Beyond Duty

by Stanalei Fletcher

  He picked up the smaller ring first, and rolled the smooth metal between his fingers. He strode around the table and stopped in front of the petite lieutenant. She stood her ground.

  Taking her left hand, he heard her draw a breath. His gaze locked on to the violent storm brewing inside her gray eyes. The temperature inside the room increased. His breathing matched the rise and fall of her chest as the room filled with white noise.

  Her slender hand trembled ever so slightly as he slipped the band onto her fourth finger. It fit perfectly. He stared into the dark pools of her eyes, like a man dying of thirst in the scorched desert. Uninvited, the timeless words from the marriage ceremony echoed through his head. “With this ring…”

  Stunned by the thought, he stopped short of speaking the words aloud.

  At the head of the table, Byron cleared his throat and broke the spell.

  Riley dropped her hand as though he’d been burned. He returned to his side of the table, picked up the other ring, and slid it on the fourth finger of his left hand. No fanfare. No ceremony. Only an unfamiliar burden he was about to carry. A partner—a wife as a cover story—with two lives and the nation’s security at stake.

  “With that out of the way,” Byron opened his laptop and pressed a key, “let’s get to our first order of business.” He sat and slid his chair closer to the table. Riley and Chip returned to their seats facing each other.

  “Obviously, you’ll need to investigate the resort where the women were last seen. You’ll be heading into the Jemez Mountains near the Santa Fe National Forest. Remember, both women have ties to New Mexico. Because of the kidnapper’s stipulations, you’ll need to use covert measures in your investigation. No one can know the real reason you’re there.”

  “Exactly how did Senator Burnsworth obtain that video?” Chip sounded wary. “Surely, if it was sent to his public account, the kidnapping would be all over the news.”

  “We believe his wife was coerced into revealing the senator’s private e-mail,” Byron said.

  “You believe?” Chip tilted her head, her eyebrows drawn together.

  Byron looked worried for the first time since the briefing began, and that bothered Riley. It was unusual for the director to be anything but confident during mission briefings.

  “The alternative is that someone close to the senator has a direct line to him.” Byron sighed and rubbed his neck. “If that’s true, it means the kidnapper is someone who knows the senator personally, and may already know he’s contacted Northstar for help.”

  The air in the room grew heavy with the implication the mission might already be compromised.

  Byron continued. “We don’t have any more than that video to work with. We’ve not been able to track the GPS on Mrs. Burnsworth’s phone because we believe it’s turned off. However, by the time you arrive at the resort, we anticipate more specifics from the video and possibly the location it was sent from. Allison and her team will work around the clock to get you as many details as they can to guide your search. I’ll also expect regular progress reports.” He checked his watch. “Your flight leaves at fifteen hundred hours.” He turned to Chip. “Do you have civilian clothes with you?”

  “No, sir.” She brought herself back into military mode. “I was instructed to drive directly here. I have a go-bag, but it doesn’t contain clothing for this type of assignment. I’ll need to return to my apartment to pack.”

  “You have a little time, but make it quick.” Byron gestured to his son. “Riley will drive you there on the way to the airport. You can leave your car here at Northstar. It’ll be secure.”

  Chip looked uncertain about the offer, but nodded. “Thank you. May I talk with the senator before we leave?”

  “Of course. He’s in my office. Out this door and to your left.” Byron pointed.

  “If you’ll excuse me, then.” She stood. Both Byron and Riley stood as well. She didn’t look at Riley as she left the room.

  Riley waited until he was certain she was gone, then turned to his father. “Newlyweds? That was the best you could do?”

  “We’ve examined all the angles and, based on the need for secrecy, this is the ideal scenario.” His father spoke with a mild rebuke in his tone. “But since you brought up the subject, perhaps you’ll enjoy a taste of female companionship and think about making it a regular meal.”

  “I don’t need your help getting women—”

  “You haven’t dated for almost a year.” Byron interrupted. “In contrast, look at your sister. She’s quite content now that she and Egan have set a wedding date. In fact, even Caitlin Malone found marital bliss. Although I wish she hadn’t resigned from the firm to find it.”

