Deep Cover

CHAPTER 12

IT WAS NEARLY lunchtime when Shelby paused and focused her attention on Kris. The woman had been feverishly working at the computer all morning and had only grunted answers or scant acknowledgements of her comments. This time she was determined to get a full sentence in response.

"Are we still going to lunch?"

Kris swiveled her chair around to face the analyst. She couldn't believe she'd forgotten they were going to lunch together today. "Yep. Where are we going?"

Shelby laughed. Well, it was full sentence, but not by much. "The cafeteria's the only place close enough to eat and be back in an hour." She didn't care where they ate. It was free time with Kris, and she lived for it.

"Okay. Give me ten minutes."

Happy their plans were still on, Shelby teased, "All right! But that's it. I'm really hungry."

Kris chuckled as she turned back to the monitor. All morning she'd been trying to dig up information she could provide, but that would be virtually useless. However, her search to find more operatives who had recently departed their stations had proved fruitless. She was going to have to manufacture some data to leave at the drop. The operative hoped it would take them several days to check out the names she had already provided, because she needed to buy a little more time to explore all her options.

She sighed inwardly. What the heck am I going to tell Shelby when I leave in the middle of the afternoon? But, she was between a rock and hard place - it was either go, or have them show up at the complex again, something Kris definitely did not want to risk.

After lunch, Kris accompanied Shelby back to the office, then said she had to leave for an hour and made an abrupt departure. The operative had been gone forty-five minutes when Shelby answered the ringing phone. She fleetingly wished it were Kris, even though she was due back any time, and grinned to herself as she picked it up. You are so hopeless.

"Hey Shelby. How ya doing? Dennis told me to call and let you know that you can come and pick up the file you guys requested on Jonathan Whiteman. Earl and his secretary had to attend a meeting outside the building, so they dropped it off here."

"Great, Joanne. I'll be right there." Shelby hung up the phone and wrote a quick note to Kris to let her know where she was in the event that her partner returned in her absence.

After retrieving the file, Shelby hurried back toward her office, anxious to see what was in it. As she rounded the corner into the hallway leading to her office, she stopped abruptly to avoid running into a tall, attractive man with dark hair.

"Sorry. Guess I should slow down." Having apologized, Shelby was puzzled by the odd way the stranger was looking at her. She could have sworn there was recognition in his eyes, but couldn't recall having seen him before.

Shelby glanced at his badge, but the name didn't spark any recognition, then shifted her gaze back to his face before spotting Kris approaching their office from the opposite end of the hall. The man was still standing directly in front of her, blocking her passage. "Um...excuse me," she said pointedly, anxious to join Kris and take a look at the file.

Michael never said a word. He merely moved around her and turned the corner, heading for his brother's office.

The warm smile on Shelby's face faded as she neared Kris. The operative was glaring down the hallway in full intimidation mode. Shelby quickly glanced behind her, but the corridor was empty. "What's wrong?"

"Who were you talking to?"

Shelby blanched at the cold, dangerous tone. "No one I know. I almost ran into him coming around the corner. Why?"

"Looks like someone I once worked with. Bad news all around. Just wondered if you knew him."

Shelby shook her head. "Nope, never saw him before. He did look at me kinda strange, like he knew me or something, but I didn't recognize his name."

"You saw his ID?"

"Yeah. His name's Michael Benton."

Taut with tension, Blue walked into the office with her blonde partner. So it was him. What is he doing here, now? Temporarily setting her concerns aside, Kris glanced at the file Shelby was carrying. "What have you got there?"

Shelby glanced at the forgotten folder in her hand. "Jonathan's file. Dennis' secretary called while you were gone."

"Let's take a look." She smiled for Shelby's benefit, but was trying to figure out why Michael just happened to be here at headquarters when she was, and also just happened to be in the same hallway as Shelby's office.

Kris pulled her chair over to Shelby's desk and sat down. She watched the analyst carefully as they began perusing the file. The operative could understand Shelby's desire to confront her stepfather, and respected her for it, but worried about it, too. Neither she nor Shelby thought his motives for contacting his stepdaughter again were nearly as altruistic as those Lisa had indicated.

