Page 4 of Covert Affairs

She didn’t recognize the handwriting, but the MO was Ian’s.

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Ian. To see him again. To try and explain…

She swallowed the ball of pain working its way up from her chest and eyed the candy again. What was in the cute little bears? Was she willing to risk her life to do as instructed?

What is freedom worth to you?

How many times had she asked her patients that? Most of the elite and highly-trained operatives never hesitated with their answer—everything.

People like Ian put it all on the line for their country, again and again and again. The pain they endured, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally, never went away.

Trident, her baby, had combined the best of neuroplasticity exercises, behavioral, and hypnotherapies—a three-pronged approach—to help her patients. Who was helping them now?

The final problem—could she be like those men and women who’d confessed their deepest secrets to her? Who struggled every day with the things they’d witnessed, only to get up and do it again to protect their loved ones? To keep their country safe? To be the silent heroes nobody knew or talked about?

Vivi fingered one of the bears, the lime scent once more reminding her of her own failed mission. Her cardinal rule had always been not to fall in love with a patient. Especially not a SEAL. She’d succeeded admirably until Ian. He’d been her most problematic—and most rewarding—case. He’d always had gummy bears with him. Always preferred the green ones.

Lt. Commander Kincaid didn’t know she was still alive. He’d been instructed to administer a cocktail of drugs in order to remove her from Lawrence’s compound. The U.S. government couldn’t let her fall into enemy hands—she knew too much. Their greatest asset for keeping those in the field active and viable had become their most dangerous weapon. One that could be turned on them. Wanted dead or alive. If he couldn’t retrieve her, he was ordered to terminate her.

The paradox for her came when the interrogators told her what they’d done, letting him believe he’d killed her, but she could remedy that by telling them what had happened between her and Lawrence. She couldn’t remember, and therefore hadn’t been able to take that offer. Pointless, anyway. She knew they’d never let her talk to Ian. To anyone.

If he now realized she was alive…

Her quiet laugh was brittle. Knowing him, he’d be happy to kill her all over again. For real, this time.

Find the answer, she heard her father say.Every puzzle has one.

She eyed the cute bear. “Are you poison or freedom?”

The clock was ticking. Whatever drugs were in these needed time to work before her midnight rescue.

The only way out of here is in a body bag, she’d told Beatrice. The woman, her equal in so many ways, hadn’t disagreed.

“I’ll be damned,” she whispered to the tiny bears, shaking her head. “She’s using the same trick.”

Climbing from the mattress, candies in hand, she peeked out through the bars at the main clock on the wall at the far end of the corridor. Three minutes to eleven. 2300 hours was almost upon her.

“What’s it going to be?” she asked herself.Die in here, or out there?

What is freedom worth?

Beatrice wanted fifteen minutes—to answer questions? Divulge classified information? Give her background intel on one of her employees?

Vivi considered the fact that Beatrice might be working for NSA again, or somebody who wanted answers about Jim Lawrence. Had Command & Control sucked her back in?

She discarded the idea as soon as it hit. Beatrice had been burned by the same folks who’d tossed Vivi in here. She wouldn’t aid them now, although why would she care about Lawrence?

Two minutes.

Vivi glanced at the book. What would Sherlock do?

Her brilliant, but crazy, father had introduced her to the character. Asked her that a million times when Vivi was young and went to her father for help, whether it had been with homework or how to make friends.

Her mind wasn’t as clear and sharp as it had been before everything went down. Hard to keep it honed and functioning well in here.

Sherlock had taken on his arch nemesis. Had lost, only to rise like the phoenix from the ashes, thanks to his creator, and make a comeback.

---