and her bodyguard.

Shelby looked at the stubble covering Jonathan's face and the red-rimmed eyes squinting against the sunlight before taking in the grayish T-shirt and boxer shorts he was wearing. She suddenly wondered why she'd never been able to fully escape from her childhood fear of this pathetic man. The last time she'd seen him was in the courtroom. He'd been in complete control then, particularly when he'd uttered his threat against her, making certain he wasn't overheard. Now she was seeing the unvarnished version, and it finally sank in just how weak he was without anyone to bully or abuse.

The analyst had no intention of letting her guard down, knowing her stepfather was still very dangerous, especially since his plans to move in with Lisa were being threatened. However, Shelby's lingering fear faded as she looked at him objectively, and she found herself feeling a mix of contempt and revulsion.

Shelby glanced quickly at Kris, but was unable to read any expression on her enigmatic companion's face. Keeping her voice neutral, she asked, "Aren't you going to invite us in?"

Jonathan swallowed uneasily at the unforeseen visit from his stepdaughter and began backing out of the doorway. "Yeah, come on in. I'll be right back."

Kris tensed, watching the door down the narrow hallway through which Jonathan had disappeared. Her peripheral vision scanned the interior of the trailer, and she was disgusted by the rank smell of garbage left sitting too long. Beer cans squashed to a fraction of their size lay scattered on the floor around the couch and end table. Some guests on the Jerry Springer show were screaming their hatred for each other from a small television set, and she smiled her appreciation when her partner turned it off.

Her eyes landed on the barrel of a rifle, barely visible in a corner behind the entry door. She moved toward it, her eyes still trained on the hallway, and spared it a quick glance. Kris quickly determined it was a 20-gauge shotgun and immediately eliminated it as the weapon used in either shooting.

Kris could see Shelby still standing in the middle of the living room, shaking her head with a look of disgust on her face. That pretty much mirrored her own thoughts.

Shelby spoke quietly, not wanting her voice to carry beyond the room. "He never used to be like this."

Drolly, Kris commented, "He never had to clean up after himself before. He thrives on manipulation and control. Without anyone to bully, he's lost. Power is the whole focus of his life."

Jonathan reappeared a few moments later, clean-shaven and wearing jeans. He smiled with practiced ease. "Sorry for the mess. It's been a rough day." Looking at the large bandage on Shelby's arm, he added, "I'm glad you're okay. You really should get a safer job."

Shelby rolled her eyes at Jonathan's feigned concern and glanced at her tall companion.

Kris nodded imperceptibly. "I'll be waiting outside." She stared at Jonathan, delivering an unspoken warning, and smiling inwardly at the flicker of apprehension appearing in his pale blue eyes.

When the tall woman left, Jonathan crossed his arms, his smile disappearing. "I'm surprised you sent your bodyguard outside. Aren't you afraid of me?" His voice took on a derisive tone. "You must be, since you sicced the cops on me." He sighed in mock injury. "You never give up, do you?"

Shelby shook her head incredulously. "I never give up? You're the one that keeps pressuring Mom to take you back. You might have her fooled, but you can't fool me."

"It's not an act. I love your mother."

"You love to manipulate and bully her." Shelby gazed deeply into her stepfather's eyes. "It's only me and you now – no witnesses. So how about telling the truth? Did you shoot at me last night?"

"No, I didn't." Jonathan grinned malevolently, deciding to have a little fun since there were no witnesses. "It's too bad that guy missed, though. It would've been satisfying to have witnessed your death."

Shelby was chilled by the words, but refused to show any fear. And he had piqued her curiosity. "You saw the guy that did it?"

Jonathan assumed the intimidating stature he had wielded successfully against Shelby as a child and grinned cruelly. Enunciating each word, he spoke slowly and clearly. "Yeah. Seems I'm not the only one who would like you permanently gone. Great minds think alike."

Refusing to allow her stepfather control of the conversation, Shelby calmly asked, "What did the guy look like?"

Jonathan smiled smugly. "You really think I'm going to tell you? Maybe he'll be luckier next time."

Keeping her irritation hidden, Shelby returned his smile. "I'm sure Mom will be interested to hear you witnessed the shooting. I don't think you'll be moving in anytime soon."

