Operation: Unknown Angel

by Margaret Kay

  “But right after, I want your clothes off, and I want to make love to you all night.”

  And she knew he could and would.

  On December thirty-first, New Year’s Eve, the dark, late afternoon sky was clear, the first it was since he’d been there. The heavens above Annaka’s house were adorned with thousands of brilliant stars, shimmering lights that looked like the sky was strung with white Christmas lights.

  Annaka pulled the fish fillet out of the refrigerator and laid it into a baking dish. They’d met Ayla’s husband at the dock when he pulled his fishing boat back in with the day’s catch. He gave them a large cod fillet. He’d filleted and deboned it for her. They’d also gone to the grocery store earlier that day and bought the components of the meal they would enjoy.

  That was after they’d spent hours in bed making love, napping, and talking about a wide range of topics from their childhood memories to world events. Mother was even more enamored with her now than he had been. He knew he had found his match, the one woman who made his world right.

  Annaka poured two glasses of white wine and then she doused the fish fillet with it too and sprinkled it with salt, pepper, and a few other spices. She put the baking dish in the oven with the two potatoes that had been in there cooking for a half hour. Then she carried the two glasses of wine over to the kitchen table, where Danny sat.

  After she set the glasses to the table, he took her by the hand and drew her onto his lap. She settled in, loving the closeness with him. Everything with him felt comfortable, perfect. But it was also exciting and left her eagerly wanting more. Even making love with him, besides being incredible, she didn’t feel self-conscious in the least. She felt brazen, ready, and willing to enjoy every second in his embrace.

  “I’ll help you make the salad,” Mother offered.

  Annaka shrugged. “I don’t mind. I don’t cook like this often. It’s nice having someone to cook for.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you over the past few days.”

  Mother placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Me too. Are you sure I can’t convince you to come to Chicago with me?”

  Annaka shook her head. “I still have a lot of work to catch up on. Maybe I could come down later in January, if you’re not away on a mission. I’m going to miss you, Danny.”

  Mother embraced her. “I’ll miss you too. We’ll stay in touch. Just because I have to go home doesn’t mean we can’t keep getting to know each other. I really like you, Annaka.”

  “A long-distance relationship? Is that what you’re suggesting?”

  “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m suggesting,” Mother confirmed.

  “I guess it’s better than nothing.”

  “I’m not gone yet, we still have a few more days together. Days and nights, I plan to enjoy every minute of,” Mother promised. “And I have a lot of leave time banked. I’ll talk to my boss when I get back about taking time every other month.”

  “That’ll cost a small fortune, one of us flying to see the other every other month.”

  “The alternative is we end it, and Annaka, I’m not prepared to do that.”

  Annaka initiated the kiss this time. It was lengthy, passionate. It lasted until the timer on the oven chimed. When their lips parted, she was breathless and speechless too. She gazed into his eyes, admiring the beauty of the dark brown depths.

  “Are you going to get that?” Mother asked, pointing to the stove.

  “I guess I better. That fillet looks good. I don’t want it to burn.”

  She rose, checked the food in the oven and then turned the heat off, satisfied it was done. She quickly made the salad and then served dinner, setting the food onto the table. She pressed another kiss to his lips before she took her seat next to him.

  Mother’s lips curved into a smile. “A lot more of that later,” he promised.

  “We could call Ayla and tell her we aren’t coming to game night tonight,” Annaka suggested.

  “I think Ayla would be crushed if we didn’t,” Mother said. “Fair warning, I’m planning to hold your hand and kiss you in front of her. She’s wanted you to find someone, let’s not disappoint her.”

  Annaka giggled. “Yes, she would be crushed if we didn’t come. She likes you.”

  “She likes me with you,” Mother corrected her.

  “I like you with me too,” Annaka said.

  “So, do you really think we might see the Northern Lights tonight?” Mother asked.

  “The best chance to see them is around midnight if the sky stays clear. And up on the mountain at Ayla’s place is a good place to see them from,” Annaka answered. “They are beautiful, magical. I never get tired of seeing them.”

  “I’m excited at the possibility of it. I’ve been fortunate that life has taken me a lot of places. I’ve seen some amazing things, but I’ve never seen the Northern Lights in person.”

  “There is a lodge up near Fairbanks with glass ceilings so the guests can lie in bed and watch the Northern Lights dance in the sky. I’ve always wanted to go there, would be pretty cool.”

  “I wish you would have said something sooner. We could have gone,” he said.

  “I’m sure they are booked months in advance. New Year’s Eve is prime Aurora Borealis viewing, and that lodge has to be so romantic.”

  Mother kissed her again. “Maybe next year.”

  “Yes, that would be nice,” she agreed, thrilled that he thought they still may be together next year.