The women read together. His file was unremarkable until he was charged with domestic violence. Kris read the abbreviated version of the trial transcript, taking special note of Shelby's testimony. Looking at the pictures of Lisa taken at the hospital, she winced. Aside from the apparent cuts and contusions, she had suffered three broken ribs.

She glanced at Shelby out of the corner of her eye, seeing anger and pain reflected on her face. She wondered if it had been a good idea to disclose that she had requested the file, but quickly discarded the notion. "You okay?"

"Yeah. This just reminds me how important it is to get Mom to see the light. He's such a bastard!"

"I hear you." Kris had little patience for women like Lisa, who not only subjected themselves to repeated abuse, but allowed their children to be victimized as well. However, she had no tolerance for brutes like Jonathan, male or female.

Shelby turned her attention back to the file, taking comfort in Kris' presence at her side. After the trial, Jonathan had moved to Maryland and had resided in a trailer park there. He had met all the requirements of his probation, including completing six sessions with a psychologist.

She noted he'd been working at a service station for the previous six months. That was a far cry from his previous job as a bailiff at the county courthouse. Prior to his current job, after his conviction, he had worked at two other service stations, as a cook in a local burger joint, and as a parking garage attendant. His probation officer had documented his complaints of the prejudice he was encountering because of the felony conviction.

"That note doesn't make me feel any better. And from the looks of it, he hasn't been able to get any kind of decent work, not that I care."

"He brought it on himself."

Shelby sighed. "Yeah, but I know he still blames me for losing his job. He always had such a superiority complex. Working at gas stations must be a real insult to him."

"Do you care?"

"Not really. I still wish I knew why he was at the apartment the other night."

The operative didn't bother answering. She intended to find out one way or another. If Shelby's visit to her stepfather didn't yield satisfactory answers, she would pay him a return visit and convince the bastard that Shelby didn't exist in his world.

Kris studied the picture included in the file, committing it to memory. It was a mug shot, but it didn't diminish the obvious attractiveness of the man staring at the camera. He had dark hair, blue eyes, was 6'1" and weighed 220. After Shelby jotted down his address and phone number, Kris closed the file and rose from her chair. "I'll return it."

Shelby watched her partner leave. She always seemed to be working several angles at once. She's been acting distant ever since she saw that guy in the hallway. Wonder what that was all about?

The operative ignored Shelby's questioning look as she left the office. She wanted to pay Earl a visit and find out if he knew what Michael was doing at headquarters. Her mission proved unsuccessful when she discovered her boss and his secretary were both out of the office until the next day.

She returned the file to Dennis' secretary, Joanne, and began making her way back to the office, before suddenly detouring to the canteen to pick up coffee for both of them.

Kris stood in front of the counter after she'd placed her order, automatically scanning the occupants of the room. Her eyes traveled quickly past employees sitting at small tables along the wall, before focusing on the table farthest from the door. Michael was sitting with his back to her, talking to a short, attractive woman who had eyes only for her table partner. She took the two coffees and left unobserved.

Walking down the hall, her thoughts drifted back to the last time she'd seen Michael and her jaw tightened as the memories came flooding back.

After three months of painstakingly laying the groundwork, they had finally been given the go-ahead to bring in the Iranian agent who had requested political asylum. Her higher ups had delayed the decision, wanting to make absolutely certain that the foreign spy was not merely a plant to disseminate disinformation.

Blue smiled in satisfaction when she finally received the order. Everything the Iranian had given them had been proven valuable and her superiors now wanted him badly. Unfortunately, their stalling had proved costly. Before he could be extracted, their contact was taken into custody and was being held in the paramilitary headquarters of a small Middle Eastern town until he could be transferred to the Iranian capital.

Frustrated, the American operative considered ambushing the vehicle en route to its destination, but discarded that option because it was unclear which route would be taken. An inside source advised them when the informant was to be moved from the detaining cell to Tehran, indicating his escort would only consist of two guards.

Blue knew that the element of surprise was their biggest advantage and hoped to be able to extract their target safely without any Iranian casualties. And so in the predawn darkness, she had directed her team of four, disguised in the garb of the local populace, to strategic locations near the headquarters.

