In The Valley Of Shadows

by Kat Smith

  He set a glass with ice in front of Devan. “Ice, correct?”

  Devan eyed the man suspiciously. “How do you know what I drink?”

  Payton chuckled. “We’re the ICC.” She grinned. “We know everything.”

  Devan flicked a look at Mara, who just smiled and shook her head.

  “Stop terrorizing my captain.”

  “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

  As Devan popped the tab on the can, she noticed a small camera in the corner of the room and the red blinking light. She was uncomfortable and certain that someone at the other end of the camera feed was running stats on her at that very moment.

  Payton tipped her head at Mara. “Colonel, will you take us from the drop zone?”

  Mara stepped to the video wall and swiped open a map of the area around Makhachkala, Russia, and pointed. “We’ve determined the optimal insertion point is here, approximately two hundred yards from the safehouse. There is a small airstrip across the lake that will reduce concern from the helo noise, and the trees will provide coverage along the route to the back of the property.” Using her fingers, she zoomed the map to show a clear satellite image of the drop zone and the house. “You’ll scale the fence at the rear of the property and enter through the back door.”

  Payton stepped forward, swiped the image away, and pulled up a floorplan of the safehouse. “The structure is a residential duplex with a shared entrance foyer in the front and a kitchen in the rear. The neighbor, a woman in her mid-thirties, works the night shift at the local hospital, so there shouldn’t be a concern with anyone walking in on you during the op. Once you’re inside the structure, you’ll secure the asset, and Alex will deploy the software.”

  Payton stepped aside and gave way to Mara. She swiped away the floor plan and pulled up the previous map. “The primary extraction point is a large field a hundred yards to the southwest.” She pointed to an area bordered in red on the map. “Your overwatch will be a Reaper drone, and TOC will monitor and advise throughout the mission.”

  Devan leaned in, elbows on the table. “Sounds straightforward, but I still don’t get this software deployment.” She raised a hand before Alex objected. “It isn’t about you. It just seems like a huge risk. Without it, your operative meets us at the LZ, and we’re on our way in two minutes.” She looked at Payton. “Can’t you just send it as a virus in an email?”

  “The downfall, the only adverse element of this program, is the necessity to manually install it on the target computer,” Alex calmly interjected.

  “And your operative can’t do that?” Devan asked.

  Payton released a frustrated breath. “He’s a CIA agent, not a computer programmer.”

  Devan sat back. “So, how long will this software deployment take?”

  Alex shrugged. “Hard to say. Twenty, maybe thirty minutes.”

  “Jesus. Seriously?” Devan turned to Mara and Payton. “We’ll be sitting ducks.” She shook her head. “On top of that, how do we know your man hasn’t been followed? You’ve already said his cover was blown in Moscow.”

  Mara glared at Devan, frustrated with the constant objections regarding the software deployment. “This is what we do―what you do, Captain―on a regular basis.” She leaned in, her hands firmly planted on the table. “And usually with far less information going in.” She returned to her seat. “Don’t make this personal.”

  Devan nodded in resignation. “With respect, Colonel. Any time my team goes into danger, it’s personal.” She knew she was stepping close to, if not on, the line. “When do we get the go order?”

  The tension in the room was thick. Payton spoke up from the front of the room. “Hopefully, within the week. We’re still waiting on the operative to find a secure exit out of Moscow.”

  Chapter Five

  One Week Later

  Devan’s channel surfing was interrupted by the piercing ring of her cellphone. With her gaze still on the TV, she answered, “Yup.”

  Alex hesitated. “Devan? It’s Alex.”

  Devan sat up, instantly alert. “Hey. What’s up? Did we get the go order?”

  “Um, no. Not yet.” Suddenly, Alex was nervous. It seemed like a good idea when she was driving toward Devan’s apartment. Now, not so much. “I…uh, I always get antsy before a mission, so I was going for a run at UMD, but it started raining.” She was rambling. “I thought…well, I was in the neighborhood and wondered…” She punched the steering wheel and went for it. “Do you want to grab a drink?”

