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“Come on, you. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Alex,” David called. “Before you introduce them, make sure Teren’s gun is empty, huh?”
“Oh, go play kissy-face, David. Me are Arlea will be just fine.”
She took the few steps up to the dark woman who was leaning against the wall by window.
“Teren, this is Arlea. Arlea this is Teren.”
Teren nodded at the little girl. “Nice to meet you.”
Alex held her playmate out, and Arlea reached for Teren’s neck. Teren reacted without thinking, and suddenly the child was in her arms.
“Um, Alex, I’m not really good with kids.”
“Well, you’re just going to have to hold her for a moment, cause I need to tie my shoe.”
Alex didn’t really have to tie her shoe, but she leaned down for a moment to fuss with it, giving Teren the opportunity to examine the tot in her arms.
Arlea had a ci
Though, Teren thought that was more of a curse at the moment. Arlea had her one tiny fist wrapped around the dark silk of Teren’s hair, and she was trying to stuff that handful into her mouth, while the other hand reached up to play with Teren’s face.
“Um, Alex, could you come back up here, please?”
Alex stood, stifling a laugh at the situation Teren was in. She considered letting her playmate continue her exertions, but relented when she was the look of panic in Teren’s face. With a quiet chuckle, Alex reached out and took Arlea from the taller woman. Teren gently pried her hair loose, then leaned out of arm’s reach. Arlea yelled in outrage.
“Okay, Teren, what did you do to my daughter?” David almost laughed at the shocked look of panic on Teren’s face.
“Nothing, I swear.”
Alex did laugh. “Nah, Arlea just decided Teren was something new to play with and she didn’t want to give up her toy. Did you, sweetheart?” She kissed her playmate, then handed her over to Miri’s waiting arms. Arlea began fussing again, but not as loudly.
“So, David, are we ready to go?”
“Just about. They called our flight.”
“Yep, I heard. Teren, are you ready?”
“In a minute.” Teren was busy wiping at her hair and jacket, where Arlea had left her calling card. “Does anybody have a towel?”
Alex and David gri
Chapter Fifteen
They were met at Denver International Airport by Andrew Ta
Ta
“Says here you’re CIA.”
“That’s correct. Currently I’m on loan to the Bureau.” Teren stared at him. “Is that a problem, Mr. Ta
“That’s Agent Ta
Captain Weaver didn’t seem to agree with him, but he said nothing. He shook David’s hand firmly, and offered a lighter handshake to Alex. He was going to do the same to Teren, but the former spy gripped his hand firmly, displaying her strength. Weaver raised an eyebrow but returned the pressure.
“We got you folks rooms at the Hilton Airport. It’s close to DIA but pretty far from the crime scene and all. Hope that’s alright.”
“Thank you, Captain, I’m sure that will be fine.”
“Do you folks need to go to baggage claim?”
“No, we didn’t check anything. Unless something else happens we’re to be on a plane back to Washington late tomorrow night.”
“Alright then, we’ve got a van waiting for us out front. If you’ll follow me?”
Alex took the lead with the two Colorado men on either side of her.Teren and David followed. “Agent Ta
“It’s in the car, ma’am.”
Alex smiled at Ta
Everyone chuckled and Ta
“Good. Now, what can you tell us? Is Seffren still alive?”
“Yes, and it looks like she’s going to make it just fine. Unfortunately, one of her friends was killed in the attack.”
“You mean the shooter missed Seffren and hit someone else?” Alex frowned. “Doesn’t sound like the kind of thing a professional would do.” She glanced back at Teren.
Teren knew what Alex was asking, and she shrugged. “Everyone misses sometime, Alex.”
The frown stayed, but Alex nodded her head. “And the shooter? He’s in custody at the hospital?”
Agent Ta
“Uh, well, Agent Reis, it seems somebody messed up. Somehow, the guy got ahold of a cyanide capsule. By the time anyone got to him, it was too late.”
“The guy killed himself?”
“That’s right, Agent Reis.”
Alex didn’t speak again until they reached the car. The she turned and gazed at Weaver. “Captain, did you search him while he was in the hospital?”
“Yes, of course we did.”
“And yet he managed to somehow keep you from finding a cyanide capsule.”
“No, Agent Reis. He was thoroughly searched. Before and after his surgery. And no, we could’t have missed it.” Weaver glared back at Alex.
“Then, Captain Weaver, someone slipped it to him. I want a record of any and all perso
“Are you saying one of my men gave it to him?”
“I don’t know, Captain, did anyone other than your men go into his room?”
“Yes.”
“Then no, I’m not accusing your men. But someone gave him that capsule, Captain, and I want to know who.”
Weaver blinked at her, still staring after her when Alex climbed into the backseat of the van. He walked around to the driver’s door, muttering.
Teren looked at David. “Is she always that aggressive?”
David nodded. Teren smiled.
“Cool.” She climbed into the very back seat, leaving David the spot beside his fuming partner.
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Alex let her body sink into the chair by the table in her room. She took a long swallow from the glass of wine that she’d ordered with di
She looked around her room, both happy and disappointed that Teren had chosen not to stay in her room. Alex had told her that she was welcome to share, but the tall figure had simply given her a smile and replied, “That’s not a good idea, Alex. I’m a light sleeper, and if you even rolled over in your sleep, I’d be drawing my gun.”
Alex had decided Teren was right. It would be better for each of them to have their own room.
Finished with her di
The first page was a report on the shooting, detailing the events. As Cliff had told them, the shooter had been on a nearby roof, and had fired four shots into the small group among which A