  “I’m happy for Kellee and Egan. I know it wasn’t an easy go for them, especially dealing with the Russian mob and learning about Kellee’s real parents. That part was a challenge for all of us. But they’re together now and deserve that happiness.” Riley stared at the closed door where Chip had disappeared. “Their situation, and Caitlin’s, is totally different from mine. I’m not ready for a commitment. Besides, my love life isn’t the issue here.”

  “What problem do you have with Lieutenant Anderson, son?”

  He looked back at his father. “I don’t know if I can work with her.”

  “Why not?” Byron looked concerned.

  “Because she’s—”

  “Mary?” His father supplied.

  “Yeah.” Riley swallowed. “About that. Did you know she was the one who almost compromised that sting on the gang house last year?”

  Byron shook his head, then gave a little smile. “Not until I saw the photo. Then I recalled your assignment debrief. It makes sense now that I’ve met her.”

  “What makes sense?” Riley wasn’t sure why his father looked amused.

  “How she was able to take you down.” His father chuckled. “You’ll want to polish your manners and remember that ring on her finger is just for show.”

  “I won’t forget.” Riley had put the ring on her finger, and suddenly he felt like…what? He couldn’t find words for the strange feelings she stirred in him. What the hell was happening to his usual objectivity?

  “Are you refusing this assignment?”

  “No!” Riley ran a hand through his hair. In calmer tones he continued, “It’s just that…”

  “You know, she reminds me a lot of your mother.”

  “Mom?” Riley stared at Byron. “She’s nothing like Mom. Lieutenant Anderson may be disciplined, but she’s still rash and stubborn.”

  “Hmmm…” Byron pursed his lips. “I agree. A lot like your mother.”

  “I don’t see it.” How could his father detect any of his late mother’s wonderful qualities in Chip? “I’m not sure how I’ll make this arrangement work.”

  “Then you’d better figure it out. And quick.” Byron was stern in his reply. “Whatever problem you’ve got with Lieutenant Anderson, you only have a couple of hours to get over it.”

  Riley cringed. “Yes, sir.” He left the conference room to find the new Mrs. O’Neal.

  Chapter Three

  Chip leaned against the wall outside the conference room and took a moment to get her head around Fiona’s kidnapping. She needed to talk with Andrew, and she wanted to understand what her father was doing here—how he was involved in all of this. Finding those answers were important, of course, but who was she kidding? What she really needed was to quell her racing heart after being blindsided by Riley O’Neal.

  Riley and Byron were still inside the room. She wouldn’t be surprised if Riley was asking for another partner. He’d seemed as disconcerted as she was during the briefing. She supposed there’d always been a chance of meeting him again. They lived in the same city, after all. But what were the odds that the angry agent who saved Lisa would be the same Northstar agent she was now expected to partner with? He was taller than she remembered, and of course, looked even better in a suit than he had in jeans and a T-shirt a year ago. His rugged jaw
and high forehead were even more fascinating without that distracting tattoo.

  She hoped no one noticed how she’d clung to him during introductions. Then, when he put the ring on her finger, he’d triggered a reaction that scared her more than live-fire training exercises. Her hand still tingled where he’d touched it.

  She wiped her palm down the side of her skirt, dismayed at how quickly the man had gotten under her skin. Every time she thought of the incident at the gang house, she cringed in shame. Her overconfidence nearly cost her, Lisa, and Riley, their lives. She should have divulged her identity at the same time Riley shared his. Instead, she’d been disarmed by his protectiveness for both Lisa and herself. Getting Lisa out of that hellhole had eased her guilty conscience for hurting him. But it was still a struggle to bury the vivid memories of the man who invaded her dreams.

  Now they were working together in a pretend marriage as a cover story. How was she going to pull that off? The closest she’d been to a man in the past year was hand-to-hand combat training. In her line of work, and in the military, she had to be careful. Any hint of a sexual come-on would be disastrous for both careers. For the next few days, she had to put all that aside and act like a loving wife, because what mattered most was finding Fiona and Lorraine.