Angry that the fear he'd expected to see in her eyes was absent, Jonathan decided to give his stepdaughter a physical reminder of whom she was dealing with. In two quick steps, he closed the distance between them and cruelly grabbed Shelby's injured arm, squeezing. "You little bitch. It's your word against mine. I'm warning you now, keep your mouth shut about me to your mother or there will be two of us after you, and both of us aren't going to miss."

When her former stepfather squeezed her injured arm, Shelby's face paled and she gasped in pain, reflexively pulling away and holding her arm protectively with her other hand, tears welling in her eyes. Very pleased he'd gotten the response he wanted, Jonathan brutally shoved her.

Angered by the triumph visible on her stepfather's face, Shelby grabbed the doorframe, refusing to allow him to physically dismiss her. Her eyes started flashing as she launched a verbal counterattack. "Feel better now? You really get off on attacking women and children, don't you? You're pathetic. You had a real opportunity to get help and just went through the motions. And I do plan on filing assault charges against you." Keeping her eyes on her stepfather, Shelby called out, "Hey, Kris, how about joining us?"

Jonathan's eyes widened at the verbal assault, and he stood there momentarily speechless in the face of Shelby's anger.

The door slammed open and Blue strode in, her anger barely under control.

The only open window had been on the far side of the trailer, and the operative cursed the extra seconds it had taken her to reach the door after hearing Shelby's gasp of pain. She'd been following the discussion intently, not wanting to invade her partner's privacy, but also not willing to leave Shelby totally at the mercy of her stepfather, should he try something.

Glancing at Shelby and witnessing the pain her partner was experiencing, Blue narrowed her eyes and focused on Jonathan, even though the analyst looked like she had the situation well in hand.

She bore down on Jonathan as he backed away, trapping him against the far wall of the trailer. "You bastard!"

Jonathan met the operative's glare, and snarled. "You either move out of my way, or I'll move you."

Blue smiled coldly, her voice low and calm, belying the tension surging through her muscles. "What are you waiting for?"

Jonathan saw red. Who was this bitch to challenge him? She had to be stupid, but she'd asked for it. He viciously kicked his leg forward and simultaneously threw a left jab, only to find himself off balance as neither blow landed. A moment later he was doubled over grunting in pain and coughing, trying to catch his breath from the sharp blow to his solar plexus. Unprepared, he never saw the fist that connected with his chin, and he sank to the floor, dazed.

Blue looked on dispassionately, struggling to control the throbbing her quick movement had wrought in her own injured muscles. She cursed her weakness, and hoped Jonathan had had enough, having no illusions about maintaining a sustained assault in her condition.

She backed out of reach and quickly glanced at Shelby. "Are you okay?" she asked, before turning her attention back to her adversary.

"Yeah, but I'm going to call the police and file assault charges."

The operative nodded. If Shelby wanted to file charges, that was fine with her. Unfortunately, it would only be Jonathan's word against her partner's because she hadn't witnessed the incident, but Kris figured Shelby knew that.

"No..."

Blue glanced at Jonathan who was struggling to rise to his feet. "Why not, sleezeball? Afraid you might go to jail this time. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

Jonathan sensed there was no dealing with the tall woman facing him, and turned his attention to Shelby. He'd never get his record expunged with a new assault charge pending, even if she couldn't prove it. "I'll make you a deal. You know I have something you want."

Shelby glanced at Kris, and then assumed a good imitation of her partner's stoic façade. She returned her attention to Jonathan, shrugging disinterestedly. "Maybe. What's the deal?"

Sensing an opportunity to regain the upper hand, Jonathan pressed his advantage. "If you don't press charges, I'll tell you what I saw yesterday when you were shot at."

Smiling inwardly, his reaction exactly what she'd been hoping for, Shelby shrugged. "How do I know you'll be telling the truth? You've lied before."

"If I'm lying, you can always press charges."

Shelby nodded. "Okay, deal. I find out you lied, and the deal is off."

Suppressing her own smirk of satisfaction, Kris observed the interaction between her partner and Jonathan, once again surprised by Shelby's innate understanding of the human mind. She had played her stepfather like a well-tuned piano, and he'd totally fallen for it.

"Well..."

"The guy was tall, with dark hair. I didn't get a good look at him because he was concealed pretty well in a tree a couple of houses up from where your car ended up."

