Inked [From the CIA 1] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Dawn Kunda

  He wanted to set her on the edge of the mattress and do whatever would please her. Instead, he reached around her and pulled a pair of socks from where he’d left them a few minutes earlier. Sitting to pull them on, he said, “What’s on your shopping list?”

  He saw her shoulders relax. “We need a computer. We have to look at the flash drives.”

  He forced his mind into work mode. “I was thinking the same thing.” He went to his overnight bag and dug through the few articles stuffed inside. Pulling out his wallet, he flipped through the stash they’d acquired. “Maybe you should change your hair color.” He couldn’t help but add, “A beautiful woman is easy to spot.”

  Chapter 21

  They returned to the hotel with a couple bags of necessities including many throwaway cell phones, a cheap laptop, and a large carryout bag from a nearby diner.

  Biting into an oversized burger, Mary commented, “Good choice to stop at this café.” Her hunger and the smell of the food kept her from waiting for Cal to start. She pulled an extra chair to the laminate-covered desk and pushed the other chair out for him. He absently took the chicken sandwich she handed to him.

  He remained standing as he plugged in the computer and started it up. “Where’re the flash drives?”

  Slurping the flat soda with too much ice, she reached into her shirt. She noticed him blink away his reactionary stare. Pulling the small drives from under her bra, she set them on the desk. This had been the best hiding place for the information. “We might want to take notes,” he commented.

  He pulled a stack of paper and pens from one bag, and then sat. When he attached a drive to the side of the computer, they paused in their dining and waited to see what she had recovered.

  The screen immediately flashed to pages of formulas. After a moment of silence as they both attempted to absorb the scads of information, Cal said, “I have no idea if these formulas are complete or even legitimate.”

  She nodded and continued to click to the next pages. Eventually the pages became blueprints for some type of armament, most likely some form of explosive. Then a map appeared. The map outlined Egypt, followed by another of the United States of America, which had a number of stars in critical areas.

  It was too small to see actual cities. Mary said, “It looks like there’s a star over the D.C. area.” She leaned in hoping for more accuracy.

  Dinner forgotten, they inserted the other drives.

  Slowly, Mary turned to Cal. “Oh, my God. They’ll kill us, if given the chance. This list, your name’s on it.”

  “I see Agent Baier’s name.” He put his finger to the screen and scanned the column for any other names he recognized.

  “How did we even get this far from Chenzira?” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I’m sure he knows by now that the memory devices are missing.”

  He looked around the room. “I need to get ahold of Grant a lot sooner than two weeks from now. Even if this is a setup, incomplete, or a game Chenzira’s playing.”

  “The formulas can’t be complete because he wanted another part from you and I doubt it’s a setup because he didn’t know I would find them. Lucky, for a drawer not properly shut and locked.” She watched his face as his brows tightened together.

  “Or he knew about me and wanted to lure me in.” He looked into her eyes. “Your name’s not on the list.”

  Wanting to assure her loyalty, she nearly laid her hand on his knee, but thought better of it. “I didn’t see Agent Hoffer or Ranier’s names listed, either.”

  “So does that mean they’re the leaks, or Chenzira didn’t know about them? Or Baier is on his side along with the other names that are obviously Egyptian?” He glanced down at her hand as she slid it along her own thigh.

  She needed to quit thinking about Cal as a man. He was her partner and that was it. With this thought, she snapped her hand onto the edge of the desk. “We have a lot of information here, yet it doesn’t tell us anything.”

  “That’s why we need to get it into the hands of someone who can decipher it.” His eyes narrowed as he shoved the chair back in his hurry to stand. “Let’s get a car and go for a ride.”

  “Right now? I don’t think we have to act as tourists constantly. We shouldn’t even be seen a lot.”

  “That’s not my purpose.” An edge of sadness crossed his features and disappeared as quickly before he added, “Don’t worry, I won’t make you pretend we’re on our honeymoon unless we confront a life or death situation.”

  “That’s not what I…”

  “Grab a couple phones and your gun. We have a few sites to visit.”

  She pursed her lips and let out a steamy breath as she felt as small as a ten-year-old who was told how to pack her school supplies when she had done it many times. “Thanks for the direction,” she mumbled.

  He didn’t hear, or ignored her as he grabbed his own gun.

  * * * *

  “Find a place on the map where we can make a call, and then ditch the phone.” Cal itched to drive fast and reckless. The narrow streets and constant pedestrians who walked as if the roads and the sidewalks were equivalent kept his driving in check.

  He glanced to Mary, who had her head ducked while studying the map from the rental agency. She looked enticing in the baseball cap. He decided anything would look good, on or off. “Cal, I think a good place to call”—she looked up with a frown as she caught one of his numerous glances—“would be the airport. And quit staring at me.”

  “I’m looking at the map.” It was an obvious cover.

  “That’s my job.” She folded the unnecessary section of the map under her target destination. “It’s about ten kilometers out of town and it’s big.”

  They continued through the twisted and old streets mostly in silence except to talk about directions. The streets consisted of a combination of bricks and patched asphalt of many angles. Buildings constructed hundreds of years ago ran alongside narrow sidewalks. The market areas provided a widening of the road, although still cramped driving. Some of the architecture had been refaced to match the old, yet most held obvious age.

