Chapter 4
Rad took the bucket of fries and Lauren the two drinks, and they searched for a place to sit on the crowded thoroughfare.
“This seems like a good one for people watching.” Rad nodded toward a bench facing the Boardwalk and leaned down to read the memorial plaque on the back before sitting down.
The look that crossed his face made Lauren pause to read the inscription too. Like the mighty waves surging from the sea. Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be.
When Lauren’s gaze met his, Rad smiled, but offered no comment. She sat down and handed him his soda.
“So you’ve been here before?” He leaned back and surveyed the Boardwalk while popping a French fry into his mouth.
“Many times.” Lauren took a deep breath as she regarded the familiar landmarks surrounding her. “My grandmother owned a little house a few blocks back, so we came here every summer.”
“You’re an East Coast girl, then.”
Lauren tried to decide how much she wanted to tell him. He was, after all, still a stranger. “Virginia,” is all she said.
“What a coincidence. That’s where I live now.” Rad didn’t elaborate about where exactly, and she didn’t ask. They continued with trivial conversation and laid back banter until the last fry was eaten. Then Rad patted his stomach. “I think we better walk this off. You up to it?”
Lauren smiled. “Sure. Why not?”
When she stood to throw away the trash, she realized Rad had not moved. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m surprised you agreed. I thought I’d have to argue with you first.”
“I’m a fast learner.” Lauren half-smiled and half-frowned as he stood. “Arguing with you gets me nowhere. You always win.” She paused a moment and stared at him with her head cocked to the side. “Just so you know, that doesn’t happen very often. I like to win too.”
“Yeah, I noticed that in the laser room.” Rad turned, but took only a few steps before he stopped and rubbed his hands together. “Speaking of winning, do you see what I see?”
Lauren followed his gaze and laughed. “I see what you see. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“If you’re thinking I’m thinking that I’m going to whoop your butt, then yeah.”
“Bring it on.” Lauren strode toward the bright lights of Marty’s Arcade without pausing to see if he followed. But when she stepped inside to the clanging bells, buzzers, and flashing lights, memories came flooding back and almost overwhelmed her.
“You come here as a kid?”
She nodded, wondering once again how he was able to read her mind. “This place has been here forever.”
Rad put his hand across her shoulder and gave it a quick brotherly squeeze of understanding, but then like a child in a candy store, started walking around looking at the different games.
“Where do you want to start?”
“I dunno.” Lauren contemplated the wide array of choices, ranging from claw prize booths and pinball, to video games and skee ball lanes. “You see Pac-Man anywhere?”
Rad jerked his attention back to her, his eyes wide open in disbelief. “You haven’t been to an arcade lately, have you?”
“Not exactly.” Her gaze fell upon a game called OuterSpace Galactic. “Looks like they’ve updated things a little.”
“Okay, honey, it appears you need a little schooling.” Rad strolled over to a change machine and inserted bills.
“How about this one?” Lauren stood in front of one of the elaborate screens, reading the game rules.
Rad glanced over his shoulder at her and smiled. “Seriously? Warland Defense?”
“Sure, why not?” She read the last part of the panel out loud for him. “The goal of the game is simply to survive as long as possible in a land of violent oppressors.” She nudged him with her elbow when he moved up beside her. “Sounds like fun, right?”
Rad shook his head. “You got some anger management issues I don’t know about?”
“No. I just like shooting things up, I guess.”
“Guess we have something in common then.” Rad said the words lightly enough, but this time he didn’t smile.
Lauren never pulled out her phone to see what time it was, but after playing Warland a few times they had moved onto another game and then another. She knew they must have been in the arcade for more than an hour, probably closer to two. Rad beat her—albeit barely—most of the time, so he didn’t seem inclined to leave.
“I need to feel some sunlight and stretch my legs.” Lauren finally pulled him away before he had time to put money in a new machine. “Let’s go down to the inlet since we’re so close.”
Reluctant to leave, Rad followed, but kept glancing over his shoulder as they walked past the games he hadn’t played yet. “Maybe we can come back later.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Lauren shook her head.
“Oh come on. I at least need a rematch on Target Town.”
Lauren laughed. She had beat him two out of three times on that one, a first-person perspective gun game where you duck behind objects while reloading or changing weapons. Rad had beat her in the first match, but once she’d figured out when to use a pistol and when to switch to a machine gun or grenade launcher, he didn’t stand a chance. “I whooped you fair and square.”
“I’ll never live it down if anyone finds out.”