"That's all you know? Forget it. That could be anyone." Shelby looked at Kris. "Let me borrow your cell phone. I left mine in the car."

Seeing the resolute expression on Shelby's face as she accepted the phone from her partner, Jonathan interrupted. "Wait. There's more." Pulling out his wallet, he retrieved a small piece of paper and handed it to the analyst. "I got his license number."

Kris asked a question that had been bothering her since she'd overheard the conversation earlier. "How did you happen to be in the area and just happen to notice which car was his?"

The tall man shifted uncomfortably. He'd had plans for Shelby himself, but had been saved the trouble by the appearance of the other man and had initially watched him out of curiosity until it became apparent he was on a mission. "I was just hanging around waiting for you and Shelby to leave so I could go visit Lisa when I saw him take a bicycle out of his car. He was carrying a small black gym bag."

Kris' disbelief was clearly evident. "You were just hanging around?"

"It's the truth."

Kris glanced at Shelby. Truth or not, her partner was obviously satisfied with the information Jonathan had given them, so it was time to end this visit. She smiled at Shelby. "Would you mind waiting for me outside. I want to talk to Jonathan alone for a minute." She winked to assure the analyst that she really was only going to talk to him.

Once the analyst left, Blue glared at the tall man who was watching her cautiously. Knowing words alone would be ineffective, she removed her gun from a holster at the small of her back, holding it casually as she released the cylinder and made a point of checking to see that all the chambers contained rounds.

She smiled, and in a voice few had heard and lived, purred, "If you come near Shelby or make any attempt to harm her, ever, you're a dead man." Blue clicked the cylinder back in place to emphasize her words. "Is that clear?"

Jonathan looked into the ice-cold eyes and tried to back away, but was already trapped in place by the wall. He had no doubt that she meant exactly what she'd said, and for the first time in his life he felt a bone chilling fear. Finding his voice, he muttered, "Yes."

Blue growled, "Good. I'm glad we understand each other."

Watching her leave, Jonathan wiped the perspiration from his brow, bewildered over the depth of his fear of the bodyguard.

Turning in the passenger seat to face Kris as they departed the trailer park, Shelby asked, "What'd you say to him?"

"I just told him to stay away from you."

Shelby raised an eyebrow. "That's it? Why do I get this feeling you're leaving something out?"

Kris grinned. "Or face the consequences."

"I don't think I even want to know," Shelby joked, but was secretly pleased that Kris had cared enough to warn her stepfather off. She had a feeling the operative's message would be much more effective than any peace bond or court order could ever be. Jonathan only understood power and her partner was more than his match.

Shelby glanced out the window, her mind replaying the confrontation. She was pleased that she'd managed to stand up to her stepfather and outmaneuver him. The look of shock on his face had been priceless. She wondered if her bravery was fueled by the operative's close presence and decided that, while that may have been a factor, she hadn't felt like a victim. Shelby smiled, satisfied with the personal victory. She glanced over at her partner when the car began to slow.

Kris pulled off the road a mile beyond the trailer park, put the car in park, and turned to face Shelby. She reached over, gently touching the bandage covering her partner's upper arm before dropping her hand. "I know he hurt you. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. It doesn't hurt as much now." Shelby sighed. "I just can't believe he did that. I expected more from him. Shows what I know."

"I didn't think he'd do anything either, and if he hadn't had any alcohol in him, he probably wouldn't have." Kris looked out the window, wishing she hadn't left Shelby alone with Jonathan, but knowing she'd had little choice in the matter.

"Kris?" When her partner met her gaze, Shelby continued. "It was my decision to talk to him alone, so no second guessing, okay?" She reached for the operative's hand and stopped. "You hurt your hand."

Shrugging, Kris glanced at slightly swollen knuckles and quirked a half-smile. "Nah. It's fine."

"We could stop and get some ice..." Shelby trailed off when Kris raised an eyebrow, gazing at her pointedly. "It was just an idea."

The operative shifted the car into gear. "I want to stop and check out that tree Jonathan said the guy hid in. If he was a professional, he probably just left the weapon. There won't be any way to trace it if he did, but I'd like to get a feel for who we're dealing with."

"Okay. Want to stop and eat after that?"

Kris grinned and kidded, "You're not hungry, are you?"

