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“Okay, then don’t you think that Nik, who is also Ukrainian, is going to sense this situation? We have no way of contacting him and bringing him up to speed on Daria or her present emotional situation with her PTSD. The CIA needs Korsak kidnapped sooner, not later. They have contacted every security contracting company, trying to find the right woman to plant in Aguas Calientes to be Nik’s love interest. We’re the only company who had someone who is a Russian born female: Daria. So, this isn’t just something we can lightly dismiss or walk away from. Korsak knew more about Alexandrov’s operation in Peru than any other drug team leader. That’swhythe CIA wants him so badly. They know that Pavlovich is going to be visiting Korsak’s team sooner or later. The CIA would like to snatch Korsak as soon as possible and cut off that intel trade to Pavlovich.”
Running his fingers through his hair, Alex continued to pace, his large body moving with surprising grace around the small room. “This is not good.”
“Can Nik sense where Daria’s at emotionally, Alex? Does he have the same intuitive gear you have in place?” Jack asked.
Halting, Alex stared hard down the table toward Jack. “Yes, of course he does.”
“Then, don’t you think Nik will feel her out? Know that she’s emotionally fragile? He might not know what caused her to be in this state, but maybe he’ll sense it and deal with her accordingly so the mission can move forward?”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Jack, she’s a human being who is hurting, big time. I know her leg has healed up enough to deal with the demands of this mission, but dammit, her heart is in shreds over Melissa’s death, not to mention almost dying herself.”
“Daria flatlined twice on that Medevac helo that came in to rescue them,” Alex darkly reminded Jack. “She had lost so much blood enroute that she effectively died. Twice! If there had not been good combat medics on board and plenty of fresh blood available on that helicopter, Daria would be dead now and we would not be having this conversation. They saved her, brought her back.”
Lauren leaned forward, clasping her hands onto the edge of the table, buttonholing Jack. “And you know damn well that when you almost die, it changes you forever. And it’s even harder to work through that, never mind losing your partner in the firefight, too.”
Grimly, Jack barely nodded, his gaze moving from Alex to Lauren and back. “We can’t pull her off this op. That’s a done deal. What can be done to support Daria through it?”
“Nothing from our end,” Alex said heavily. He rubbed his eyes and then dropped his hands to his sides. “It all falls on Nik’s shoulders to figure her out, to sense where she is at. He must protect her at all costs because, if Korsak decides to go after her, Daria will NOT be able to handle the stress of it,at all.”
“But you said Nik is a big, protective guard dog,” Lauren argued, giving her husband a concerned look.
“He is.” Frustration came through Alex’s thickly accented voice. “I do not believe Daria will be forthcoming with Nik. I believe she will refuse to tell him anything about herself or what has just recently happened to her. She will hide her real feelings, her wounded heart.”
“Well,” Lauren murmured, “I gotyouto loosen up.”
Alex gave his wife a patient, but loving look. “That is because I love you and you love me. You made it easy for me to open up and confide in you, Lauren. You gave me a safe place where I could finally spill everything, all my fears, my pain, my grief and guilt. You were there to hold me and listen. You never judged me. You just let me cry in your arms when I needed to do that.”
Jack grimaced. “Nik is not in love with Daria or vice-versa. They’re playing undercover roles.”
Lauren, hands on hips, cut back, “So were Alex and I! But I still think, knowing what Alex has told me about Nik, that he’s a wily Ukrainian wolf that can smell what’s going on with Daria, in a manner of speaking,” Lauren said. He’s a combat medic. One of the best in the world because Spetsnaz has a medical program commensurate to the Army’s 18Delta program here in the USA. They are field surgeons, when needed.”
“But,” Alex said gently, “this is not about surgery, Lauren. This is about Daria’s wounded soul and her grieving heart that was torn apart by the loss of Melissa. She carries deep guilt about it and none of us have been able to get her to release any idea of it in four months.”
“Well,” Lauren muttered, “she’s a sniper and the lead sniper is responsible for his or her spotter. Of course, Daria is feeling guilt over it. It was trained into us in the Marine Corps sniper school we are fully responsible for our spotter at every turn.”
“Okay,” Jack said, “what’s the consensus of opinion here, then? That Nik has the goods, the perception and sensitivity to feel out Daria and know she’s hurting? To maybe be a support of sorts to her? Is he a good communicator, Alex? Can he get her to talk or fess up about personal things?”
Alex replied, “In the field, the Quechua Indian women and children love him. Nik is very kind and gentle with them. The children flock to him, they do not fear him. The mothers lean on him because they know he cares about all of them. He is a good listener.”
“In other words,” Lauren said, “he’s got a damned good bedside manner.”
“Then,” Jack said, standing and closing his laptop, “that’s what we all have to pin our hopes on.”
“Nik, this isthe operator you’re to meet.” Sergeant Mace Kilmer said and handed the Ukrainian a small photo and a piece of paper. He studied Nik as he frowned and took the documents. They stood behind a ten-foot waterfall. The cave chamber was large enough to hide away from prying eyes and was one of the few places where they could safely meet.
Nik scowled, looking at the grainy black and white photo of a woman’s head and shoulders. “Is this in response to the CIA operative, Hutchinson, being killed? She’s taking his place?” he asked, looking over at Mace.
The Special Forces sergeant shrugged his broad set of shoulders. “Don’t know. The agency didn’t tell me. That’s all we got.” He poked at the paper. “This is the time and place you’re to meet her in Aguas Calientes. She should already be there by now, waiting for you. When are you going there for R&R?”
“Tomorrow the Russian helo will pick us up and drop us off at that small airport just outside Aguas Calientes.” Nik rubbed his beard and gave his Army friend a long look. “A woman?”
“Read the rest of the mission brief, maybe?”
Nik lifted his head. The sound of the waterfall was almost drowning out their voices. Korsak and his team were at the village of Kurmi, Quechua for ‘rainbow,’ on the banks of a small, unnamed river, picking up bags of cocaine for transport tomorrow morning, to be put aboard the Russian helicopter. This afternoon, Nik wasn’t needed for such a task and had faded into the jungle and had hurried at a swift jog to meet Kilmer. A week earlier, at the village of Tinti Kaballu, ‘dragonfly,’ the wife of the chief had slipped him a written note from Kilmer to meet him here at this specific time and date.
Quickly, Nik scanned the one-page brief concerning the mission operator, and what was to be expected of him. His mouth tightened as he finished reading the orders. “Have you read this?” he demanded of his American colleague.
“Yeah.” Kilmer grinned. “I was jealous. If I wasn’t already married? I’d wish to hell it was me instead of you. I’d have liked the idea of shacking up with a lady for five days straight once a month. Been two months without my wife. All I want to do is go home and stay there.”
