“Alder puts the likelihood that the FSB has an image of Olga at 83.4 percent,” she said, referencing HEAT’s resident math genius who, among other things, used extensive research and complicated formulas to make scarily accurate predictions about operational risks. “So now that you understand what a danger you are to yourself and others, I’m reiterating the direct order that you lie low. And for Christ’s sake, stop dating Mr. Halifax before you draw him into the crosshairs with you.”
“Oh, shit.” I thought I’d been so clever, forcing X’s hand. Instead, all I’d done was make it easier for old enemies to find me, and I’d dragged Gage down with me.
“And before you start thinking like a covert operative, that includes any hanky-panky inside your apartment building. Pasco’s flying in later tonight and will get over there for a bug sweep, but until then, we assume they have him under surveillance. Any questions?”
Of course, I had questions. About a million of them. But other than protecting Gage, only one other thing mattered to me. “Please tell me you’re not going to make me sit this one out. Let me bait. Let me draw them out.”
“I’m bringing in a team. I want you to hold your position so that if and when we need to activate you for a Roxy Energy operation, you won’t be burned.”
“But if the Russians figure out who and where I am, won’t they share that intel?”
She shook her head. “Not with our team intercepting and revising communications between them. It’s not foolproof, but it’s the best we can do.” She quirked an eyebrow at me and waited.
This discussion wasn’t over yet, but it was tabled until I could figure out leverage to get her to put me in the field. “No more questions, boss.”
“Keep your devices on your person at all times,” X said. “And, heads up, we’ll be tracking you twenty-four seven.”
That was X speak forlie low and blend in like you were supposed to do in the first place.
Her face softened, and she leaned forward, propping her forearms on the conference table. “Kat, we have your back. Soon, very soon, I’m going to need you for a new team. An important one. And you’re going to be their anchor.”
“Anchor?” There were lots of positions on a HEAT team, but none of them were referenced that way. “What does that mean?”
She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “It means I need you alive, so don’t do anything stupid.”
That was HEAT speak forsomething X said not to do. At least we were back to speaking a language I understood.
“Have I ever?”
She pressed her lips together and seemed to be considering it. “Not to my knowledge,” she finally said. “Let’s not change that. Now go home, and don’t forget Mr. Fuzzypants.”
Mr. Whiskerbottom Fuzzypants growled again. I shot him a wide-eyed look and shook my head. He sank farther down in the bag and went quiet. I stood, picked up my cat, and slid the carrier straps over my shoulders. I turned and walked out of the conference room. I would go straight home and stay there, as ordered.
Until X could suss out the nature and extent of the threat and assemble an appropriate response team, I was operating without a net. I couldn’t even trust the privacy of my apartment. That meant tonight with Gage was off, and possibly next week, as well. We were over before we’d even gotten started. The pain like a knife to the chest was not commensurate with the end of a fling. When had I started to feel something more for him? Maybe this was for the best, ending it now before I got too attached. He didn’t want anything serious from me, and even if he changed his mind later, the job would inevitably lead to our eventual end.
Still, having no say in my fate could be soul crushing. “Sometimes this job just sucks.”
Mr. Whiskerbottom Fuzzypants meowed, which I interpreted as his agreement about the suckage of the spy business and canceling our plans. I wasn’t the only one in 6B who had a crush on 6A. But I was the only one who could protect him. And I’d have to push him away to do it.
CHAPTER 15
GAGE
Rex’s dinner out with the boys started early, at 4:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. One of the perks of him being self-employed. Not that I had any problem ducking out early from work, and the early time was fine by me. I’d have time to make an appearance, have one drink, and slip out in plenty of time to get home and set up for my date with Kat.
Since I was taking the company car service anyway, I had a driver to get me to the bar, then the Italian restaurant and liquor store, and finally home. By six, I would be showered and ready for Kat’s arrival. We’d eat some amazing Italian takeout, drink some very good wine, watch another movie, and then…
Hell, who was I kidding? After that teaser in my kitchen this morning, we’d probably both want to start the evening withand then.
At 4:15, my driver pulled up in front of the upscale bar where Rex, half the groomsmen, and a few other friends were already gathered.
“Jim, do you mind parking over at that garage for fifteen minutes, then swinging back around to get me?”
“Sure thing, Mr. Halifax.”
“Thanks.” I climbed out of the car. The icy wind cut through me, and I popped up my overcoat collar for the minute-long walk to the bar.
As I approached the door, I could already see the group gathered around a table by the front window. Normally, it probably wasn’t a great advertisement for an establishment to showcase half a dozen thirty-something-year-old men getting drunk before 5:00 p.m., but no doubt there were exceptions when one of the men was Rex Buchanan and another of them was his brother, Richard.