"Oh, like you aren't? We never finished our sandwiches last night and we got up too late for breakfast..."

"I'm kidding. I'm hungry, too. Where to?"

"I'm kinda tired of sandwiches. There's a little spaghetti place near Mom's house. Want to go there?"

"Sounds good."

They quickly located the tree Jonathan had described as the hiding place for the shooter, and Kris parked on the street in front of the yard.

She spent a few minutes surveying the tree, trying to decide the best way to reach the lowest branch without taxing her bruised muscles any more than necessary.

Focusing, Kris crouched slightly before jumping up and grabbing onto the high branch, grimacing, but holding on and eventually swinging her body onto the tree limb. The next branches were comparatively easy, and she found the rifle a little higher in the tree, well hidden in foliage and secured by bungee cords.

Kris glanced around and silently commended the shooter on the excellent vantage point. She dropped to the ground a few minutes later, carefully holding the rifle by the trigger guard because of the remote possibility the sniper had been careless and not worn gloves or wiped the weapon clean after firing it.

"Jonathan was telling the truth. This is a professional sniper's rifle. I'll turn it over to Earl, but there won't be anything on it to identify the shooter or where the weapon was purchased. Anyone can get one through mail order catalogues if you know where to look."

Shelby glanced at the weapon, but her concern was for Kris. "Are you okay?"

The operative smiled wanly. "I'm fine, just a little sore, yet."

"Uh huh." Shelby knew a little sore really meant Kris was majorly hurting. "I hope we see someone on tonight's surveillance. We really need a break."

"I hear you." Kris closed the car door behind Shelby, secured the rifle in the trunk, and slid into the driver's seat. Doubts began to plague Kris as she searched her mind for any way to expedite the search for her mother and the leak in the case. Troubled, she began to wonder if they had any chance for success.

Softly spoken words broke through her dark musings and a small hand came to rest on her thigh.

"We're going to find her in time."

The operative glanced at the unshakable optimism on her partner's face. After all she'd been through the last week, that Shelby could be so positive amazed her. She cast her doubts aside, determined to prove the analyst right.

Kris took a sip of her Coke, her eyes steadily tracking the people walking along the Georgetown sidewalk, oblivious to her scrutiny. Shelby had grown quiet the last half hour and the operative suspected that her arm was probably bothering her, although her partner had insisted it was fine and had taken a pain killer in the restaurant.

Her concern for her partner's welfare had overridden her logic while they were eating, and she'd suggested they cancel surveillance that night, but Shelby had pointedly vetoed the idea. Kris marveled at the iron will and quiet strength of the woman she loved and vowed to do everything within her power to ensure they shared a future together.

The operative's thoughts turned to Dimitri. She wasn't surprised that the Russians were maintaining a low profile right now by leaving her alone; she'd expected that. But, it was going on nine p.m. and no one had shown the slightest interest in the drop, either.

She glanced in their rear view mirror frequently, habit dictating her action. She turned her head toward Shelby when she heard her suck in a breath and whisper, "Maggie."

Taking in the wide eyes and astonishment on her partner's face, she looked in the direction Shelby was gazing. Kris recognized the woman she had seen sitting in the canteen across from Michael earlier in the week. Her eyes riveted on the casually jean clad woman, she watched her nonchalantly pass the "blind" man sitting there collecting coins and put something in his basket. "You know her?"

Shelby nodded, still stunned. "Yeah. She works down my hallway. She invited us out for a get together last night, but I told her I was stopping over at my mother's..."

As the realization of what she'd said, impacted her, Shelby turned and faced Kris, who was tracking Maggie down the street. "I forgot all about that. She knew, too." The analyst fell silent wondering how she could have misjudged Maggie so badly, and then realized she'd never talked to her enough to really develop any kind of rapport with her. She glanced up as Kris started the car.

"That's her in the blue Mercedes," Kris said. "Let's see where she's going now."

Shelby watched Kris expertly blend into the traffic behind the Mercedes, always keeping two or three cars between them and their target. She was glad Washington had a thriving nightlife, knowing they could easily keep Maggie in sight without being obvious until she reached her destination.

Disappointment coloring her words, Shelby looked at her partner glumly. "I never even suspected her."

Kris reached over and linked her fingers with Shelby's. "You probably never had any reason to. Did she ever act suspiciously or do anything out of the ordinary?"

