“You’re just jealous,” she called after him. “It’s much more fun playing with kids than it is with those politicians.”
“Too true.” He chuckled. “I can see why you had to have a Sasha in your life.” He disappeared around a turn in the street.
Yes, he understood, she thought. He understood so many things about her. He had been able to read her from the beginning even though she’d put up a virtual smokescreen between them at first.
And now she was beginning to know him, too.
But it wasn’t enough.
Stop thinking about Korgan. Close out everything but what she was doing this minute and what she would say when she got that phone call.
It was late afternoon and she should have gotten that call already. Was he ignoring her? No, he wouldn’t do that. Maybe he was analyzing the situation before he got back to her.
Just call me, dammit.
Fifteen minutes later her phone did ring, and she jumped to answer it. But it wasn’t a call but a text. She read it quickly.
“Shit!”
* * *
Korgan was smiling when he caught up with her three hours later. “We have our riders,” he said. “And I heard from Harris. He’s on his way back from Casablanca. We can have the shipment unloaded and be back on our way to Jubaldar in four or five hours.”
“No, we can’t,” she said curtly. “We have to stay here.”
His brows rose. “I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.” She was on edge and a little defensive. “I’m not finished here. Things didn’t work out as I hoped. But that doesn’t mean they still can’t. There’s just been a delay. We’ll have to adjust.” She started walking down the street. “But we won’t have to be uncomfortable while we’re waiting. Cazvar is giving us his place for the time being. I’m taking you there now. He even has a neighbor woman cooking us some kind of stew or something for dinner. He says it’s clean and it will be fine until—”
“Until?” His hand grasped her arm. “Until what, Alisa? Answers. I want answers. What are you up to? What are we waiting for?”
“Not what. Who.” She scowled. “Jed Novak. We’re waiting for Novak. I wanted to have all the explanations out of the way and a commitment from Novak before I got the two of you together, but then I couldn’t get in touch with him and had to leave messages. That never happens. I can usually reach him.”
“A commitment? What kind of commitment?”
“If we’re not going to allow Lakewood’s fair-haired boy Walt Edwards to take over the attack on Jubaldar, we have to have someone else we can trust and who has the clout with the director to get him to be accepted as a substitute. The only person I know who has both those qualities is Jed Novak. He had more influence than anyone in the CIA, but he’s busy as hell in Maldara. He’s not going to like the idea of taking on both the political bullshit as well as the attack itself connected with the job. That’s one hell of a commitment.”
He nodded. “You said he owed you a favor. But you wouldn’t ask him to go after Masenak in that jungle. This is different?”
“What I was doing at Szarnar could have been a career breaker. I couldn’t ask that of anyone. This will be difficult as hell, but Novak could turn it into a stellar career move if he does it right.”
“And you have faith he’ll do it right.”
“I worked with him. He’s the best. If he agrees to do it, we’ll be lucky to have him.”
He smiled. “Then it appears you’ve found a solution to one of our bigger problems. Now let’s go get him.”
“I’ve been trying. I emailed him I needed a favor and asked him to come here today so that I could explain. I couldn’t reach him until a few hours ago.” She added in frustration, “Then I got a text that he’d been in Brussels giving confidential testimony at a war crimes tribunal about the civil war in Maldara. He’s on his way back, but he won’t arrive before this evening or tomorrow morning.”
“So we’ll wait,” he said quietly. “Why are you upset? It was a great idea; you did something very smart but weren’t able to complete it yet. No big deal.”
“I know it was a good idea. It could work for us. But I didn’t want any mistakes. It was something only I could do, and I wanted everything to go smoothly. I wanted to be able to do it for Sasha. I wanted to do it for you.”
“You’re giving me Jed Novak as a gift?” He smiled. “I’m touched. But from what I’ve heard about him, he might be a surprise package on several levels.”
“You’re joking, but why shouldn’t I step up to the plate and help? Everyone expects you to do everything, even me. It’s been like that since the moment I burgled my way into your study. I bet it’s like that with everyone in your life.”