  The line was silent for a good five seconds before Devan replied. “So, I’m your second choice?” She tried to sound offended.

  “Don’t be a snot.” Alex smirked and relaxed. “Why don’t we say you’re my…I don’t know…first alternative?”

  Devan heaved herself from the lumpy sofa. “Smooth, Sheridan, very smooth.” She glanced at her watch. “Sure, why not? When and where?”

  “How about now?” She looked through the windscreen to Devan’s window. “I’m outside.”

  Devan walked to the window, pulled back the blue sheet covering the window, and saw Alex wave from her car. She chuckled and waved back. “What would you have done if I said no?”

  Devan could see Alex shrug and grin. “I sure as hell wouldn’t have told you I was sitting outside your apartment.”

  “Stalker!” Devan brayed.

  “I’m not a stalker, just…optimistic. Put some clothes on and get out here.”

  Devan tried to sound offended. “I have clothes on, thank you very much.”

  “I know you, remember? You’re in a sports bra and boxers and most likely laying on the couch watching reruns of Family Feud.”

  Devan looked down and rolled her eyes. “Damn it. Okay, give me five.” And just for good measure, she sneered. “And it was Jeopardy! I’m trying to expand my knowledge base.”

  Alex relaxed back into the seat. “Whatever, Conner, whatever.”

  The Double Tap Bar was a beer joint. Waitresses in shorts and skin-tight T-shirts weaved between tables packed with loose-handed men-boys. The requisite pool tables and dartboards were in the back of the room. Devan’s shoes squished as she walked across the sticky floor and headed for a vacant booth in a relatively quiet corner. The half-blown speakers in the ceiling churned out a song she could only guess was the country genre favored by the predominately military patrons.

  She tugged a handful of napkins from the metal holder against the wall and wiped a puddle of beer off the table, then sat uneasily on the cracked faux leather bench seat. She scanned the room and noticed the lack of females. “Why do you like to come here? It’s disgusting.”

  Alex waved at a petite green-haired waitress. “I thought you liked it, too.” She held up two fingers followed by a thumbs-up. “We used to come here all the time.”

  “That was several layers of sticky gross ago.”

  The green-haired waitress appeared and set two ice cold beers on the table. “Howdy, Alex.” She gave Devan an intense once-over. “Can I get you ladies something to chew on?”

  When she grinned and winked at Alex, Devan noticed a missing front tooth. “I’m good.”

  “Come on, live a little, Conner.” Alex pursed her lips and smiled at the waitress. “How about a basket of those homemade potato chips and that great dipping sauce Harry makes?”

  The waitress winked. “I know what you like, Alex. They’re already in the works.”

  Alex gave the woman a bashful look. “You’re so good to me, Gretchen. Thanks.”

  “You betcha. Be right back.”

  When Alex turned back, Devan was smirking. “What?”

  Devan tipped her head toward the retreating waitress. “She has a thing for you.”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, well, you gotta play the game.”

  “You’re incorrigible.”

  “I’ll put ten bucks on it that we’ll never get charged for the chips.”

  “As I said, incorrigible.” Devan just shook her head. “Why do you drive all the
way over to the University of Maryland to run? What’s so special about that track?”

  Alex waited until the waitress dropped a basket of delicious-looking deep-fried potato chips on the table and two more beers. “A retired CIA analyst works security, and he lets me in whenever I want to run. It’s a hell of a lot better than running on that decrepit track on base.”

  Devan took a long drink of her beer and wiped the foam off her upper lip with the back of her hand. “Must be nice to have connections.”

  Alex shrugged. “It has its perks. It’s new, no cracks or potholes. I can put myself on autopilot and zone out.”

  “Did autopilot bring you to my parking lot tonight?”

  Alex played with the sweat dripping down the side of the glass. “I was on my way home and―”

  The conversation was interrupted when Lena appeared. “Holy hell, Sheridan, what did you have to do to get the captain out of that pit she calls an apartment and into this pit we call a bar?”