“Then you better not cross me, I guess.” Lauren looked back over her shoulder at him and grinned. “Especially after I meet your friends.”
“That’s called blackmail.”
“No. That’s called an ace in the hole.”
When they emerged onto the Boardwalk, they found it more crowded and harder to navigate than earlier, but Lauren could not have been happier. Walking in the brilliant sunlight with the sound of the waves hitting the shore and gulls calling to one another made her feel like she had somehow traveled back in time. She was a kid again, with no responsibilities and no worries.
When she glanced up at Rad, she found him studying her.
“Thinking about the old days?”
Caught off guard by both his words and the calm vibrancy of his voice, she pulled him to a stop. “How do you keep doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Reading my mind.”
He smiled. “I was just thinking about my younger years so thought you might be too.” He started walking again. “I don’t think anyone can read your mind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s a compliment, Lauren,” is all he said.
The way he said her name sent a strange surge of emotion through Lauren’s veins that almost made her tremble. The anxiety she had felt earlier was gone, but in its wake was a sea of confusion.
When they reached the benches overlooking the inlet, Lauren took a seat in the front row.
Rad sat down and stretched his long legs out in front of him. “That feels good.”
“The sun? The breeze? Or sitting down?” Lauren talked casually, but she was acutely aware of his arm touching hers.
“All of the above.” Rad gazed down at her with a sparkle of contentment in his eyes. “And the company’s not too bad either.”
Lauren smiled and looked away, afraid he would see her blushing and think she was a silly schoolgirl.
“So, your grandmother who had the house here. She still alive?”
His question brought Lauren back from her thoughts. “No. She died about five years ago.”
“Oh, sorry about that.”
“Unfortunately, the place where her house stood is now a parking lot for a hotel.”
“That hurts. If it makes you feel better, they call it progress.”
Lauren sighed heavily. “Yes, that’s what they call it.”
She leaned back and kicked her feet out in front of her too, staring at the dazzling landscape. “Doesn’t it look like the sun has sprinkled the water with diamonds?”
“Yeah, now that you mention it.”
“You know it’s a biological fact that the percentage of salt in the sea is the same as in our bodies—in our blood, our sweat, and our tears.”
“Interesting.”
“I think I could die happy if I just had the sound of the ocean in my ears.” As soon as she said the words, Lauren regretted them. Why was she blubbering on so much?
Rad didn’t seem to take her statement too seriously. “Well hopefully that won’t be anytime soon. You’re having fun aren’t you?”
Lauren nodded. “So far. Except for the Mirror Maze.”
He laughed. “I’m sorry about that. You forgive me, don’t you?”
“Yes, I forgive you.” Lauren leaned into him slightly as she talked. “You had no way of knowing my weakness.”
He studied her with a serious expression on his face. “We all have our weaknesses. No big deal.” He stood and stretched. “You ready to move on?”
“Let’s go.”
As they made their way back down the Boardwalk, their gazes seemed to fall simultaneously upon the Ferris wheel ride rising up from behind the gates of the Jolly Roger Amusement Park.
“Speaking of childhood memories,” Rad said, nodding toward the ride. “I haven’t been on one of those in years.”
“Me neither.” Lauren linked her arm in his, somehow eager to take another trip down memory lane. “Let’s do it.”
She felt oddly comfortable with this man she’d just met, and delightfully carefree and happy for the first time in years. Her lighthearted and relaxed manner was partially due to the sunshine pouring down from overhead and the fresh scent of salty air, but it occurred to her the man beside her had a little bit to do with it too. He was the kindest, most genuine and persuasive person she had ever met—the kind of guy who could steal a woman’s heart. Her thoughts drifted back to the odd twist of fate that had led their paths to cross, until the clanging, ringing, and buzzing sounds of more games tore her from her reverie.
“Keep walking and look straight ahead.” Lauren held onto Rad’s arm so he couldn’t get away as they strolled through the entryway to the park.
“Aw, can’t I play water pistols? Or balloon darts?” He strode with childlike impatience toward the booth. “Check out this huge stuffed bear I could win for you.”
“Just what I need to get through airport security.” Lauren pulled him back. “Maybe on the way out. We’re riding the Ferris wheel, remember?”
“I think you’re afraid I’ll beat you.” Rad glanced over his shoulder at the balloon darts they had passed.
“Like at Target Town?” Lauren smiled up at him. “In case you’ve forgotten, I beat you, quite convincingly I might add, two out of three times.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to use that against me all night.” Rad’s expression turned serious.