  Children played near apartment entrances and wore a scant semblance of clothing under the bright sun. As the agents’ vehicle snaked past, the youngsters would gather their ball, truck, or doll and hold it tightly as if a stranger had invaded their street. She knew it was impossible that the children knew the situation of the car’s passengers, although she caught stares from adults at many corners and stops. Just her imagination.

  The random black sedans behind them could be anybody’s cars in a city this large.

  Chapter 22

  “Mahar, where are they now?” Roman Chenzira leaned back in his cushioned chair as if he owned the world.

  “Sir, they are being followed out of Antalya, Turkey. They’re driving a rental car. The woman is wearing a baseball cap.”

  “Where are they headed?” He tapped his fingers on the wooden armrest.

  “We do not know for sure. If they continue out of town in the same direction, the airport is that way.”

  “They are trying to get back home?” He leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees. Not waiting for an answer, he continued, “Do not let them leave. They’ve gone far enough. No more mistakes.”

  Mahar bowed his head.

  “I want them alive. They need to know that I am more powerful than any American. That they will pay the price for their misguided attempts to change my course.” He sprung from his seat. “As if they can come here, pretend to be of assistance, and alter my operation with a single, foolish plan.”

  “Their plan is filled with fault, sir. We have already proved that.”

  “That’s not enough. The Americans help too many of my enemies. They think the world has to run on their ideals. Their ideals are childish and will not work in my world.”

  Mahar stood at attention as Chenzira spouted his angry thoughts.

  “Mahar, you are my head man. You will bring them back.” Mahar no
dded.

  * * * *

  “I’ll turn the car in. Go to the Israeli Flight airline counter.” Cal had seen the numerous dark cars randomly behind them on the roads. The cars were dark, the window tinting as dark, and he had a gut feeling that the minds inside were even darker.

  Their plan B had been hatched on the trip to the airport. After numerous sedans appeared in their rearview mirror, they couldn’t ignore the possibility they were being followed.

  Mary remained quiet as he dropped her off in front of the designated ticket window. “I’ll call Grant before I meet you. Stay here until I get back.”

  He accelerated slowly, watching his mirrors for another sedan. He twisted the mirror to catch a glimpse of Mary. If anyone came near her, he’d kill him. He’d done it before. This time it would be personal. Last time she was his partner. Now, he imagined more, even if she had a problem with admitting it for more than a few hours of his body on hers.

  Half a mile from where he’d left Mary, he found the rental agency. He parked the car in a vacant slot surrounded by other vehicles and random people dropping off or acquiring their transportation. He didn’t notice any followers.

  Digging in his front pocket, he retrieved one of the cell phones. He dialed Grant’s home number as it was too early for him to be in the office back home. As he did so, he considered the probability of his boss’s phone recording any conversation.

  “Hello,” a gruff voice whispered into the phone.

  “Grant, things have changed.”

  “Where are—”

  “No time.” Cal cut off the obvious question. All of a sudden he knew Grant couldn’t help them. Any information Cal exposed would surely get back to the agency whether Grant had good intentions or not. “We’re coming home.”

  Grant didn’t respond right away. The phone hummed for a few seconds, which chewed away at the time for detection before Grant ordered, “Call me tonight, when you get in.”

  Only Cal knew this coded command and hung up the phone.

  His stomach tied in knots as he found a bus to take him back to the Israeli ticket counter. He shouldn’t have left her alone. The main enemy of this operation, Chenzira, and his thugs, expanded to enemies on both sides. Someone always knew where he and Mary moved, where they slept, and probably watched them eat.

  He jumped off the bus and stepped quickly to the revolving door. Inside, his eyes scanned the crowded area. At least she could hide well from him.

  A slight tug on the back of his shirt caused him to whip around. Mary stood behind him. “Cal, I went to the counter and acted as if I bought tickets. The attendant must’ve thought I was a crazy tourist because I asked her where I could get a bottle of juice. I don’t think she was pleased about me wasting her time.”

  “Good. Anyone watching will think we really are leaving.” He turned his position to watch another corner of the premises. “I have to call Grant when it’s nighttime over there. I don’t think he can help much. The agency will be expecting us back this evening. We have until the call to Grant to get cleared, transfer the information to safe hands, and find a new hideout.”

  “We have more enemies than we counted on.” She mirrored his thoughts. “How do we know we can leave the flash drives with anyone right now? We couldn’t even safely get into the embassy we’re stationed out of.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that.” He grabbed her arm. “Let’s move around and we’ll figure out our next destination.”

  Pulling a folded and slightly worn ticket package from her carry-on, she pretended to show her partner their flight plans. She spotted a Starbucks and headed for an eye-opener.

  Talking into her steaming cup of black liquid, they walked through the airport and she went back to the discussion of what they needed to do. “So, Grant might not be able to help. Then what are you going to call him about tonight?”