"No. But she was always big in the rumor mill. She's the one who told me she heard Blue was in town and then asked a few questions about you when you first started working on the case. I never thought anything of that because she was always talking about some rumor she'd heard."

"Sounds to me like there was no reason for you to be suspicious. I wonder what her tie in with Michael is?"

Puzzled, Shelby asked, "What're you talking about?"

"I saw her in the canteen with Michael on Monday. I didn't know who she was, but now I think she probably told him you were headed to your mother's house after work yesterday. He fits Jonathan's description, meager as it was. We can run that license plate number tomorrow, but if it is Michael's, I doubt he registered it in his real name."

"Yeah, but I have access to each of the agent's various identities unless he got one off the black market. I doubt he expected anyone to see him, so he might have just used whatever he had on him."

"True. Let's hope he did. I'd like to nail him. What I can't figure is why he would be shooting at you." Kris didn't expect Shelby to answer and mulled the idea over in her mind. It has to be to get to me. But why not just target me? Why Shelby? The answer came unbidden. To discredit me. This would be just like him. Killing me wouldn't give him any satisfaction unless he'd managed to destroy my career first. Well, two can play that game. He wants a war, he'll get it.

"Kris? You okay?"

The operative nodded. "Just planning my next move."

"You mean, our next move?"

Kris chuckled ruefully at having been caught thinking singularly. "Yes. That's exactly what I meant."

Shelby returned the smile and said sweetly, "Just checking."

Glad for the cover of darkness, Kris cut the headlights when Maggie turned into an apartment complex, staying well back until the Mercedes was driven into a parking space in front of one of the garden apartments. The two women watched Maggie exit the vehicle and walked up the steps to a second floor apartment and enter it.

Kris glanced at Shelby, her face momentarily visible in the car headlights of a departing tenant. Her faced was strained and she looked tired. The operative had wanted to hang around for a while to see if Maggie had any visitors, but she didn't intend to do it at Shelby's expense. Her partner had very little time to relax since the shooting, and that, combined with her confrontation with Jonathan was taking a toll. "How're you feeling?"

Shelby was touched by the worry in Kris' voice and smiled reassuringly. "Fairly good, now. Those pills are pretty potent." She studied her companion, in the dim light. "How about you? Climbing that tree had to hurt."

Kris reached over, pushing a wayward lock of hair from Shelby's face, drinking in the love she could feel emanating from the blonde woman. "It did for a while, but it's not too bad now. Aren't we a pair? I never meant for you to be hurt. I'd give anything if I could change that."

Shelby spoke softly, but meaningfully. "I know you would, but you can't and I'm doing just fine. So don't worry about it, okay? We've got too many other things to do right now."

Kris nodded. "You up to hanging out here for a little while? Maybe an hour or so, just to see if she has any visitors? It's okay if you don't want to."

"I want to." She held her arm up until her watch was visible in the dim light. "Besides it's still early – only nine-thirty." Shelby decided it really felt like midnight and she was exhausted, but she wasn't about to let Kris know that.

Still visualizing the earlier strain she'd witnessed on her partner's face, and feeling guilty for asking her to stay, Kris asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Her stomach tightened when she saw the fleeting look of hurt cross her partner's face. She laid a hand on Kris' thigh, and smiled. "Thanks for caring. Now will you quit being such a worry wart?"

Kris knew she was being overprotective, and chuckled at Shelby's description. "Worry wart?"

Shelby teased, "If the shoe fits..."

Kris muttered, "Paybacks are a bitch," grinning when she heard Shelby's answering chuckle.

The time passed slowly, both women tired, but still hopeful of learning something new. Shelby caught herself dozing off, and broke the lengthy silence. "Do you think anyone will show up?"

Kris considered the question a moment. "Not really. But we might get lucky."

Shelby's expression turned pensive as she turned to face Kris. "Have you figured out why Michael is after me?"

"I think it's to discredit me. He blames me for him getting pulled from the field and reassigned as a technical advisor. It was his actions that got him pulled, not my testimony. But if he's tied in with the Russians, that incident makes a lot more sense in hindsight. He may have had an entirely different agenda. I never bought his excuses or the board's findings that he had just used poor judgment. Michael was too controlled for that."

