Most of the dates are past, Sawyer said.
Like notches on a bedpost? Quentin asked.
Montanas lips twitched. Trust Quentin to make it about sex. The man was an expert ladies man and charmer. At least until hed met his match. Becca had been good for him. She made him work to woo her. And now that they were in a committed relationship, they were seldom apart.
Montana was glad for his friend. Quentin had needed someone to come home to. Hed settled down and quit going out as much. Too bad they worked so far apart, with Becca based out of Virginia and Quentin out of Mississippi. But then Fontaine didnt care where his SOS operatives lived, as long as they could deploy at a moments notice. Montana suspected Becca would soon base out of Mississippi, to be closer to Quentin when she wasnt working an assignment.
Familiar with those conditions, Montana didnt envy Quentin and Beccas relationship. As often as SBT-22 was deployed, and given the nature of Beccas work, the two would be hard-pressed to get together on a regular basis, even if she was based out of Mississippi.
Montana had always considered that as long as he was on active duty as a Navy SEAL, hed be better off steering clear of entanglements. Being a bachelor was the safest bet.
He glanced at his new partner, Kate McKenzie. The woman seemed no-nonsense and decidedly kick-ass. He shouldnt have a problem sticking to his intent to stay single and emotionally unavailable to women. Especially one whod tackled him before theyd been properly introduced.
Those steely eyes didnt inspire him to lose himself in her. Her athletic body and shoulder-length, straight, sandy-blond hair didnt make him want to run his hand through it to ascertain just how silky the strands were.
Well, maybe just a little. And her eyes were a startling steel-gray, rimmed with a darker pewter outline.
When shed lain on top of him, protecting him from potential shrapnel, he hadnt been all that turned on by the rounded swells of her breasts against his chest.
Okay, so maybe he had noticed her breasts. They had been smashed against him for what had felt like an eternity. When hed rested his hands on her hips, his body had naturally reacted to having a female on top of him. A lot of time had passed since hed been with a woman.
He turned to study his new partner and frowned. It was so much easier to work with men. They didnt threaten his determination to remain footloose and single.
Dragging his attention from Kate, he focused on Fontaine. Most of the dates are past. That means some of them are in the future. Like a schedule of events to come. You agree with that, dont you?
Geek and Fontaine nodded simultaneously.
Thats exactly what weve learned, Fontaine said.
So how do we fit in with this mission? Kate asked. Why did you need me when you had all of these people to run your operation?
Fontaine faced Montana and Kate. Becca tells me you are an expert chameleon, able to change your appearance to look like anyone you want.
Kate shrugged. I did a lot of theater in high school and college. My skills with makeup came in handy as a field agent with CIA. I had a knack for transforming into whomever I needed to be. Her lips thinned and her jaw tightened.
Montana noted this little change in her expression. That she spoke in the past tense made him curious. Wasnt she still an agent in the CIA?
Fontaine nodded and his gaze shifted to Montana. Raines, your team considers you the best at camouflage and bombs.
Montana frowned. Sure. I can blend in with any tree, bush or desert location. But nothing like Kate.
Your abilities to blend in were only part of the reason I chose you two for this assignment. Fontaine waved his hand. If you could please stand, Ill show you the other reason.
Montana stood and held Kates chair while she rose as well, her brows pulling together.
Mrs. Brantley, Id like you and your bodyguard to please stand by Raines and McKenzie.
The two complied.
Fontaine smiled. Perfect. Kate, youre almost the exact height as Mrs. Brantley. And Raines, youre pretty close to Rex Masterss height and build.
So? Montana challenged.
Geek pointed to a dot on the map. One of the dates indicates tomorrow at the yacht club.
Fontaine picked up from there. Mrs. Brantley is listed as keynote speaker at the annual fund-raiser the club sponsors for the childrens hospital.
Ive canceled every other engagement Ive had since my husbands death, Mica said. This was one I couldnt. The childrens hospital is near and dear to my heart. After losing my baby to leukemia, I realized how much the hospital does for desperately ill children and their families. Ill be there.
Based on the date and coordinates, someone knows you wouldnt miss the event, Fontaine said. We cant be certain just who will be targeted, but we wanted to make sure youre safe. Raines and McKenzie will go as your guests. We created identities for them as newly rich recent members of the yacht club.
Are we to supplement Mrs. Brantleys bodyguard support? Kate asked.
Yes, and more, Fontaine said. Ill have several of the other SEALs and some of my agents augmenting the waitstaff at the club.
Geek added, We cant be certain who they will target. Because whoever is orchestrating these attacks doesnt seem to be going after just the politicians and federal agents... He paused. Theyre taking out the family members, too.
Mrs. Brantleys face paled. Perhaps I should call and cancel my speech at the fund-raiser. Id hate for a bomb, targeting me, to take out innocent bystanders.
Thats why well have the SEALs and SOS team in place, Fontaine assured her. Ill also have bomb-sniffing dogs make a thorough sweep of the entire building before the event commences, and well have security cordon off the area to keep vehicles from getting close.
Mrs. Brantley chewed on her bottom lip. I dont want people hurt because of me.
We dont know who they will be after, Geek said. And as far as we can tell, nobody knows we have the list of dates and coordinates.
Fontaine turned to Montana. Raines, you and McKenzie will be there not only to protect Mrs. Brantley, you are to watch and listen closely to the people she interacts with. If we determine she is a target, you two might have to take Mrs. Brantleys and Masterss places in the DC scene as their doubles for a while.
Montana exchanged glances with Rex Masters. It made sense that he would replace the man. They were similar in build and he could have his hair lightened to match Masterss dark blond cropped hair. Kate and Mica were the same height and close to the same build. Mrs. Brantley might have a tinier waist and bigger breasts, but Kate, if she was as good as she said she was, could make her face up to look just like Micas. Colored contacts would help match Micas dark brown irises.
Why arent you using your SOS agents instead of the SEALs? asked Navy SEAL Jace Hunter, the youngest member of the SBT-22 team.
Im short staffed, Fontaine said. Theyre on critical missions throughout the country and the world. Considering the successful kill rate of that list, we might need all the security and waitstaff we can get. The future dates and locations are in or around the DC area at major events. Geek and I conducted a thorough background check on the six of you SEALs. You all have exemplary records. Id trust you with my life and that of Mrs. Brantley. Add to it the fact that most of you have already been involved in the attacks, and I think you have a stake in seeing it to a satisfactory conclusion.