The Secret Target

by Dean Atwood

“I’m sorry, that’s the nickname of my hitman contact.”

  “You run with an interesting group of men.”

  “Anyway,” she said, ignoring his comment, “we don’t know for sure whether Scarlatino followed up before he was killed. But it’s possible, the man who contracted Scarlatino will contact my friend, once he finds out the man he contracted is dead.”

  “Can you trust a professional assassin to let us know whether he’s been contracted to kill Blaire?”

  “This particular one, I’d trust with my life.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you helping me? What’s in it for you?”

  “I couldn’t let my source for free coffee and breakfast get killed. I’m on a tight budget.”

  “Seriously, why’d you do it?”

  “I like you. Whenever we met on the downtown mall, you always treated me with dignity. And, I can’t totally divorce myself from my training. I spotted the man surveilling your place and had to warn you. Then my curiosity got the better of me, and I felt the need to learn more about what was happening. Before I knew it, the whole thing started snowballing out of control.”

  “I’m afraid I’ve put you in a dangerous position by involving you in my investigation.”

  The lieutenant shrugged and said, “It’s too late to change that now. I’m into this up to my ears and have to stay with it to the conclusion.”

  “Do you want another glass of wine?”

  “No thanks. I’m not used to drinking. I’m lightheaded after one.”

  “I have to go to the JUIAF to officially interview Blaire tomorrow. I’m going to turn in for the night.”

  “I should sleep well after that shower. I feel rejuvenated.”

  “Let me know if you need anything,” he said, not intending to sound overtly flirtatious, although he did.

  “My needs are satisfied — for now,” she said and gave him one of those sexy female looks that he’s always had difficulty interpreting. Was it playful or inviting or nothing at all?

  Chapter 34

  I t had been a long day, and Quinton should’ve gone right to sleep, but the wheels turning in his mind were keeping him awake. He turned from his right side to his left side for at least the tenth time, trying to get comfortable — but to no avail.

  It wasn’t so much the case itself that was causing him to lose sleep. Blaire was safe for the night and there was nothing he could do to further the investigation until the morning. It was his personal relationship with Blaire that was the cause of his insomnia. In his head, he kept replaying the video of her with Jeremy. Each time he replayed it, the kissing and fondling became more exaggerated.

  Perhaps, he was expecting too much from her. She was only human. People make mistakes. What he was struggling to comprehend was why she’d done it. Her excuse that she was following orders didn’t make sense to him. She’s a strong enough woman to say no, if she didn’t feel comfortable complying with Warren’s orders. He thought she was satisfied with him, sexually and otherwise. In time, he could forgive her for cheating, if it was a one-time indiscretion. After all, it wasn’t as though either of them were virgins when they met. But, once trust is lost, it’s difficult to get it back. The chant, once a liar, always a liar, and once a cheat always a cheat, echoed in his mind.

  To complicate matters, Lieutenant Mad was sleeping naked in his guestroom. It was difficult for him to be judgmental of Blaire’s infidelity while he was having impure thoughts about the lieutenant. He liked to think, he would’ve immediately put those thoughts out of his mind, if he hadn’t seen that video and felt betrayed.

  The clock on his nightstand said it was 12:30 am. He’d been lying awake in bed for an hour. He turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He’d show Blaire the video in the morning and ask her to explain it. Her reaction would tell him a lot about her character. Would she continue to lie and deny it or be honest about the real reason she’d cheated on him? Making the resolution to confront her, seemed to relax him. He was feeling tired.

  When he was almost to the dozing off point, he was startled by the creek of a stairstep. He calmly opened his eyes and reached for the pistol, which was lying on his nightstand. He thought the noise was the house settling until he heard several quiet steps after the creaking sound. His heartrate increased as he prepared himself for the intruder. A shadow appeared in the soft glow of the hall nightlight followed by the emergence of a naked woman in the doorway.

  Quinton set the gun onto the nightstand and watched her gracefully walk toward his bed. She lifted the covers and folded them down to the bottom before crawling onto the mattress beside him. He turned on his side face her. She kissed him softly at first and then more longingly as he responded to her seduction.

  As he began to make love to her, he thought, what a strange and exciting end to an unusual day. An hour of intense lovemaking cured Quinton’s insomnia. Neither of them said a word after they finished. She turned on her side, facing away from him. He responded by turning on his side and putting his arm around her to cuddle. They fell asleep locked in that embrace.

  ***

  The first thing Quinton noticed when he awoke was that he was alone in bed. The other thing was that the lieutenant’s post-shower scent was still in the room. He inhaled and smiled as he reminisced about their sexual encounter in the wee hours of the morning. Somebody analyzing his behavior would probably conclude that it had been revenge sex, but Quinton didn’t view it that way. Although their relationship wasn’t officially ended, Blaire had effectively terminated their exclusivity through her actions. It was a fine distinction, but one that satisfied Quinton’s personal moral code.

  When he went downstairs, he expected to find the lieutenant, but she wasn’t there. He didn’t hear the downstairs shower running; however, the guestroom door was closed. He knocked a couple of times. When there was no response, he opened the door and looked around. She wasn’t there either. He shrugged and went into the kitchen. Anxious to get to the JUIAF to interview Blaire, he decided to forego his walk to the Mudhouse Coffee shop and instead make a Keurig cup of coffee.

