9

 

Katie became lost in her plans to gain access to the terrorist’s computer. Her netbook computer would fit inside her mid-sized purse. She could leave her laptop in the car for a backup.

Josh put his hand on her arm, ending her musings. “What about hacking this guy’s machine without going into his room?”

She took his hand. “If he’s online, I can probably do that. The main unanswered question is how long will it take for me to hack in?”

“Kate, now that we know our technical approach, how do we pull off this honeymoon charade?”

“You just dress casual, but nice. A nice pair shorts and the most expensive sport shirt you own. I’ll make myself look like a blushing bride. It will be fun. Oh, if you’ll drive, I’ll pay for the gas.”

“What time should I pick you up in the morning? And remember, we’re having dinner at your house tomorrow evening, Saturday night at the inquisition.”

“Pick me up at 5:00 AM. We can easily get home by 6:00.”

“5:00. That will put us up there around 8:30 AM.”

“According to the messages we intercepted, that’s about the time our operational commander corresponds with the big kahuna in Iran. And, Josh?”

“Should I be worried?”

“I was only going to say, that if things go smoothly, I’ll have a surprise for you.”

“You rented the honeymoon suite?”

Her face grew warm, probably red. “Fat chance of that.” At least Josh was beginning to tease her, too. All in all, it was a good sign. But… “No. I’ll go online and get tickets for us to ride to the top of Whistler peak. You can’t go to Whistler without riding to the top of the mountain.”

“This is the second or third time you mentioned spending a good chunk of cash. Aren’t grad students supposed to be poor as church mice? What gives?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

He gave her the lip zipping sign.

“I’m doing a little moonlighting, two small contracts with DHS. Now they want to give me a clearance and a job.”

“But you won’t take it, will you?”

“I told Peterson five years ago I wanted to work for the FBI, at least part of the time in the field, maybe on the Seattle Division Computer Analysis Response Team.”

“But you couldn’t have been more than fifteen or sixteen back then.”

“I was fifteen. That’s when Jenn and Lee rescued me from the traffickers.”

“Was that in the papers?”

“Most of them.”

“I think I remember reading about that. Three girls were rescued.”

“It was the first time I had to—” she pictured the man with the automatic trained on Lee. Katie flinched as she recalled the burst of shots that split the silence of the night.

“Kate, what’s wrong?” Josh’s hands squeezed her shoulders.

“I…I shot a man with an AK-47 to save my dad’s life.”

“Whoa, dude. You really—but you said the first time.” Josh’s mouth clamped shut. He obviously was reluctant to intrude further.

“A few weeks later, the international trafficking syndicate captured Jenn. When I moved in too close, they caught me. I may have killed one of their guys. At least I knocked him out, then the explosion…” The noise, the flames, and the pain of the bullets hitting her back were vivid memories.

“Are you sure you want to be an FBI agent?”

“Hurting or killing people aren’t things you ever want to do. But I can do the job. I want to do the job.”

Josh’s arms slid from her shoulders around her back and he drew her into a gentle embrace.

She laid her head on his shoulder and let it rest there until the memories faded, replaced by an acute awareness of Josh’s arms around her and the comfort they provided.

Katie raised her head, brushing Josh’s cheek with her lips. She took a step back. “Thanks, Josh.”

Josh studied her face. His gaze darted between her eyes and the vicinity of her lips. He didn’t move any closer, but what was on his mind was crystal clear.

“So now you know all about me, killer Katie.”

“You’re no killer, Kate. You’re a brave, good woman. If I was Peterson, I’d have the FBI flooding your mailbox with job offers.”

She smiled at Josh’s words. Then she smiled because her gaze rested on Josh’s face. She reached out and squeezed his well-developed biceps. “The FBI could use a few geeks, too, you know.”

He chuckled. “We can do geek work, but you know something?”

“Yes.” Kate burst into belly-shaking laughter. “Neither of us fit the geek mold. I played on a national championship softball team, and you played on a state championship football team.”

“I thought jocks and geeks didn’t mix.” He grinned and shook his head.

But maybe two jocks who did geek work could mix. She looked up into Josh’s smiling face. “Would you mind taking me home? I rode the bus in today.”

He squeezed her hand. “I’d like that.”

“Me, too. We’ve got a few more honeymoon details to work out.”

“Like I said, you’re a beautiful, scary woman, Kate.”