The door to the building opened, and three men emerged - one shackled in chains between the other two. Blue spoke quietly into the tiny microphone clipped to her aba. "Go."

She had just reached the street when a short, three-shot burst rang out. Reflexes guided her actions even as the scene seemed to unfold in slow motion. She moved back under cover, noted the direction from which the shots were fired, and watched in horror as the remaining guard – his AK47 on full automatic - sprayed the area around him as he fell to the ground, mortally wounded. The image of their target falling to the ground in a growing pool of blood was overshadowed by the screams of wounded and dying innocent bystanders - many of them women and children – and it burned itself into her mind. "Abort!"

Blue made her way to the rendezvous, cold fury burning slowly like a coal partially ignited. Michael Benton was what had gone wrong. The shots had come from his location, but what she couldn't understand was why he had opened fire.

She'd asked to have Benton reassigned, complaining that he wasn't a team player, but her request had been denied. He had an outstanding record and was considered a rising star. Her handler had blown off her concerns as a personality conflict and told her to deal with it.

So she had. And now children and other innocent civilians were dead. Their target was dead. Three months of hard work was down the drain, and what could have been the biggest information coup in recent history was now a mere memory.

Her team began arriving, and it soon became apparent to Blue as she questioned the others that they had been moving and had not seen the direction the shots were fired from. As she waited for Michael, the scene of the carnage playing repeatedly through her mind; she wondered how he could ever hope to justify his actions, and vowed to do her best to destroy his career.

Michael presented some convincing arguments during the investigation, stating that one of the guards had turned his weapon on their target and he had acted to ensure the Iranian's safety. What total bullshit. But in the end, it was her word against his, and all her testimony only resulted in him being taken out of the field and reassigned. She had since harbored a suspicion that he had been protected, but couldn't substantiate it.

She was leaving headquarters following the conclusion of the hearing when he approached her in the parking lot. "You won't get away with this. I'll destroy your career just like you destroyed mine." She just laughed. "If you think you're good enough, go ahead and try." His face reddened in anger, but he turned and walked away.

That was the last time she'd seen him, until today.

As Kris entered the office, Shelby smiled and accepted the coffee. "Thanks."

"My pleasure. How many names have we got left?"

"Nine, but I might be able to eliminate one more today."

"Good." Kris sat down, uncapped her coffee and took a sip. Turning her attention to the monitor, she called up the file on Michael only to find she didn't have access. Cursing silently, she swung her chair around and faced Shelby.

Sensing she was being watched, Shelby looked up. "What?"

"How about pulling up Michael Benton's file?"

Surprised by the request, but pleased to be included, Shelby quickly thought it over. She was still curious about Kris' reaction to the man, but needed some sort of justification in her own mind to access his record and decided to be direct. "Who is Michael, Kris?"

The operative hesitated only briefly. "I worked with him once a couple of years ago. He blew our operation by using poor judgment and disregarding orders. Because of him, a lot of people died that day, many of them innocent bystanders. It was my word against his before the Oversight Committee because no one else saw what happened. I took it to the top, but since there were no other witnesses, he was retained and just transferred to advisor status instead of being terminated. Always felt like a cover up to me."

"But he's history, right? What's he got to do with here and now?"

"Last time I saw him, he threatened me. I'd like to know what he's doing here."

That was all the justification Shelby needed after the events of the past week. Maybe Michael was here because he knew Kris was. Maybe someone wasn't shooting at her at all, but was shooting at the operative instead. She scooted her chair over making room for Kris and grinned. "Ready?"

Pushing her own chair across the room, Kris settled behind the desk next to Shelby and watched her work the keyboard until Michael's mug shot appeared on the screen.

Shelby advanced to Michael's history and scanned the information, knowing Kris was doing the same. "Did you know he's Jeb's brother?"

"No. But Jeb's a nobody. Whoever protected him before had a lot more power."

Snickering, Shelby said, "Jeb'd have a fit if he ever heard you say that. Doesn't matter that it's true."

Kris winked. "Just calling it the way I see it."

