Page 22 of Summer Heatwave
“You really care.”Mike’s words were very soft.
“Of course I care.We’re friends.”Kam cringed knowing that she just shoved Mike into the friend zone.That’s not really where she wanted him.She could finally admit it to herself, she wanted him in her bed.Or his bed.Or a hotel bed.The floor might even work but she hated carpet burn.
“Did you really just friend-zone me?”The tiredness in his voice seemed to be replaced by teasing.
“No.Yes.”She wasn’t sure how to answer that question.
“Kam, about a month ago we agreed to see where this takes us.It’s my fault we’ve only been to supper after class.That’s what friends do, and I understand your thinking.I don’t want to be your friend anymore.”
Kam’s heart fell into her stomach and kept on going, ripping through her favorite girl parts before she realized he was still talking.
“Kam, I want to take you out to supper where we have to dress up in nice clothes and we shower first, so we don’t stink from an hour in the gym.”He took a breath.“Kam, I’m going make reservations for Saturday night at the Hotel Del Coronado.I’m coming over to your house and pick you up.After that, I think we deserve a ride up the Pacific Coast Highway, or maybe we’ll just sit on the beach digging our toes into the warm sand and watch the sunset over the ocean.”
Kam finally choked out, “That sounds wonderful.”
“Yeah, it does to me too.”He let out a long slow breath.“Kam, there has to be more to life.”
“I’m right there with you and will be Saturday night.”Without saying goodbye, Kam hung up the phone.
Chapter10
Thursday morning Kamglanced down at her ringing phone but didn’t recognize the number.Very few people had her private cell phone number.It was a local area code, though, so she accepted the call.“Special Agent in Charge Kameron Hood speaking.”
“Good morning, ma’am.I’m Yeoman Carlson with Vice Admiral Maddox’s office on Coronado Navy Base.The admiral would like to see you this afternoon at three-fifteen.Will you be able to make that appointment?”Although the voice sounded young, the woman seemed succinct and efficient.
Kam wasn’t about to turn down an appointment with the vice admiral but didn’t want to assume it was about her teaching SEALs Brazilian jujitsu.The original call concerning the situation at Miss Nami’s house of whores had come from him.He may have more information about the case.She needed to clarify if she was coming in the official capacity of her job with Homeland Security.“May I ask what this concerns?”
“Yes, ma’am.The information I’ve been given indicates contracting.Would you be able to make the three-fifteen appointment?”she pressed.
Kam mentally went through her calendar for the day.Thankfully, her afternoon was light, and she’d be able to reschedule her plans.She might also be able to drop in on Mike to express her condolences in person.“Yes, I can be there.”It took several minutes for the woman to explain the process of entering base, specific directions to the SEAL headquarters, and where to park as well as an exchange of information that included Kam’s driver’s license number.
“Ma’am, I’m told you’re a federal agent.Will you be armed?”
Hell, yes.“Of course, we’re required to be armed while on duty and our meeting will be during working hours.”That answer led to several more minutes of rules and regulations for carrying a weapon onto a military base which included her federal badge number and the serial numbers on her weapons.
Half an hour later, Kam completely understood the frustration with bureaucratic red tape.She began to wonder if Mike had been kidding when he talked about paperwork two inches thick that she would have to complete just to teach a few Navy SEALs some Brazilian jujitsu basics.
“Ma’am, I want to thank you for your time.Completing this paperwork prior to your arrival will make access to the secure base easier.You are to report directly to Ms.Marta Merkel.”There was that no-nonsense tone once again.
“Thank you.”Kam wondered if there was more.“Please tell Ms.Merkel that I will see her at three-fifteen.”
“No, ma’am,” she clipped.“You are to see Vice Admiral Maddox at three-fifteen.Please meet Ms.Merkel at least fifteen minutes ahead of your appointment.She will have forms that you will be required to complete.”
Fuck.The woman could have started with those instructions.Kam shifted her afternoon plans another fifteen minutes.“Okay, then, I’ll meet Ms.Merkel at three o’clock.”
“Exactly.Do you have any questions?”
Oh, so many I’m not sure where to start.Why did I agree to do this?“I believe you have been extremely thorough.Is there a phone number I can call if I run into problems?”
“Yes, please call Ms.Marta Merkel.”The yeoman then rattled off the phone number.Thank God Kam had an excellent memory for numbers.As soon as she finished the call, she programmed in the phone number for Ms.Merkel.
By two forty-five that afternoon, Kam was so thankful she had taken such detailed notes and given herself an extra hour to find her way to the headquarters building.She was sure the guard at the gate was seconds from pulling his weapon on her.That would’ve ended very ugly.
When she stepped into the building, her favorite pistol strapped to her thigh and back up at her ankle, she was very glad she’d moved her badge to the chain around her neck.She was surprised to see so many people armed but they all wore naval uniforms.Per the explicit directions, she easily found the desk of Ms.Marta Merkel.
Kam cautiously approached the woman in her early fifties.She was on the phone and tapping her computer keyboard at the same time, yet her demeanor was casual as though she multitasked constantly.When she glanced up, she gave Kam a welcoming smile and two fingers, the universal sign she should be finished shortly.
A uniformed young woman who looked to be twenty-ish handed the busy administrative assistant a huge stack of papers.Ms.Merkel glanced at the top sheet and set it to the side, never missing a beat in her conversation.As she hung up the desk phone, the woman stood.
