The Spy Is Cast Read online

  “Who ya callin’?” Hellhound asked, still watching the receding half-ton.

  “Drunk driving hotline. Those two shouldn’t be on the road.” I gave the license number and vehicle description to the officer on the other end of the line, and then hung up. “I hope they catch them before they hurt anybody.” I shuddered at the bad memories.

  Hellhound’s face softened and he smoothed the hair away from my face with a gentle hand. “Ya okay, darlin’?”

  I looked up into his kind eyes. “I’m fine. You scared me, though. I was afraid you were going to kick the shit out of them and end up in jail.”

  “Nah.” He chuckled. “I liked that bit about my parole officer, though.”

  Kane came out of the RV, freshly shaven and smelling of shampoo. “What’s this about a parole officer?”

  I leaned the axe up against the trailer again and turned back to tend the potatoes. “We had a small altercation with our neighbours. They decided to leave when they discovered that Hellhound’s parole officer warned him not to kill anybody else.” I laid the steaks on the grill. “How do you like your steak?”

  “Medium-rare,” Kane said slowly. He frowned at the axe, and then at Hellhound and me. “What kind of an altercation?”

  “Arnie, what about you?” I asked.

  “Medium-rare for me, too.”

  “You guys are easy to cook for.” I turned back to the fire.

  “Helmand!” Kane rapped out. “What happened!”

  Hellhound straightened to attention. “Just words, Cap. I rode in an’ I see these two shitheads got Aydan backed up against the trailer. One’s got his dick out, an’ she’s gettin’ ready to swing the axe. So I told ‘em to move on.”

  “He didn’t even say anything threatening,” I added. “It was all legal.”

  “All legal,” Kane repeated incredulously. “Except for the part where two men sexually assaulted you. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. And it wasn’t sexual assault. It was just words. He was just drunk and stupid, and it was probably partly my fault…”

  “It ain’t your fault,” Hellhound grated. I glanced up at him and took a shocked step back at the look on his face. “If a man can’t keep himself under control, that’s his fault, not yours,” he growled. “Ya didn’t do anythin’ wrong.”

  “No, I didn’t mean that,” I agreed quickly. “What I meant was, I aggravated the situation because I lost my temper and insulted him.” I turned away to flip the steaks and potatoes.

  “Aydan, tell me exactly what happened.”

  Unlike Hellhound, I hadn’t spent twenty or so years in the army but the commanding tone of Kane’s voice was almost enough to make me snap to attention, too.

  “I was over here cooking and he called over and asked me to join him for a beer. I said no thanks, and he called me a stuck-up bitch. I ignored him, but he kept yelling over, and the next time I looked up, he was waving his dick. I made my first mistake then, because I laughed.”

  “You laughed.”

  “Well, yeah. He was just this stupid little drunk shit. And it was such a dumb thing to do. I mean, really, what did he think I was going to do?”

  “He thought he’d intimidate you,” Kane said grimly.

  I snorted. “Not. Anyway, he got mad because I’d laughed, and that’s when he came over.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” Kane admonished.

  “I would have, if I thought there was any real danger,” I assured him. “But his buddy was trying to get him to back off, and he was so wasted I could have knocked him down with a good slap.”

  “Go on,” Kane said expressionlessly.

  “Well, that’s when things got a little out of hand,” I admitted reluctantly. “He said some things, and I got mad.”

  “What things, exactly?”

  “He called me a cunt. Said he was going to teach me a lesson. And told me to suck his cock.” I looked up at their frowns. “Just for the record, if you ever want to really piss me off, now you know what to say.”

  “So you got mad. Then what?”

  “I made a crack about his tiny dick and told him to fuck off.” I studied the ground intently. “And I kind of threatened him with the axe, a little bit,” I mumbled. “That’s when Arnie showed up.”

  Kane sighed. I chanced a glance up at him as he massaged his forehead. “Sorry,” I added. “I wouldn’t have really hit him with the axe. Well, maybe with the blunt end…” I shut up before I could dig myself in any deeper.

  “You should report this,” Kane said.