  Before the water was fully heated, he was interrupted by the clicking of a key unlocking the front door. He’d left his gun upstairs, so he reached for the first ad hoc weapon he could find, which was a steak knife. When the door opened, he recognized the familiar UVA cap and camouflage shirt.

  “Lieutenant Mad, I wondered where you’d disappeared to.”

  She eyed the steak knife he was holding and said, “I bought us coffee and bagels.”

  “I thought you had to watch your spending.”

  “You left your wallet on your nightstand.”

  “How generous of me.”

  “I didn’t think you’d mind paying, since you always buy when we run into each other on the mall.” She set down two bags onto the kitchen table and removed the coffees from one and bagels from the other. Next to the empty bags, she set down change from a twenty-dollar bill.

  “I’m glad you came back. I thought I’d done something wrong.”

  “You did alright,” she said and gave him a quick smile before turning her head down. “I’m an early riser. I didn’t say anything when I left because I didn’t want to disturb you. You left the key to the front door on your nightstand with your wallet and gun, so I borrowed it.”

  “I slept sound last night, once I got to sleep.”

  “Before I went to Mudhouse, I checked out the Jefferson Theatre.”

  “Is there still a stakeout there?”

  “I didn’t see anybody outside. There aren’t many people hanging out at the mall this time of day. I had to be careful not to be spotted. I didn’t dare go to my room.”

  “You can hang out here today, if you want. I’m leaving after I finish my coffee.”

  “Thanks, but I’ll go to Dr. Bit’s house to see whether he’s found out anything else.”

  “I have an extra key I can give you, in case you want to come back later.”


  “OK, but don’t come in shooting, if you see that piece of tape missing above the door.”

  He smiled and said, “How will I know it’s you who’s broken in and not an intruder?”

  “You’ll know.”

  Quinton took a long sip of coffee and then looked at her. The lieutenant avoided looking back at him, as though she sensed he was going to bring up a subject she was embarrassed to talk about.

  “About last night,” he said.

  “What about last night?”

  “I’m not a player,” he said.

  “I didn’t say you were.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, last night was great. It was better than great, it was amazing, but I still have unresolved issues with Blaire. I shouldn’t have —.”

  “Stop,” she said and held up her hand like a traffic cop. “I’m the one who initiated it. The truth is, I hadn’t slept with a man in a long time. I felt invigorated after my shower and relaxed after a glass of wine. It put me in the mood. I don’t sleep around. I’m not looking for a marriage proposal and I don’t expect you to dump Blondie and ask me to move in with you to take her place. It was a pleasurable night. Can we leave it at that?”

  “OK but sleeping together changes things between us.”

  “How so?”

  “You’re still not on my best friend list, but you’re a lot better friend than you were yesterday.”

  She smiled and said, “I agree.”

  Chapter 35

  B laire turned the doorknob. The latch didn’t release. She shook the knob back and forth. It rattled, but still didn’t free the latch. Out of frustration, she yelled, “Is anybody out there?”

  The soldier assigned to watch duty opened the door and said, “Can I help you, Ma’am?”

  “Yes, you can get out of my way.”

  “I’ve been instructed to escort you wherever you go. Where would you like me to take you?”

  Without answering, she pushed her way by him. He walked briskly behind her, attempting to keep pace with the livid Blaire Saunders. She entered the elevator before he reached it and closed the door before he could join her. The short ride to the lower floor didn’t cool her down. Her face was flushed, and her heart raced. She walked by the receptionist’s desk and pushed Special Agent Warren’s office door wide-open.

  “Am I under house arrest?” she said. “Because if I am, I don’t remember anyone reading me my rights.”

  In a deviation from his normal stoic demeaner, Warren had a look of concern on his face. He said in a sympathetic voice, “What would make you think that?”

  “I was locked in the suite, and the guard said he had orders to escort me wherever I go.”

  The aforementioned guard scurried into the office area and stood behind Blaire. She gave him a glare, and while she was momentarily occupied, Warren flicked the back of his hand toward the guard to signal his dismissal. The soldier promptly complied.

  “I thought we agreed last night that the guard would remain outside the suite for your protection. It wasn’t my intention to confine you.”

  Softening a bit, she said, “Well it felt that way when I tried to leave to come to your office. I knew the guard was there, but I didn’t know I was going to be locked in the room and have to ask for permission to leave.”

  “Please, close the door and sit down.”

  She’d never been in Warren’s office before and she had the same reaction as everyone else who’d sat in the visitor’s chair for the first time. It was as though he was the king, sitting on his elevated throne, and she was a mere commoner, unworthy to be on the same level as him.

  “Maybe, I overreacted,” she said.

  “It’s understandable. You’re under a lot of stress. We’ll arrange more suitable living arrangements for you today.”

  “My home should be safe, now that the assassin is dead.”

  “I think it’s unwise for you to return to your place until you’ve completed your Project Typhon assignment.”

  “I’ll need to go there to pick up a few things.”