  Chip pushed away from the wall and glanced across the hall. The doors that had been closed earlier were propped open.

  The large windowless room was filled with all sorts of technical equipment, from computers to microscopes, on stainless-steel tables. This must be the lab, the nerve center of Northstar Security. It looked like a command center with all that state-of-the-art technology—enough to be the envy of any military installation. If Northstar’s techs were skilled enough to run this equipment, she felt confident the assignment might succeed.

  The woman named Allison stood near one wall conversing with another tech in a white lab coat. She glanced up and gave a friendly nod. Chip offered a quick smile and then turned toward Byron’s office.

  If the lab was the brain of Northstar Security, then Byron O’Neal’s office was surely the heart and soul. She didn’t know much about the firm, but had once overheard her father call Northstar one of the most elite private security agencies in the country. Coming from a two-star general in charge of his own intelligence corps, that was quite a compliment.

  She hesitated outside the door. Andrew was probably watching the sickening video of his wife again, hoping he’d done the right thing by reaching out to Northstar.

  She tapped lightly on the door, then opened it and peeked inside. “Senator?” She used his title in deference to his position. Had they been back at Fiona and Andrew’s apartment, she would have been far more casual.

  “Chip.” The senator stood and pulled her into another hug as she entered the office. “I can’t thank you enough for helping us.”

  Chip returned the hug. “I want Fiona and Lorraine safely back, too.” She turned and faced the general, who was standing at the far end of the room. “Sir.”

  “Come on in, Lieutenant.”

  “Thank you, Sir.” Chip resisted the urge to hide her left hand with the shiny new ring on it. Her father had agreed to the cover story and she’d do her best to not show embarrassment about the situation, but it made her uncomfortable to know he suggested the cover story. “I’d like to learn more about Fiona’s trip to New Mexico. Would it be all right to talk with the senator for a few minutes?”

  “I would expect nothing less.” The general gestured to a pair of leather chairs in front of a huge mahogany desk. “Have a seat.”

  Chip took in the room as she crossed to the chair. On a credenza beside the desk, sat a flat panel monitor displaying the Northstar logo—a world atlas overlaid with a compass. The large window behind the desk overlooked the parking lot. Regardless of the busy street next to the lot, no traffic noise made it inside. The exterior walls and windows must be soundproof.

  She perched on the edge of the chair and faced the senator. “Wasn’t Fiona supposed to be back from New Mexico today?”

  Andrew nodded as he sat across from her. “I had a special brunch planned. When she didn’t show and wasn’t returning my messages, I tried calling Lorraine’s phone. She didn’t answer either. Shortly after that, my e-mail pinged with the video.” He took a shuddering breath. “Who would do such a thing to my wife?”

  “I’m going to find out.” Chip infused confidence in her tone. “Try not to worry. Fiona’s a strong woman and I promise we’ll bring her home.” She inched to the edge of her chair. “After you got the video, what did you do next?”

  The office door opened suddenly. “Excuse the interruption.” Riley entered the room. “I’d like to join you, if I may?”

  Chip stiffened, but didn’t deny his right to hear what the senator had to say.

  Riley nodded to the general and senator. He crossed to the big desk and leaned a hip on it. A hint of his spicy aftershave wafted toward Chip and she felt her body temperature rise. She took a discreet breath to calm her racing heart.

  Riley folded his arms and nodded. “Please continue.”

  Chip refocused on the task and repeated her question to the senator. “After you saw the video, what did you do?”

  The senator looked uncomfortable. “Frankly, I panicked. My first instinct was to call the police or FBI in spite of the warnings, but I calmed down and contacted your dad instead.”

  Riley glanced curiously at the general. “Why call General Anderson?”