  Alex looked up at Devan’s second in command. “It wasn’t easy, but I think the temptation of free beer cinched it.” Alex slid out of the booth. “My shout, Taylor. You drink Coors, right?”

  Lena slid in the booth across from Devan. “Yep. Thanks.” She watched Alex walk away and whistled. “Damn, she’s fit.”

  Devan tamped down a surge of jealousy that she had no right to feel.

  “Unlike you, Sheridan’s a good bar mate.”

  Devan snarled. “She…I was going to offer.”

  Lena waved her off. “Chill, Cappy.” She leaned across the table. “So, spill it. What’s happening? You two on a date?”

  “What?” Devan snorted her beer. “No. God, no. We’re just having a beer.”

  Lena scrunched her nose and grinned. “Looks like a date.”

  Devan was adamant. “Not a date. She was going for a run, it started raining. She called.”

  “It’s been raining all day.” Lena sat back and crossed her arms. “You really have to pay more attention, Conner.”

  Alex returned with two beers. “I just love happy hour. Twofers.” She slid into the booth beside Devan.

  Lena sat across from them and thought about what a smooth move Alex had just pulled off and how oblivious Devan was to it.

  When their legs brushed together, Devan flinched and slid closer to the wall.

  “Pay attention to what?” When Lena and Devan just looked at each other, Alex shrugged. “You said she needed to pay more attention.” When Lena shrugged, Alex rolled her eyes. “You two have a shorthand I’ll never understand.”

  Lena chuckled. “I know her well. Although, not nearly as well as you do, Sheridan.” She grinned when Devan stared into her beer and Alex’s cheeks flushed deep red. “Just sayin’.” She waited a beat, then asked, “So, you two on a date?”

  “What?” Alex’s head snapped up. “No, we’re just―” Alex’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and slid out of the booth, grateful for the interruption. “Sorry, I have to take this. It’s work.” Alex slipped out of the booth, walked to the door, and disappeared outside.

  Devan kicked Lena under the table. “Will you stop playing matchmaker? We’re just having a friendly drink.”

  She took a drink of beer. “Just an observation.” She tipped her head to the side. “How friendly?”

  “Stop it.” Devan dunked a chip into a suspicious-looking sauce. “We are not getting back together.”

  “All right, then I guess she’s fair game. I always kept a step back because you two were a thing, but if you’re not interested…” She tracked Alex as she walked to the door. “…I just may have to check that out.”

  Devan leaned across the table. “You. Leave. Her. Be.”

  A Cheshire cat grin flashed across Lena’s face. “So, you are still interested?” She laughed and pointed her index fingers toward Devan. “Gotcha!”

  “I’m not. But you’re a player, Taylor, and I don’t want to see her hurt.” Devan knew she had no right to make any demands.

  Lena nodded. “I’m just ragging on you, Cappy. Believe me, I’d have no chance with Alex. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”

  “Stop it.”

  “When she doesn’t know you’re looking.”

  “What?” Devan’s head snapped up. “Really?”

  With a satisfied look, Lena leaned in and poked Devan. “It’s time you put Charikar to rest. Let it go and move on.”

  “It has nothing to do with Charikar.”

  “Really? Then what? The affair you thought she was having?” Lena glared at Devan. “That asshole assaulted her.” She watched Devan’s head drop. “Yeah, she told me what happened.”

  It was almost a whisper. “When?”

  “After we got back from Charikar. After you disappeared and left us.” Lena felt a surge of anger and tried to push it down.

  “I didn’t disappear.” Devan’s face was drawn with regret.

  “You damn well did.” She practically spit the words. “You were a fucking coward. You ran.” Lena knew she was pushing her friendship with Devan, knew what she was risking. But it had sat with her for two years, too, and now it was all tumbling out. “We lost Carey on that mission. When we got back home, everyone was devastated.” It was time Devan was forced to face what she’d done to the team. “And you just disappeared.” She poked a finger at her. “You deserted us, just left us here to deal with it on our own. I couldn’t get shit out of the colonel. All she would tell me is you could be gone for up to a year.”

