Page 34 of Fire and Ice

"Well, do you?"

Jack looked over at her and grinned. "What do you think?"

Maia smiled up at him and then remembering something, said, "I need to make a call."

"Viktor?" Jack's jaw tightened. He didn't like how she appeared to live and breathe Viktor. He knew she communicated with him every freaking day.

Maia pulled out her phone and typed in a text message. The minute she clicked send, Jack grabbed her phone and started punching in some numbers.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Maia said in annoyance.

"Exchanging numbers," Jack said shortly. His phone started ringing but it showed her number as blocked. Figures.

He continued to fiddle with her phone settings until her number showed up on his cell phone, then he called her phone and saved his number in her contacts.

"We could have just asked each other," Maia grumbled. "This bossiness is not going to work with me."

"Maia, in case you've missed it, it already has."

Maia stood under the hot spray of the shower, her mind processing the events of the day. Killing was never easy for her, specially in situations where hostilities were not an everyday affair. However, given the choice she would always decide to protect the innocent with everything she had, even if that meant ending the lives of scum like Benny and his men, and she would not lose any sleep over it.

After washing off the foamy residue from her hair and body, Maia reached for a fluffy towel and dried herself briefly. She ran a comb through her wet hair and bundled it up in a messy knot with a clip. She quickly threw on a tank top and a velour hoody with matching sweatpants. She put on some flip flops and made her way to the control room.

She already had an invitation to videoconference from Viktor.

"What took you so long?" Viktor asked impatiently.

"Had to shower off some scum residue," Maia replied.

"What happened?" Viktor asked.

Maia told him about what had gone down with Syd, Benny and Tommy.

Viktor gave a low whistle. "You can never stay low can you?"

"Trouble follows me everywhere," Maia said dismissively. "Benny mentioned the Russian getting impatient. Goods are moving, not sure if it's the Rave-IX or the remaining drugs from Vergara. It's obvious that Reznikov now wants to moved in on Vergara's turf."

"It's the remaining drugs. We have no indication that the Rave-IX is in circulation. I think Reznikov is familiarizing himself with the distribution channels. With him alienated from his bratva and Vergara in jail, it's the perfect storm. I'm concerned that what happened tonight might put a target on your back and bring trouble down on the town of Westcove."

"Can't say I'm not looking forward to it, but this town is too peaceful for the hellfire that Reznikov could bring. I cannot stay here for long," Maia said.

"Patience, Maia. It's two weeks until the medical conference. I've gone ahead and signed you up to attend with a couple of Guardians. You'll continue to keep your cover as a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company," Viktor said. "I have some other information for you. Our forensics turned up some stuff on Rick Tanner's data that didn't add up. On a hunch, I poked into other organizations and got them to give up some classified information." He paused.

"And?" Viktor certainly loved drama.

"Rick Tanner is actually Richard Grayson. He is DEA."

"What?" Maia was stunned. "Does he know about me?"

"No. Just like you, he's in deep cover. I think his role as a detective was initially to flush out the dirty cops in some major cities that were on the take from Vergara. That's why he kept getting reassigned. None of my contacts at the DEA know about you so you are not on their database," Viktor said. "If this Rick guy starts giving you grief, if for some reason your story about the good Samaritan doesn't check out, give me a call immediately—and it better not be your one phone call from the slammer."

"I don't know how you keep track of who knows what but I'm sure glad you're the one doing it," Maia said.

"However, if we move on Reznikov in Baltimore, we'll need to keep the DEA and FBI abreast of your role in this," Viktor said.

"So, are we still playing the Lee angle?"Say no, say no. Maia prayed.

"Yes."

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