Shelby finished reading and looked at the screen in front of her. "He's currently assigned to Israel. He must be on leave or something. I'm surprised he didn't show up on the list. No wait! I know why. The search only included regular field agents, not advisors. Maybe we should add him."

Kris nodded. "Good idea." She quickly wrote down his home of record in Maryland, but as a precaution asked Shelby pull up Jeb's file to get his address, too. It didn't hurt to cover all the bases. It was disturbing enough, given the events of the past week that he was in town right now.

Shelby laughed as she won the battle for the remote. "Uh uh. We are not watching Cops again."

"Why not?"

"Come on! It's been on for an hour already. Let's watch Miracle Pets."

Kris grinned and raised an eyebrow dubiously. "Sure. Whatever you want."

"Oh ye of little faith. I think you'll like it. It features stories about pets that saved their owners. Some of the stories are really incredible. It makes you stop and think." Shelby reached over to Kris' lap and stroked Stormy. "Our little furry friends are pretty special."

So are you. Kris nodded, watching as Shelby raised her shoulders, rolling her neck, before relaxing again. Sympathetically, she asked, "Neck stiff?"

"Kinda. Sitting hunched over the monitor all day takes a toll sometimes."

"I hear you. I don't know how you do that all the time."

"You sorta get used to it."

Kris had her doubts about that. "If you say so."

Shelby chuckled when Stormy scampered off of her partner's lap to chase a shadow across the room. "It's not like I have much choice."

Casually, Kris suggested, "How about scooting over her and letting me see what I can do?"

The analyst barely hesitated before sliding across the couch and turning her back to Kris. Shelby sighed deeply and let her head drop forward as her partner's strong fingers began manipulating the tight muscles.

After a few moments, Kris took a pillow and dropped it on the floor between her feet. "Why don't you move down there? It'll be more comfortable." Once Shelby was sitting between her legs, she picked up where she'd left off, letting her fingers expertly probe and stroke her companion's neck and shoulders.

Shelby was in her own personal paradise, enjoying the feel of Kris' long legs bracketing and supporting her body almost as much as the fingers working their magic. She was much too content to move when the hands slowed, instead leaning back and settling herself comfortably against the operative.

Unable to resist, Kris began to lightly stroke the golden hair that was resting on her thigh, entranced by the silky feel as she drew her fingers lightly through the blonde locks.

Time ceased to have meaning as they sat there in silence, enjoying the closeness. When she could no longer delay a visit to the bathroom, Shelby sighed inwardly wishing she hadn't had two glasses of iced tea earlier. She regretfully stood up and smiled. "Be right back."

Watching the analyst walk out of the room, Kris sighed contentedly. The evening had been perfect. Everything felt so right with the smaller woman at her side. She found herself more and more often finding a reason to touch Shelby and her overtures were always met with a smile. I could get used to this.

She started thinking about the things she liked about Shelby and suddenly realized that it wasn't one thing, it was everything. Her laugh, her way of expressing herself, the sweet sound of her voice, the way she walked, her intelligence, her consideration and warmth, the way her eyes flashed when she was angry and danced when she was happy. Everything.

Kris had spent a considerable amount of time that day debating the wisdom of filling Shelby in and asking for her help. She entertained every possible scenario she could envision, from the younger woman hating her to the one she hoped for, in which Shelby agreed to help her. Logically, Kris knew she had to be demented to even consider revealing her secrets, but the idea of returning to the only adult life she'd known had become intolerable because one thing was becoming increasingly apparent to her – before Shelby, she hadn't been living, she'd merely been existing.

The operative also faced another certainty. She would not go back to that life. She would risk it all for the chance to share a future with Shelby. If she wants me.

Shelby returned and sat down on the couch. She leaned over her taller companion and picked up the remote. "What're you thinking about? You looked a million miles away."

Kris breathed in her partner's unique scent, fighting off the urge to pull Shelby into her lap. No, not a million miles away. I was with you every minute you were gone.

Instead, she waited for the analyst to sit back and then stood up. "I need to go out one more time." She leaned down and brushed a lock of hair away from Shelby's eyes, her decision made. "You'll still be up when I get back, won't you? I want to talk to you about something." She wasn't sure what she was going to say or how she was going to say it, but the trip outside would give her time to formulate her thoughts.