  “I’m sure his home phone is tapped, so I only told him we’d be back. When I call him tomorrow morning, his night, I’m hoping he can tell me what’s going on with this operation. If he has actual plans and a ride home for us, I’ll fill him in on our find. If not, then I think we’re on our own.”

  “On our own to finish the operation or on our own outside the CIA?”

  He looked at her clear brown eyes. He could tell she knew what he meant. A serious shadow crossed her expression. “I know he’ll be straight with us. I just don’t know if he’s able to at this point. Too many things are out of place.”

  “He was awfully convinced that this operation would work when he sent us. Do you think he switched or had already switched sides?”

  His head snapped her way. “No. No, I can’t believe that of Vic. We go way back and I know few as loyal to America as him.”

  “Okay. Let’s start with him. Maybe someone got to him.”

  “It wouldn’t be by his choice, but I guess it’s possible.” He shook his head, not wanting to consider betrayal from his friend and boss. “If he can’t help us, he certainly won’t try to hinder our movement. We’ll find out when I call.”

  “That means we have the rest of the day to do our own research on our situation.” She pulled him toward a busy food mart. Most the other gift stores contained only a sample of the waiting flyers. A crowd is a better place to hide. “I think we should head to the US Consulate in Adana after ‘our’ flight leaves in about thirty-five minutes.”

  “If we couldn’t get into the embassy in Cairo, we’re not getting into this one.”

  “I know, but wait a minute and let me explain.” Her eyes burned into his, insinuating that her idea merited a chance. “We go in as tourists. We might be able to find out what happened with the bombing in Cairo. Also, we can deposit the flash drives.”

  “Whoa, that’s like telling everyone where we are.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” She grew intent on her plan. “By the time it’s discovered and viewed, we’ll be long gone. Double agents with the Egyptian terrorists won’t be at this location. It’ll at least get into the right hands.”

  Cal bent his head in thought. Looking at his watch he claimed, “We have twenty minutes to waste, yet. We don’t want to be here if anyone notices that we aren’t boarded on the flight. Let’s get another vehicle and head to the consulate.”

  Chapter 23

  “This is the first time that I feel no one has been following.” Mary spoke as they parked the new rental near the US Consulate. The day had grown hotter as they entered the early afternoon. Heat waved off the pavement and the dust-covered palms barely moved in the still air.

  Cal sat for a minute before turning the engine off. Keeping his hand on the gear shifter, he looked at her without a comment.

  “What? Do you think I’m wrong?”

  He scanned the street in front of them, then stared deep into her eyes. “I feel that way, too, that no one is following, but who knows. I think it would be best if only one of us goes into the embassy.” She raised her brows. “And that would be me.”

  “You want us separated?”

  “Not really, but you attract a lot of attention.”

  Her blood ran faster. “You think I can’t be a nonchalant tourist?”

  “No. That’s not it.” He unbuckled his seat belt, not taking his stare from her. “You’re beautiful and everyone notices.”

  She ducked her chin, slightly embarrassed by the frank statement. “I’m normal. Nothing more. Besides, if you think I’ll attract attention, maybe I can pull off a favor if I think I need one.”

  He chuckled. “That’s probably true, but seriously if I’m the one to leave the flash drives, less people will remember my presence.”

  She thought for a moment. With a drawn-out sigh, she said, “All right. We’ll do it your way, but I want a time that you’ll be back.” She imagined the room alone that night. Even if she wasn’t in the mood to give him any satisfaction, or take it for herself, a slight pang of anxiety wretched her stomach at the thought of being alone.

  She needed to curb he
r appetite. A few nights of good sex was a bonus, but she didn’t have the time or the, what could she call it, the experience to have a relationship.

  “I said, is there a piece of paper I can write a note on?” He nudged her arm.

  She made a quick diversion from her thoughts. “Oh, let me see.” She grabbed the rental receipt. “Here…wait, we don’t want that passed on.” She dug in her minute bag of necessities deemed important for whenever they would leave their hotel. Ripping a corner from a brochure, making sure it didn’t have a location address or number on it, she handed over a scrap of paper. “Hope you don’t need to leave a lengthy message.”

  “Just need to write an alert, so someone looks at what we found.” He found a pen in the glove box and scribbled a few words. “It might not get into the right hands immediately, but they should at least get curious and check into it.”

  “We can hope,” she said as Cal got out of the car.

  He leaned back into the vehicle. “I’ll be back in twenty. I’m not staying for the whole tour.” He forced a smile as he glanced over at her.

  “I’ll be here.” She winked to lighten the mood.

  Shaking his head with lack of appreciation for her humor, he threw his gun under the seat. “I don’t think I’ll get in with that.” He turned and left on his mission.

  * * * *

  Twenty minutes to do nothing. She debated on whether to think about all the time they’d have to be together, or make plans for different scenarios of what would happen after they contacted Grant.

  She had it set in her mind that they’d be headed back to the States after their next phone call, yet something nagged at her about the simplicity of this idea. All they’d have to do is get on a plane. And what if that didn’t happen? It would be smart to have a backup itinerary. She and Cal should discuss this during their mini-vacation from reality and work. The days they wouldn’t exist on anyone’s radar weren’t also days they could relax from the danger still searching for them.