  Game night started at eight. Annaka made popcorn in a burnt old pan. “It makes the best popcorn,” she guaranteed him when she saw his skeptical expression. “The key is the butter added to the pan that gets absorbed and of course all the salt.” She dumped it into a large tin to bring with when both batches she made were done.

  Mother had started the rental car and let it warm up while she made the popcorn. “We need to get the heater in your car fixed before I leave.”

  She giggled. “I’ve been meaning to.”

  “Ah, the absent-minded professor. If it doesn’t swim and sing, it doesn’t get your attention.”

  Annaka giggled some more. “You have me figured out. I don’t cook often. I don’t clean much. I don’t give anything my attention but my whales and you. I never neglected our games before I met you, and you can believe I won’t neglect you now, either.” She pressed a kiss to his lips after he’d pulled her out into the cold night.

  After they were both buckled in the car and he shifted to drive, he finally spoke. “Is that a warning of what I’m getting into with you?” He grabbed her gloved hand and kissed it. “For the record. I don’t care if you cook or clean. I do both those things. And I think I already know that I fall somewhere below your whales.”

  “I wouldn’t say below. I think even with them. And take that for the compliment it is. Not many people or things in this world rank with my whales.” She laughed, but it was the truth.

  “I’ll take that as the win it is,” Mother said with a smile flashed her direction.

  They arrived at Ayla’s small house. The driveway was full of cars. They walked into a very loud, very packed room. Mother recognized several of the people from the research facility. Claude Renault and his wife Karin were there, as were Remi and her husband Ben. Their kids were spending the night with Remi’s mother who lived in Homer. There was one other native couple and their three children there, Ayla’s brother and his family.

  The ten adults crowded around the large table that dominated the room. The kids retreated to one of the bedrooms where they were set up with movies and snacks. They popped out a few times through the night to get more food or to see what the adults were doing, which was playing cards, a game Mother had not played in years, called Shanghai.

  This group was just as competitive playing it as his family was. Couples never sat near each other as it was jokingly said that marriages broke up over this game. Mother gazed at her through the entire game. She sat a
cross from him. He could envision her seated at the kitchen in his parent’s house, playing it with him and his family. He just knew that she’d fit, fit in with his family, fit in with his life. Annaka won many of the ten rounds that consisted of collecting sets or runs of cards. In the end, she had the lowest score, the object of the game. Several of the others at the table lightheartedly accused her of cheating as usual. Evidently, she won often.

  After the cards were cleaned up, they broke out more snacks, each grabbed a fresh drink, and then opened a game that was like bingo. It was only twenty-three hundred. They would all stay till the stroke of midnight and ring in the new year together. Mother sat beside Annaka for this game. When their hands went for the same chip, he took hold of her hand and lifted it to his mouth, placing a kiss on it. His eyes captured hers. The affection and attraction between them were noticed by everyone at the table.

  Ayla checked out a window at five till midnight. “The Northern Lights are showing.”

  Everyone grabbed their coats and rushed outside like the house was on fire.

  “Wow,” Mother said, mesmerized by the dancing lights in the sky. “That’s really incredible.”

  Annaka wrapped her arms around his middle and snuggled in close to him. “Yes, they are.”

  Ayla had a countdown timer on her phone. They continued to watch the beautifully colored Northern Lights. Ayla gave updates on how long till midnight every minute. When the timer reached ten seconds, she counted the seconds down aloud. Everyone joined her.

  “Three, two, one. Happy New Year!” The assembled group cheered.

  Mother kissed Annaka’s lips. “Happy New Year, cariño.”

  Annaka held him tightly. “Happy New Year,” she whispered in his ear.

  Mother was still energized from seeing the Northern Lights when they got back to Annaka’s house. It was nearly one hundred hours. He checked the place out. It was clear. He watched Annaka lock the door. He wrapped his arms around her. Her smile was stunning.

  “That was fun tonight,” he said. “I still think you cheated at cards though.” He chuckled.

  She reached her lips to his and gifted him with a passionate kiss. “Happy New Year, Danny,” she said when she pulled them back.

  “You wished me Happy New Year at the stroke of midnight.”

  “I wanted to again. We missed a lot of New Year’s kisses. I don’t want to miss any more.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Do you really think we can make a long-distance relationship work?”

  Mother pressed her body against the wall with his. He kissed her like this one kiss was all that mattered in the world. She had a slack-jawed, desire-filled smile on her face when he pulled away. “With how that feels, I don’t doubt if for a second.”

  He kissed her again, his hands stroking over her supple body. She returned the caresses, the intense kisses. Mother led her by the hand to her bedroom. He couldn’t think of anything but making love to her. Once inside, he grasped her cheeks with both of his hands. He gazed into her eyes. “I am serious about you, about making this relationship work. I can honestly tell you that I can’t imagine my life without you in it. And when I hold you or kiss you, I don’t want to stop.” His voice was soft but serious.

