Текст книги "Заговор мечей"

Автор книги: Джейн Doy Press

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 28 (всего у книги 40 страниц)

“That, and us separating.”

“That, too. I didn’t like the idea, but I have to admit you pulled it off. Even if they did follow, all they’ll know is that we’re headed for Munich, but not how to find us when we get there.”

“Unless they call ahead and have someone ready to meet us at the station.”

“Of course. But we’ve got five hours to think of ways to outsmart them.”

“And how do you suggest we do that?”

Teren grinned. “Ever want to dye your hair, Alex?” She watched the green eyes widen.

Actually, the dye job wasn’t as bad as Alex had feared. Teren had insisted on a trim for her, and had used a rinse that turned her hair a reddish blonde. It reminded Alex of how her hair looked when she was a teenager.

She had to admit, Teren had at least kept her bangs even. They were shorter than she usually wore them, but they were cut in a straight line across her forehead.

“Okay, so this,” she ran a hand across the back of her neck, which was now bare, “is my disguise.”

“Yeah. It’s not much, but it should make them overlook you at first glance. Add the beret, and no one will know it’s you.”

“And what about you? I doubt you can cut your hair anymore.”

Teren grinned. “Yeah. But we can make it a little less black, you know?”

Half an hour later, Teren pulled the towel from her damp hair and looked at Alex. “Well?”

Alex tilted her head back and forth, then shut one eye, and used her hands like a picture frame.

“Ehh.”

“Oh, thanks.” Teren threw the towel at her.

“Hey, sorry. I’m just not sure how I feel about blonde streaks in your hair.”

Teren got up and looked in the small mirror. “Yeah, I know. At least this frosting stuff that will wash out fairly quick.”

“Yeah.” Alex stood behind the taller woman, leaning slightly around her to see the reflection. “Gotta say, we don’t look like ourselves.”

“That’s the general idea.”

“I know. It’s just strange. I should take a picture, just to show David. He’d never believe it.”

Alex’s smile dimmed for a moment, and she sent a silent prayer off for her partner’s safety. Then she sighed, and leaned against the wall.

“So, how long till Munich?”

Teren picked up her watch from the bed where she’d left it. “Another four and a half hours. Plenty of time to go over those papers from Meinhard.”

Alex shook her head. “I’d rather not. I locked them in the bottom of my new bag. Thought they’d be safer there.”

“You don’t think we should pull them out?”

“Well, look, it’s past two o’clock, which means it’ll be six or later when we get into the station. By the time we get to the hotel, it’ll be too late to do anything, and we could spend this night kind of backtracking, and examining what we’ve learned.” She put a hand to the back of her neck, and rubbed it. “Besides, I think we need just a tiny bit of a break, don’t you?”

Teren reached over and moved Alex’s hand, replacing it with her own. She gently kneaded the muscles at the base of Alex’s skull, only letting go when she felt them finally begin to relax.

“Yeah, I think you’re right. We could do with a little R and R.” Teren sat down on the bed and propped herself up against the pillow. “Did you have something in mind?”

“Yeah, I did.” Alex dug into one of her bags, and withdrew a small package. She tossed it to Teren, then climbed onto the bed next to her.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.”

Teren quirked an eyebrow at her friend, but began to pull the wrapping off. Inside was a travel size chess set.

“Cool. Is this the surprise you got for me?”

“Yeah. I thought it might keep us occupied on the plane flight home, if we ever go home.”

Alex tried hard to keep the tinge of wistfulness out of her voice, but knew she failed when Teren’s hand touched her knee.

“We’ll get there, Alex. I promise. A couple days in Munich, and we’ll fly home.”

“Right. And if we can’t clear ourselves?”

“We will.” Teren put as much force in her voice as she could. She wanted so much for Alex to believe her. She sighed with relief when the blonde head nodded, and her friend looked back at her with clear eyes.

“Okay. Now, how about we christen this chess set?”

Alex smiled. “Fine. Bet I can beat you this time.”

“Oh, you think? What’s the bet?”