“I’m not joking.” His smile vanished. “Well, maybe a little. But I am touched. Is that why you wouldn’t tell me why you wanted to come here?”
“I didn’t want to offer you something and then not be able to give it to you. I needed to nail it down.” She added, “Novak couldn’t safely meet us at Jubaldar, and I knew I couldn’t get him to commit until he met you. Neither of you is a trusting person. You had to meet and come to an agreement. I just had to be the conduit to bring you together.”
“And you’ve done it.” His grasp tightened on her arm. “So stop worrying. I know how persuasive you can be. You’ll be able to coax Novak into doing anything when you get him here. You’ve already proved what putty I can be in your hands. Everything is in place. All we have to do is wait until Novak shows up.”
“Bullshit.” She shook his hand away. “He’s not easy. But I think I can make it happen. We were always on the same wavelength.” She stopped before the pine door of a small house near the end of the block. “This is Cazvar’s house. He said the door would be unlocked and the fireplace lit.” She pushed open the door to reveal a small room with a table and four chairs tucked in one corner, a narrow cot-bed pushed against the right wall, and a bubbling black pot hanging over a blazing fire in the fireplace at the far end. She sniffed. “Whatever it is, it smells good. Spicy…but maybe lamb.” She went toward the fire to warm her hands. “I’m glad of the fire. The winds whip around these mountains and chill to the bone…” She looked over her shoulder at him. “There’s supposed to be a tiny bathroom with a shower, but there’s no chance of hot water so it will have to be very quick. But I haven’t had a bath since Margaret and I found a stream running through that canyon yesterday morning, so I don’t give a damn. I just hope there are plenty of clean towels.”
“No problem. I’ll go scavenging through the village and get them for you. After all, I’m the man they’re going to build a statue to honor.” He turned to leave. “Just explore the nest, relax, and I’ll be back to cover you with warm towels, blankets, and anything else I can find.”
“There you go again. Trying to take care of everything. All I asked was for towels.” She was looking into the pot. “Definitely promising.”
“Yes, it is.” She looked back to see him still standing in the doorway. “And not only the stew,” he said gently. “We made progress today. You made progress. So stop worrying about mistakes you didn’t make. You couldn’t drag Novak out of a war crimes hearing because he was screwing up your plans. You did good, Alisa. I’m proud of you.”
Then he was gone.
Warmth was flowing through her as she stared after him.
I’m proud of you.
A few words that meant so much. Too much.
Respect, understanding, companionship were all encompassed in that single sentence. It was what she had told herself she wanted from him, and it was there now.
And it wasn’t enough.
She turned away, picked up her backpack, and headed across the room toward the narrow door of what must be the bathroom. Go take that shower. Do something distracting. Forget it. Block it out. That first glowing warmth had been…nice. For now, take what was there and don’t dwell on anything else.
* * *
Two hours later when Korgan walked into the house, she was standing huddled close to the fire, wrapped in the blanket she’d taken from the bed. “You couldn’t wait?” he asked, his gaze running from her damp hair flowing past bare shoulders to her equally bare feet. “So much for relaxing. You’d have done better to wait and trust me. I’m not sure that blanket is sanitary. I promise you everything I brought you is pristine.”
“The blanket looked okay. Better than either of the towels. I didn’t want to wait.” Her eyes were narrowed on him. “You’ve changed your clothes.” She noticed something else. “And you’re kind of…gleaming. Why?”
“You’re not going to like it.” He shrugged. “I went to the council house and asked them to send some of their people to gather what you needed. It was going to take a little while, so I had time to kill.”
“Why are you gleaming?” she asked, every word precise.
“The council has a steam room for the members to use in the back of the building. They offered to let me use it while I waited.”
“Steam.” She could imagine the wafts of moist heat, the feel of it on her skin. “Do you know how cold that water in the shower is?”