  Annaka gasped out, shocked by his honesty. “I don’t even want to think about that, you not in my life.” She reached her hands to his face and grazed her fingertips over his attractive features. Then she speared them through his hair and drew his face to hers. She kissed him with the fire that burned inside her, a fire that she had for him and only him. She had never felt this way about any other man.

  Lima

  For Annaka, the next day and a half were romantic, fun days, with a lot of time spent in bed, naked, snuggled up to Danny. Part of her was in denial that he would be leaving by midday on January second. She didn’t want to think about him leaving, so she didn’t.

  Mother knew he was falling in love with Annaka. The time spent with her, besides being sexually incredible, involved a lot of talking and laughing. She was fun to be with and he felt he had really gotten to know the person she was, a person he liked very much.

  Annaka watched Danny stuff the last few items into his backpack, his toothbrush, his deodorant. She’d gotten used to seeing his things on her bathroom counter over the past few days. She felt incredibly sad, the absence of him in her home already bearing down on her. She wrapped her arms around him and just held him, memorizing the feeling of his body up against hers.

  “I’ll miss you,” she whispered.

  “Last chance, come with me,” he said, flashing her a hopeful smile.

  “I wish I could,” she replied.

  “I know. I do too. I will miss being with you. Work on that vacation. Chicago is lovely in January.”

  She laughed. “Sure, it is. Or if you can take vacation time, you can meet me in Key West.”

  “Although I would love to see you in a bathing suit, and out of it, I’m not sure I can,” Mother said. “Maybe in February or March.”

  “Chicago it is then,” Annaka said.

  “Be very careful. If you even feel like something is off, call the State Troopers and then me. Don’t be worried about crying wolf.”

  She nodded bravely. “I will. I have the emergency phone number to the State Troopers programmed into my phone. And those security cameras we ordered should be here in a week.”

  Mother wrapped his arms around her and held her to himself. No threat had presented itself since they had rescued her from that cabin, but he still felt anxious about leaving her. And him saying that he’d miss her was the understatement of the year. He felt as though he was leaving a piece of himself behind. The last few days had been incredible. He hadn’t felt this alive in a long time. It wasn’t just making love to her. It was also the companionship, the laughter, just holding her in his arms as he was now, that he’d miss.

  “I’ll call you after I land in Chicago,” he whispered, knowing the time to depart for the airport in Anchorage was upon him. “I’ll be in the office a few days before we leave on our next mission. There will be a few meetings, but I should be able to talk and text with you a lot.”

  “And play our games. That won’t stop, will it?” Annaka asked, holding him more tightly.

  “Not a chance,” he guaranteed her. He pulled her face to his and his mouth made love to hers like his body just had in her bed. When he put some space between them, his eyes gazed over her beautiful features. “I have to go.”

  “I know.” She nodded to the front door of her house. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “Keep your place locked up and keep your phone near you at all times.” His gaze was serious.

  “I will.”

  They exchanged another long, passionate kiss at the car. Then she watched him drive away. She went back into her house and built a fire in the cast-iron stove to ward off the chill. Dusk would descend in just over an hour, and the temperature was forecast to plummet.

  She sat at her table and sipped a hot cup of tea. It was pitch-black outside. Her house seemed so empty without Danny in it. Tomorrow she would get on with her normal life, here alone. She’d go to work and do what she has always done. She’d try to do it without missing him and without fearing for her safety as he was no longer here to protect her.

  Mother sat in a bar across from his gate at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. He sipped his beer and picked at the tacos he’d ordered for dinner. He motioned to the bartender for another beer. He had a half hour till boarding. His phone buzzed with a new text message. He smiled as he reached into his pocket to retrieve it, assuming it was from Annaka.

  It wasn’t. It was from Garcia…Can you call me? Garcia’s text asked.

  Mother hit dial. “What’s up?”

  “I’ve gotten through all the status update emails obtained from the warrant on Carstairs. They send a status email on everything. Someone wiped his ass. Better send an email. There were thousands of them,” Garcia complained.
r />   Mother chuckled. “Anything useful?” He took another bite of his taco.

  “There were no status messages regarding the leak. Status updates on everything else.”

  “Wait, the platform manager Lambchop spoke with showed him the last update he’d sent, earlier that day.”

  “And it wasn’t there. The server was wiped clean of any emails regarding the leak.”

  “Or they didn’t turn them over,” Mother said.

  “I hacked in. The server is wiped.”

  “Did you happen to look through their employee ID photos while you were in there?”

  Garcia chuckled that low gravelly laugh of his. “BT may have made the suggestion.”