Denny didn't say anything initially, but stared at the image, stunned silent for a moment, before he whispered, 'Aw, shit. How'd they get ahold of that?'
'I don't know,' Jason said. 'But I thought there were only a few people who even knew of its existence.' He knew he didn't have to say anything else.
'Damn,' his boss said. Jason could see him mentally running through scenarios and ways to address the problem. After a moment, he said, 'Okay, I'll try to see what I can dig up on this end. Do you have any other information yet?'
'Just a name,' Jason said. 'Boris Ambros. I didn't find anything on him in our system, but he's involved on this end, so I figured you'd want to flag the name, see if anything turns up.'
Denny made a quick note of the name. 'It doesn't ring any bells for me, but I'll see what I can find. For now, I want you to stay focused on finding that sub and that warhead. Shut the whole thing down, Jason. I'd prefer to keep the midnight teams out of this if at all possible.'
'Understood,' Jason said. The very idea of having to have a midnight team called in for his first official mission made him squirm uncomfortably. They were the last-ditch resort of Room 59 — ruthless killers who would eradicate anything and anyone to 'clean' an operational area. It would also make him look pretty incompetent if they were needed his first time out.
'Do you have anything else for me at this time?' Denny asked.
'Just a thought,' he said. 'I'm not sure how an operation this big has been going on without our knowledge.'
'What are you getting at?' Denny asked.
'Just that if we didn't know, it makes sense that someone did. Maybe you could reach out to our friends in the CIA and see what they know about this. Either they know about some of it and it's covered or…'
'Or someone way up in the food chain is on it and has been helping to cover it up,' Denny finished.
'There is no way that this has gone completely unnoticed. It's too big. I know that the resources up here are limited, but this would just be crazy to miss. The FBI has information on the gunrunning that is going on, so it has to be being watched by somebody.'
'I saw the access to the FBI file. You think that this guy…Jesse is your family?' Denny asked.
'Even if he is my brother by blood, he's a total stranger to me. I'll handle it.'
'If I need to assign a different agent, I need to know it, and right now,' Denny said. 'This is too big to let it get personal.'
'No, sir,' Jason said. 'It's not personal and there's no need for anyone else. An extra player in the field would only make things more complicated.' He shrugged, remembering how Jesse had acted toward him. 'Besides, right now this guy is a suspect, nothing more. An expendable asset, just like the rest.'
He knew what Denny was nervous about, but this was the job and there was nothing that was going to get in the way even if this was his brother and he had to kill him. There was a long pregnant pause.
'Look,' Jason continued, 'I know you can run the new biometrics tools on this conversation, see if I'm telling the truth. Go ahead. Review the data. I'm here for the job, and that's it. If it could become a problem, you'll be the first to know.'
'All right,' Denny said. He paused once more, considering, then added, 'I'm going to send in some new equipment for you. Send the Scorpion out again and I'll have the offshore team load it and return it tonight.'
They said their goodbyes, and Jason logged off. He looked at the images on his computer again. About the only good side of all this he could see was that no one appeared to be in any hurry. If they had a plan, it didn't seem to involve an immediate launch.
There was a sharp series of raps on his door, and he picked up his Glock and peered outside through the window. Tina was standing on the porch in only a sweater, rubbing her arms to try to stay warm. He quickly pulled open the door and moved out of her way, knowing she would rush inside.
'Are you crazy?' he asked. 'It's freezing out there!'
'You're…telling me,' she said, teeth chattering. 'But I left my coat at my grandfather's. I was halfway here before I realized I'd left it behind and the wind started picking up. So I ran.' She shivered again. 'That almost helped.'
Jason pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa and wrapped it around her, rubbing his hands up and down her arms, trying to get her circulation going again. 'Come here,' he said.
He slid his arm around her shoulder and walked her closer to the fire, pulling a chair forward for her to sit. She eased herself down gratefully.
'Hang on a minute,' he said. He went into the kitchen to pour her a cup of hot coffee mixed with a little brandy. It would warm her on the inside and help chase away the feeling of cold. He pulled a chair up next to hers and placed the drink in her hand, wrapping his hands on the outside of hers.
'That should help take care of some of that shivering.'
Tina took a sip and cringed a little as the brandy seared its way down her throat.
'How much antifreeze did you put in that?' she rasped.
He chuckled. 'Just enough to keep you from turning into a giant ice cube.'
'Thanks,' she said. 'It feels wonderful.'
She took another sip of the drink and set it aside. He reached forward and put her hands in his and rubbed them gently. He lifted her hand, trying to warm the backs with his breath. Her shivering started to subside. He stopped his ministrations and stared at her.
Jason could feel the room heating up and not from the fire. She didn't look away, but started chewing her lower lip. That was the last thing Jason could take. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her into a kiss. It was consuming and possessive, but there was nothing more that he wanted in the world than to be with this woman, this minute.
They stood and Jason gently pulled her into the bedroom. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the moonlight that slanted in through the one small window. He led her to the bed, keeping his silence, letting the anticipation build for them both by the simple touch of his hands on hers.
When they reached the bed, he moved to stand in front of her, then wrapped her in his arms, brushing her lips softly at first, then more urgently when a quiet moan escaped her lips. She pressed herself against him, and he could feel the length of her body through his clothes, the wanting pouring off her in heated waves. His hands found her hair, and he eased her head backward, trailing kisses down her neck and then undoing one button of her shirt at a time, following each with another kiss.
He slid her shirt off her shoulders, kissing her soft skin and cupping her breast through the satin material, rubbing his thumb across her nipple, smiling to himself as it responded to his touch.
She pulled his head up and imitated his motions, first trailing kisses down his neck and then his chest as she undid the buttons. She paused only for a moment and undid the button of his jeans and zipper, nipping the tender flesh that was protected by the clothing.
Jason pulled her to him and they finished undressing with more urgency. Their clothes finally out of the way, he lifted her, one arm around her waist and the other supporting their weight as he laid her on the bed. He was so hot and intense, every muscle in his body ready to devour her, but wanted her need to be as intense as his.
He stroked her skin, kissed her lips and slowly moved his fingers to the soft wet folds that held his salvation and slid a finger inside of her. Her plea for more as her hips pressed up into his hand was more than he could take. His hand moved to her hip and guided her upward as he plunged inside.
Rocking forward, his head swooped downward, clenching her nipple in his teeth. Her cry of ecstasy along with her orgasm sent him over the edge.
Jason rolled to his side, pulling her into his arms as he did. Their labored breathing was the only sound filling the room. He rubbed his hand on her arm, not really certain what to say. He'd certainly had sexual encounters on other missions, but everything seemed to be different in this place. He began to wonder if he was looking for more than was really there because he was starting to find the connections to his family and that was triggering other things.
He tilted his head and kissed the top of hers. Her hair smelled like cinnamon, clean and sweet and exotic all at the same time.
Tina pushed away from him and sat up, a look of wonder and concern on her face. He tried the silent angle again, hoping to hear her thoughts first, but not certain he should let her mixed emotions come out with a
