Destroy you?
Its complicated, Jonah said. Suffice it to say that things are surfacing within high places that make it look as if Im a war criminal, as well as a traitor to my country. There was a moment of hesitation before he continued. Its not true.
Easts eyes narrowed. Telling me that was unnecessary. That much I know.
Again, there was a hesitation, then Jonah spoke. I thank you for that. But the problem still exists and despite my unlimiteduh, shall we say accessto confidential material, I have been unable to trace the source. For all I know, it could be within SPEAR itself.
East was incredulous. No sir! I dont believe thats possible.
I would like to think so, too, Jonah said. But at this point, nothing or no one can be ruled out.
East frowned. If thats so, then why call me?
Because, technically, you are inactive. Its been ten years since youve been in the field. We have no axes to grind and no issues that could be a possible basis for these actions. I have to trust someone. Youre it.
Easts gut knotted tighter. Sirdont ask this of me.
Jonahs sigh whispered through Easts conscience like a knife.
Its been ten years since that incident with the kid, Jonah said.
East swallowed harshly, then closed his eyes against the glare of sunlight upon the water.
Tell that to my psyche, he growled. Besides, I have a family to consider.
YesJeff, isnt it? Studying to be a doctor?
Yes, sir. Hes interning now in L.A.
Hes a man, Kirby, not a kid.
A noise on the beach below caught Kirbys attention, he opened his eyes and turned. It was a pair of sea lions sunning themselves on an outcropping of rock. For a moment, he lost himself in the spray of surf hammering against the rocks and the seabirds doing a little two-step upon the sand. The urge to take the phone and toss it into the water, disconnecting himself from both Jonah and the world was overwhelming, but it was a futile thought. Hed learned long ago that no matter how hard hed tried, he had not been able to get away from his past.
Kirbyare you there?
East sighed. Yes, sir. I was just thinking.
There was a note of eagerness in Jonahs voice. And?
I have to ask you a question, East said.
Ask.
Is this an order?
This time, there was no mistaking the sigh in Jonahs voice. I cant order you to do a personal favor for me.
Im not the man I used to be. Ive been out of the business too long. Ive lost the edge needed to survive.
There was a long moment of silence, then Jonah spoke. Soyoure turning me down.
Yes.
Again Jonah hesitated, but this time his voice was void of emotion.
I understand. Oh, and Kirby, this call never happened.
What call, sir?
The line went dead and Kirby knew there would never be a traceable record of the call ever happening. A fresh wave of guilt hit him head-on.
Damn it to hell.
He spun on his heels and headed back to the hotel.
Chapter 2
Although she was a health club regular, she hated working out. Her preference would have been to take a long, leisurely walk in a deeply wooded area with only squirrels and deer for companions rather than some of these perspiring males who kept strutting from one machine to the other, and whose sole intent was for a perfect body and some female adulation. But then Ally would be the first to admit that she was uncomfortable with her own sexuality. She didnt see herself as others saw her. She looked in a mirror and saw a woman on the verge of being too thin, whereas most women would have been overjoyed to be built in her image. Of average height, Allys slim, finely toned body was strong and high-breasted with hips that would never spread. The striking combination of auburn hair and green eyes gave her youthful features a pixie appearance, rather than that of a sultry vixen. But there was nothing fey about Ally. No one would ever have
guessed that she was a highly-trained operative within a secret branch of the government, or that her IQ was off the scale. Shed entered high school at the age of ten, graduating two years later. By the time she had turned seventeen, she had a Ph.D. in physics, another in criminology, and was considering another round of classes when shed been recruited by SPEAR. At the time, it had seemed like a good idea. Her parents, intellectuals who were more concerned with their life paths than with hers, had left most of her upbringing to hired help and higher education, so it was no jolt for Ally to go from a college campus to the training ground of SPEAR.
But being so much younger than her fellow students at college had been a drawback socially. She had made no close friends. If anyone had happened to notice that the quiet little genius was no longer on campus, it was so much the better. At least she wouldnt be ruining the grading curve for anyone else.
And for Ally, joining SPEAR was all a matter of readjusting priorities. There wasnt much SPEARs instructors could teach her in the way of technology, but learning about covert activities and enduring the intense physical training put her in an entirely different world. There had been days when she wasnt sure she would survive, yet she had. Now it was so much a part of her life, she rarely thought about the way it had been before.