  Devan didn’t look up from her beer. Things hadn’t been the same between them since her return, but she had no idea Lena was so angry with her. “I didn’t desert you or the team.” She flipped a glance at Lena. “I needed to get away…to think. The team in Sierra Leone had just lost their captain and was in desperate need of a temporary replacement, so I took that as a sign and went.”

  Lena sat with her arms crossed over her chest. “Yeah, well, did you ever stop to think that your team might have needed you?” She shook her head in exasperation. “Sometimes, your people skills suck.” She took a deep breath, deriding herself for letting her anger get the best of her. “There are times when you don’t have a fucking clue.”

  Devan looked up sadly. “Apparently. You’re the second person to say that to me in the last few weeks.”

  Lena took a long swig of her beer. “Look, I told myself I would never bring this up to you, and why I did tonight…well, I don’t know.” She raked a hand through her hair. “I love you like a sister, and I’ll say I’m sorry if I said things that upset you.” She reached over and gripped Devan’s hand. “I guess it’s having Alex back on the team. Getting us all back together again brought it to the surface.”

  For the first time, Devan looked at her friend and gripped her hand tighter. “Is everyone okay with this, with Alex back on the team?” She released Lena’s hand and sat back. “Not that I have any say in the matter. Believe me, I’ve already tried.”

  Lena leaned forward. “The question is, Captain…are you okay with it? The last mission ended badly, and we all need to know your head will be in the game when this mission goes down.”

  Their conversation was interrupted when Alex rushed back to the table visibly upset. “I’m sorry. I have to go. A member of my team has been in an accident.”

  “Is it serious?” Lena’s voice resonated concern.

  Alex picked up her now warm beer and took a long drink. “I don’t know yet. I’m meeting the director at the hospital.” She looked at Devan. “Sorry, Dev.” Then to Lena. “Can you give Devan a lift home?”

  Lena slid out of the booth and hugged Alex. “Of course.”

  Devan slid out and touched Alex’s arm. “I’ll walk you out.” She turned her head back to Lena. “I’ll be right back.”

  Lena watched the couple walk away, Devan’s hand on Alex’s back, gently leading her toward the exit. She sat back with a satisfied look on her face. “Yup, my job is done.”

  Ten minutes lat
er, Devan slid back into the booth and took a drink of her beer and cringed. “Damn, that’s hot.” She waved her hand at Gretchen, then held up two fingers as Alex had done previously.

  Devan grinned. “That waitress has a thing for Alex.”

  “Who, Gretchen?” Lena laughed. “Gretchen has a thing for anyone with tits.”

  Devan grinned. “Must suck for that guy playing pool then.”

  Lena turned and almost spit her beer when she saw a bald man, about five-nine and close to three hundred pounds. “Well, I’ll be damned. His tits are bigger than mine.”

  It seemed to Devan that Lena had put the previous conversation behind them, which was fine with Devan. She had questions and wanted answers. “You said Alex had talked to you about our split. What did she say?”

  Gretchen plopped two beers on the table. She wasn’t as cheery and talkative now that Alex was gone.

  “She didn’t really talk about your breakup, per se, other than to say that you didn’t believe her when she told you about the assault and that you accused her of having an affair.” She tried to take the anger out of her voice. “I went to court with her, had to listen to her testimony. Had to listen to every detail of how Trevor Wentwood pinned her on the sofa and tried to rape her. How she almost got away, but he caught her again.” Her voice was quiet now. “It was rough on her, Dev. She needed you beside her, she needed you to believe her.”

  The expression on Devan’s face was painful to watch. “Court? She had to go to court?”

  Lena sat back exasperated. The anger she had tamped down from earlier was threatening to rear its head again. Devan was her boss and friend. Alex was a dear friend, too. She was fed up with watching them suffer the consequences of a horrible misunderstanding. “You need to get your head out of your ass. The guy assaulted six women before he was caught. Alex was the one that brought him down. Yes, she testified against the bastard, helped get him convicted.”

  Devan couldn’t look Lena in the eye. “She didn’t tell me. Why didn’t you?”