“Thereby setting the stage for it to get leaked.”
“Bingo,” Bolan said.
“Okay, so since rumors of her death are greatly exaggerated, what next? You think she can start over?”
“I hope so,” Bolan said. “After all she’s been through, she deserves a little peace.”
* * *
JENNIFER DAVIS POSED in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom and studied her look. A black skirt cut just above the knees sheathed her hips and thighs. Skin tanned golden from the Arizona sun caused her white, sleeveless blouse to gleam. Her hair, dyed a deep red, was tied into a long ponytail.
She turned once and noticed the muscles ripple gently in her calves as she did. Her stomach and biceps were toned. Even by her own exacting standards, she looked great, better than she had in years. Spending six months in a secluded safe house with nothing to do but eat, exercise and read did that for a person.
There had been the hours-long debriefings by a team of intelligence analysts from the Treasury Dept., FBI, CIA and NSA. Nothing came for free. But she’d had plenty of time to heal her body and mind, if not her soul.
Now here she was in Baltimore, Maryland, getting dressed for her first day of work. Excitement and anxiety fluttered in her stomach, vied for her attention. She hadn’t held an actual, honest-to-God day job in years. But a new group made up of spooks from multiple agencies, one aimed at tracking terrorist financing, was revving up. The government had made Davis a sweet offer, one she’d jumped on. New identity, new job. She’d still live in the shadows to some extent, but not as she had.
She thought briefly of Matt Cooper, felt a warm sensation of gratitude for the guy. He’d kept his word, every last syllable. He’d had her back, just like he’d promised. He’d come for her when Yezhov had snatched her, not because he thought she was a weak damsel, but because that’s what he’d promised. And he’d made good on his oath that she’d return to at least some kind of normal life. She hadn’t heard from the big guy since they’d flown back to a small commercial airport in Virginia months ago. He’d handed her over to a small cadre of men from the DOJ, including a man named Hal Brognola, who chewed through cigars like chewing gum. Judging by the deference paid to him by the others in the group—which included the Director of National Intelligence and the directors of the FBI and CIA—Brognola was the highest of high rollers in the government’s security hierarchy, if not in title then in the authority and respect he commanded from those around him.
She’d pressed Brognola for more information about Cooper. After a half-dozen times, Brognola pulled his unlit, but well-chewed cigar into an ashtray and shot her a no-nonsense look across the table.
“Here’s some advice,” Brognola said. “You’re living a new life now. You’ll never, ever forget the people from the old one. It’s possible you won’t ever speak of them. But you’ll never forget them, nor should you. They’re one of the reasons you did all the things you did, why you’re here today.”
She opened her mouth to speak. He gestured her to stay quiet and she complied.
“But forget about Matt Cooper,” Brognola said. “Don’t talk about him to anyone, no matter their security clearance or rank. No veiled references. No stories with what you consider important details omitted. If anyone asks, you never heard of the guy. Consider him like Santa Claus, he doesn’t exist. Not that it will ever happen, but if you ever get hauled in front of Congress over that business in England and Russia? It was Navy SEALS who pulled your fat out of the fire. Understood?”
“Why?”
“It’s the only way he can do what he does. It’s the only way he can help others like he helped you. Trust me, this is bigger than either of us.”
After a brief pause, she nodded tentatively. “Okay.”
“Don’t screw with me on this.”
She scowled. “All right, I won’t. I promise.”
Apparently satisfied, Brognola turned the conversation in another direction. She’d kept her promise that day and knew she always would. At least to a point. She’d never mention Matt Cooper, ever, especially if it would put him at risk. But she wouldn’t forget him or what he’d done for her, either. He hadn’t just saved her life, he’d given her a new one. He’d forever have her loyalty for that.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459249783
Copyright © 2012 by Worldwide Library
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