Angie Harrison looked out the kitchen window as she rinsed off the lunch dishes. The weather was beautiful for this time of year, with clear skies offering a view of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains to the west and Mount Rainier to the east. After placing the last plate in the dishwasher, her eyes settled on her husband, Jake, working in the backyard, clearing the brush along the perimeter that had encroached on their house over the years. Despite the cool air, he had worked up a sweat and paused to wipe the perspiration from his face on his shirt sleeve.
The phone rang with the expected call and Angie let the answering machine pick up. It was Christine O’Connor, letting them know she was fifteen minutes away. After the CIA director hung up, Angie took a deep breath.
She had never met the woman Jake had proposed to twice, and in a few minutes, she would walk through the front door. Although Jake said he no longer loved Christine, Angie was convinced he had just grown tired of waiting. After dating Christine for ten years, he had finally walked away, proposing to Angie a year later. Christine hadn’t heard the news and called Jake the following month, telling him she was ready to settle down. Angie didn’t know which woman Jake loved more, but she knew he was an honorable man and he had held to his commitment to her. Sometimes, though, she wondered how things would have turned out if Christine had called a month earlier.
Angie turned on the dishwasher, then entered the living room, surveying the area one last time. After ensuring everything was in its place, she stopped by the foyer mirror and examined herself with a critical eye. She normally wore a sweatshirt and jeans around the house, but this morning had picked out a pair of khaki slacks and a form-fitting shirt that accentuated her figure, and had taken the time to put on makeup.
After checking the rest of the house to ensure it was presentable, she stepped onto the back patio. Harrison was still busy with the underbrush, making slow progress. She called across the yard to him.
“Jake! Christine will be here in a few minutes. You need to get cleaned up.”
He looked up at her, then shrugged. “I’m fine.”
Angie noticed how differently they were reacting to Christine’s visit. Her stomach was tied in knots, while Jake acted nonchalant. But she knew him well enough to know he was staying busy to keep his mind off things. To keep his mind off Christine.
She started a pot of coffee, then stopped by the foyer mirror one last time. After reaffirming her appearance was acceptable, she spotted movement through the living room window. A black SUV with two men in front and a passenger in the back was pulling up the long driveway. She went to the back of the house and opened the door.
“Christine is here.”
Harrison finished clearing the section he was working on, then wiped the grime from his hands onto his jeans and cleaned his face with his T-shirt. He headed toward the house, not looking forward to the pending conversation. He needed a job, but was hoping for something less dangerous than his last, plus he wasn’t sure if working for Christine was a good idea.
Fifteen years earlier, after Harrison proposed to Angie, Christine had accepted he was in love with another woman and moved on, getting married a few years later. But after her husband’s death three years ago, she ran into Harrison aboard USS Michigan. Christine was still a beautiful woman and there was no denying that he was still attracted to her—and it was obvious Christine had similar feelings. During their last private conversation aboard Michigan, Christine had asked him how things were with Angie. He had answered honestly, and when he said Things are good, he’d seen the disappointment in her eyes.
Harrison stepped through the back door and into the breakfast nook to find Christine, wearing a black business suit and white blouse, sitting across from Angie, who sat stiffly in her chair. Christine rose to greet him, extending her hand. Harrison found the gesture odd. He’d known Christine since they were kids, and he couldn’t recall ever shaking her hand. Even when running into her aboard Michigan after not seeing each other for years, they had picked up like the childhood friends they once were. If today’s meeting had been in a different setting—without Angie—he was convinced Christine would have greeted him with a hug.
He took the proffered hand, noting Christine’s firm handshake, then settled into a chair between the two women. As Christine returned to her seat, Harrison noticed Angie scrutinizing the CIA director. Even in a conservative business suit, Christine’s beauty was undeniable. It was a good thing, Harrison figured, that Angie had never seen Christine dressed for a night out on the town, wearing an evening dress that hugged her curves. He had seen the effect, entering a bar or restaurant with Christine on his arm. Heads would turn, men and women alike, admiring his date.
Angie rose to pour coffee for all three, and they engaged in small talk for a while until Harrison moved the conversation along. “So, what brings you to the Pacific Northwest? I’m sure you didn’t travel all this way just to say ‘Hi.’”
“I had some business at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, but I moved the trip up so we could talk.”
“About what?”
Christine glanced at Angie before returning her attention to Harrison. “We need to talk privately.”
“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Angie.”
“The details are classified.”
“I no longer have a security clearance. Whatever you can tell me, you can tell Angie.”
Christine smiled. “You’re quite right.”
It was obvious Christine was here to talk him into accepting the CIA job, but he had already decided. There was no point in extending the discussion. “If you’re going to offer me a job again, the answer’s still no.”