“Can I help it if you refused to take my advice about when to pull out the grenade launcher? I tried to help, but you just kept sawing away with a machine gun.”
“I didn’t want to use up my big stuff.” Rad sounded offended. “You never know what’s coming next.”
“An armored robot-man in a video game requires the big stuff.” Lauren laughed. “Even I know that.”
“Well you still haven’t promised you won’t tell anybody.” He came to a stop in front of the ride and stared at the top, the seriousness in his expression turning to a sparkle of amusement.
“Like I said, it’s my ace in the hole.”
After standing in line, it was finally their turn to climb into the seat. Lauren’s heart pounded, partly from nerves, but mostly excitement. She was afraid of heights, and yet she loved being scared. She knew it was a strange combination, but thrill seeking was part of her DNA. Everything alarming and unnerving to most people seemed to energize and excite her. Everything except tight, enclosed spaces that is. Then it was pure girlie panic and terror.
Lauren felt her breath catch in her throat as the Ferris wheel began its ascent, and smiled with delight at what could be seen from the top. The bird’s eye view of the park below them and the Boardwalk stretching out on each side was breathtaking. Before she could get a good look, the ride began its descent and picked up speed, causing her breath to whoosh out of her. The flashing lights and sound of the music blaring from below made Lauren half-dizzy, yet she felt like a teenager again. She wished it would never end.
They had only completed a few full revolutions when the ride slowed down. “I hope we don’t have to stop at the top.” Lauren gazed up at Rad with wide eyes, but saw only an amused smile playing on his lips.
Slower and slower they revolved until they reached the summit, and then the ride stopped with a sudden jerk. Instead of being sympathetic to her plea, Rad rocked the cart with childlike glee.
Lauren shrieked and grabbed him, telling him to stop. When he quit, she laid her head on his shoulder. “That’s so-o-o scary. Don’t do that.”
Rad chuckled as the giant wheel descended again. “That’s the oldest trick in the book,” he said as he wrapped his arm protectively around her. “I can’t believe it worked.”
When they circled around and were at the top again, Lauren scooted over to the edge of the seat and leaned out for a better view.
“Wait a minute.” He pulled her back in. “You weren’t really scared when we were stopped at the top, were you?”
She shot him a mischievous grin. “I saw you talking to the operator before we got in and assumed you were going for the oldest trick in the book. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
Rad put his head back and laughed. “Next time I’ll think twice about spending the day with a woman who’s smarter than I am. I think you are always two steps ahead.”
“Part of my nature, I guess.” Lauren looked away as her thoughts turned to her job for the first time all afternoon.
“It sure is a great view.” Rad took a deep breath, inhaling the clean, salty air. “I haven’t relaxed this much in years.”
“Me neither,” Lauren said as the Ferris wheel slowed to discharge passengers. “It’s not going to be fun heading back to work.”
“Yeah, let’s not think about that.” Rad helped her down the gangway, putting his hand on her back as he guided her through the maze of people milling around the park.
“It’s a little crazy in here.” Lauren stepped aside as some children with cones of sticky cotton candy scurried by. “Let’s go out this way.”
As she pointed Rad toward the back of the park where a pier jutted into the ocean, Lauren’s phone vibrated in her pocket.
“Sorry, I need to take a call. Do you mind?”
Rad shook his head and motioned for her to go ahead while he continued toward the pier.
“Hey, what’s up?” Lauren held her one ear closed so she could hear the voice on the other end of the line over the noise of the amusement park.
“You’re all set.” The voice sounded low and steady but conveyed a sense of concern. “The details aren’t worked out, but as soon as you get confirmation it’s him, they’ll be ready to move. They’ve already activated an elite group to handle the mission.”
“Wow.” The breath rushed out of Lauren. She backed up to a bench behind her and mechanically sat down.
“You still there? You can still change your mind, you know. That’s why I sent you there—to think about it.”
“Are you kidding me?” She forced a laugh. “This is the best news I could get.”
“Look, Lauren. No one will think any less of you if you decide to call it quits, but you need to do it now. Once we set this thing in motion, it will be too late.”
“No way.” She stood and paced as she talked. “This makes all the time spent living in that hell-hole worth it.”
There was silence for a moment. “That’s what I told them you’d say, but they wanted me to ask.”
“Tell them I have my Koran to protect me,” she said, trying to make a joke. The comment drew nothing but a long pause.