The blue eyes gazing at her were fraught with meaning, and Shelby's heart began fluttering. She smiled warmly, allowing her eyes to convey what they would. "I'll be waiting up. Just like I always am."

Kris grasped Shelby's hand and squeezed it before releasing it. "I'll be back soon."

Shelby nodded in anticipation. We're going to talk. Really talk. I never thought I'd see this day. She accompanied Kris to the door and locked it behind her. Yes!

Kris took the steps two at time, her Blue persona in place by the time she reached the ground. Instincts honed by years of living on the edge suddenly screamed out a warning and she quickly pulled her weapon and faded into the darkness behind the building, searching the shadows for the slightest movement or sound.

Hearing nothing, she kept her back to the cement wall and soundlessly worked her way along the length of the building. She silently cursed when she felt something impact against her shoulder and felt a burning sensation travel down her arm. Immediately dropping into a defensive crouch, Kris began edging her way back around the building. She had to get back to Shelby.

She heard a sound and focused her attention in the direction from which it came, but suddenly found it hard to concentrate. Kris watched in disbelief as the gun fell from her hand onto the ground only a moment before she toppled over next to it. Her mind screamed out a warning. Shelby!

Gregor waited for a full two minutes before commanding his men to converge on the agent's location behind the building. Speed was of the essence. Not only was it vital that they were not spotted, Dimitri had stressed the importance of minimizing the length of time the operative would be absent.

Not taking any chances, Gregor waited until his men were present before approaching the fallen operative. The tranquilizer was very fast acting, but they only had thirty minutes before she would start waking up and it was imperative that she have no knowledge of where she had been taken.

He knelt down next to her and roughly shoved her from her side onto her stomach. Removing a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, he snapped them in place, tightening them brutally. This woman had caused him enough grief, and he intended to exact his revenge in any way he could, knowing that once he turned her over to Dimitri, he would be summarily dismissed.

He glanced at two of his men. "Get her to the car." The operatives flanked her, each grabbing an arm, and began pulling her along.

Gregor would have preferred to let them continue dragging her, letting the movement take its toll on her wrists, but knew better than to leave evidence of their presence. "Pick her up. Hurry up!"

Within minutes, she was stuffed into the back of a blue Ford Taurus and her journey to an unknown destination began.

Shelby picked up Stormy and sat where Kris had been sitting a short time before. She listened to the contented purring of the small kitten, allowing her thoughts to roam freely. She had asked herself over and over again why she was so attracted to Kris, but knew the answer was the magic between them.

Everything seemed so right when they were together. Kris was beautiful, yes, but there was so much more about her that Shelby loved. Like how she always puts me first, the way she looks at me when she thinks I'm not looking and how she makes me feel with just the slightest touch.

Shelby also felt an intense protectiveness towards Kris. She chuckled. Not that she'd ever need my protection. But there was something so appealingly vulnerable about the woman at the oddest times. Every once in awhile when she was able to covertly watch Kris, Shelby had seen a sad, lost look in those beautiful blue eyes that broke her heart. She knew the operative was unaware of displaying what she would certainly consider a weakness, but it woke a fierce desire within her to prevent anyone from ever hurting the woman who had claimed her heart.

Shelby smiled happily and continued her musings. She's so cute when her mouth curls up into that little smile she shares only with me, and I love her dry sense of humor. She is really protective, but I like that. Silly, she is supposed to be protective, she's your bodyguard. Shelby answered her inner voice. No. It goes way beyond a job. I can feel it.

Suddenly uneasy, Shelby lifted the kitten from her lap and stood up. Kris had been gone only a matter of minutes, but out of nowhere had come a strong feeling that something was very wrong. She dismissed the idea as ridiculous. Kris was fine. But her uneasiness continued to grow. She's in trouble.

Shelby usually trusted her instincts, but worried that her overactive imagination and emotional attachment might have conjured up the feeling rather than her gut. Trying to ignore the feeling, she discovered that it nonetheless persisted and grew. Should she go and look for her? She very clearly remembered Kris' admonition to stay inside no matter what. She'd agreed at the time, but she hadn't felt like this, then.

