Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(82)

"Rafe," Colonel Hunter's tone stopped me from leaving the kitchen.

"What is it?" I turned to ask.

"Matt and I-want to have a discussion with you. Do you think Corinne will sleep another hour or so?"

"I hope so; she was awake much of the night."

"Good. This is important, and we wouldn't approach you like this if we weren't concerned."

"I understand," I said, although I waited for an explanation. Director Michaels arrived in twenty minutes; we spent the following hour discussing many things before I went looking for James. I still wanted to satisfy my curiosity about Harriett Majors' husband.

*

"Word has it he was a cold fish-perfect for a trial attorney, not so perfect as a husband or father," James said, copying a file onto a flash drive and handing it to me. "He thought Cori's-well, Harriett's writing was just a quaint little hobby-his words, not mine-until she started making more money than he did. Some of their neighbors were interviewed after the deaths were reported. Even before Darin Sr. was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, they slept in separate bedrooms."

"Why not get a divorce?" I asked.

"He was Catholic-she wasn't. I don't know that she ever asked for a divorce, but he'd have refused it. She brought him clients, too, once people knew who he was married to."

"So he starved her for attention and love, perhaps?"

"It's possible. Dr. Shaw thinks that's exactly how it was-he did this research and gave it to me because it's all public record anyway. Once Darin Sr. got sick and his time was limited, she bent over backward to see he got everything he wanted, including a visit to the Louvre instead of going to Wales that day."

"And she was still determined to avenge his death, because it was so violent and undeserved," I said.

"She could have killed the original Baikov without thinking too hard about it," James pointed out. "She let you have that honor."

"Yes, she did."

"Because she knew how important that was to you."

"I know this."

"Commander Black," Nathan Cross walked into James' office with an armload of files.

"Commander?"

"You've been given titles-all of you," Nathan smiled. "Madam President has to introduce you formally at the meeting, so you have to have a title."

"Interesting," I responded. "What is Corinne's title?"

"Special Attaché to the Department of Defense."

"Classic," James laughed.

*

Corinne

"Special Attaché?" I'd wandered into the kitchen to find Auggie, James, Nathan and Ilya there, having coffee. James was grinning as I made coffee for myself. He announced that I had a new title while my coffee dribbled into a waiting cup.

"We can't offer a military title-you could be questioned about your service, of which there is none," Auggie pointed out judiciously. "Rafe probably has all that squirreled away in his head anyway, so it was a cinch for him."

"I am a Lieutenant Colonel, as is Maye," Nick beamed as he walked into the kitchen and headed for the coffee maker.

"Everybody outranks me?" I huffed.

"Christ," Auggie covered his face with a hand.

"Corinne, these titles mean nothing," Leo said as he walked in with Maye and Richard.

"Hey, now," Nick protested.

"Christ," Auggie repeated.

"I don't believe it was meant as a slight, cabbage," Ilya said.

"No? You're a Commander. I'm a glorified secretary or something."

"I'll get it changed," Auggie sighed.

"No, the damage is done." Lifting my coffee cup, I stalked out of the kitchen before transporting myself to Tybee Island.





Chapter 18

Ilya

"She'll come back," Richard attempted to calm everyone. "She always does."

"Why did this upset her so much?" Nathan asked.

"You'd have to know more of Corinne's history to start guessing at that, and most of us are still in the dark about it," Maye responded.

"I think it's when we question her talent or ability that she gets upset," James said. "Remember the Ukraine-Crimea-Baikov thing? Rafe thought she was delusional when she said she'd take care of the bunker and boom-off she went."

"At least she dropped you off in Matt's office first," Opal said. She'd come late to our difficulty, but she'd been updated quickly.

"Exactly. Corinne won't leave us hanging out to dry," Richard said, pointing a finger in Opal's direction.

Cabbage? I sent mindspeech to her.

Go away, she replied. I'm having a snit.

My love, the last thing anyone here would do is upset you. It wasn't meant that way.

How was it meant, then?

I have no idea who arranged these titles. You understand that your title will ensure that you stay close to Colonel Hunter? Of all of us, he may be the most vulnerable. He is not a drug survivor, my darling.

What about the President?

Maye and Nick will be with her. You are to be with Colonel Hunter, who will watch a live feed of the meeting from a room close by.