Brothers in Arms

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Days later, Jonathan Gates prowled around his office as night pressed implacably against his uncovered windows. He preferred exposed, unadorned casements and skylights — it helped him see clearly in more ways than one.

The new agency had pulled off a great accomplishment but there still remained a few man-eating sharks on the Hill, their cold eyes examining and their bloody teeth bared, ready to swoop in for the kill. Gates knew it didn’t matter how many times you were successful; it just took that one bad day or unlucky decision to wipe it all out. The sharks would always circle. It was their nature.

His plans were afoot. SPEAR was about to get a new HQ courtesy of Hayden Jaye’s old agency, the CIA, one better equipped and more clandestine this time. That damn reporter, Sarah Moxley, continued to bug them, and with more clout behind her now. Gates felt that both he and the agency owed her some kind of an explanation.

But that problem would save for another day. Now, Gates walked around to the front of his desk and picked up the photograph he kept there. It showed his wife, Sarah, and he in better times. He held on to the frame as he clicked a button.

“Show Miss Fox in.”

The door opened almost immediately. Gates replaced the picture and turned around. Lauren Fox closed the door and stood with her hands folded across her breasts. “I really don’t know why I’ve been brought here, sir. Or summoned, I guess you could say.”

Gates gave her a wry smile, sensing her discomfort. “Don’t worry. I don’t wish to engage your services.” He gestured to a chair. “Sit.”

“I’m fine.”

“Please?”

Gates settled himself as she finally perched on a chair opposite him. “I grant you, it’s unusual for a Secretary of Defense to summon an expensive hooker to his office. We could have met in secret, or in public, but for what I have to propose”—he met her eyes—“this seemed more appropriate. Official.”

“Won’t people wonder?” Lauren was clearly thinking of the staff.

“They’re my people. They know me. Now, Miss Fox, I liked the way you handled yourself.”

“Excuse me?”

“First — you saved lives during the attack on our HQ. You showed amazing bravery. Second — the assassin. You beat him, and that was no mean feat. The man was well-trained as we’re starting to understand from General Kwang Yong.”

“Are there more of them?”

Gates gripped the bridge of his nose. “Undoubtedly. We don’t yet know how many. We’ll most likely never know who they are. But the head has been cut off that particular snake. Now we wait for the next one to rise. And, Miss Fox, we need all the…” He paused. “Specialist help we can get.”

“Call me Lauren. Now what the hell are you saying? Sir.”

“You’ll fit right in,” Gates said to her and then proceeded to outline his proposal. When he’d clarified the dangers and then secured her acceptance, he watched her walk out of the room.

Damn.

Quickly he occupied his mind with picking up the phone and dialing Hayden’s cell. It was around eight o‘clock in the evening, but his second in command needed to know about his newest recruit and the parameters he’d set for her.

Hayden took the call as she and Kinimaka sat down to dinner. The restaurant was crowded and noisy, but her Hawaiian partner gawked in happiness. Hayden had brought him to Washington DC’s one and only Hard Rock Cafe.

“I’ll get us cocktails.” Kinimaka’s huge fist almost fully concealed the drinks menu. Hayden heard her boss out, at first shocked but then seeing the usefulness of an expensive asset like Lauren Fox. At least now she knew why Gates had been asking all the odd questions. Time would tell if she was up to the job.

Hayden thanked Gates and then told Kinimaka. “Good move,” he said. “She sure can get into places we can’t.”

“We’ll see.” Hayden was more worried about how many times they’d have to go in and save Fox’s ass. But for now, she focused on Kinimaka.

“I kinda brought you here for a reason,” she said a little nervously. “Other than to buy you a shot glass.”

“To get me drunk?”

“Maybe. So Mano—” She touched the top of his hand where it rested lightly on the table. “You got something to say to me?”

The misgivings rose like a castle wall before his mind’s eye. “You’re my boss. I respect you for being my boss. And if it doesn’t work out — how could we work together?”

“Geez, Mano, nothing’s ever gonna be that predictable. And wouldn’t life just get damn boring if it was?”

“We’ve known each other a long time…”

“I can’t promise we’ll always be friends.” Hayden thought about real life and how it always took away those you loved. “Whether we hook up or not.”

Big cocktail glasses full of mixed spirits, gaudy umbrellas and slices of pineapple were placed on the table. Hayden had known her oldest friend would try the Hawaiian-based drink, just to compare it to the island offerings. She also knew he’d go with the island. He always did.

Friendship. Trust. An almost psychic intuition for what each other would do next. That’s what they had. Why risk it?

“There’s always another level,” she told Mano, though she’d never found it with Ben or any other of her past boyfriends. “There has to be.”

“Hayden Jaye.” Kinimaka took her hand and squeezed gently. “Will you be my date tonight?”

The atmosphere at the table suddenly changed. The dynamics shifted sideways and a thrill shot through Hayden’s body. “Sure will,” she said with a grin. “But first things first — I have to pass on the information Gates just gave me. Actually, I’ll tell Dahl to do it. He’s reliable.”