He nodded. “I can see the goose bumps.”
“You should have seen me before I stood before this fire for the last twenty minutes. Did you know about this steam room before you went to ask help from those members?”
“No. The offer came out of the blue. Though I should have guessed they might have tucked away a few luxuries for their personal use.”
“And you didn’t ask if I might be able to use that damn steam room?”
“I did. It was my first thought. But traditionally no women are permitted in the steam rooms, and it took me a little while to persuade them to make you an exception.”
“No women? Son of a bitch!” She stared at him in fury. “They loll in comfort and yet forbid it to their wives and daughters? The unfair bastards.”
“I felt the same way. And I knew damn well what your reaction would be. But I decided that I wanted to get you into that steam room, and I’d hold off on a general equal rights campaign until later. I could have pushed it, but they’ve given us everything we want so far, and I wanted them to keep on doing it. I didn’t believe you’d want me to blow diplomacy to make a statement when I can do it more subtly later. Was I wrong?”
“No, you’re not wrong,” she said between set teeth. “You handled everything with your usual skill. I just hate it.”
“And it didn’t work out anyway.” He made a face. “I didn’t realize you’d get impatient and jump into that icy shower. No steam bath for you.”
“No steam bath for anyone but you and those male chauvinists. Just diplomacy.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“Yes, you will. I’m already considering ways and means.”
“That sounds dangerous. I’d better have the booty I had the council gather for you brought in to distract you.” He called out to the street. “Cazvar, have them bring in the baskets.”
Cazvar and two other men streamed into the small room carrying large baskets overflowing with towels and blankets, and pots and pans that they placed on the floor. As he turned to leave, Cazvar glanced at Alisa by the fire and then said to Korgan, “You told her about the steam room?”
He nodded.
“Foolish.” He smiled maliciously. “You should have kept quiet. She’s not a woman who would accept such a slight for herself or others.” He left the room.
Korgan stepped toward one of the baskets and rifled through it, then pulled out a pale-green-and-rust-striped cotton blanket. “This should do it. Pristine, as advertised.” He offered it to her. “Trade you.”
She took the striped blanket and let the other one drop to her feet. She wrapped the fresh blanket around her and tucked it over her breasts. “Find me a clean towel to dry my hair while I see if there are any bowls in that cabinet. I’m hungry.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He was rummaging through the baskets again. “Steam room discussion over?”
“Over, but not forgotten,” she said as she pulled out two wooden bowls. “I guarantee we’ll both remember it.”
“I don’t have the slightest doubt,” he said ruefully.
* * *
The stew wasn’t bad, but the spice-mint tea that Alisa had found in the cabinet and brewed was even better. She was in a considerably better mood after the meal as she leaned back and smiled at Korgan. “I’m tempted to forgive you, but then I look at you and see that gleam from the steam bath.” She waved her hand. “And poof, temptation’s gone.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed your meal. I had trouble concentrating on it.” His gaze went to the striped blanket that was covering her breasts. “My appetite might have improved if you’d gotten dressed first.”
“Too bad. I wasn’t in the mood to pamper you. I was damp and cold and pissed off. I’ll get dressed later.” She lifted her tea to her lips. “Or not. It depends on if Novak is going to be—” Her phone rang. She glanced at it on the table beside her. “Novak!” She punched ACCEPT and then the SPEAKER button. “Where are you? Are you coming?”
“Just arrived in Morocco. Give me a break. I’ve got a press conference and then I have to talk to my staff. I’ll be on my way right afterward and should be up there early tomorrow morning.” He paused. “I’ve been going over the notes you sent me. It’s a tough proposition. Very tough.”
“Yes.”
“You never make things easy, do you?”
“You can say no.”
“Can I? You didn’t say no to me when I needed you. You almost got killed.”
“It was worth doing.”
“Yes.” He paused. “Lakewood has his nose out of joint about Korgan being involved in the rescue of those students. You can see how he doesn’t want a repeat performance. He wants to be the one to shine.”