  “With your permission, I’ll send someone with you as a precaution. We’re at a critical juncture in the project and can ill afford to lose a valuable asset like you.”

  “They can accompany me to the entrance of my home, but I’d like privacy while I pick up a few personal items.”

  “Yes, of course, whatever makes you feel comfortable.”

  “Do you have someplace in mind, where I can stay for the remainder of the project.”

  “We can put you up in a safehouse in Northern Virginia, near CEO Anne Upshaw’s estate. Of course, you’re welcome to continue using the suite upstairs, if you prefer to stay in Charlottesville. I can make sure it’s understood you can come and go as you please.”

  “Let me think about it.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Has Todd identified a time when the CEO will be away from her estate long enough for me to go inside.”

  “Yes, Anne Upshaw is the keynote speaker at a technology conference tomorrow. She’ll be leaving her home later this afternoon.”

  “This is a domestic operation. I can’t enter the house without an FBI agent with me.”

  “I’ve found a replacement for Agent Glover.”

  “Who?”

  “His name is Joseph Thomason. He’s an FBI Agent out of the Washington, DC office.”

  “I’m not spying on another team member. If anybody needs to get intimate with him, it’ll have to be you.” Blaire surprised herself. She wished she’d shown the same fortitude to resist when he’d asked her to become intimate with Jeremy.

  Warren looked at her with a smile pasted on his face that seemed to say, I admire your backbone, but you’re getting dangerously close to insubordination. “Agent Thomason is a long-time acquaintance of mine. He isn’t as flashy as Glover was, but he’s a patriot. You won’t have to watch him. You can concentrate on the objective at hand.”

  “I’ll have to check with Karen to figure out the easiest way to get Thomason validated for the security entrance system. Right now, only Jeremy and I are valid. And, I need to talk to her about the inside security.”

  “Karen informed me she’s figured out the best way to avoid camera detection and sensors inside the house. The two of you need to meet this morning to work out the details. Let me know what time you’re going to do it and I’ll have Agent Thomason join you. No need to have a full-team meeting. All that technology gobbledygook is beyond my comprehension.”

  “I have to be interviewed by FBI Agent Target as soon as he arrives. I’ll contact Karen after I’m done with that meeting and we can arrange it with Thomason.”

  “Ah yes, Agent Target. I don’t think he likes me very much. He won’t be easy to stave off. Remember, be honest with him — to a point. Don’t reveal any Project Typhon details. And, for God’s sake don’t tell him about that man you shot.”

  “Don’t worry about Quinton Target. I can handle him,” she said.

  “After you meet with him and with Karen, come see me. We’ll agree on a time for you to stop by your house and then go to Northern Virginia. Since Anne’s going to be gone this evening, you and Thomason might as well install the equipment tonight.”

  “If that’s it for now, I’m going to my office — by myself — until Agent Target arrives. I don’t need an armed guard following me around.”

  “As you wish.”

  ***

  Walking into the JUIAF lobby, Quinton felt uneasy. Last night when he’d decided to confront Blaire today, the thought of it had comforted him. Now, it gave him a knot in his stomach. He’d called Blaire from the parking lot to ask her to meet him in the media room. Earlier, he’d invited Daphne to join him to conduct the interview, but he’d deliberately told her a time that was a half hour later than the time he was meeting Blaire.

  When he entered the room, Blaire was seated at the table. As soon as she saw him, she got up and hugged him. QT was finding it difficult to be angry at her whil
e she was squeezing him close. He could feel her body heat against him. The inability to resist Blaire Saunders was a weakness he’d had from the first time they’d met.

  “How’d the conversation go with Warren last night?” he asked.

  “As expected. He and the colonel wanted to make sure I didn’t reveal anything to you about Project Typhon.”

  “Where’d you spend the night?”

  “There’s a suite on the top floor. I slept there.”

  “Daphne O’Conner is going to be joining us in about twenty minutes, so we only have a brief time alone.”

  “What did you have in mind,” she said with a sexy smile.

  He remained serious. “I have a video I need to show you.”

  Blaire’s smile evaporated, and she got a quizzical look on her face. “What kind of video?”

  QT took the USB drive out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Plug it into the PC and see.”

  She inserted the device. “Should I click on the text file first?”

  “No, go straight to the video. We don’t have much time before Daphne gets here.”

  She brought up the file and pressed play. The image of Jeremy kissing her was projected onto the large screen. There was no escaping it. She cringed as they groped each other and disappeared into the van. A few minutes later, when they emerged with their clothes partially unfastened, it was easy to imagine what had happened in the van.

  She closed the file and removed the drive. “Where did you get this?” she demanded. “How do you know it wasn’t altered?”

  “What does it matter where I got it? Are you denying that’s Jeremy and you in the video?”

  “No, but it’s taken out of context.”

  “I’m listening. Explain it to me.”

  “I was instructed by Warren to lead Jeremy on, as part of the sting operation to get him to reveal his illegal activities to me. I already told you that.”

  “You’re saying, it was all an act, and you weren’t really into the kissing that was captured on the video.”

  “That’s right. Jeremy was an arrogant ass. I was repulsed by him. I was totally acting.”