“If I win, you have to keep your hair like that till we get home, and David sees it.”

“Why?”

“Because laughter is the best medicine, and he’ll laugh his ass off.” That earned her a pillow in the face.

“Okay. But just remember that mine washes out in two washes.” Teren grinned wickedly. “Yours doesn’t.”

Alex held her hands up. “You got me. I won’t say a word.” She motioned to the chess set in between them. “Shall we?”

“By all means.”

*******************************************************

The two of them had been quietly playing for twenty or thirty minutes. To Alex, things seemed to be going her way, and she had to smile as she took one more of Teren’s pawns.

Teren raised her head and looked at her friend.

“You took my pawn.”

“Yep.”

There were no other words, but Alex could feel the blue eyes still on her. She looked up at Teren, whose face seemed to have aged, suddenly.

“Teren, you alright?”

Teren nodded. She glanced down at the pieces she’d taken from Alex. Picking up a pawn, she held it out to Alex.

“Know what this is?”

Alex would have laughed, but Teren’s face was deadly serious. “It’s a pawn.”

“Right. And his name is Kyle Brogan.”

Alex stared.

Teren picked up another pawn, and said, “This is one of the guys I shot in Philadelphia.” She pointed to Alex’s rook that she had taken several turns before. “That’s David. And that,” she switched and pointed to the pawn Alex had just nabbed, “that, is Otto Keppelmann.”

She dropped her hands, and the pawns in them, back to the bed in front of her.

Alex sat very still. “This whole thing is a game to you?”

“No.” Teren shook her head. “No. A chess match. Never a game.”

“What’s the difference?”

“The difference is life and death. This,” Teren swept her hand over the small board between them, “is a game. It has nothing to do with life. But, it deals with strategy, like I told you the night we played at Sarah’s. It’s a combination of defense and attack. The strategy within this game makes you think. Thinking is the only way to win at chess, whether it’s at the game,” she looked into Alex’s eyes, “or a real life chess match. In either one, you have to be willing to sacrifice your pawns, to protect your King.”

Alex dropped her eyes. She had no idea how to respond.

“So, we’re all just pawns in a great match?”

Teren gave a wry chuckle. “Hardly. There are other pieces besides pawns on a chess board, right?”

“Right. How do you know which piece you’re playing?”

Teren shrugged. “The way I figure it, each person that can recognize the match being played around them, is their own King. Their main goal is to stay alive. After that, the people around them are ranked in importance. If they’re expendable, they’re pawns.”

Alex nodded. “And Keppelmann was expendable?”

“To me, he was.”

Another nod. “And David?”

“David was a pawn according to the other side. To us, he wasn’t expendable. He was more important, especially to you. But he’s out of the match for the moment. As are Ken, and Cliff, and all the people we both left behind in the states.” Teren swept an arm across most of her side of the chess board, knocking her pieces off. She picked up her King and Queen and set them in their places. “In this match, it’s you and me, against all the others.” She waited until Alex’s green eyes locked on her blue ones. “And I’ll sacrifice any other pawns I find to get us safely home.”

Teren leaned back, and didn’t say anything more. Alex sat numbly for a moment, fingering a chess piece.

“Teren?”

“Yes.”

Alex’s voice was very soft. “If you’re the King, then I’m the Queen.” She waited, but the dark figure opposite her didn’t say anything. “I’ve seen people sacrifice their Queens to win a match.” She heard Teren draw in a breath, and hold it. “Is that what you’ll do, if you have to?”

For a minute, she didn’t think Teren would answer. Then her friend leaned forward, and picked up the two pieces.

“No. I can’t. Not anymore.” She hesitated. “Wanna know why?”

Alex just waited.

“Because, in this match, I’m not the King anymore. You are.” She met Alex’s eyes once more. “And the Queen will sacrifice herself for the King.”

Alex’s head rose slowly, looking for Teren’s eyes. The dark head was bowed, and she couldn’t see the blue she wanted. Reaching forward, she pulled Teren’s chin forward, raising her head until their gazes locked once more.