She picked up the phone only to set it back down. Whom could she call and what could she say? 'Um, you see, Kris went outside and she's been gone twenty minutes and I'm worried about her.' Yeah right!

Forcing herself to calm down, Shelby sat down on the couch and flicked through the channels before tossing the remote on the end table in disgust. It was no use. She couldn't concentrate on anything except the clock, and it seemed like only a minute had passed since she'd looked at it last. She decided to wait another half hour before doing something. Just exactly what that would be, she wasn't sure, but Shelby figured she had an interminable half hour to try and figure it out if Kris still hadn't returned.

Blue was slowly regaining consciousness, but deliberately kept her growing awareness of her surroundings hidden. She was lying on what felt like a cement floor with her hands and legs secured. Tensing her muscles slightly, she could feel the steel vises on her wrists tighten, and relaxed to relieve some of the pressure.

Sensing that she was alone, Blue opened her eyes and looked around. The room was barren except for two chairs, a table, and some leather restraints attached to chains hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. She grimaced, all too familiar with the uses for the device. She hoped this action was directed only at her and that Shelby was safe, but her stomach tightened in worry.

She lay unmoving, watching as the door opened and five men walked in, only one of whom she recognized. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Sergei and suddenly she knew what had prompted her capture. Somehow they must have already found out the information she gave them was bogus. Shit! She'd known the risks, but had expected more time. Not bothering to ponder how they'd found out so quickly, Blue began to focus her energy on preparing herself both mentally and physically for the punishment she was sure was to come.

"Put her in the restraints."

The four burly men approached, two observing while two roughly grabbed her and dragged her across the room. Not willing to cooperate with the goons in any way, Kris kept her body limp, forcing the other two to hold her erect while her wrists and ankles were secured by the leather bands, then tightened.

"Nice to see you again, Natasha."

Blue glared at Sergei, but remained quiet.

"Not happy to see me? That wouldn't be because of the useless information you gave us, now would it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Sergei crossed the room and backhanded Blue viciously across the face. "You will answer honestly when I talk to you. Did you really think you'd get away with that?"

Blue could feel the blood trickling from her mouth as she stared back at Sergei. "Get away with what?"

At a look from the Russian, one of the men delivered a solid blow to Blue's midsection.

"You disgust me." Sergei knew there was a remote chance that she could be telling the truth and the computers just hadn't been updated, but he felt it unlikely. "I should kill you now, but I have another job for you. If you do it well, I might spare your life."

Blue tried to keep the pain at bay. She had no intentions of doing anything he wished, but she would have to play the game in order to leave this room alive.

The Russian agent paced back and forth in front of Blue. "The woman you're staying with is a highly regarded analyst with access to very sensitive information. Such knowledge would be of great value to us. I want her password and you will obtain it without arousing suspicion."

"That's...impossible," Blue managed to spit out.

"For someone less skilled than you, perhaps. But I'm sure you can find a way." Sergei smiled cruelly. "Just in case you doubt my seriousness..." He nodded to two of the men, and watched as they approached the woman.

Blue knew what was coming and began focusing her mind to ignore the pain that would be inflicted.

Sergei had picked the two men because they were interrogation experts trained to deliver the maximum amount of punishment without doing any major bodily damage. He had already briefed them that they were to leave no marks on any part of her body that would normally be exposed, not wanting to arouse the suspicions of anyone at the Company. The bruise he'd left on her cheek could be easily covered.

The Russian officer stood back with his arms crossed in front of his chest observing the punishment being meted out. He always enjoyed this part of an interrogation and smiled with satisfaction at the grunts of pain that accompanied the blows. He allowed the brutalization to continue for several minutes after she passed out before calling a halt. He hadn't forgotten her stubbornness as a child and wanted to make sure she understood his message. Sergei knew that every time she moved for the next week, she would be reminded of this lesson.

The fact that she would be terminated once they had the password was of no consequence right now. He walked over and began slapping her face lightly. "Wake up. I have another surprise for you."

