"Is that what I am?"
"To them. You scared the shit out of them, Lissa."
"Yeah. I'm plenty scary all right."
"How many are there that can do what you do?" Tony pulled me toward the bunk and convinced me to sit down beside him.
"I don't know that I should tell you that," I said.
"Agents White and Townsend say it's a really rare gift. And the mindspeech is just as rare."
"They're just full of helpful information, aren't they?"
"I've been waiting for you to communicate with me like that again. It shocked me when you did it in New Mexico."
I was desperate in New Mexico, I sent. Besides, you could send to me first, you know.
I didn't want to presume, Tony replied.
I thought that was your specialty—presuming, I returned. It certainly was with everyone else I knew.
Someone started banging on the metal door while we sat there. I'd heard them walk up but thought at first they'd just go on past. Tony got up to answer it.
"The Admiral has issued an invitation for both of you to join him for dinner," the young seaman said, saluting Tony. Tony stood there for a few seconds before turning to me. This could be a test of sorts.
"We can go if you want," I shrugged when Tony asked if I wanted to go.
"We'll come but Lissa doesn't have much in the way of clothing," Tony said. "Let the Admiral know." The seaman saluted again and took off.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked.
"I can do it," I nodded. "I just won't be able to eat much."
I dressed in the best outfit Tony packed for me; black jeans, a cream knit top, black athletic shoes and my wig. At least my eyelashes and eyebrows were looking better now. Rear Admiral Hafer greeted us as we were led into a small dining room that held a round table, arrayed in the Navy's best. Two seamen were there, waiting to serve us.
You'll have to let me know what tastes good, I sent to Tony as I smiled and took the Admiral's hand. It all tastes like sawdust to me.
I will, he sent back, nodding pleasantly at the Admiral.
We were served rack of lamb with vegetables and some sort of sauce. Tony said it was good so I complimented the Admiral on the food. He still watched every bite I placed in my mouth. Crème Brulée was served for dessert. It looked wonderful and I was sorry I couldn't taste it. Tony liked it a lot and ate half of mine when I said I was too full to eat anything else.
"So, is growing hair quickly one of your many talents?" The Admiral decided to play twenty questions over an after dinner drink.
"This is a wig; I wish I could grow hair that quickly," I said, trying not to let my temper show. The question was rude and Tony frowned at the Admiral.
"What happened to your hair then?" He was digging, now.
"An unfortunate accident. I was burned," I said.
"She's had reconstructive surgery," Tony lied for me so the Admiral wouldn't ask about my perfect skin. "We're working on the hair." Admiral Hafer wanted to ask how I'd retrieved the prisoner so badly the question trembled on his lips, but Tony already informed him it was top secret and Hafer didn't have clearance.
"Have you performed any other feats of bravery?" The Admiral attempted a different tactic.
"None that I can discuss," I replied.
"I told you she was on loan and you don't have clearance. If you'll excuse us, Admiral," Tony got up from the table and I followed suit. He stalked out the door with me hot on his heels. I didn't think he liked the Admiral any better than I did and I certainly didn't trust the man. When the helicopter came to pick us up the following evening, I was more than happy to leave the ship and Admiral Hafer behind us.
Chapter 5
I'd been out of touch with everyone while Tony and I had been aboard the ship. He'd forgotten my cell phone along with the blood when he packed my clothes. Tony didn't pass up the opportunity to kiss me, however, before zipping me inside the body bag just as we were coming up on daylight. "Lissy, you'll be all right—I'll see to it," he promised. All the window covers on the plane were down, shutting out any light that might shine in and my eyes closed while Tony hovered above me.
* * *
The unfamiliar ceiling of Tony's guest room greeted me when I woke at nightfall, creating a bit of disorientation at first. I'd only slept four or five hours and my body was struggling to adapt. I felt sluggish and tired as I showered and dressed.
"Lissa baby, you don't look good," Tony set down the newspaper he'd been reading and pulled me against him.
"Going through too many time zones and not getting enough sleep," I yawned a little. Tony rubbed my back. Unconsciously, I allowed my head to droop onto his shoulder. He pulled me onto his lap in no time and when I stiffened, he attempted to get me to relax. Of course, Gavin called while we were like that. I climbed right out of Tony's lap and answered my cell.
"Lissa, where in the nine levels of hell have you been?" he shouted. With Gavin, nothing changes. At least he was shouting in English.
"Honey calm down. I was on a ship in the Arabian Sea and my phone was left behind in the states," I said as soothingly as I could. I was now pacing inside Tony's kitchen while Gavin shouted. He punctuated the rest of his diatribe with occasional words in French and Italian, shouting that I had no business anywhere near the Middle East and other similarly cheerful thoughts. I wanted to tell him that I'd not had a choice in the matter; I'd been shipped out while I was sleeping and couldn't have objected. He didn't bother to ask me and didn't take a long enough breath to let me get the words out regarding that fact. I had to settle for letting him release all his steam.
"Other than that, honey, how are you?" I asked when he wound down. Gavin was silent for several seconds.
"I am well," he grumbled. "See that you do not leave your phone behind again or borrow someone else's. I know there was some way you could have kept in touch, Lissa."
"Of course. You're right, honey. I'll make sure next time."
"See that you do." He hung up abruptly, so I ended the call with a heavy sigh.
"He should treat you better," Tony grumbled.
"We don't always get what we want," I said, slipping my phone into a pocket of my jeans. "Do you want dinner?"
"Lissa, I already snacked around; we have work to do tonight."
"All right. Where are we going?"
"We're taking a trip to Georgia. We'll be there for a few days so pack a bag, all right? I've already made arrangements to have blood delivered to our hotel. It's secure, we'll have guards around us and nobody will be asking questions."