Ben exited the tiny canyon coffee shop and walked across the parking lot. Most of the vehicles were the same ones that had been there when he had pulled in.
Trying not to appear obvious, Ben observed his surroundings. Even though Pence told him he hadn’t been followed to their meeting, his situational awareness had kicked into overdrive.
Before hopping into his truck, he took once last glance around the lot. If Vicki Suffolk or another operative working with her was out there, he couldn’t tell. But even if someone had been watching him, he’d already taken the precaution of explaining away his meeting with Pence in advance.
He’d told Suffolk he was getting together with a biking colleague who was hoping to recruit Ben to his racing team for next year. There was nothing clandestine or unusual about having coffee.
He powered up his truck’s big diesel engine, pulled out of the parking lot, and navigated his way out onto the highway.
Settling into the middle lane, Ben set the cruise control and studied the cars around him. Somewhat satisfied that he wasn’t being followed, he allowed himself to relax a little.
The movies made undercover life seem glamorous, but it was anything but. It was stressful, and now that he knew he was being watched it was even more stressful. He’d have to be on his guard and keep his wits about him 24/7. He couldn’t trust anyone. The only unguarded moments Ben Matthews was going to get were moments like these when he was alone in his truck.
After making sure his iPod was connected, he turned the stereo on. Gripping the steering wheel, he was hoping to forget who he was and what he had done for a little while. He didn’t want to be an FBI agent who had betrayed his ethical and professional codes of conduct; he didn’t want to be an adult screw-up. He just wanted to be an American killing a few hours before his shift started like everybody else.
Matthews was nearing the employee lot at Denver International when his cell phone rang. He answered the call through his truck’s Bluetooth system, half-expecting it to be Dean Pence with an unnecessary, last-minute pep talk.
“This is Ben,” he said into the truck’s microphone.
“You never called. How’d coffee go?”
It was Vicki.
“It was okay, I guess.”
“What’s that mean?”
“The guy’s kind of an asshole. That’s all. I’m just not in the best of moods.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Suffolk. “So you’re not going to ride for him next year?”
“I don’t know,” replied Matthews. “Maybe. We’ll see.”
Vicki was quiet for a moment and he wondered if one of their cells had dropped the call. Just when he was ready to ask her if she was still there she said, “Ben, is everything okay?”
“Sure, why?”
“It’s not like you not to call me. You don’t seem yourself.”
“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” he said. “I’ll be all right. I’m just a bit nervous about going into the belly of the beast.”
“You’re going to do great,” she said. “I’ll be waiting for you when you get home and I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Really?” he replied. “What is it?”
“I’m going to be naked. Completely naked.”
“Promises, promises,” he said, snapping out of his funk for a moment.
“Ooh, baby,” she purred. “I’ve got the hottest lingerie you’ve ever seen, my high heels, and the air-conditioning is turned all the way up at my place. You’d better hightail it over here after work. If someone else beats you to my bedroom, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”
The woman was an incredible tease. “I’ll text you later,” said Ben.
There was silence on the other end.
“I’ve got to go,” he said as he pulled into the lot. “I’m running late.”
“I’ll see you tonight,” she tried to say, but he had already ended the call.
“Will he plant the devices where you told him to?” asked Peter as he grabbed Vicki Suffolk around her tiny waist and pulled her back into bed.
“Peter,” she cooed to her handler as she tossed the phone to the side. “If you’re not careful, I may lock you up and never let you leave. Maybe I’ll make you my slave for life.”
He buried his mouth in the nape of her neck and gave her a little bite. “Before we drift off into fantasy land,” he said, “let’s deal with our business in the here and now. Today Ben Matthews starts his new position. He now has much greater access at Denver International. Will he do what we’ve asked him to?”
“You mean will he do what I’ve asked him to?” she stressed, running her hands up the inside of his thighs.
“If I didn’t know better,” said Marcus as he leaned back and surrendered himself to her, “I’d say you were trying to seduce me.”
“Would you like me to seduce you?” she asked as she looked up from between his legs and licked her lips.
“I have to send in my report,” he said, trying to untangle himself from her.
“Am I in it?” she asked, narrowing her eyes as she pinched him.
“Maybe,” he replied, grabbing her and kissing her beautiful face.
His answer made her laugh. “Really? Will you begin by talking about how much you love the front of me, or the back of me, which leads to how you both love and hate to see me walk away, right?”
Marcus pulled her on top of him and pressed his lips to her mouth. “I’m not going to tell them a thing about our physical relationship,” he said. “If word gets out about how incredible I am in bed, widows and divorcees from around the world will flock to me.”
“Peter!” she exclaimed, slapping his chest. “You are so vain.”
“What about Matthews?” he asked, changing the subject. “Is he going to get the coordinates we need to strike that underground facility, or not?”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” she replied. “I’ve yet to meet a man who wouldn’t do exactly what I wanted. Present company included.”
Marcus laughed, but his expression softened as he looked up at her. “You were made for this business, you know that?”
Vicki was thrown off-balance by his sudden tenderness. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to answer that,” she said looking down at him.
“How about, I wouldn’t be where I am without you, Peter?”
She smiled and kissed his nose. “You’ve been very good to me,” she replied.
The man looked off out the window. He could see planes taking off and landing in the distance. He knew that with their attack, the world was about to change. Things were going to be dramatically different.
Suffolk laid her head on his chest. “What are you thinking about?”
“The two of us taking a nice long vacation when all of this is over.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” she said. “Let’s buy some land; better yet, an island. Let’s pick one way out in the middle of the ocean where no one will ever find us.”
Marcus caressed the side of her face. It was interesting that she had suggested buying an island, as he’d already picked one out. The world was about to be reborn and for some, it was going to be very, very bad. He wanted to be as far away from “civilization” as possible when it happened. He’d already made up his mind about taking Victoria with him, but first they needed to finish their assignment.
“I have big plans, my dear, but before we discuss those, let’s go through why we’re here one last time,” he said. “I want to be certain that none of the evidence ties back to either of us.”