“There are details you’re not aware of that may change your mind.”
“Such as?”
“We want you to help track down the man who assassinated the United States’ ambassador to the United Nations.” She paused, then added, “The assassin is Mixell.”
Angie raised her hand to her mouth. “Lonnie?”
Christine turned to Angie, surprised by her response. “I didn’t realize you knew Lonnie.”
“I dated him before Jake. Lonnie and Jake were best friends—that’s how we met. But Lonnie had anger management issues and we eventually split. I started dating Jake a short while later.”
“Are you sure it was Lonnie?” Harrison asked.
Christine nodded. “We have him on video. He torched the ambassador and his security detail with thermobaric rounds. The president directed us to put a full-court press on the matter and we want you to help. You have the same training and background as he does and know him well, and might be able to provide valuable insight.”
There was silence around the table as Harrison considered the new information. He hadn’t realized Mixell had been released from prison early.
“He’ll eventually come after you,” Christine said.
Harrison didn’t respond; the same thought was running through his mind.
Christine continued, “Lonnie’s out for revenge against the country he believes betrayed him. If you think he’s going to stop there, you’re wrong. You turned him in, and you testified against him. He’s not going to stop until his revenge is complete.”
“When do you need an answer?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Let me talk things over with Angie, and I’ll let you know in a day or two.”
“Thanks,” Christine said as she rose from her chair.
They walked Christine to the door and watched her step into the SUV, which drove slowly down the driveway before disappearing around the bend. After the front door closed, he turned to Angie.
She spoke first. “Your mind’s already made up, isn’t it?”
“I think so.”
“You said you were going to get a safer job. One where you didn’t have to put your life on the line. Think of me and Madeline, the impact on us if something happened to you. Your first responsibility is to your wife and daughter now, not your country.”
“Taking care of my family starts with money. I need a job, and one that pays well. We’ve got bills to pay and college to save for. Whatever job they have in mind can’t be any more dangerous than my previous one. Even more important, I have a responsibility to protect you and Maddy. Christine’s right—Lonnie will eventually come after me. You know as well as I do that he’s got a mean streak and a get-even attitude. Given what he’s done in New York, the sooner he’s back behind bars the better.”
Angie stared at him for a long moment, and he could see the tears welling in her eyes. He leaned forward and placed his forehead against hers and caressed her cheek with his hand.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. We’ll find Lonnie and put him in prison again, and this time, he won’t get out. I’ll be safe. You and Maddy will be safe. I promise.”
“Okay,” Angie said, forcing a smile as she wiped her tears away.
Without another word, she headed to the kitchen, Harrison following her, where she moved the coffee cups from the table to the sink. After rinsing them, she placed her hands on the edge of the counter. Her shoulders remained tense as she stared out the window. Something else was bothering her.
Harrison stopped behind her. “What’s wrong?”
She turned toward him. “It’s Christine. She’s even more attractive in person. And you’ll be working with her.”
“You’re beautiful too, and you’re the only woman I care about.”
“I know I’m attractive, but Christine is … elegant. I could never be like her. She’s polished and sophisticated, while I’m inner-city trash.”
Angie’s words reminded Harrison of how sensitive she was about her upbringing, growing up in inner-city Baltimore, reared by a single mom on welfare. Angie had clawed her way out of the morass, earning a college degree while working nights to pay her way through school.
“You’re not Bawl’mer trash,” Harrison replied, pronouncing Baltimore the way Angie did. He grinned as he placed his hands on her waist. “Christine had her chance and blew it. I ended up with a better woman, and I’m not going to trade you in for her.”
“She’s got different thoughts. I can tell when a woman is interested in a man, and Christine is definitely interested in you.”
“You have nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, right. A beautiful, successful, and powerful woman—someone you dated for ten years and proposed to twice—wants you to work with her on the other side of the country. What’s there to worry about?”
Harrison leaned forward and kissed Angie softly on the lips, then locked his eyes on to hers. “There’s nothing left between me and Chris.”
“I can tell when you’re lying, but at least you’re saying the right things.”
The tension faded from Angie’s body, then she rested her forearms atop Harrison’s shoulders, locking her fingers behind his neck.
“In case you get any ideas, I’d like to remind you that there’s no way Christine is as good as I am.” A devilish grin appeared.
Harrison returned the smile. “At what?”
Angie hooked one leg behind the small of Harrison’s back, then swung the other leg up lithely, scissoring her legs around his waist.
“A lot of things. I bet one or two come to mind.”
Harrison played along. “I’m drawing a blank. Perhaps you could remind me.”
Angie tightened her grip around his neck, pressing her body against his as she moved in for a kiss.