Page 63 of Agent Zero
“Tracker?”That was the first problem; there was no shortage of others.
“Dug it out first thing, stuck it down a feral cat’s throat with some tuna.”The blond man’s grin stayed just the same, or perhaps a shade self-satisfied now.“They’ll be chasing it awhile.”
“Elegant solution.”Reese took another deep breath, searching for any wrong note.“I’m a little busy here.”
“I can tell.”Blue eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtfully, though the man’s pulse didn’t alter.“You poor bastard.I bet you don’t even know why she smells so good.”
His jaw tightened slightly.“Oh?”
“Relax, Reese.I’m not after your girl.”The pack at the agent’s feet was snow-spotted and zipped open, so Reese could see inside.How far had this guy hiked in?There would be a trail, at least until it snowed again.Which, judging by the smell, would be soon.“I’m here because I want to live.Same as you.”
There was a slithering sound behind Reese.Blankets, hitting the floor.A creak of springs as Holly tried to lever herself off the couch again.She just wouldn’t stay down, but then, he knew that about her, didn’t he?A woman who would hold a dying man’s hand until he was loaded into the ambulance, a woman who would tell an agent he was real, a woman who would quietly give extra peppermints to even the worst kids wouldn’t stop.
It wasn’t in her.
Goddammit.Nothing for it, then.“You smell familiar.We went to the same base for blood draws and psych evals.”
“Yeah.I’m Cal, by the way.Nice to meet you.”
“You might not think that in a little while.”Reese was satisfied the man was alone, at least.He knew firsthand just how dangerous an agent could be.He’d have to kill this one the instant a twitch, a singlebreathwas out of place.
“I’ll take my chances.They’re not wrapping up the program.”Cal’s cheeks were roughened with windburn, and a subconscious muscle at the floor of Reese’s brain relaxed.“Heming went crazy, and you were incidental.But they’re definitely reconsidering.Two reasons—emotional noise and possible contagion vectors.”
Reese lowered the gun.Damn.“Kick that pack over so I can see what’s in it.And take those off before you come inside.”He backed up a few steps.“You make one wrong move, and you’re dead.”
“Story of my life, man.”The other agent bent, slowly, carefully, and something else clicked in Reese’s head.The pack wasn’t full—and there were manila folders and files in its maw, spotted with moisture but looking pretty legit.The mauve ones that looked familiar, the red ones didn’t.Knives, a 9mm of his own, ammo, a couple other bits he recognized immediately as agent kit that wouldn’t have trace capability.
Which moved this Cal fromactive threatto thequestion markcategory.Reese decided to push a little further.“What happened to yours?The one that smelled good?”A shot in the dark.
Cal glanced up, blue gaze flat and cold.“Haven’t met her yet.I was friends with a nice enough girl, though, and they dusted her while coming for me.”He began working at the cleats strapped to his hiking boots.Wet to the thighs—he’d waded through the creek, probably working back and forth to confuse his trail.He smelled hungry, and his cheekbones stood out just like Reese’s after a week or so of hard living.“Is that bacon?”
“You play your cards right, you might get some.”And survive long enough to eat it.
A soft thump.Holly made another hurt little sound, and Reese decided.The gun lowered still further; he backed up a little more, edging crabways for her.She’d tried to get up again, and was muttering about someone named Doug.
“Shh, baby.”He tucked her in again, despite her irritable pushing the covers away.Glanced at the other agent, who stepped carefully in as if he didn’t quite believe his luck.“Shut the goddamn door.And tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”
* * *
First things first.The scar on Cal’s hip was pink-fresh and the other agent manipulated the flesh, pulling and stretching so Reese could see there was no telltale bump underneath.He even smelled right.Either the other agent’s glandular control was absolutely perfect, or he was telling the truth.
Holly, sweat-drenched and tossing, made a low hurt sound.Reese’s stomach threatened to clench, and he could smell his own worry.No doubt the other agent could, too.
Cal eyed her, though he didn’t even try to approach.“Yeah.She’s got it.”
“I infected her.”The sick twisting in Reese’s stomach wouldn’t go away.
“What did you think made her smell so tasty?The little assholes know who they have a chance of surviving in.”
Christ.“How do you know?”
“Because they botched coming for me, so I did an infiltrate onbase and snitched some files.”Cal shrugged, a loose fluid motion.“Just like you might have.”
“Smart.”And suicidal.“You want to burn them as bad as I do?”
“Worse.”A flash of dull rage broke through the other man’s smiling façade.“If it makes you feel better, she’s got a seventy percent chance.”
“She’d better.”Because if something...if she...He refused to even finish the thought.