Blue had allowed herself to fade into blackness instead of fighting it. Her slow return to consciousness was suddenly accelerated when she was drenched in cold water. Her eyes opened as she spat out water, gritting her teeth as pain rolled over her. She wanted to double over in agony, but her bonds denied her even that luxury.

"Oh, good. You're back with us. You had me worried for a while. Are you ready to see your mother now?"

Blue remained silent, her mind disbelieving. Her mother was dead. She'd been dead for almost twenty years. Obviously, Sergei wasn't done torturing her yet, but she'd buried her mother long ago. "She's dead."

"No, Natasha. She isn't dead, but that isn't what we wanted you to think. You had no reason to doubt us. You were but a child. It suited our purposes for you to believe that." He looked at one of the men. "Release her. It wouldn't do for your mother to see you all trussed up, now would it?"

Blue didn't know what to believe as she fell to the ground in a heap, her arms wrapped around her throbbing midsection. She tried to hold the pain at bay, but the men had been experts at plying their trade and it was unrelenting in its intensity.

"I'll be back after your visit," Sergei promised as he left.

A few minutes later the door to the interrogation room opened. A tall, thin woman with gray hair walked in and looked curiously at the female lying curled up on the floor. The last twenty-four hours had been so confusing. Twenty years ago, Masha had been told her little girl had died in a fire at the school. Then yesterday, she was rushed from her home and flown to America to meet with her suddenly resurrected daughter.

She didn't know what Sergei was up to, but she didn't trust him. Masha hadn't seen him since the day he'd informed her of Natasha's death, and she hadn't been pleased to see him again.

Masha approached the figure on the floor. She didn't believe this was her daughter, but the poor woman had obviously been beaten and she would try to help her. Kneeling down, she gazed into the pain filled eyes regarding her and rocked back on her heels. Those eyes! Could it be? She tentatively extended her fingers and brushed the woman's cheek.

Blue stared in disbelief. This elderly woman could be her mother's twin, albeit aged. Her hazel eyes reflected kindness, and her face mirrored the character and strength she remembered seeing as a child. She shut her eyes, refusing to be taken in by this cruel ruse. This had to be some kind of trick. A look alike actress hired to fool her.

Masha let her fingertips rest against the injured woman's cheek and spoke hesitantly in Russian. "They told me you were my daughter. I didn't believe them. Now, I'm not so sure. You have her eyes. Let me help you sit up."

Kris shook her head, wracked with excruciating pain. "No." She needed more time to divert her mind away from the damage that had been inflicted and the agony she was experiencing. Trying to concentrate on the woman at her side, Kris chose the one thing that only her mother would know about because she had never mentioned it to anyone at the school. "How's Sasha?"

Masha's mouth dropped open and her hand clutched at her chest. "It can't be!" She softly stroked Kris' cheek. "You really are alive! All these years I have mourned you, and you are alive." Tears rolled down the older woman's face. "Sasha lived for fifteen years after you left. Every time I petted her, I remembered how happy you were when you got her."

A myriad of emotions flickered through the operative's mind, but she was still not totally convinced. "Is Leonard still around?"

Masha looked puzzled. "Maybe I was wrong. My daughter would know that he died when she was five." Disappointment flooded the older woman's features, and she sighed heavily. "I knew it was too good to be true."

"Mother?" Kris' voice was barely audible, as she tried to come to terms with the fact that this was most probably her mother. It was an odd feeling. She'd buried her in her mind so long ago.

"You were testing me," the older woman stated knowingly.

Kris smiled weakly. "Yeah."

"I should've guessed. You always were suspicious. Oh, what have they done to you? What's going on?"

Trying to ignore the red hot waves of pain, Kris concentrated on the conversation, and spoke quietly. "There's no time for that. Do you have any idea where we are?"

"No. When we left the airport, we drove around the city for a long time. I tried to see the address, but they ushered me in the back way. I think this street is Georgia. That's all I saw."

"Are they treating you okay?"

"Yes. They just left me in a room with a bed and bathroom all day. They brought me food a few hours ago. How can I help you?"

"You can't. Do what they say. I need to get you out of here..."

Kris clamped her mouth shut when she heard footsteps outside the doorway. She watched in silence as her mother obeyed an order to accompany one of the guards and departed.