  “Under the circumstances, I’m inclined to just let it go. I threatened him with a weapon. Arnie as much as forced them to drive drunk. And I called them in to the impaired driver hotline. And if I have to go in and report the whole thing, we’ll lose even more time that I could be using to look through the database.”

  Kane’s fist clenched as he thought it over. “All right,” he agreed finally. “I hate to say it, but you’re right, we have bigger fish to fry.”

  “And steaks.” I snagged the sizzling steaks and potatoes off the grill. “Let’s eat.”

  Chapter 28

  After we cleared away the dishes, I glanced at Hellhound’s exhausted face. “I’ll take the laptop outside so you can sleep.”

  I set up the laptop on the picnic table and settled in with a sigh, concentrating my efforts on the captive I’d seen in the morning. Spider’s database was far superior to anything I’d used before, and I quickly finished entering all the parameters, feeling optimistic.

  My high hopes were gratified only about ten minutes later when the database disgorged a shortlist of seven men. I sprang up and trotted to the RV carrying the laptop. When I stuck my head in the door, Kane and Hellhound looked up from the site plan they were discussing, and Kane broke into a smile at the sight of my face.

  “You found something,” he prompted.

  “Yes, the man I saw this morning in the sim. His name is Richard Willis. He was easy to find because he has the funny little scar up by his hairline.” I passed Kane the laptop.

  “Excellent.” He pulled out his phone and punched a speed dial button. “Listen, Webb, Aydan got a hit from the database. We’ll send it to you via the uplink. Can you run it? All known associates, the usual. Thanks.” He carried the laptop over to the counter and hooked it up, punched a few keys, and waited. A few seconds later, he disconnected it and handed it back.

  “Good work,” he said. “Now if we can find the others, we’ll be making some progress.”

  Feeling slightly deflated, I returned to my seat at the picnic table and started scrolling data again. A few minutes later, I was so engrossed that the slam of the RV door made me jump.

  Kane ambled over and sat backward on the bench beside me, stretching his legs out and leaning his elbows on the table behind him.

  “How’s it going?” he asked.

  “Fine. Slow.”

  He paused and frowned before speaking as if carefully choosing his words. “Aydan, about what happened here tonight. I know you’re used to taking care of yourself, and everything worked out all right this time. But as long as you’re on this mission, I need you to be more careful.”

  He met my eyes seriously. “You should have called me right away. You’re a key component of this operation. If anything happens to you, we’re dead in the water.”

  I made a face. “He was just a stupid little drunk flasher.”

  “And if that stupid little drunk had pulled a weapon, then what? Last night, you got on my case for taking unnecessary risks. Now it’s my turn to tell you the same thing.”

  I scowled at the laptop. “Okay. Fine. I’ll try to be as helpless as possible.”

  “You know that’s not what I meant.”

  I sighed. “I know. Sorry. I’m just tired. And I get edgy when I miss my workouts.”

  “It’s all right. Thanks for putting your life on hold for this.” He rose. “I want to take the first watch tonight, so I’m going to go
and get a nap, too. Sit in the chair next to the RV. And thump on the trailer if even a squirrel gives you attitude.”

  “Roger that.” I obediently carried the laptop over to the chair beside the trailer as he went inside, and returned to the tedious task of looking through the database manually.

  A couple of hours later, my numbed brain belatedly reacted. I stopped my search and flipped back a couple of records to the one that had caught my eye. I was looking at one of the dead torturers.

  I had my fist raised to knock on the RV and wake Kane when I thought better of it. No need to jerk both Kane and Hellhound out of a sound sleep just to tell them I’d identified a dead man. He wasn’t going to get any deader.

  I made a note of the name, and then, on impulse, ran a cross-reference check for any known associates. Sure enough, the second torturer’s face appeared in one of the records.

  Elated, I wrote down his name, too, and turned back to the database with renewed zeal. Maybe I could find the first man, too. Only one to go.

  By the time I heard movement inside the RV, my enthusiasm had waned. Kane stuck his head out the door as I yawned and rubbed my eyes.

