Double Vision (23 page)

“He’s replaced Paul Reese as Thomas Kunz’s second-in-command, Colonel.” She hiked her chin toward him, her chest heaving. “This piece of scum had a hell of a reputation inside GRID. He killed people—for nothing. He freaking executed them, Colonel.” She turned a glare on Sandross. “That’s not the way our side operates.”

Coming from behind her, Amanda moved to her side. “Give me the gun, Kate.”

“No, damn it.”

“Kate,” she insisted. “Give me the gun.”

Kate hesitated, but saw in Amanda’s eyes that if he needed killing, she’d gladly do the honors. Knowing she was more objective at the moment, Kate passed her the gun.

Bold, now that the gun was out of her hands, Sandross stepped toward her. “You’re lying.”

Kate went after him again. By this time, Mark and even Darcy had come into the hallway to see what the commotion was about.

Maggie, Mark and Amanda pulled Kate off Sandross and held her to keep her from going after him again.

When things settled down to a quiet roar, Colonel Drake turned to her. “Kate, did you see these executions?”

“No, ma’am, I did not.”

“See?” Sandross grunted. “She’s lying through her teeth.”

“Sandross,” Colonel Drake turned on him. “I strongly suggest you refrain from personal comments for the duration of this conversation, or I will not move to protect you. And I further suggest that you refrain indefinitely from making slanderous remarks you cannot prove. Otherwise, I’m going to write your ass up and play slice-and-dice with your career. Are we clear on this?”

“Yes, Colonel.” He pinched his lips and clamped his jaw, then slid Kate an icy glare.

“Kate?” The colonel turned to her. “If you didn’t see these executions, then what’s your source?”

“CIA, ma’am. Firsthand report.”

“Gaston?” Sandross guffawed. “You’re going to take the word of a bastard traitor over mine?”

“He is not a traitor, you lying son of a bitch.” Kate went
after him again—and this time Mark, Amanda, and Maggie folded their arms and watched her unleash.

After she’d gotten in a few good licks, Mark pulled her off Sandross. “That’s enough, Kate.” He jerked her to his side. “That’s enough.”

She released a shuddered breath, pulled back and forced down the red haze that had blinded her, burying it deep inside. Through the remaining mist, she pointed a finger at Sandross, giving him fair warning. “Say another word against Gaston or call me a liar again, and I’ll shoot you right here. That’s a promise.”

“I did
not
hear that!” Colonel Drake shouted, her temper and red-spiked hair standing on end. “Say not another word!”

Kate hadn’t seen Sally Drake furious often, but she was ticked to the gills now.

“Mark,” the colonel barked. “Do we have a holding cell in this facility?”

“Yes, ma’am, we do.”

“Put him in it.” She pointed to Sandross. “You’re being held for questioning. Complain once, and I’ll immediately call in the OSI and CIA. You know the consequences.”

They all did. Guilty until proven innocent. Military court. Three times stiffer penalties than in a civilian court. He’d be dead before he again saw daylight.

Mark and Amanda led Sandross down the hallway, past Darcy’s office, to the holding cell. Maybe Colonel Drake would let the wretch rot there.

She turned to Kate. “You got this information from Gaston, right?”

“Yes, I did.” Kate chose her words carefully. “Colonel, I thought for a time, too, that Gaston was a traitor, but he wasn’t. He was doing his job, and going to extraordinary
lengths to protect Major Forester’s unit and me. He’s no traitor, ma’am. I’d stake my life on that.”

“You did, Kate. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed by me, Secretary Reynolds or the CIA.” Disappointment creased her brow, deepened in the lines in her face. “Why would Sandross turn on us?”

“Money.” Kate shrugged. “It’s always money with GRID.”

“The great seducer,” Maggie added.

Darcy swept back her hair. “Kate is right about this, Colonel. I have substantiating evidence from Gaston, proving it.” She passed a stack of photos to the colonel.

Colonel Drake reviewed them one by one. “Gruesome and brutal,” she mumbled, then looked up at Kate with remnants of the horror she’d seen still in her eyes. “What kind of monster is this guy?”

“One who loves to kill.”

With a heartfelt sigh, she passed the photos back to Darcy. “Get the OSI and CIA on a teleconference ASAP.”

They had to figure out how to best play this overtly. S.A.S.S. couldn’t bust Sandross; it didn’t exist. One of the overt agencies would have to step in. Kate didn’t care which one. So long as Sandross ended up busted or dead and stayed that way—which had to be a consideration when dealing with Thomas Kunz—she was fine with it.

