Page 26 of Secrets and Lies

“Yes,” she said, returning her attention to applying her mascara.

“And you didn’t think it was relevant to tell me that?” His tone said he certainly thought it was relevant.

“I’m telling you now,” she replied, trying to keep her temper in check.

Drake tossed the towel he’d been using into the hamper and stalked into his side of the closet.

“Do you want to work for the NSA?” he called.

Spencer frowned at her reflection. That was really the question, wasn’t it? Did she want to go back to that life? Her time at Homeland—some of it had been good. But she hadn’t been happy. Would the NSA make her any happier?

“I don’t know,” she said aloud, then turned as Drake walked out of the closet, tucking his shirt into his slacks. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing. It’s been driving me slowly crazy. I need to work. I am so grateful that you helped Kathleen and me set up the network to help abused women escape. It is gratifying that we can help, but now that we’ve got it in place, there isn’t much to do.”

“You could have any job?—”

“No.” She shook her head. “I know I can work for you. With you. You’d set me up with anything I wanted. But...” She crossed the bathroom and placed her hand on his chest. “That’s not really what I want. At least, I don’t think it is.”

His mouth tightened into a flat line, as if he wanted to argue, but was trying to check himself.

And she seriously appreciated the effort. With a shrug, she explained, “I want to work with an agency again, a team. I want to work on stuff that matters.” He cocked an eyebrow. She tipped her head and quickly added, “Not that your stuff doesn’t matter.” The last thing she wanted to do was insult the man she loved with everything in her.

“At least, I think I do. I don’t know for sure, honestly. I just know I don’t want a made-up job. I want something that’s meaningful to me and where I can have a substantial impact.Helping abused women made me feel fulfilled. Now I want something else. Something more in my field.”

Drake snapped his cuff links in place. “And you think being at the NSA will provide that for you?”

“Yes, I do. Or at least I am exploring the possibility.”

Drake frowned. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, he said, “I’ll support you in anything you do. But the NSA... I worry about you working there.” He patted his chest, as if even saying that pained him.

She put a hand over his where it rested on his chest. “I know. I have concerns, too. It would mean you can’t talk about certain parts of your work, the ones in the gray areas. And I wouldn’t be able to talk about my work with you either. Because if I did…”

He snorted. “Then the NSA will have to kill me. I get it. Bad situation.”

She sighed. “It’s only one meeting. The first one. Let’s just see how it goes.”

Her phone buzzed. Spencer turned to grab it off the bathroom counter, answering with a swipe.

“Spencer,” came Carol’s voice down the line. Her contact with MI6 hopefully had information they could use. “You’re gonna owe me big for this.”

Spencer laughed. “Somehow, I knew that was coming.”

“I’m thinking it might involve a stay at one of your partner’s fabulous hotels.”

“That’s a definite possibility,” Spencer replied.

Carol’s voice turned serious. “So, I was spot on. Teddy B is in trouble these days. He’s been dealing with—like I said before—some African warlords, and some terrorist groups in the Middle East. But recently… he’s had a bit of a resurgence in the UK.”

Spencer paused. “What do you mean by resurgence?”

“I mean someone—don’t know who yet—needed help, and Teddy B was able to provide it. So, they’re slowly letting himback into the inner circle. I had a good long chat with my contact at MI5 since Teddy B is doing deals on British soil again, and apparently, he is being forgiven.”

“So, he’s best buds with his old crew?” Spencer asked.

Her friend made a dismissive noise. “I wouldn’t say they’re best buds. More like they’re giving him a little leeway, let’s put it that way. No one really trusts him. But it’s a small group, and he bailed someone out.”

Spencer frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Well, as for the situation with your friend… I don’t know exactly who Teddy B is working for or his specific role in all of it. But if I had to guess, it’s probably something to do with that circle…”

---