  “How’s it going?” he inquired sympathetically.

  “Great! I got two more hits,” I told him.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” He swung out of the RV and frowned down at me.

  “They’re not the captives. They’re the two guys you killed,” I told him. “I didn’t think it was worth waking you up for two dead guys.”

  “Next time, wake me,” he said firmly.

  “Okay. Sorry.”

  “It’s all right. Let’s get these up to Webb and see what he can find.”

  “Poor Spider,” I said. “Is he getting any sleep at all?”

  Kane shrugged. “Probably about the same as us. Speaking of.” He looked down at me. “I’d like you to go over with Hellhound and check the network, and then come back with Germain, same as before. And then it’s time you got some rest, too.”

  “Okay.” I followed him into the trailer and grabbed a glass of water while he spoke with Spider on the phone.

  He was grinning when he hung up. “Webb cracked that electronic device that was planted on me.”

  Hellhound and I both leaned forward in anticipation. “What was it?”

  Kane’s laugh lines crinkled. “I absconded with a state-of-the-art re-engineered fob. That’s why I didn’t notice the transition. I wondered how they’d done it. So it wasn’t a tracking device at all.”

  Hellhound’s shrewd gaze darted between Kane and me. “I’m missin’ somethin’.”

  “Sorry, need-to-know,” Kane told him.

  Hellhound shrugged. “As long as it wasn’t trackin’ ya, that’s good news.”

  “That little piece of technology ought to make Spider very happy,” I observed.

  “Yes, indeed,” Kane agreed cheerfully. “And it makes me very happy, too. We can move back to our original base camp tomorrow.”

  Hellhound’s face fell. “Shit. No more steaks.” He turned to me. “That was the best meal I’ve had in a helluva long time. Thanks, darlin’.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Kane echoed.

  “You’re welcome.” I got up. “I guess I’ll get ready to go.”

  I slipped into the bathroom to don my leather pants with a little more modesty than the morning. By the time I emerged from the RV, Kane and Hellhound had rolled the Honda out of the cargo trailer, and Arnie and I mounted up.

  We rode back to our usual spot beside Harchman’s. In the long beams of the setting sun, we pulled off the road again. Hellhound cast a wary gaze around us.

  “I don’t like bein’ in the same place over an’ over,” he growled. “We been here too often. We stick out like turds on a sidewalk.”

  I snickered. “Speak for yourself. But I hear you. I need to look at that site plan again and see if there’s another place we can try.”

  “Well, might as well get at it,” he grumbled. He lay down in the warm grass, and I took my place beside him.

  “Sure like those tight leather pants on ya, darlin’,” he murmured, his rough-edged voice teasing my eardrum.

  “Sure like those chaps on you.” I ran my hand up his leather-clad thigh and dragged my fingernails lightly across the denim at the top.

  He let out a growl as he rolled over on top of me and pinned me to the ground. We were both breathless by the time he broke the kiss.

  “Have we got time for a little walk in the woods?” I panted. I ran my hands down his back to grope his ass and pressed myself up against the hard ridge I could feel through his jeans.

  He groaned. “Darlin’, ya ain’t makin’ this easy. I gotta go relieve Germain.” He kissed me again, moving slowly against me in spite of his words. Hot hunger flared through me.

  “Just a quickie,” I breathed against his lips. “Come on. I’ll find a nice fallen tree to bend over.”

  “Jesus, darlin’, have mercy,” he rasped. We both started as an eighteen-wheeler thundered by and laid on the air horn. “I think we’re attractin’ a little too much attention,” he said wryly as he rolled off me and sat up.

  I sighed. “Shit. Nothing like a clandestine operation. All right. Here goes.” I closed my eyes and drifted invisibly into the network.

  I fell into my usual routine, my heart beating rapidly. My stress level ratcheted up as I peered into each room, riding a roller-coaster of emotions. First afraid to look, then limp with relief at the sight of an empty room.

