Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(35)

The restaurant was becoming crowded, so I figured it would be several minutes instead.

"You mean you can't just see it in her?" Nick asked. "You can anybody else."

"I know-that's what's so weird about this-it's as if there's a fog around their brain that I can't get through," I shrugged. "It's driving me nuts."

"So the enemy is doing their best to get around your talents, now."

"Looks that way," I shook my head. "This is more than confusing."

"You know they'll still try to take all of us down-that's the way this works. With us out of the way, they'll have a clear path to whatever they want."

"That means they're still scared of us," I pointed out.

"They ought to be. If they're ever face-to-face with me," Nick closed a hand into a tight fist.

"I know," I agreed. Nick still had some secrets, as did I. I think we understood one another in that way-it was to protect ourselves and potentially surprise the enemy that we held those things in reserve.

I trusted him to keep that to himself, just as he trusted me the same way. After all, I'd known those things about him from the moment I laid eyes on him the first time. I'd never told anyone what I knew and he'd eventually come to respect and trust me because of that. Handing Becker to him only solidified the deal.

"You know, most women mind their weight," Nick observed after watching Mary tear into her king crab, dipping it liberally in drawn butter before eating it. "If she eats like that all the time, she should weigh two hundred. She probably doesn't weigh more than one-twenty as it is."

"Maybe she really, really likes crab. I used to," I said. We'd already placed our order-I asked for a salad, Nick ordered salmon. After all, if you order salmon in Alaska, you're practically assured of getting good fish.

"That's enough crab to feed a bodybuilder," Nick said. "And she's still drinking."

She was-her third drink was set in front of her while we watched. Before she was finished, Mary ordered dessert and a fourth drink. At least she only ate half the tall slice of triple chocolate cake.

We have Marcus-Colonel Hunter is sending agents to pick him up, Rafe sent. At least Marcus no longer had the locating chip he'd arrived with-I'd destroyed it after mentally scanning his body. From this point on, he was off the enemy radar.

We may be late getting back to the boat, Rafe added. We're waiting until the agents arrive.

All right, I said. Let me know if you need help. Mary's still drinking.

I can't believe she wasn't staggering after she left the bar earlier, he said.

Probably had a high tolerance for it before she was made a clone, I responded.

Very possible. We'll get there before the boat sails, I promise.

Good. I hate going to bed without you.

Give Nick the information-except for that last part.

Will do.

Mary left the restaurant after finishing her drink and paying the tab, only to wander into another bar two buildings down. Maye and Opal took the watch there, while Nick and I found seats outside. A fourth cruise ship had arrived, much smaller than the three already docked. The tourist crowd in Ketchikan had just grown larger.

"I'm surprised she didn't take a bus tour after asking the bartender about it," Nick said, slipping on a pair of sunglasses.

"I think she intended to mislead anybody watching," I said. "Just in case. She hasn't behaved nervously the whole time she's been off the boat, so she either doesn't know she's being tailed or no longer cares."

"She doesn't know. I haven't seen her look behind her once," Nick said. "Anybody with anything to worry about will check their surroundings. She doesn't suspect anything."

"I hope you're right," I said.

"We just have to worry about getting that phone. Whatever information she has is probably important."

"I'd like a map to the enemy's front door," I huffed. "That's not likely to happen. How will we get the phone? I assume Colonel Hunter will have a plan?"

"There's protocol in place," Nick said. "All of which doesn't place you in danger."

"Right." I couldn't keep the sarcasm from my voice.

"Cori, you weren't military. That's why everybody looked down on you at the beginning. We assumed you were-well, worthless. We know better, now. We also know you're a primary target for the enemy and if you're lost, we're all lost. Don't blame Colonel Hunter. Not only is he protecting his best asset; he cares about you. Everybody does. Let us do our jobs around you. We've trained for that and we're good at it."

"I know." What Nick didn't say but we both knew-Madam President was terrified I'd be lost. I'd become one of her best advisors, without the promotion or the pay raise. While she and Auggie trusted my judgment of others, they didn't trust my judgment regarding myself.

Great.

"Cori, you've gone walkabout a few times-admit it. I hear you took Rafe to the top of a hundred foot statue."

"It's ninety-eight feet. Not counting the base."

"Like I said."

"Look, sometimes I need alone time. I always have-even before. I was a writer then, too. It's part of the vocation."