She saw the honesty in Teren’s eyes, and took a deep breath when she realized what the other woman was saying to her. She held the gaze a moment longer, then leaned forward to meet Teren’s dark lips.

The kiss was soft, and slow, with neither of them confident enough to go deeper. Alex noticed, however, that neither of them pulled away.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Teren pulled back. Alex opened her eyes to see a grimace on her friend’s face.

“Teren? Are you alright?”

Teren nodded. “Yeah. ‘Member I told you I ducked at first?”

“Yeah.”

“I forgot to duck the second time. Guy kicked me in the ribs.” She leaned back against the wall, her eyes still closed, a hand to her side.

Alex cleared the chess set from in front of them, and scooted forward on the small bed.

“Let me see.” Teren shook her head, but Alex gently pulled the hand away from the injured ribs. “Come on, Teren.”

Slowly, she raised the shirt, until she could see the underside of Teren’s sports bra.

“Oh, Teren. Damn. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What was I going to say? Hey, Alex, I know you can’t do anything about it, but I thought you oughta know I bruised the hell out of my ribs. Yeah, that would have been a great thing to say while the two of us were trying to get out of Zurich. Right.”

Alex shook her head. “You brat. Did you get hit anywhere else?”

“Umm,” Teren bit her lip.

“Where?” No answer. “Teren, where? Show me.”

After another deep breath, Teren sat up and pulled her shirt over her head. Once it was off, Alex could see the full outline of the massive bruise across the her ribcage, as well as another that covered the front part of Teren’s right shoulder.

“Shit. Goddamnit, Teren.”

“Sorry.”

“You should be. You should have told me.”

“You couldn’t do anything abou—”

“I don’t fucking care. You should have fucking told me.” Teren’s eyes widened slightly.

Alex got up and pulled the first aid pack from one of her bags. She found the ibuprofen, then popped the top on a soda bottle.

“Here, take this.” She waited until Teren had downed the medicine. “Would a wrap help those ribs?”

Teren shook her head. “They’re just bruised. They’ll be fine, really.”

The green eyes looked anything but reassured.

She handed the soda back to Alex, and stretched out fully on the bed. Alex just watched for a moment, then sat next to Teren, shaking her head.

“You yelled at me for not getting looked at by a doctor, and then you don’t tell me when you’re hurt?”

“There’s a difference, Alex. I’m not leaving a trail of blood everywhere.”

Indignation flared in Alex’s eyes. “You think that matters to me? Injured is injured, Teren. I don’t care if it’s a goddamned stubbed toe, you tell me next time, understand?”

Teren nodded.

Alex sat beside her, stroking lightly up and down her arm. They were quiet for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Teren looked at her watch. “Well, we’ve still got three hours. Shall we play another game of chess?”

Alex shook her head.

“Email?”

Another shake no. Alex’s hand never stopped its movement, and Teren finally shivered from the sensation.

“What do you want to do, Alex?”

The hand left Teren’s arm, landing gently on her cheek. After several moments it started a journey, crossing over the hill of her chin, into the valley of her neck, stroking lightly, leaving a brush fire behind it. It continued on, through the hollow at the base of her throat, then following the fabric border where it clung to her skin. When the hand had gone as far to one side as it could, it went back to the small vale between her breasts, and journeyed to the other side. Teren was breathing hard before it reached the end of its trip.

Alex’s eyes had deepened in color, and to Teren they looked like two gemstones shining in the shadows of the small bunk. The smaller woman was totally focused on her task, stroking the soft skin above Teren’s bra, occasionally dipping under it slightly. Teren, as much as she wanted the hand to find its way to a lower region, did nothing to break the spell that Alex seemed to have sunk into. Instead, Teren embraced it, letting the glow in Alex’s eyes hypnotize her, even as the woman’s touch aroused her.

With a sudden glance toward her hand, Alex began to pull away.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize —”

“Don’t.“Teren trapped Alex’s hand where it was, and reached for her at the same time. With a gentle tug to the back of Alex’s neck, Teren brought her down, until their lips were just inches apart. They stayed still, frozen momentarily.

