Page 13 of Ship Happens
“It wasn’t just a nerve gas. It required a catalyst. That’s why Yellow and the solider didn’t die.”
“The soldier?”
I mentally kick myself for calling the guy by the nickname I coined in my mind. “Yeah, that guy on the end. He held his breath and looked into the face of death like a soldier. Well, he spit in the face of death. That’s more accurate.”
“He didn’t die?”
I shake my head and notice when she seems to breathe a sigh of relief. I thought she was thrown off by the nickname, but in reality, she was only concerned with his fate. Something is definitely off here.
She grips the zipper and lowers it, completely unaware that I’m beginning to suspect her. And that’s good. If I want to discover whatever it is Jim wants me to discover, she needs to think I’m on her side.
“Here, let me help you with that.” I step closer to her. “Hold on to me so you don’t fall. The fabric kind of clings to your legs.”
She unfastens the straps securing the pants around her ankles, then stands and grips my shoulders. I’m a fairly tall man, and she’s a fairly short woman, but never in my life has a woman seemed so delicate and small as she stands before me. Like something I need to protect.
Fiercely.
Then she nibbles her bottom lip as she tries to pull her legs free, and I have to look away. When she does cute shit like that, it makes me want to protect her even more. And something tells me that’s a horrible feeling to have.
If she’s a cop—or worse—then I need to keep a safe distance.
Once she’s out of her spacesuit, we start down the hallway. Most everyone has already undressed and headed toward the food, but a few people still struggle with their suits. I don’t recognize any of them, and my suspicion grows as I study each face. How many “soldiers” did Jim let into our midst?
“Ah, Maverick! Just the man I wanted to see,” Jim shouts as he spots us coming down the hall. He leaves his post beside the dining room door and comes toward us, grabbing Frankie’s hands as he reaches us. “Dear girl, I hate that you missed the grand finale of the first event. We’ll have to do better next time, hmm?”
Frankie smiles up at him, completely unbothered by his little jab. “Sorry about that. I have a tiny bladder, even for a woman, and I have to listen when nature calls.”
“It’s okay, dear. Just hurry inside and find your seat, and we’ll be along shortly.” He smiles and rocks on his heels, holding his hands behind his back as he waits for her to walk away.
She looks back at me, and that’s when I know that she sees me as her lifeline. Which is exactly what Jim intended.
“He’ll be seated right beside you, not to worry,” Jim says with a smile when he notices her hesitation.
Frankie’s head jerks back toward the dining room, and then she hurries inside. I go to follow her, but Jim grabs my arm.
“Just a moment. A word, if you will.” With his grip still firmly fastened around my bicep, he drags me away from the doorway. We don’t stop until we’re far enough that not even a listening device could hear us. “You have a special mission on this retreat,” he whispers.
“So I’ve heard.”
“Oh, don’t be annoyed with me. Isn’t it more fun this way?”
I raise an eyebrow. “No, not really.”
Jim scoffs and folds his arms over his chest. “Would you prefer I give the assignment to someone else? I’m sure Ice Pick would be more than happy to trade rooms.”
“No, I can do it.” My agreement comes a little quickly, so I dial it back. “I’m not happy about it, but I can do it. It would be helpful if I knew whatitwas, however.”
“I knew you’d see sense.” He clamps his arm over my shoulder and leans closer. “All you have to do is convince the girl that we aren’t so bad.”
“So I’m correct to assume that she’s part of some sort of legal agency that could bring everything crashing down around us?”
“Yes, son. You have the long and short of it, as it were. She’s a fed, but I don’t just want you to keep an eye on her. I want you toconvince her that we aren’t worth the paper our warrants would be printed on.”
“Feds? As in multiple?”
Jim nods.
“How many?”
