Cloud Invasion (3 page)

"Of course, if it will mean one less guard, no matter how discreet," Rafe grinned. "We much prefer your company."

"If you say Colonel Hunter and his wife can come, I think I can make it happen soon," James said. "Very soon."

"Then make it happen," Rafe agreed.

"I'm all for that," Auggie walked into our kitchen. "Thanks for the information, Cori," he nodded to me. "The President may have other photographs soon. I have a feeling you'll be seeing some of the crime bosses from drug cartels."

"She thinks they may be involved in some of this?" I asked.

"It's possible," he shrugged.

"Yeah. It's possible," I agreed. There was another question I wanted to ask, and it involved the handful of people who'd survived the drug in Montana. More and more, that was on my mind and I figured the President hadn't told Auggie what happened to those people or where they were.

That, of course, could turn into a huge mistake.

Chapter 2

Corinne

Nick and Maye joined us for lunch; Jeff tagged along with them. I guess Auggie had this planned ahead of time, because he and James showed up, too, with Leo Shaw right behind them. Then, Marcus came looking for everybody else and decided he wanted soup and a sandwich.

"We have an appointment at two," Marcus reminded me.

"Did you get special classes on day-ruining?" I asked, handing him a plate of food. "James, we'll need to restock the pantry soon," I said, turning to him.

"On it," James said, pulling out his tablet.

"I got an A in day-ruining," Marcus grinned and bit into his ham sandwich.

"You're too competitive," I pointed a finger at him.

"Have to be the best," he agreed.

"Uh-huh. How long do you intend to torture me? Besides, you should consult with Rafe, because he can give you pointers on that sort of thing, in addition to honing your Krav Maga skills."

"An hour. He can teach me Krav Maga?"

"I can," Rafe confirmed with a nod. "Let me know when you have an hour or two to train on most days. I'll take care of it."

"You're moving pretty well today," Leo said, nodding in my direction. "How do you feel?"

"Good," I said.

"When do you think you can start running and training with Rafe?" Auggie asked.

"I'll let you know, Colonel Hunter," Marcus said.

"I will temper his assessment with my own," Rafe interjected. I could tell he was a bit annoyed with Marcus. Well, I was a bit annoyed with Marcus, too. He needed to consider his patient and not his brownie points, as far as I was concerned.

"How about I tell you when I'm ready?" I told Auggie. "I'll let Leo know, too, so we'll all be on the same page."

"I'll take all reports from all sources in a week," Auggie said, ending the debate.

"Good enough," I said. "Anybody want ice cream?"

* * *

"I hear you're pretty special," Marcus said while putting me through my exercise torture later.

"I don't think of myself as special in any way," I grunted as I lifted five-pound weights and held them until he said I could let my arms down. "The next time you're a hostage of terrorists and watch a bunch of people die, come see me. We'll talk special then."

"Dr. Shaw told me," he said. "After Colonel Hunter said he could."

"Of course he did," I muttered, dropping my arms when he gave the signal. I was sweating, and we'd only done fifteen minutes of exercises. "Is there any chance we can get in a pool and do exercises there?"

"There's no water in it, yet," Marcus offered a smile. He wanted to see me sweat.

The bastard
.

"When will there be water in it?" I hefted the weights again.

"Maybe next week. Okay, let your arms down-we're done with weights for now. Get on the treadmill. I'll see how far you can walk."

* * *

I could have walked farther, but that would only make Marcus ask for more next time, so I settled for two miles.

Leo saw me after I'd showered and dressed.

"We haven't talked yet about you getting shot a second time and getting the drug a second time," he settled into the comfortable chair across from mine in his new office.

"We haven't talked about you being schlepped from pillar to post after all the bombings and moves," I countered.

"This session isn't about me," he said, but he smiled anyway.

"I thought about not coming back," I said.

"What made you decide to?" I could read the unasked question behind that-he was surprised that I thought I'd had a choice in the matter. Oddly enough, this time, that's exactly how it was.