Electric blue. Alex closed her eyes and felt the distance between them melt away.

This was no gentle kiss. Alex opened for Teren’s exploration. Slowly she shifted position, never pulling away from Teren’s mouth, finally coming to rest half on the bed, with one leg thrown across Teren’s.

For her part, Teren was finding it hard to breathe, but she didn’t want to stop the kiss even for the moment it would take to draw air. Finally, she had to gently separate from the soft lips. Alex pulled back a touch, her own breathing fast and shallow. Then she was gasping, as Teren’s mouth found purchase on her throat.

Part of her wanted to stay right where she was, nestled in the soft skin of Alex’s throat. But another part of Teren was crying out for attention. Gently, she pushed Alex back, careful not to roll her off the small bed. Then she sat up and pulled her sportsbra over her head. Her shoulder and ribs protested, and she hissed. The sound of it brought Alex’s lips to the bruise, where she placed gentle kisses on the mottled skin. Teren’s hiss turned to a gasp.

“Alex.” Heavily lidded green eyes looked up at her. “Sit up, babe.”

Alex obliged, and Teren pulled her shirt from her jeans. She ignored the buttons, and yanked the garment over the pale head. Reaching for Alex’s bra, she got her fingers underneath it, but almost forgot her aim when she felt Alex pinch her nipple.

“Oh, yes.” Teren’s hands clenched the material of the bra, tightening against the smooth skin of Alex’s sides. She felt the pleasant ache in the tip of her breast, and nearly cried out when Alex pulled away. “Alex —”

“Shhh. I’m not going anywhere.” Alex raised her hands over her head, and Teren pulled the bra off her partner. Seconds later, Alex was moaning in Teren’s ear as her own nipples were pleasantly tortured. Her hands brushed though the tinted hair, urging Teren in her work.

Alex had sunk back on the bed in a gentle haze of sensation when she felt Teren’s hand release the first button on her jeans. She smiled, and placed a kiss at the dark temple. “Yes, Teren,” she whispered, and the second button popped. Teren finally pulled her mouth from Alex’s breast, but immediately claimed her lips. The third and fourth buttons opened.

Alex’s jeans were open, and Teren pulled them down as far as she could. Alex first kicked her shoes off, then the jeans. She reached for her lover, gathering in a handful of the dark hair to gently pull her back for another kiss. Even with her mouth occupied, Alex’s hands were busy with their own explorations. Not content to just remain on Teren’s back, they slowly traced their own route down to, and under, the waist of Teren’s jeans. Stretching out her arms as far as she could, she squeezed the flesh she could reach, feeling muscles clench under her fingers.

Teren couldn’t stop the moans coming from her throat. Alex’s hands had stretched her jeans, pulling the front tight against her overheated skin. The seam of the material was pressing in just the right spot, and every time Alex flexed her arms, Teren felt a small tingle spread out from her center. She wanted more of those tingles, and she slipped one of Alex’s legs between hers, while scooting up to give her better access.

But she didn’t neglect her other goals. With Alex’s jeans gone, Teren was able to search for the silken warmth she knew was there. When she found it, she stroked it, building the fire in Alex’s body. She could feel Alex tighten her grip, and she moaned encouragement.

They worked each other into a sweat. Teren could feel the dampness that coated her back, and every time she pulled slightly away from Alex’s lips, she could see the beads of moisture that gathered on the smaller woman’s brow. Words had become unnecessary; whispers of encouragement had given way to moans of pleasure and anticipation. Alex’s breath came in gasps, and Teren was panting with her efforts. Each of them reached for the final spark that would send her partner, and herself, into that final flare.

Moments later, Alex pulled her head away from Teren, crying her name and pushing forward with her hips. She stiffened, but managed somehow to hold on to the flesh in her hands. Her fingers clenched hard enough to leave bruises, but Teren never noticed. She was too busy falling into the same flames that had just claimed her lover.