  When my ear caught faint noises emanating from up ahead, I tried to smother my burst of adrenaline while I listened. Some of the tension leaked out of my shoulders when I identified a male rumble embellished with the grace notes of female giggles. The flute soundtrack provided a melodic backdrop. Thank God. Some porn would be a relief. Anything but more torture.

  I peeked in but quickly drew away, embarrassed. It was definitely sex, but it wasn’t porn. A middle-aged man and woman occupied the bed, laughing and kissing, their love for each other glowing in their smiles. Their tenderness opened a hollow ache in my chest, and I turned away hurriedly to continue down the corridor.

  I drifted through the firewall and began on the next set of rooms. When I discovered the handsome naked man, I froze, staring. I wasn’t quite sure what I was seeing. Well, scratch that, I knew what I was seeing, and it was definitely worth looking at. But…

  His longish blond hair was in an artful disarray that would take an hour with the hairdresser to achieve. Steady bright-blue eyes watched the door intently. Anticipation or dread? I couldn’t tell.

  He was tied to the bed, wrists and ankles secured with heavy leather straps. I could read the tension in his smoothly-muscled body, and a faint sheen of sweat glistened on his chiselled chest and abs. A little too young for me, maybe late twenties or early thirties, but what a picture.

  I dropped my eyes, feeling like a cheap voyeur but unsure whether I was seeing a bondage fantasy or a prisoner restrained against his will. When he called out, I started guiltily.

  “Come on, honey.” His words were light, but his voice was edged. “Don’t keep me waiting like this.”

  I took another quick look, still wondering. He was smiling, his gaze never leaving the door, and I backed away, trying to shake off my discomfort.

  I waited as long as I dared, but no one came down the corridor. Urgency hammered at me until I finally gave in and shot back to the portal, nerves twitching.

  This time, I made an attempt to control my reaction when I stepped through, and I managed some quiet, sibilant obscenities while the air hissed through my clenched teeth. I opened my eyes against Hellhound’s chest as he held me. I straightened up, massaging my temples.

  Hellhound caressed the hair away from my forehead, frowning. “Why does this hurt ya so much? Why can’t they fix that thing in your watch so ya don’t hafta go through this every time?”

  “They can fix the pain issue, but then I’d be a sitting duck,” I told him. “As long
as it’s hurting me, the bad guys don’t know I’m doing this.”

  “Well, that fuckin’ sucks.”

  “Tell me about it.” I dragged myself to my feet and shuffled over to the Honda. The more stressed and tired I got, the more the pain seemed to take over my entire body when I came out of the network. Everything ached, and I rolled my head and shoulders without much effect. I sat heavily on the bike. “Ready to roll,” I mumbled.

  Arnie searched my face. “Ya sure you’re okay, darlin’?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired. Headache. This really takes it out of me.”

  “Okay. Don’t forget this.” He handed me my helmet and kissed me lightly. “Stay alert. Ya don’t wanna get careless when you’re ridin’.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled up at him. “I’ll be okay.”

  By the time he and Germain switched places and we arrived back at the campsite, I was fighting to stay focused.

  I slumped at the table across from Kane and rubbed my still-aching head. “Just more porn tonight. I think.”

  He frowned. “What exactly does that mean?”

  I eyed him dully, trying to force my brain to function. “Oh, right, I didn’t tell you earlier. I’m beginning to wonder about Harchman’s so-called wellness spa.”

  “In what way?”

  “Earlier, there was some guy having a porn fantasy with three Barbie-doll clones. Tonight there was…” I hesitated. It just seemed wrong to say something crude about that couple. “…There were a few more people using the network for recreational purposes. But one bothered me. The way he was tied, I don’t know whether he was a prisoner or not.”

  Germain raised an eyebrow. “If he was tied, I’d say definitely a prisoner, wouldn’t you?”

  I felt a flush climbing my cheeks. “Not… necessarily.”

  “Oh.” Germain became suddenly absorbed in rummaging through the cupboard.

  Kane sighed. “You look beat. Get some sleep, and then hit the database again. The more we can find out about who’s in the network, the sooner we can satisfy Stemp and end this.”