The analyst mulled that over for a few moments. "Why did he wait so long? You said that happened almost three years ago. Why didn't he do something before now?"

Kris shrugged, speculating. "We're pretty inaccessible in the field. He'd have had no way of finding me. Even those with top access don't necessarily know where we are all the time." She glanced in the side view mirror tracking a tenant's progress to their vehicle. "Someone told him I was here. Probably Maggie. We don't know what her relationship with Michael is, but she was totally focused on him that day in the canteen. I suspect they're more than casual friends."

Shelby searched her memory for what seemed liked the hundredth time for any clue she might have overlooked about Maggie. "I wonder how long she's been providing the Russians with information?"

"I don't know, but probably for a while now." Kris shifted, trying to get comfortable in the cramped confines of the car. "She seemed perfectly comfortable making that drop. It would also explain how the Russians found out so quickly that I was in town."

"Yeah, that makes sense." A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she asked, "Do you think she knows you're a mole?"

The operative's eyes never stopped perusing their surroundings, her senses fully extended, as she considered Shelby's question. "No. But her handlers would want to know of any field agents at headquarters. It probably made Dimitri's day when he found out I was here."

Shelby nodded in agreement, watching a car drive past on a side street. "He'll get what he has coming to him once we get your mother out of there. It's only a matter of time."

Kris smiled at her partner's steadfast belief they would be successful and knew Shelby's optimism was helping to fuel her own hope for her mother's safe rescue. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

The blonde looked up at the ceiling of the car. "Lemme think...not more than twice today. Personally, I think at least once an hour would be much more appropriate."

Shelby smiled, loving the sound of Kris' laughter as it quietly surrounded her.

"Is that right? I'll be sure and keep that in mind."

"I'm gonna hold you to that." Shelby's smile faded, a serious expression replacing it. "I love you, too, Kris. Every second, every minute, every hour of every day, I wonder how I got so lucky."

Overwhelmed by the intensity of Shelby's declaration, Kris swallowed, her words trapped in her throat. Every time she looked into her partner's eyes, she was again reminded that love really did exist. It wasn't just an illusion, as she'd always believed. "I'm the one who's lucky."

They each sat at their respective posts, across from each other in the car watching their surroundings in comfortable silence, their bond drawing them inexorably closer.

Kris was first to spot the tall, dark man walking up the sidewalk. "Here comes some guy. I never saw any headlights, so I doubt he lives here. He probably parked on a side street around here."

As the figure drew near, Shelby asked, "Is that Michael?" and glanced over at Kris, only to find her partner's eyes were riveted on the tall man.

Kris words were laden with tension. "That's him. Now let's see if he goes to Maggie's apartment."

They followed his progress down the sidewalk and up the steps until he stopped in front of Maggie's apartment and knocked. The door immediately opened and he disappeared.

Kris could see little point in remaining in the parking lot. While it would be interesting to follow Michael when he left, it would be difficult to do so without alerting him to their presence given the growing lateness of the evening. She also knew it was possible he might not leave the apartment until morning.

She glanced over at Shelby. "You ready?"

"Yeah, if you are."

The operative started the car and left the headlights off until they were out of sight of the apartment building. "I want to see if we can find his car."

"Good idea. It'd be nice to have proof it was Michael." Shelby began scanning the cars parked along the street, searching for a black Lincoln with a license plate matching the one Jonathan had given her earlier.

Her effort was rewarded minutes later when they located the car on a neighboring side street. Kris drove past the car, not wanting to appear suspicious in the residential neighborhood, and headed for Shelby's apartment. "Guess that answers that."

"So what do we do, now that we know it's him?" Shelby raised her hand to her mouth, trying to hide a yawn that wouldn't be denied.

Kris knew just how she felt and was glad they were finally heading for the apartment. "Right now, nothing. If he knew of my connection to the Russians, he'd have already used it against me. It helps that we know who is behind the attacks and where he's been getting his information."

Shelby glanced at Kris curiously. "Aren't you going to turn them in?"

"Yeah, after we set them up so the Company can move in." Barely audibly, she added, "But not yet."

Shelby barely heard the whispered words, immediately understanding Kris' trepidation. If the Russians suspected the operative of setting up two of their agents, her mother would never survive long enough for them to locate her. Unable to think of anything to ease Kris' worry, she remained silent.