“Let him shine somewhere else. If Korgan hadn’t been involved, those girls would still be in that camp being brutalized.”
“So I’ve heard, and it’s something of an open secret that Lakewood would like to squash. If he was directly responsible for capturing Masenak, it would go a long way in doing that.”
“We don’t care about the damn credit for the kill. We just need to take him out in a way that will be certain and avoid collateral damage. If Lakewood brings Walt Edwards into the mix, we can’t trust that will happen. He’ll be marching to Lakewood’s drummer. You know that, Novak.”
“Yes, I know that.” He paused. “And you’ve been saying ‘we,’ which means that you’re solidly in Korgan’s camp. I’d have to accept him if I agree to help you?”
“That’s right.” She met Korgan’s gaze across the table. There was none of her own tension in his expression. He was leaning back, smiling slightly, perfectly at ease. “I couldn’t be more solidly in his camp.”
“Then he’s probably listening to this call,” Novak said wearily. “It’s just as well. All cards on the table. By the time I get to Samlir, I’ll have done the research and have a basic knowledge of what to expect from Korgan. I can make my own judgments. You might trust him, but I’ve heard he can be persuasive as hell.”
“Absolutely. I didn’t expect anything else from you. Let me know when you’re about to arrive.” She added haltingly, “I didn’t want to ask this of you. Thanks for considering it, Novak.”
“I couldn’t do anything else. You’re important to me. I owe you. The only thing left to decide is whether what you’re asking is as worthwhile as what you did for me. I’ll see you in the morning, Alisa.” He cut the connection.
“Novak might do it.” She put her phone down on the table. “It probably depends on whether he believes he can work with you. I knew it would come down to that when I asked him.”
“Because you know him so well.” He tilted his head. “And you’re important to him. It was interesting listening to the two of you. There was an intimacy…” His gaze never left her face as he asked softly, “How
intimate were you, Alisa? Did you sleep with him?”
Shock. She went still. “That’s none of your business.”
“Do you think I don’t realize that?” His voice was no longer soft, but rough. “It’s not my business, and it shouldn’t matter anyway. But it does, and so I asked. I was having a purely barbaric, male moment and you should feel free to ignore it.”
“I will.”
“After you answer me,” he added recklessly. “Novak said all cards on the table. You want our meeting to be civilized and friendly in the morning. I’ll be much more civilized if you satisfy my curiosity.”
“Curiosity is seldom barbaric. So I don’t believe you can call it that.” She shrugged impatiently. “You’re being weird, but this isn’t worth arguing about. I never slept with Novak. I like and respect him, and I think he’s the best CIA operative in the agency. And even if it had occurred to me that I might like to do it, I knew how many trips he took to get together with a journalist named Jill Cassidy.” She added, “Any other questions? Are we done?”
“We’re done.” He rose to his feet. “And now I’m going for a walk to give you some time to forget how weird I can be. It was that cerebral versus physical conflict again. But it might not have manifested itself tonight if you’d had something on besides that blanket.” He headed for the door. “You’ll be waiting for Sasha’s call?”
She nodded. “If she calls. I hope she does.”
She watched the door close behind him before she got to her feet and went to stand before the fireplace. She didn’t really need the heat, she thought ruefully. It was purely emotion that caused her to shake a little. Though the conversation with Novak had gone as she’d thought it would. Nothing could be certain, but she was hopeful.
It was those few short sentences with Korgan afterward that had disturbed her. She’d been so involved with convincing Novak that she hadn’t been ready when Korgan had asked that question. He was usually so cool and totally collected where Masenak was concerned, she’d thought that beneath his almost casual facade he was as focused as she was. Then she’d looked at him and seen that intensity that had nothing cool about it. It was good that he’d walked out the door, because she hadn’t known what to do after she’d instinctively tried to ignore, to pretend, to protect herself. She must have done it well, because he’d left her.
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