“Don’t worry, Kate,” Colonel Drake assured her. “Effective now, he’s permanently out of commission. Obviously he didn’t know you’d be back so early. He was checking out our new Base. Bastard.”

He’d be neutralized, eliminated. What other choice did the honchos have? If they cut him loose, he’d make a bee-line for GRID. If Kunz took him in, he’d expose everything he knew that was classified, and that would kill a lot of
good men and women. Americans and others. They had to neutralize him. And Kate didn’t waste a second of her time regretting it.

“Come on.” Maggie clasped Kate’s arm. “Let me show you your new office.”

They walked down the open expanse to the second office on the right. Her name was on the door. Kate smiled. It was the first time since she’d been in covert ops that she’d seen her name on anything tangible. She looked inside. Plush gray carpet, soft blue walls, a gorgeous waterfall painting she loved opposite her desk. “Ooh, nice.” She looked on, and her gaze halted on an oak desk she’d once told Mark she’d wanted but couldn’t afford. “Dang him.”

“He already said for you not to bother. He’s
not
sending it back.”

Kate smiled. “Vintage Mark.” Something atop her desk caught her eye. It looked like a photo frame. She had no photos on her desk—or anywhere else. “Whose is that?”

“Yours.” Maggie smiled, her eyes twinkling mischief.

Kate rounded the desk and looked into the tender eyes of Nathan Forester. He’d signed it, and she tilted her head to read what he’d written. “My love always, Nathan.” Tears sprang to her eyes.

“I told you, Mark,” Amanda said, lingering at the doorway. “No man has that look in his eyes unless he’s looking at a woman he loves—even if he’s only seeing her image in his mind.”

“What are you saying?” Mark looked at his fiancée.

“Honey, it’s so simple.” Amanda grinned from ear to ear. “Kate’s in love.”

Kate read the emotions flitting across his face. He didn’t believe it. It wasn’t possible that she’d let anyone get close enough to love. “It happened to you.”

“It did.” Worry and hope filled his voice. “So are you saying, it happened to you, too?”

Her ears burned hot. “Get out of here, guys.” She reached for the door to swing it closed. “Go pester some other love-drunk idiot.”

Maggie rocked side to side on her toes. “He pouched it to us and said to keep you alive and in line until he could get here.”

Mark grunted. “If I’d known Sandross was crooked, I’d have told Forester to get his ass over here and handle you himself. You cracked my damn jaw back there, Kate.”

“I’m sorry.” She gave Mark the halfhearted apology, but her mind was on the photograph. She’d so envied the intimacy implied in Nathan’s eyes toward Emily’s photograph. He’d known Kate needed her own, and had given it to her. God, what a special man.

“He sent you something else, Kate.” About this Maggie didn’t sound so sure. “I wasn’t sure what to do with it, so I put it in the top drawer of your desk.”

“Okay, that’s it. I love you all. I’m glad to be home. Hell of a job on the new facility, Mark. Damn thoughtful of you to get me a place and food and to come and get me,” Kate ran through the list. “Now get out.”

Amanda chuckled. “So diplomatic, Kate.”

“Today!” she insisted, eager to see what was in the desk drawer, but not so eager to share it with them until she knew exactly what it was. Hell, it could be a Dear Joan letter, dumping Kate. Maggie hadn’t said it was good. Only that it was in the drawer and she hadn’t known what to do with it. And she hadn’t looked too happy about it, either.

Maggie shut the door, leaving Kate alone in her office. She stared at the desk drawer. Her hands were trembling, her stomach had knots and her chest was so tight she was
half afraid a full breath would crack her ribs. “Okay, Kate. Just do it. Just open the damn drawer and see if he’s dumped you on your ass or if he—”

Her hand froze midair. She couldn’t move. She loved him. He loved and accepted her. What if it was lust? What if he, who had been so sure he loved her, realized he didn’t?

Well, would it be the end of the world? Hell, Kate. You’ve lived without love your entire life.

True. She could make her way alone just fine. She was a strong woman. Capable. Complete. She’d never needed a man, and she didn’t need one now.

But she wanted him.

Oh, how she wanted him.

Then open the damn drawer.

She clasped the knob, squeezed her eyes shut, and pulled.

Screwing up her courage, she opened her eyes and burst into laughter.

Tucked in the drawer was a plastic bag of sand.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-5302-9

DOUBLE VISION

Copyright © 2005 by Vicki Hinze

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