As they relaxed, letting the flames turn to embers, Alex finally let go of Teren’s backside. Her hands felt stiff from gripping so tightly. Teren withdrew her hand and turned her head, looking up to catch the green eyes watching her.

“Are you okay?” Teren’s voice cracked as she voiced the question.

Alex gave a soft chuckle. “I’m good,” she whispered. “How about you?”

Teren nodded. “Good.” She slowly pulled herself off of Alex, stretching out next to her. Alex rolled onto her side and snuggled into the crook of Teren’s arm.

“Are your ribs still hurting?”

Teren smiled. “No. I’m not feeling much of anything at the moment. How about you?”

“You mean other than completely relaxed?”

They shared a quiet laugh. Teren was glad there was no awkwardness between them.

“Alex, close your eyes. We’ve got plenty of time ‘til we reach Munich.”

“Oh? You mean that didn’t take the full three hours?”

Teren coughed. “Um. No. Why, did you want it to?”

“Felt like it did. Felt like it took forever.”

A dark eyebrow rose. “Is that good or bad?”

Alex kissed her cheek. “It’s good. Very good.”

Teren blushed. “Well, okay.” She reached over to the edge of the bed. “Here. Let’s pull this cover up. Don’t want you catching a chill.”

Alex did as she was instructed, climbing under the cover and reclaiming her position at Teren’s side. Teren leaned down to place a kiss upon her forehead, and stroked her hair.

“Close your eyes, babe. I’ll wake you in an hour or so.”

She nodded, a yawn keeping her from replying. Alex wrapped her arm around her partner’s torso, and sighed.

Teren waited to hear Alex’s breathing even out into sleep. Even as it did, she felt her own breathing deepen, and a lethargy passed over her. Without her permission, her eyes closed, and Teren slipped into the land of dreams only heartbeats after her lover.

Chapter Twenty-eight

It wasn’t the movement of the train that woke Alex. She realized dimly that she had gotten used to that a long time ago. It was some other sensation.

Teren was trailing her fingers up and down Alex’s back, just barely skimming along her body. It tickled.

She turned her head, and looked up at Teren. “Hey.”

“Hey. You okay?” Teren asked softly.

“Uh-huh. You?”

The blue eyes smiled at her. “I’m good.” She let her hand fall to Alex’s shoulder and squeezed slightly. “You don’t have to get up if you don’t want. We’ve got time, yet.”

“No, that’s okay.” She rolled over slightly, trying not to fall off the tiny bunk.

“Something wrong?”

“Nah. Just needed to stretch, that’s all.” She stood up, reaching over her head and arching her back. Then she sat back down and regarded her lover with a yawn. “How long have you been awake?”

“Just a few minutes.”

“Are you okay? I mean, your bruises?”

“Fine. They’re sore, but not that bad.” She looked closely at Alex. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah.” Alex yawned again, then looked at her watch. “Best ninety minutes of sleep I’ve had in a long time.”

Teren chuckled. “I’m glad.” She sat up next to her partner. “We’ve still got a little time ‘til Munich. I thought maybe we could get some food.”

Alex nodded. “Food sounds good.” Her stomach growled. “Yeah, the monster just woke up as well.”

Teren laughed and patted her belly. “I can hear. Demanding, isn’t it?”

“Yep. David loves teasing me about it.”

“I remember.”

They sat quietly for a moment, then Teren stood. “Okay, I’d offer you a shower, but the facilities aren’t exactly set up for that.”

“Are you saying I smell?” Alex’s voice was indignant.

Teren leaned in, gently nuzzling her neck. She took a sniff and nodded.“Yes. And I love the way you smell,” she whispered. Then she pulled back and looked into Alex’s eyes. “But I’m not sure how everyone else will feel about that.”

Alex folded her arms. “I’m not sure either. But, I gotta tell you, you’re not much better, you know?” Her nose crinkled with her smile.

“Oh, really?” Teren made a show of sniffing herself. “Yep. Okay, how about this. I’ll go get food while you clean up a little, and when I get back, you can step out for a moment while I clean up, okay?”

“You mean I can’t watch?”