"Rafe," I shrugged. "I came back because he wanted me to. I was worried about how all of you would see me now-that in your eyes, I might be a monster, able to kill on what some might think a whim. That has never been the case, but you might not understand that."

"I can see how you might think that," he said. "But Colonel Hunter and I trust you with our lives; you've saved them often enough. Maye and Nick have been briefed, and we've discussed your abilities in a few sessions. Both agree-without you, we'd all be dead."

"That's not a light burden," I pointed out. It wasn't. I felt responsible for so many people and so many things, now. It ramped up my anxiety to another, much higher level. After I'd wakened this time, Dr. Shaw hadn't put me on any drugs for my anxiety or PTSD. I knew he wanted to see how things stood before recommending anything.

I didn't want any of that, and didn't intend to take anything he prescribed. No, I wouldn't recommend going against doctor's orders for anyone else. Things were different for me, now, and I had personal checks and balances to ensure that all those internal things were managed without the use of medication-for the most part. In fact, I was doing exactly that while talking with Leo.

I recalled vividly the pain in my chest and the last rush of fear as I fell when Hal Prentice's clone shot me. I knew I'd die. Leo had an injection of the drug ready. He and Auggie had made plans for such an emergency, and had needles ready for Rafe and me.

Rafe hadn't needed another injection; his shields held and Hal Prentice's clone never had a chance when Rafe broke his neck, in addition to breaking the device that kept him from dying when I'd attempted to kill him.

"I think those devices are really expensive," I blurted, startling Leo.

"What devices?"

"The kind Hal Prentice's clone had attached to his neck. That's why none of the others had one that day. The enemy placed that one where it would do the most good."

"What brought that up? Just curious-I'm very interested in what you have to say about that-Colonel Hunter will be as well."

"I was just thinking about that day, what happened, what I saw in Hal's clone, why he didn't die-what it felt like to almost die a second time."

"Corinne, it was barely two seconds after you said that wasn't a light burden. You shifted gears really fast."

"Sorry-I know it's confusing," I said. "But all of it raced through my mind that fast."

"Is this another change?" he asked.

"Maybe, although things always tend to run through my mind-it's part of being a writer."

"Then let's talk about Sarah Fox and Carol Dane," he said. "Do you feel like three people?"

"No. The other two are façades. Just names I use to keep from losing all my work and income, in case I have to change identities again."

"That's important to you?"

"Very important to me," I nodded.

"Are you willing to tell me who you were before?"

I knew he wanted to know before, and hinted at it several times, but this time, he'd come right out and asked. "That's a complicated story," I sighed. "And one I'd prefer to only tell once. Can we wait until Rafe and Auggie are here and I'm in a better place emotionally? That way you can all hear it at the same time and ask all your questions during the session."

"I'll arrange it whenever you're ready," Leo nodded. "How do you feel, now? Shaky? Have bouts of depression or anxiety?"

"In some ways, yes, but I think I'm better equipped to handle those things this time."

"Are you sure?"

"I think so."

"I'll let you go for two weeks with no medication, but at the first sign of those symptoms returning, we'll consider prescribing something."

"That sounds fine. I hope you won't have to make the effort."

"While it would please me greatly to know you don't need it, I have reservations," he said.

"I know you do," I agreed. "I hope they prove to be unfounded."

"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?"

"Marcus," I said.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He's an ambitious overachiever," I said. "While most people would see that as a strength, it sort of sours when he's trying to please Auggie by pushing me into the ground. His priority, as I see it, should be his patient and not necessarily his boss or his desire for an important promotion."

"I'll have a word with Colonel Hunter. Perhaps he should tell Marcus exactly what he needs to do where you're concerned, instead of having thoughts of pushing you too hard in order to complete his assignment early and move up."

"Thank you. I just want his focus to be on the right things, for the right reasons," I said.