“I know you know what you’re doing—but this is Non-Official Cover. We’ve bypassed standard operating procedures so there’ll be no diplomatic protection.”
Lauren understood completely. She would not be a coddled diplomat in the safety of an American Embassy. She would have no official ties to the United States government if caught.
“I know. I’m going to be on my own. No room for error. And no cavalry coming to rescue me.”
“You got it.”
“I prefer it that way. I don’t want anyone risking their lives to save me if things go south.”
Lauren waited, but heard nothing except static from the phone and silence on the other end. “You still there? Did you hear me?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“I mean it, Hank. Promise me.”
She heard him swallow loudly on the other end. “I’m not in the habit of making promises, but I can tell you I intend to respect your wishes.”
“No extractions in Pakistan. No matter what. I know how fast things can get screwy. Put it in my file.”
“You should never say never,” he argued. “And anyway, no one’s going to do an extraction. The United States is going to deny they even know who you are or that you ever existed.”
“Okay, but put it in my file and make me feel better.”
Again an awkward pause. “I penciled it in. It’s there.”
“Good. Thanks for that. So I’ll be flying out of Dover, I hope.”
“Yeah. A regular military transport to Bagram as part of one of the cooperating relief NGOs, which fits your profile. From there you’ll go to Kabul. I haven’t quite worked out the details on the final leg yet, but it’ll be a quick skip back into Pakistan.”
“Sounds good,” is what she said. A quick skip to hell, is what she thought.
“This is probably the last time I’ll talk to you… until it’s over… so good luck.”
“Yep. Don’t worry. I’ll be talking to you again before you know it. Get some Champagne, and we’ll celebrate long distance.”
“Deal. Be careful, Lauren.”
“You mean, Aminah.”
“Yeah, be careful Aminah. Do what you gotta do, but be careful.”
“Roger that. See ya.”
Click.
“Sorry about that.” Lauren strolled up beside Rad who was leaning over the railing of the pier, staring down at the waves splashing against the pylons. “My travel agent wanted to go over my itinerary.”
He glanced at her sideways. “Really? Looked a little more serious than that.”
His manly intuition took Lauren by surprise, scattered her thoughts, and melted away her composure. “Yeah, well, um, I have a lot of layovers and ahh, stuff.”
Rad studied her intently, his steady gaze piercing through her in silent concern. “You could just say it’s none of my business.”
Lauren found it somehow comforting he knew she was lying, yet also disconcerting that after all the years she had worked alone, someone knew her that well—cared to know her that well. Yet how could he, dammit? She had just met him. Her emotions were suddenly all knotted up and strained almost to a breaking point. Under his unyielding scrutiny, she could not think.
“There you go again.”
She started to walk away, but he pulled her to a stop. “What do you mean?”
“Trying to read my mind.”
“I’m not reading your mind, Lauren.” He had a tight grasp on her wrist. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the strain on your face. Look, you’re practically shaking.”
“It’s adrenaline, that’s all.” Lauren pulled her hand away. She wished she could explain to him that everything she had been working for over the past five years was finally paying off. The end game was near, and she could hardly wait. But it was all so complicated, that even if she could divulge the information, she wouldn’t know where to begin.
Lauren knew one thing. She didn’t want to lie. Not to this man. Not with those sincerely concerned eyes staring down at her.
She masked her inner turmoil with deceptive calmness and told him the truth—a slice of it anyway. “The thing is, I have a really important meeting as soon as I get back. I get shaky thinking about it.”
“Okay, just so it’s not fear.” His face appeared troubled and tense.
“No, it’s not fear. Believe me, I’m not afraid.” Lauren took a deep breath and stared out over his shoulder, irritated at herself. She had to conquer this involuntary reaction to that tender, worried look of his. What had happened to the level-headed, independent, young woman of yesterday?
Rad walked in silence for a moment as they headed around the outside of the park toward the Boardwalk, but there was an almost imperceptible note of anguish on his face. “I get the feeling you’re not afraid of much of anything. That can be dangerous.”
“You have a short memory,” Lauren said. “Remember the Mirror Maze?”
That brought a smile to his face—but it was short-lived as he seemed to continue to dwell on the topic.
“I guess I should be flattered you’re worried about me, but there’s no need. I’m a big girl.”
“I know.” He slid his hand around her waist and pulled her into him protectively. “Even so, I kind of wish I could go with you.”
No you don’t. She gave him a solemn smile. Believe me. You don’t.