Operation: Unknown Angel

by Margaret Kay

  “And I hope a full inventory,” Mother said.

  “Yeah, who the hell knows what else is missing,” Sherman added.

  “DEA tore that garage apart. They didn’t find any other ordinance,” Garcia spoke up. “They only had one magazine for each rifle.”

  “Thank God! With the rate of fire that the 416 is capable of firing, it would be a bloodbath wherever they used one,” Lambchop said.

  “Onto the Alaska job,” Shepherd redirected the team. His eyes made contact with Mother. “How is she doing?”

  “She’s okay, thanks, Shep,” Mother replied. “It didn’t take much to convince her to come back with us.”

  “Having no home leaves a person open to suggestion,” Sloan remarked. “Not that she didn’t want to be with you,” he added jokingly.

  Mother scratched his forehead with his middle finger, his lips tipped in a smirk. “I’m not sure of her next move. She’s talked about resigning and not going back to Alaska.”

  “How much did you have to tell her about us?” Shepherd asked.

  “Not much. She still believes we’re a multiagency very special task force with ties to the military.” He grinned.

  Shepherd nodded. “The Digital Team will stay on it.” His gaze went to Garcia.

  “I’ve taken a different approach. I’m following money transfers from Carstairs. I found unexplained transfers to a shell corporation that don’t look right. I haven’t been able to determine ownership. And it seems to be a clearing house, immediately disbursing the funds into several other shell corporations with ambiguous ownership records as well.”

  “Are you also staying on trying to identify the second man who kidnapped Annaka on Christmas Eve?” Mother asked.

  “Smith is working on that, but I have to tell you, he’s a ghost. We’ve run facial recognition on him against every man who’s passed through Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage, assuming they flew in, and so far, nothing. They may have flown into Merrill Airfield, if that’s the case, we won’t have squat on them.”

  “Carstairs and many other companies fly their executives in and out of Merrill on private planes,” Shepherd said. “The local FBI is staying on it.”

  They entered the nearby restaurant inside the mall and had a wonderful lunch. Annaka found out quite a bit about Brielle and Brian Sherman. They were both from Louisiana, bayou country. Brian’s brother was Brielle’s best friend, had been since they were kids. Brielle’s only friends in the Chicago area were Brian’s brother and the other wives and girlfriends of the other men who worked for Shepherd Security. She was still adjusting to this new life that she loved.

  When they finished eating, they left the mall and went to a nearby grocery store. Annaka ended up buying a dozen bags of groceries. She knew she’d be at Danny’s at least two weeks, if not longer. Brielle assured her there were plenty of paper products at his house, canned goods, and spices. She knew there was no produce and little dairy, so she stocked up.

  “This is our subdivision,” Brielle said as she turned into a townhouse community.

  It was well maintained. Each row of townhouses had six units. The fronts were alternating brick and siding with long lawns in front of them. There was a sidewalk leading up to each front door. The house number was beside each door.

  Brielle slowed and pointed to the left. “That unit is Danny’s.” Then she pointed to the right. “And that is ours.”

  Annaka was confused when Brielle pressed the accelerator and drove away. “Aren’t we going in?” She pointed back towards Danny’s house.

  “The garage is around back. I still have a garage door opener. It’ll be closer to carry the bags in. I’ll give you a hand.”

  Brielle whipped the car around to the driveway that ran behind the row of townhouses. The house numbers were over the garages as well. Brielle hit the garage door opener on her overhead panel and the two-car garage door rolled up. Inside the tidy garage was a workbench area with tools and a motorcycle parked to the right. Brielle backed half-way into the garage and then put the car in park. She popped her hatch.

  “Let’s grab a few bags and we’ll bring them to the kitchen before I show you rest of his place.” She led Annaka to the door inside the garage. “After I open this, we have ten seconds to disarm the alarm panel.” She opened the door and went in. The panel was right inside. She watched Brielle enter a code. “Danny will show you how to use it. I’ve changed it from vacancy mode to occupancy. It’ll monitor doors and windows, but we can come and go through this door as we unload the car.”

  Annaka followed her in. Immediately on the right was an open door that revealed a large closet. To the left was a washer and dryer lined up along the inside wall with a powder room just past them. The short hallway ended in one large open room. To the left was the kitchen which extended to the front of the house. One of the front windows laid beyond the kitchen table. The room was divided by an island workspace with a granite top that matched the counters. The left side was the family room. The front door was beyond that and another front window. The stairs that led up and down were on the far wall. Centered on the back wall of the room was a stone fireplace. The colors were neutral, the decorating minimal.

  They set the bags onto the counter and island. After they’d unpacked all the bags from the car, Brielle went to the stairs. She pointed at the stairs that led downward. “The basement. It’s not finished, and Danny doesn’t have much down there. Let me show you upstairs.”