  “He’s a friend,” the senator said. “He’s also the military advisor on the committee for the surveillance systems. He knows the importance of this program better than anyone else. He suggested I reach out to Northstar.” Andrew leaned back with a concerned look. “I’m still afraid the kidnapper will find out I’ve contacted you. But between General Anderson and Byron, and now you and Chip, I have a greater hope of getting Fiona and Lorraine back alive.”

  Chip knew her father had assisted with projects for the government before, but until now, she hadn’t realized the extent of his involvement. She turned back to Andrew. “The video is less than two hours old. What time did you get it?”

  His expression turned bleak. “Around eleven this morning.” He rubbed his unshaven jaw.

  “And between the east coast and New Mexico, there’s a two-hour time difference,” Chip added. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Riley nod. “You know, you could have called me right then.”

  “I know, but you have to understand how scared I was.” The senator shuddered. “I decided I had to tell someone, so I called the general. I’m glad he got you involved as quickly as he did.”

  General Anderson stepped forward, adding to the conversation. “I went to the senator’s apartment. And stayed with him until we arranged this meeting. His office thinks we’re taking a working lunch. When we’re through here, I’ll drive him back home.”

  “That’s good.” Chip smiled to ease Andrew’s fears. “Especially if the kidnapper is somehow able to monitor your apartment.” She glanced at Riley before continuing. “Byron’s sending us to check out the resort where Fiona and Lorraine spent this last week. We need to understand how the kidnapper found them. Did either of them go into Santa Fe or visit any other places while they were there?”

  “As far as I know, neither Fiona nor Lorraine left the resort.” Andrew shook his head. “I didn’t want Fiona to go to the house, or check on her projects. She’s been working around-the-clock on my economics program, in addition to building the new facility for Runaway Home, I was afraid she’d burn out. The R&R wasn’t planned, but her itinerary wasn’t a secret, either. I suppose someone could have learned where she’d gone.”

  Chip knew Fiona worked hard. In fact, it had been almost three weeks since she’d last seen her at the impromptu party when Chip returned from Afghanistan. Right after the party, Fiona buried herself in her latest project with a promise to call when it was finished. But even with all her duties, she’d been returning Chip’s tex
ts until yesterday.

  Andrew buried his face in his hands. “This is my fault. She didn’t want to go. She took Lorraine to keep up with work while she was there. Against my wishes, I might add.”

  “Andrew.” Chip took the senator’s hand and looked into his defeated eyes. “This isn’t your fault. Some terrible bastard is doing this and we’re going to stop him.” She squeezed his hand. “What more can you tell me—us—about the UAS program?”

  Andrew seemed to hesitate as he glanced from Chip to Riley.

  “We need to learn what we can about the importance of these unmanned aerial systems,” Riley added, looking between the senator and the general. “Any details you can share could help us find your wife and Ms. Voras.”

  The senator’s expression changed from one of a desperate husband to a statesman. “Understand this information is highly confidential.”

  “Of course.” Chip nodded.

  “As I mentioned earlier, we’re proposing a joint security venture with Mexico. I’m sure you’ve heard for years that the majority of the drug traffic brought in through Mexico comes from Central and South America. We can’t ignore this exceptional opportunity with the current Mexican government to squeeze the pipeline shut, or at the very least, tighten entry points between our own borders.”

  Riley shifted slightly against the desk. “Today’s the first time I’ve heard about selling U.S. surveillance drones. Must’ve been a tightly held secret. You mentioned earlier that you’re selling the technology, too?”

  The senator continued. “Typically, we loan the unmanned aerial vehicles, not sell them. The committee has positioned the United States to take a stand, and share our technology for the benefit of both countries. This program will let Mexico monitor their borders and coastlines with impunity. The U.S and Mexican UAVs will deploy in a coordinated effort to locate and disable drug traffickers, much as they’re used for intelligence gathering in the Middle East. When the referendum passes, both governments will be able to effectively block the drug trade.”

  “Obviously the cartels won’t like this joint effort.” Chip bit the corner of her lip. “Is anyone else opposed to the program? Anyone here in the United States?”