Teren stopped. The idea of dressing with Alex watching her was definitely appealing. But as she stared at Alex, she realized that if they did that, she’d never get ready, and they’d never leave the train.

Alex laughed. “I’m kidding. It’s too small in here for two people trying to get ready.” She stood up, her body brushing Teren’s. “See what I mean?”

Teren gave a light chuckle, even as a red heat covered her face. “Yeah. I see. You know, it didn’t seem that cramped while we were laying down.”

It was Alex’s turn to blush, and she took a half-step back. “Yeah. And on that note, why don’t you go get dinner?”

The blue eyes smiled at her, and winked.

Teren pulled her bra on, and then her shirt.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Alex nodded. “Okay.” She watched Teren slip out of the compartment, and dropped to the bed. “Not too soon, I hope.” She shook her head and closed her eyes. “Damn, I need a cold shower.”

She was dressed and ready when Teren returned with sandwiches and drinks.

Pulling her jacket on, Alex took her sandwich and cup of hot chocolate to the next car, where Teren had told her there were a few empty first class seats. She ate while watching the houses roll past the windows of the train.

Alex was glad she had these few moments to herself. She needed the time to think about what had happened.

“I should have kept my hands to myself,” she whispered toward her reflection in the window. She gave a half-snort. “Yeah, like that’s an option.”

It didn’t bother her that they had once again slept together. Nor did it worry her that she, both times, had been the instigator. It wasn’t something she normally did, but it didn’t bother her.

What did concern her was that she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about Teren. Teren’s body. Teren’s mouth, her hands, her …

Alex had to laugh at herself. Here she was, in a totally different train car, and once again she was thinking about the woman she’d left in their compartment. Not just thinking, but almost fantasizing.

She shook her head. Okay, gotta stop this.This is not good. If I don’t get this under control, we could have a problem. Alex frowned at herself in the window. You have to remember that there are people chasing you. They want you, and her, dead. A distraction at the wrong moment could get you both killed. So stop it. No more jealous crap, no more clinging to her, and no more sex.

At least until we’re home, and safe.

Alex nodded at her reflection. She was proud of herself for coming to such a tough decision.

Now if she could just stick to it.

Teren was dressed, and zipping her bag closed when Alex returned to the compartment. She smiled at her shorter companion.

“All packed. I think we’re just about ready.”

“Good.”

“Alex?”

“Yes?”

“Is our relationship still on hold?”

Alex bit her lip. “Umm. Yeah. At least I think so.”

“So, does that mean we can’t sleep together any more?”

“Ummmm.” Alex didn’t want to be the one to make that decision. Even if she had made a similar one earlier. “Uh, why don’t we play it by ear? I mean,” she gave Teren a half-smile, “so far it hasn’t gotten in the way.”

There was relief in the blue eyes. Teren nodded again. “I can do that.”

Alex nodded. “How long ‘til we get in?”

“About another twenty minutes. You ready for Munich?”

“No, but I wasn’t ready for Switzerland, either.” They grinned at each other.

Alex took a seat on the bed, and waited for Teren to do the same.

“Where are we staying?”

“The Hotel Bergerhof. The reservation’s in your name.”

“My name? Oh, Andrea Reed, right?”

Teren nodded. “Yep. We might have to get you a new alias, though. We used Reed in Zurich, and if they learned the name, they’ll be able to put a face to it. It might be better if Andrea Reed didn’t leave Munich.”

“Okay. Got another underground friend here?”

Teren leaned back. “Not exactly. Not underground, and I don’t even know if he’s still a friend.”

“I don’t understand.” Alex wanted to reach out and brush the hair back from Teren’s eyes, but forced herself not to.

“Well, he’s CIA. I don’t know what my status is, and I’m not sure I want to find out. If we can get out of Munich without having to drop the Reed alias, I’d be happy. If not, I’ll call Volker.”

“Right.” Alex paused for a moment. “Teren?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you tell me what happened in the hotel room? In Zurich?”

Even though they weren’t touching, she could feel Teren tense. “Why?”