  Annaka followed. The ceiling was arched over the entry and over half of the family room area there was a small loft area. It was set up as an office. The short hallway followed the stairs. There were three bedrooms and a hall bath. The master bedroom was the first door. Its windows overlooked the front of the house. It was large with a master bathroom and a large walk-in closet. The walls were cream, the bedding dark blue. The windows were large, and they let a lot of light in.

  Beyond was the hall bathroom and two smaller bedrooms along the back of the unit. They each had a window that overlooked the back driveway. “This is comfortable,” Annaka said, as they reentered the loft area.

  “It is,” Brielle agreed. “Our unit is very similar except we have a finished basement. It’s set up as a private space for Brian’s brother, Bobby. Okay, I’m going to take off before my ice cream melts out in the car. You have my phone number, call or text if you need anything.”

  “Thanks, Brielle, I appreciate everything.”

  They walked back downstairs. Annaka unpacked the bags after Brielle left, and she heard the garage door close. She had to guess where things went in the cabinets and pantry, but she didn’t think Danny would mind too much if she got it wrong. When she was done with the groceries, she took the tags off her new clothes. She’d wash them all before wearing them. She’d have to do two loads. She carried them to the laundry area and got started. Then she carried the other personal items she’d bought to the master bedroom and bathroom. Her backpack and laptop bag were in Danny’s truck. She’d have to wait to unpack those.

  Then she went back to the first floor. She decided to lie on the couch to take a nap. She lit the gas fireplace and then laid on the couch, which faced it. A beige throw blanket was over the back of the couch. She pulled it over herself. The couch was comfortable. She closed her eyes and drifted right off to sleep.

  “That’s odd,” Mother remarked to the rest of the team as they descended the stairs, heading for the parking garage. “Annaka isn’t answering her phone.”

  “Brielle texted me over an hour ago that she was home, had gotten Annaka into your place okay.”

  “She’s probably taking a nap or in the bathroom,” Lambchop said when he saw worry pass over Mother’s face.

  “Yeah, or just doesn’t have her phone by her,” Mother agreed.

  He tried to call her twice more on the short drive home. She still didn’t answer. He pulled into his garage. He drew his weapon as he entered through the garage door. The washer and dryer were both running in
the laundry room. Other than that, it was quiet.

  He crept into the kitchen. In the living room he noticed the glow from the fireplace. The remainder of the room was darkening with the setting sun. He moved through the living room, approaching the stairs before he noticed her on the couch, nestled beneath the throw blanket.

  “Jesus Christ! What are you doing?” She came awake and thankfully recognized him. Had it been any darker, she wouldn’t have.

  Mother holstered his gun and rushed to the couch. “I’m sorry I startled you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I called and there was no answer. I was worried about you.”

  She sat up and swung her legs off the couch. “I think I left my phone upstairs.” She glanced out the window. The sky had darkened. “What time is it?”

  “About seventeen hundred.” He took a seat on the couch beside her.

  “My washer and dryer loads should be done.”

  “They are both still running.” Mother’s gaze wandered over her beautiful facial features that were cast in a soft glow from the fire. He let his fingers trace over her warm cheek. “I’m glad you made yourself at home. I’m happy you’re here.”

  “I am too, thank you, Danny. Your home is very comfortable.” She took his hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “I meant to take a shower and start dinner before you got home.”

  The corners of his lips twitched upward. “How about we take that shower together and then go to bed? We can have a late dinner.”

  She flashed him a flirty smile. “That sounds even better. I had a late lunch with Brielle at the mall. I can wait till later for dinner.”

  “Did you have a good time shopping?”

  “Yes. I really like her. We had fun, and I got everything I need for a little while.”

  Mother stood and pulled on her hand urging her to rise as well. He pulled her into a full embrace and kissed her deeply. After a lengthy kiss, he guided her towards the stairs.

  “Before we go up, I need to get my backpack and laptop bag from your truck.”

  “Did you need to log into a call?”

  “No, I exchanged a few text messages with Remi and Clint. The fire was finally put out this morning and there’s nothing else going on. I’ll log in tomorrow.”

  “Yes, we got confirmation of the fire being extinguished in our debrief too.”

  “Remi said they haven’t released the final death count.”

  He stroked over her back. “They probably won’t for another day. Let’s not talk about this. Let’s go take that shower.”

  He led her up the stairs and into his master bedroom. She had already laid out some items on the counter in the bathroom. He knew he’d have to clear out several dresser drawers for her in addition to providing her space in the cabinet in the bathroom. He liked the thought of it, her things put away in his room.

  He engaged the water in the shower and turned back to her with a hungry expression on his face. He slowly stripped her clothing away. In the shower, he washed her from head to toe, his hands greedily gliding over every inch of her skin. He knew they wouldn’t make it to the bed before he made love to her.

  The tenderness and affection in Danny’s strokes over her body lit a raging fire. He massaged her scalp as he washed her hair. The care he showed her was a potent aphrodisiac. This man was a walking contradiction. He was a Marine, a proud warrior capable of protecting her. But he was also gentle and compassionate. His teammates called him Mother because he took care of everyone. He certainly focused his loving attention on her.

