Two Evils (40 page)

“So what, you want me to be some sort of liaison?” she asked.

“In a sense,” Burns replied with a nod. “You would still be doing field work, of course, but your unique perspective, based on both military and intelligence training, would be invaluable.”

Billie scratched her head. “But you have that already in every field operative who works for DCS. Hell, there are CIA agents who are former military.”

“But none of them are the She-Devil,” Harmon said succinctly. “No one is Billie Ryan but Billie Ryan. And you’re that damn good, obviously, or my friend Burns and I wouldn’t be here. The bottom line is—we want you. We
need
people like you, with your unique skill set, in the service, Miss Ryan.”

She turned to give the other woman a pointed stare. “And just which service would I be a member of? Would my employer be the CIA or the DIA?”

Harmon and Burns looked at one another. “Naturally, both agencies would like to call you one of their own, but perhaps we’ll leave the choice to you,” Burns answered.

Billie looked at the folder again, then back up at the two across from her. “Suppose I do agree to stick my toe back into the murky waters of the espionage pool… Would I be given the opportunity to work with Majors Lincoln and Peck again?”

Harmon grinned as she told her, “You seem to do your best work when you have the support of a team, so they are yours for as long as you need them.”

The colonel glanced at Burns again, and by mute agreement the two of them stood.

“Review the file, Miss Ryan,” Burns said. “Think about it. Sleep on it. And at risk of sounding terribly cliché, keep in mind what a service you would be doing for your country by saying yes.”

Billie stared at the office door for a long moment after Burns and Harmon had gone. Then she looked down at the folder, a confidential case file that had been left in the hands of a civilian in the
hope
that she wouldn’t remain a civilian much longer.
Awfully damn sure of themselves, aren’t they?
she mused, reaching for the file with a sigh.