Gregor headed through the hallways of the embassy toward Dimitri's office. He had to find a way back into his superior's good graces and was willing to do anything, including grovel, to accomplish his goal. He'd never expected Dimitri to learn of Shelby's value on his own and then flaunt his knowledge.

The Russian knew he was treading a thin line, and he considered himself very lucky not to have been sent back to the motherland in disgrace. He'd intended to best his superior and had failed. Now he had to convince Dimitri that he was still valuable.

As he neared the door, he heard Dimitri call out, "Wait, one more thing." He saw Markov reenter the room, his hand still holding the door ajar.

"You will report any orders you receive from Gregor. Should you fail to do so, you'll end up with him in an unmarked grave. Any questions?"

"No, Comrade."

"You're dismissed."

The cold words washed over Gregor and he quickly retreated through an open door in the hallway to prevent Markov from seeing him. He rested his head against a cool wall in the farthest corner of his hiding place, realizing it would be futile to try and reason with Dimitri. He was a walking dead man.

Stormy didn't greet them at the door when they entered the apartment, and failed to appear when Kris shook the box of treats the little feline loved. "I think she's mad at us."

Shelby nodded. "Can't blame her, we've been gone so long."

After they showered, Kris helped Shelby apply a new dressing to her arm, and the two women walked into the living room to unwind before retiring. Stormy stood up on the couch, meowing loudly.

Shelby chuckled. "I think she's telling us she forgives us this time. Guess we better try and make it up to her."

Kris rolled her eyes, but was no less enthusiastic in greeting the ragamuffin who purred contentedly, rising up to meet the soft strokes being lavished upon her.

They had just decided to go to bed, when the phone rang.

Shelby glanced at the phone, surprised. Late phone calls were always bad news, but she hesitated only momentarily before answering it. "Hello."

Listening intently, she waited for a pause and then handed the phone to Kris. "I think it's your mother."

Watching the brief play of emotions that flickered across Kris' countenance, Shelby marveled at the ease with which the operative switched to her native tongue, the guttural sounds rolling freely from her throat. While on a logical level, she knew Kris wasn't an American as she'd originally thought, that knowledge didn't diminish the strangeness of hearing her converse with her mother in Russian.

She welcomed the opportunity to observe a facet of her partner that hadn't been previously revealed, reminded once again of just how little they really knew about each other, and treasuring what she did.

A few short minutes later, Kris hung up the phone. She gazed at Shelby, her eyes worried. "Dimitri just wanted to remind me I've only got a couple more days to deliver your password. Very clever way to do that."

"How's your mother holding up?"

"She's doing fine. Her only contact with anyone is when her meals are served. The hardest part for her is being so isolated, with nothing to do." Kris looked down at the floor. "She told me not to worry about her, she's not afraid of dying. Just to take care of myself. Then Dimitri took the phone from her."

Shelby put her arm around Kris, hugging her. "At least we know she's still okay."

Returning the hug, Kris said, "Yeah. You're right. Guess we'd better get some sleep."

Kris lay awake in the darkness, desperately seeking a viable plan to find her mother, and continuing to draw a blank. Short of kidnapping Markov or Gregor, she had no idea of how to find her mother. If either of them disappeared, she would be the primary suspect, and Kris had no doubt Dimitri would immediately retaliate by killing her mother. Frustrated, she continued to search for a solution until her thoughts were interrupted by the quiet voice of her partner.

"Kris?"

"Hmm?"

Shelby nestled closer, concerned about the tension radiating from Kris. "You need to relax. You're so tight, you'll never fall asleep. Let your subconscious do the work. In the morning we can figure out a plan."

Kris sighed. "I just keep coming up empty."

"I know, sweetheart. I do, too. I think we both need a good night's sleep. We'll figure out something."

Knowing she was keeping Shelby awake, Kris focused on clearing her mind and relaxing. She leaned over and met her partner's lips for a sweet, lingering kiss, then hugged Shelby tightly, carefully staying clear of her partner's injured arm, her own soreness overshadowed by the comforting feel of the small body tucked against her own.

She smiled when Shelby returned the hug with her good arm, both relishing the contact and drawing strength from the other. Long moments later, their arms relaxed, but even as they entered the dreamscape, their bodies remained closely connected.