Kinimaka waited patiently. He’d waited for Hayden so long he couldn’t even remember when he fell for her. Another five minutes wouldn’t hurt.

Dahl took the call without feeling an iota of surprise. He trusted Jonathan Gates now. The man had a plan, and a bloody good one at that. Dahl’s only continuing concern was the distance this job put between his family and himself. Johanna would not pack up and move to the United States, nor would he ever ask her too. And it wasn’t fair on the kids. Their early youth was an impressionable, grounding experience. He wanted familiarity and stability for them.

But how grounded would they be with a father figure who only flitted in and out of their lives?

Dahl checked his watch. It would be mid-afternoon in Sweden. The kids would be at school but at least he could talk to Johanna. But first, he’d make a call to his newest comrade, Komodo. The Delta boy had taken it all the way in that final battle. A quality Dahl appreciated. He trusted the man to pass along Hayden’s information.

After that, Johanna would be eager to hear his voice. And he hers. Already, a wide grin was spreading across his entire face and making his dark eyes shine. He set up the video link on his laptop and crossed to the window. The dome of the White House glowed in the distance. Johanna would love to see it.

Komodo seemed agitated to Karin by the time he’d finished talking to Dahl. The soldier was standing completely naked at the window, seemingly oblivious, and no doubt making some passerby’s day. The street was only three floors below. The lights were on. Karin studied the width of his shoulders and the play of the muscles down his back.

“Is Torsten okay?”

“Yeah. He just called to tell us the hooker has been made part of the team.”

Karin let it run through her quick mind. “The idea is a good one, T-vor.” It was her private name for him.

“He wants me to pass it on to the team.”

Karin raised a wicked eyebrow. “Well, you probably needed the break anyway. Felt like you were about to peak early.”

Komodo looked a bit self-conscious. “It’s been a long week.”

“Just ring Drake. He’s reliable. I need to try Ben anyway. Haven’t spoken to him since he left.”

Karin wrapped her body in the soft bed sheets right up to her neck. “You can stay naked, soldier boy. That’s your punishment.” The connection whirred and clicked and then the ringtone began. Ben’s phone was one of those annoying ones that played a preset tune in the caller’s ear.

She heard Komodo talking to Drake.

Ben didn’t answer.

Without further ado she jumped up on the bed, letting the sheets fall away. Komodo fell at her feet so that she landed perfectly on top of him. His hands grabbed her hips.

“And since you’ve done nothin’ but sit on this for the last week, let’s give it some exercise.”

Drake listened to Komodo. The appointment of Lauren Fox would raise some issues, not to mention some eyebrows, but now was not the time to address them. Although Mai had been back for days, this was the first time they had been alone, totally alone, since they had hit the island.

Neither of them was the kind to make small talk. Neither were they the kind to emphasize how much they’d missed or thought about each other. Drake knew all he had to do was sit next to her. “I’m supposed to contact Alicia.”

Mai studied her hands in her lap, almost coming across as shy. Almost.

Drake yawned, stretched and put an arm across her shoulders. It was intended as a joke, but went straight over the Japanese woman’s head. She snuggled in.

“Glad to see you didn’t fall for Smyth, then.”

“He takes some getting used to but he’s a good man.”

“Romero too. He helped finish off the Spanish side of the trafficking ring. Almost single-handedly I hear.”

“Special Forces people,” Mai said. “No matter the nationality, they share a bond. They respond to each other.”

Drake kissed the top of her head. “A theory I’d like to test.”

But then his phone rang. It was Alicia herself, ringing him.

“Bollocks.”

But he should’ve guessed she would ring. Alicia Myles was always the exception to the rule.

“Drake? Didn’t catch you two shagging, did I?”

“Nice to hear your voice, Alicia. What’s up?” A hesitation made Drake narrow his eyes. Almost instantly, he sensed a bombshell. “Alicia?”

“I have something to tell you, Drake. And you’re not gonna like it.”

“Do you know something? About Coyote? Don’t tell me you’ve been keeping something else from me. Is it Cayman? The Shadow Elite? This new Russian thing.”

“What new Russian thing?”

“I told you. The seven swords and the saber dance. The Pit of Babylon. The Devil’s tower that led straight to the doorway of the gods and all that.”

“Sorry, mate. Must have been kipping.”

Drake closed his eyes. “Yeah or texting your new boyfriend.” Another hesitation. This time Drake let her think.

“I’m leaving, Drake. I’m quitting the team.”

His heart fell so far he was sure it hit the floor. “But…what?…Why?”

“I miss Lomas,” Alicia said easily. “I miss the others too. With them, it’s all about the ride. The journey. Not the destination. I kinda like that idea. Bloody hell, Drake, you know me by now.”

“I do.”

“No agenda. I just want to live whilst I’m alive and have fun.”

“That’s what I love about you.”

Alicia’s voice softened to almost nothing. “Me too, Drake. Me too.”

“So…” Drake blinked away more than shock. “Will we see you again?”

“If it comes to the apocalypse… call me.”