Sergei walked into the room and smiled. "Have a nice visit?"

"I don't believe that is my mother."

"Oh, I think you do. We killed her because you did nothing but count down days until you could go home. You didn't care about the program. We needed your full attention, so she died." Sergei smiled coldly. "Isn't it ironic that you now hold her fate in your hands. She was dead to you once. Are you going to be responsible for her real death? If I do not have that password within a week, you will watch her die a slow and painful death, followed closely by your own."

"Boris!" When his subordinate arrived, Sergei ordered, "Get her prepared for the return trip." He walked out of the room, ignoring the eyes that tracked him.

After a weak struggle, Kris was subdued and given a sedative. The dose was large enough to ensure she remain unconsciousness for at least a couple of hours.

Sergei intended to be absolutely certain that Natasha had no recollection of the whereabouts of the safe house. He glanced at his watch, satisfied. Her total absence would not exceed the hour and a half he'd allowed for. He dictated a short note to one of the guards and pinned it to her T-shirt. It wouldn't do for her partner to get excited when she was returned unconscious and notify the Company. He handed her unloaded weapon to one of the guards and sent for Gregor.

"Deliver her to the door of her apartment and ring the doorbell. Make sure you are not seen." Sergei walked over to Gregor and stopped, his face only inches from his subordinates. "She will remain unrestrained and you will make sure that she is handled carefully. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Comrade."

"Return her, now!"

Gregor bowed his head slightly, turned to the guards and began issuing orders.

Shelby was growing frantic. She knew Kris wouldn't unnecessarily worry her again, and looked at the phone, but dismissed it, trying to decide on a course of action.

Walking to her bedroom, Shelby donned a light jacket. She wasn't waiting any longer. It had been almost an hour since the operative had left. What if Kris was lying hurt out on the grounds? If the woman wanted to be mad later, fine, but she wasn't willing to ignore her instincts any longer. She picked up a can of pepper spray and put it in her pocket. Didn't hurt to be prepared.

She went to the door, unlocked it, and carefully looked out. She waved to her neighbors who were just arriving home, locked the door behind her and began the descent to the first floor. Listening and looking for anything unusual, Shelby reached the ground level and began walking toward the parking lot.

She knew Kris always looked it over and decided to check there first, just to rule out the easiest places. Walking around the backs of the buildings would be a bit scarier. It was totally dark back there, with clusters of trees on the property and a lightly wooded area just beyond.

Two pairs of eyes watched her every move, one through the windshield of a car parked on the side street bordering the parking lot, and the other from a cluster of trees just beyond the apartment property. Neither man made any move to intercept her, not wanting to reveal their presence unless she tried to leave the grounds or was endangered in some way.

After traversing the entire parking lot, Shelby headed for the large grassy area behind the buildings. A couple of times, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, but when she looked around, she didn't see anyone. She decided to start behind her own building and work her way to the perimeter. Slowly walking along, her eyes flickered over the area, looking for anything that might provide a clue as to Kris' whereabouts.

Deep down, she already knew the operative wasn't around unless she was lying injured somewhere, because Kris would've already intercepted her – upset that she'd left the apartment. She pulled her keys out of her pocket and turned on the small flashlight on the key pad that doubled as a panic alarm. She aimed it at the ground and suddenly stopped.

Just to her left, the longish grass was flattened, a sharp contrast against the undisturbed growth. She approached the area, blocking the dim light with her body as she followed the trail until it suddenly ended. Frustrated, she walked a little further hoping to pick up the path again, but the rest of the grass was undisturbed.

Just as she was about to turn away, her light touched on a dark object. She redirected the narrow beam, and her heart momentarily stopped when she recognized it. Shelby bent down and picked up Kris' cellular phone. Her fear for Kris intensifying, she quickly but thoroughly searched the remainder of the yard, and finding nothing else, she ran back to her apartment.

After locking the door, she sank down into the couch studying the phone. Shelby didn't know Earl's number, but remembered Kris had pushed only one of the buttons to summon him the night they were shot at. Hesitating only momentarily, she pressed the number one and waited for it to be answered.