“Because. All you said was that you surprised the two guys, and that you ducked once and should have ducked twice. None of which tells me anything.”

Teren wouldn’t look at her. “I surprised them. They attacked. I defended.” She shrugged. “What more do you want to know?”

Alex sighed and shook her head. “How about telling me what – exactly – happened?”

Teren glanced at Alex to see if she was as irritated as she sounded. She was.

“I opened the door, and there were these two guys there. The first guy had a blue coat and had his back to me. His pal was standing near the window. He saw me first and reached for his gun. I managed to push the guy in the blue coat towards him, and kicked the gun away when it hit the floor. Then blue coat got up and was throwing punches. I punched back. He hit the floor, but I didn’t duck his buddy’s kick in time, and he hit my ribs. I kicked his knee out, and then broke his neck.” She didn’t miss Alex’s short gasp. “Blue coat managed to slam a lamp down on my shoulder, and I put a foot in his groin. He kind of squealed, and I punched him. He fell and hit his head. I got the hell out of there.”

Teren was still when she finished her story. She didn’t want to look in Alex’s eyes.

Alex wasn’t sure what to say.

Finally, she nodded. “I’m glad you got out of there okay.”

Teren raised an eyebrow as she turned her head. She waited for another comment, but it didn’t come.

Alex was staring down at her shoes. Teren sat up, wanting to reach out and touch her friend.

“Alex?” The green eyes locked on hers for a brief moment, then glanced away. “Are you okay? I mean —” Teren shrugged, running out of words. “Well, are you —”

“Teren.” Alex’s voice was soft, and Teren found those eyes on hers again. “It’s okay.” She took a breath. “It’s just – you talk about this so casually, in such a detached manner. Emotionless.”

The blue eyes were sad. “I have to be detached. It’s part of what I do.”

“I know that. And if it keeps you in one piece, I’ll accept that.” She put a hand over one of Teren’s fists. “I just don’t know how to reconcile the gentle and caring woman I made love to, with the woman who can set her emotions aside like that.” She shook her head. “I’m going to have problems with this, okay? But I’ll get there.” Alex smiled at Teren. “We’ll get there. Alright?”

Teren noddd. It was more than she’d hoped for.

They sat quietly, waiting for the train to pull into the Munich station.

Having decided that they should once again separate, Teren left the train from the sleeper car, while Alex exited two cars ahead. Walking toward the exit, Alex resisted the urge to make sure her friend was following her.

She and Teren had agreed that they would take separate taxis to the hotel, in an attempt to further evade anyone pursuing them. Teren would wait until Alex was on her way, then follow her.

Keeping Teren in the corner of her eye, Alex asked a group of cab drivers if any of them spoke English. There were actually several that did, and all of them were very willing to help out an American woman. Finally choosing one, she settled herself in the backseat, and waited for the driver to climb in front.

He had just started the car when Alex saw Teren freeze, and reach toward the weapon she’d hidden in her jacket. Then the car was moving, going past the tall agent, who was facing a large blonde man.

Alex felt a coldness settle over her shoulders, and she debated going back to her friend.

On impulse she asked the driver to circle the block. He looked at her, confused.

“I thought I saw someone I knew. Please?”

He nodded, and made his turn.

When they got back to the front of the station, Teren was gone. The cold feeling descended from Alex’s shoulders to her chest.

She decided to check in at the hotel. Maybe Teren had caught another cab and would be waiting for her.

If she wasn’t, Alex would find her.

Somehow.

Teren had been waiting for Alex’s driver to get in the car. Once he did, she stepped forward to hail a cab for herself.

“Teren.”

She froze at the sound of her name being called.

One hand reached towards her gun in an automatic reflex, even as her muscles coiled. She turned slightly to see Gerd Heinrich approaching her.

“Teren. We have a car waiting for you. This way?” He waved with his arm, allowing his coat to fall open. As it did, Teren saw his weapon. The safety flap of the shoulder holster had been snapped down. It was an old way of letting agents know that they were facing a friend and not a foe.