  Their physical exploration of each other in the shower quickly turned into passionate strokes, deep, probing kisses, and moans of fervent need. The intensity of the mutual desire to join was conveyed in every kiss and with every touch. And once he entered her, pressing her firmly against the tiled wall, they both groaned in erotic pleasure.

  Lying in bed after, holding each other with soft strokes that conveyed their love, they drifted in the aftermath of the powerful connection they shared. It was comfortable. It was fulfilling. And it was exhilarating, all at the same time. It was perfect. Tucked in against the warmth of his body, Annaka knew that she didn’t ever want to be apart from him. She loved this man.

  They woke at twenty-one hundred and made love again. After, staring into Danny’s eyes, Annaka felt a wave of emotion wash through her that was overwhelming. “I love you, Danny,” she whispered.

  “I love you too. I’m so glad you’re here, for however long that is.”

  Annaka caressed his cheek with her fingertips. “I want to stay with you. I want to give this relationship the best shot we can, which we cannot do if I’m far away.” She sucked a breath in, waiting for his reply.

  A big smile beamed from his face. He kissed her like it was the last time his lips would ever touch hers. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded against the pillow. “That’s if you want me to stay?”

  “Oh, cariño, there is nothing I want more! But what about your work? I would never ask you to make a sacrifice for me.”

  She smiled wider. “Did you know there are beluga whales at the Shedd Aquarium downtown?”

  “Um, no,” he replied in surprise.

  “I’m going to contact them tomorrow. As you said, I’m a highly respected expert in beluga whales. I’m going to see if there is an employment opportunity there. If not, there are so many universities in this area. I’m not opposed to a stint teaching marine biology and am more than qualified to share my excitement with students exploring it as their major.”

  “You would do great at either. You have made me so happy,” he said with an emotional voice. And then he made love to her again.

  Whiskey

  Annaka awoke to bright morning sunlight filling the room which brought a smile to her face. She picked her phone up from the bedside table. It was seven-thirty. Danny was still asleep. She slid out of bed and quietly dressed. Then she crept down the stairs and went to the kitchen to make coffee. While it brewed, she took a seat at the kitchen table, which was bathed in sunlight. She felt content. She felt happy.

  Shortly after she dispensed her first cup, Danny came down the stairs. “Good morning. Is that coffee I smell?”

  “Good morning to you too,” she said with a smile. “And yes, it is.” She watched him get himself a cup. His hair was messy, the shadow across his jaw, sexier than hell. He took a seat beside her. “I can’t even tell you how good this feels, to see the sun and feel it on me.” She took another sip of her coffee.

  “I’m glad it’s sunny this morning for you.” He lifted his cup to his lips. “I have blackout shades on the windows in the bedroom, but didn’t pull them last night, figured you’d like waking up to sunlight in the bedroom.”

  “I appreciate that so much,” Annaka said, her heart filled by his simple gesture. “Do you have to go to the office today?”

  “Yes. I’m not due in until zero nine hundred though. It’ll probably be a short day. I’ll catch a ride with Sherman in case you need my truck.”

  “I shouldn’t. I don’t plan to go anywhere.”

  “If it’s too soon, let me know, but I was thinking of inviting a few people over tonight for pizza, Sherman and Brielle, Sloan and his fiancé Kaylee, Lambchop, Garcia and his wife Sienna, maybe even Doc and Elizabeth. I’d like you to get to know all the wives before I go out on our next mission. I know Jackson and Cooper are covering Ops tonight and their wives will want to get the kids to bed early, so we won’t include them this time.”

  “Sure, I’d like that. And I’d like to have the chance to thank Garcia for staying on the phone with me the other night.”

  “He can be intimidating, but he’s a good guy. He cares so much about the work we do that it kind of makes him intense at times.”

  She wasn’t sure what he meant by that. “Well, he was very kind to me on the phone. I appreciate what he did for me.”

  “He knew you were important to me. As I said, he’s a good guy.”

  While Danny was
at work, Annaka logged in and checked on the happenings in Alaska. There had been a few small tremors through the night, nothing over a two point zero. The glacier was stable. Her whales were still over by Seward. Remi had a few notes documenting the oil spill. It was a minor spill by most standards but given that rig C-Three was near the mouth of the inlet, the currents carried the oil both out to sea and washed it into the inlet. The cleanup area would be vast.

  Next, Annaka did some research on the Shedd Aquarium. She reached out to the head of the Shedd’s human resources department to inquire about a possible position. She emailed her resume at her request. Later that day, she received a call from the president of the aquarium inviting her to visit the following week.

  She also researched the area’s universities. The more she thought about it, the more teaching appealed to her. When she had been a teacher’s assistant, she taught more classes and met with more students than the actual professor had. She had fond memories of the experience. The problem she ran into was that none of the local universities had a marine biology program. She was disappointed. They had biology departments, and she could always teach that, it just wasn’t where her passion lay.