Page 64 of Baby One Last Time
“How long have you been awake?” I asked, serious FOMO setting in.
“About an hour.” Mai handed me the tea.
“Any news about Derek?”
She grinned.
He must be fine. “Get your ass in here and tell me everything,” I said. “And I hope you don’t think one of those granola bars is for you.”
“I scarfed down lunch leftovers at the team house, so this little feast is all yours. I swiped them from Jensen’s workstation when TJ ordered him offline for a nap.”
I ripped open a bar and sat cross-legged on my bed. Mai sank into the sofa and launched straight into an update.
“Since the morning call, they got through to Wilder’s burner twice,” she said. “One was from Alder, and the other was from an operative who speaks Ukrainian. Passed themselves off as Yevhen’s girlfriends. To hear Jensen tell it, they made their relationships sound real enough to make an impression on Wilder’s new friends who were monitoring the calls.”
“Makes sense, since they’re using the B code.” The B code used a lot of sex euphemisms as code words for status, directions, number of captors, the usual. “But he’s fine? And gave enough information for Penn to figure out where he’s being held, based on the house blueprints?”
“Aren’t you Sally Spoiler? Yes, and he was in the same area both times we called, so Alder estimates there’s a ninety-two percent likelihood that’s where he’ll be when we get there.”
I’d finished one granola bar. With the sharp edge of hunger smoothed, I unwrapped the second one slowly, staring at it as I worked, avoiding Mai’s eyes. “And he’s in good spirits?”Please, God, tell me he’s fine.
“By the second call, he was drinking brandy, smoking cigars, and playing some Russian card game with a couple of Beecher’s guys.”
The tension eased out of my tight shoulders. “He’s very charming and personable when he wants to be.”
Mai smiled. “I’ll take your word for it.” She leaned forward and propped her forearms on her knees. “Hey, I just wanted to say he really came through for us. I misjudged him when I called him an asshole.”
I wrinkled my brow. “I don’t remember that.”
“That’s because I said it in my head. More than once. But that was because I realized he’d been sleeping with a subordinate.”
I shook my head. “He was never my supervisor. And I chose to sleep with him, too.”
“I get that, but even when there’s no chain-of-command issue, if a man and woman on the job start sleeping together, she’s likely the one who ends up out on her ass.”
“When I was thrown out on my ass, it was my own fault. And it was temporary.”
Mai shook her head. “The way I heard it, that was Henderson’s own damn fault.”
“I can see that now. But my mistake was not seeing it then and wallowing in the guilt.” Followed by morphing into the Terminator for awhile, acting like a heartless, soulless monster, but Mai didn’t need to hear about that right now. “I wouldn’t have been a safe partner for anyone in that mental state.”
“Shit, you’re not all that safe now. Lucky for you I’m a good shot. I’m bound to save your sorry ass sooner or later.”
“I’m counting on it. And tonight, so is Derek.”
She nodded, then stood. “Team meeting and dinner are at 1800 hours. Don’t be late, because apparently all the thinking Jensen’s been doing today has made him hungry. We leave at 2030 sharp to go get your man.”
My man, but only if all went as planned. If mission kickoff was 8:30, we’d be sneaking into Beecher’s lair by 9 PM.We’re coming Derek. Just keep up the charm offensive a little bit longer.
“Hey Mai, thanks.” I held up my half-eaten, second granola bar. “For this. And for going with me last night. Sorry it turned into such a shit show.”
“Are you also thanking me for dragging you out of La Parisienne this morning?”
“After sneaking up on me with a tranq gun? We’re not there yet.”
“Fair enough.” She waved as she left, closing the door behind her.
I finished my granola bar and half the bottle of tea, then took a hot shower with a cold rinse. I was energized, ready to go. Just like TJ wanted. Just like Derek needed. I dressed in my black mission outfit, blow-dried my hair straight and braided it, strapped on my smart watch, and picked up my phone.
