Page 84 of Fire and Ice

"I'll have to clear this with Viktor."

"That's no problem. But I'll have to know by the first week of December."

"Do I contact you at this number again?"

"For now, yes. If things change, I will let you know."

***

Maia's mind was whirling with snippets of her conversation with Volynsky and its implications, and she failed to notice the tall black form hidden in the dark side of the elevator bank until it moved.

Cursing at her carelessness, she withdrew the firearm that was tucked behind her waistband.

"Maia, it's me," a familiar voice said.

"Jack, goddamnit, you startled me!" Maia said in exasperation as she put her gun away. Her heart skipped when the florescent lights illuminated his handsome face.

"I missed you, sweetheart," he whispered as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her deeply, his whiskey-laced tongue pushing into her mouth and coaxing her to respond to his hungry searching kiss. He slowly shuffled her back into the shadowy side of the elevator away from the prying eyes of the surveillance cameras.

After a few minutes of intense lip-lock, Jack raised his head and said, "Are you sure I can't come to your room?"

"After a kiss like that, I'm tempted," Maia laughed softly. "But no, so put a lid on that libido, McCord."

"Can't blame a guy for trying," Jack responded roguishly.

The buzz of a phone cut through their passion-filled fog. It was Jack's and judging from his reaction he did not recognize the number, but he answered it anyway.

"McCord ... hold on." Jack handed Maia his phone, frowning.

"Your phone was turned off," Viktor's voice was curt.

"Sorry, just got off the comm van."

"We have a problem."

"What?"

"DEA has reported Rick Grayson missing. The two agents that were tailing him were found dead in their car. GSW to the head."

"Damn it!" Maia exclaimed and started pacing, oblivious of Jack tensing beside her. "What do we do now? Do you want me to head out there?"

"No, there is no link between the DEA and AGS yet. If you show up at Grayson's last known location, you might endanger him if he is still alive and someone is watching. I want you to keep your eyes open and alert tomorrow at the conference and at Addison Hall. I'm sending you the rendering of the man Grayson met for the exchange. We find him, we'll find out what happened to Rick."

"Okay."

"How did it go with Volynsky?"

"I need to talk to you about that, but maybe after this whole mess with Reznikov is back under control."

"He wants you to handle his extraction, doesn't he?" Viktor said, ever the astute mastermind of AGS.

Mindful that Jack was listening to every word she was saying, Maia kept her answers short.

"Yes."

"Can't talk now?"

"No."

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