"As do I, but if it's August he wants to please, instead of me, then the word needs to come from Colonel Hunter."

"Tell Auggie I'll take the blame for this, as long as Marcus doesn't try to take it out on me afterward."

"I imagine that Rafe may have something to say about it, if that happens."

"Just tell Marcus that it's for his own good, and I can fight my own battles, thank you."

"I see," Leo focused his gaze on me. "You're not threatening him, are you?"

"I sure hope not," I said. "But he either needs to get his priorities straight, or he needs to find another way to kiss Auggie's ass."

"I'll give that some thought before going to Colonel Hunter," Leo said.

"Thank you."

* * *

"I hear you don't like Marcus," Auggie stormed into the suite while Rafe and I were having dinner later.

"I like Marcus fine. He just has no sense of humor and he wants your job," I pointed out as tactfully as I could. "Want dinner?"

"What?" Auggie stopped in mid-stride. That was a shame; he had a really good walking snit going when he burst into our kitchen.

"You can see it, can't you?" Auggie took a seat at the kitchen island, where we'd sat down to eat. Rafe didn't say a word, but I could tell he was somewhat amused.

"Yeah, I see it, all right," I mumbled before cutting into my tomato and cheese omelet. Auggie pulled a bowl from the cabinet and dipped beef stew out of the slow cooker.

"I can rough him up," Rafe offered.

"No. That's not a good idea," I said. "I just think Auggie needs to talk with Marcus and let him know that in his line of work, it's the quality and not the speed of recovery that matters."

"What should I say about his grasping for a higher position?"

"Tell him how long it took to get where you are, and you didn't do it by cutting corners or trying to impress people. You worked to get the job done right," I pointed out.

Auggie stared at me for a moment before shaking his head and pulling crackers from a sleeve Rafe placed in front of him. The paper crackled as he extracted six crackers and set them beside his bowl while he considered what to say.

"I should have known you can see that stuff," Auggie said. "I always did that because it was the right thing to do and not because of what anybody else thought or said."

"And that's why I love you," I said. "Not like Laci does-but as a good friend."

"Cori, she knows that. She said it was stupid of her to even consider you any kind of rival."

"I know." I hunched my shoulders. It had taken her more than six years to realize I wasn't competing for her husband. I'm sure she thought I took up too much of his time, but that couldn't be helped. He liked his work and I'd done my best to take as little of his time as possible.

There wasn't anything I could do about the hours of research and investigation he did when he wasn't herding me around. Now, he was Secretary of Defense and Director of the Program. That only complicated his life further, in my estimation. Auggie was a workaholic; that was a well-known fact.

Laci still hadn't realized that it didn't mean he didn't love her, or intended to ignore her. It was just the way he was made. Where he needed to improve, I think, was the quality of the time he spent with his wife.

That was his business, though, and none of mine. I sighed again at life's complexities. "When will the pool be filled?" I asked, changing subjects.

"In three weeks. I'll have James keep you informed. The water is piped up the mountain, and the pipes are small, because they were installed more than half a century ago. It'll take time," he shrugged.

"Is the water source protected?" Rafe asked.

"As much as it can be. Nobody wants another Montana."

"Or another Georgia," I said. "At least those directly responsible are dead. We just don't need somebody stepping into their shoes."

"On another note," Auggie said, "Madam President wants secret feeds of some of her meetings to come to you, Cori, so you can tell her if anyone at the meeting needs to be watched."

I knew what he didn't say-the President wanted to know if any of them needed to be dead, too. She expected me to take care of it, if the case were severe enough. I'm sure she expected to be informed if any of them wore an apparatus like Hal's clone did. She thought someone else would have to be sent after those.

That remained to be seen.

"She isn't worried that I might hear sensitive information?"

Auggie snorted at my question. After a moment, I could see his point. I could see just about anything I wanted to know by looking at someone. The only one I couldn't see-or find-was the enemy.