C. Paradee - Deep Cover

Just as Kris had suspected he would, her tail picked her up on the parkway. She smiled grimly. Soon, I'll either know who you are or you'll be dead . Kris turned off on the same exit she had the previous evening and drove back to the Sheraton. After parking her car in the underground garage, she quickly made her way to her room and changed into the jeans and pullover top she'd purposely left behind.

Kris took the metal fire escape to the second floor and, rather than lowering it to the cement below, she grasped the metal rungs with her hands and swung herself down until she could easily jump to the ground. She cut through an adjoining building, exiting the rear door and casually walking up the side street to a dark green Lexus. Ten minutes later, the operative arrived at Shelby's apartment complex minus one tail.

Shelby knew Kris had turned off back on the parkway, but had been surprised when she got to her apartment and the operative still hadn't reappeared. She gave up trying to guess what Kris was doing this time, glad to have the opportunity to make her bed and pick up the bathroom.

When she opened the door, the kitten came running and meowing. Shelby picked it up, smiling as she cuddled it. "Bet you're hungry." She carried her into the kitchen and set her down as she opened a small can of kitten food and poured it into the orphan's dish before quickly making her way to the bedroom. Shelby never had a chance to finish before a knock sounded at the door. "Just a minute."

She quickly threw her towels in the hamper before opening the door. And she froze, staring at the visage in her doorway, before retreating into the apartment.

"You didn't even look to see who it was!" Blue was in full intimidation mode and knew she was scaring Shelby, but the analyst needed to be called to task on this.

"I knew you were coming..."

Blue snapped, "Did you knowit was me?"

"I made a mistake, okay?" Shelby was struggling with a combination of fear and anger. What she had done was careless, but she felt like Kris was overreacting, and the operative was downright scary. At the same time she was crushed that she had appeared inept. "It won't happen again."

"Make sure it doesn't." Kris set down her overnight bag. She'd left the remainder of her clothes in the car, easily accessible if she needed them.

Shelby retreated to her bedroom and closed the door. Yes, what she had done was stupid, but it wasn't like she lived some cloak and dagger lifestyle, either. And when in the heck did she have time to change into jeans ? Well, I sure didn't make any points with her. But she didn't have to be such a bitch, either. The analyst squared her shoulders. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, so let me see if we can start all over again.

Kris sank down onto the couch and lowered her head into her hands. Why did I do that? That was mean. I could have nicely explained the danger to her. In a moment of total honesty, Kris acknowledged, I did it to push her away. I know it was unfair. She doesn't deserve to be treated like that. It shouldn't matter to me, this is just a job, but it does. And that's the whole problem. I've always been able to maintain a distance when I needed to and I'm having a big problem doing that with her. There's something about her...

The operative heard the bedroom door open and quickly stood up. She gazed around the apartment, taking in the comfortable, homey décor. The carpet was buff and the overstuffed couch and matching chair were a blend of very light mauves, blues, and teals intricately woven into a beige background. There was a pair of mauve tinted glass lamps with an attractive flower painted on the base centered on end tables at opposite sides of the couch. A matching heavy oak coffee table set in front of the couch. Kris' perusal was interrupted by Shelby's voice.

"Want something to drink?"

Kris wanted to apologize, to say something light, anything, but the words weren't there. "Do you have any Coke?"

"Diet okay?"

Shelby chuckled at the look on Kris' face. "Guess that's a no. How about ginger ale."

"Sounds good."

Kris took the can from Shelby. "Do I get a tour?"

"Sure, but why don't you just sit down and relax for a few. I want to change clothes. You already did. How did you manage that?

"I have many skills."

Shelby chuckled at the cryptic comment. "I'll bet you do. Be right back."

"Take your time." Kris leaned back against the couch, and quirked a half-smile. "I'm not going anywhere." She grinned, listening to Shelby chuckle as she walked away.

She resumed her perusal of the small apartment, her eyes taking in an open laptop on one end of the dining room table with a few papers lying next to it and a vase of artificial flowers pushed off to the side. On one wall, there was a bookcase with glass doors and on the opposite wall a patio door led to a large balcony. Kris crossed the room, heading toward the balcony, when the bookcase caught her attention as she passed. Stopping, she gazed at the contents curiously.

It contained a small collection of mystical creatures. Leprechauns, fairies and elves surrounded a family of unicorns. On the shelf below, a statue of Pegasus with his wings fully extended as he reared was facing an intricately painted dragon with fire spewing forth from its mouth. A few of the fairies and elves looked old and Kris wondered how Shelby had come to develop an interest in the magical creatures of fairy tales and myths.

Her acute hearing picked up the sound of a footfall on carpet and she stepped away from the bookcase, not wanting to be caught studying the knickknacks, then continued to the patio door, sliding it open. As she stepped out onto the balcony, Shelby joined her.

"I love sitting out here in the evening. It's so peaceful."

Kris glanced down at Shelby, taking in the tranquil look on her face, and nodded, hating that she was going to have to spoil it for the analyst. "It is nice out here, but you should avoid doing that for a while."

Shelby sighed, knowing what Kris said made sense. "Okay. What would you like for dinner?"

"Anything is fine. Do you have any TV dinners? I can just throw one in the microwave."

"No. I don't usually buy those. Do you like spaghetti? Or how about pork chops? I've got some chili I made in the freezer..."

"Shelby, wait." Kris waited until she had her attention. "I'm not your guest. You don't have to cook for me. You didn't ask for this anymore than I did. Just do what you usually do and pretend I'm not even here."

Yeah, right. As if I could, even if I wanted to. "No. I won't do that. You are here and you're stuck with me because I might be in danger. I'm glad you're here and I'm not ignoring you."

She's glad I'm here? Kris liked how that thought felt, but it troubled her, too. She knew she had to put a halt to anything other than a business arrangement. "You might as well, because I'm here to do a job, that's it."

"Fine. But I'm still not ignoring you and if I make something to eat, I'm making enough for both of us. I wouldn't want the person protecting me to be too weak to do her job effectively."

Kris had to smother a smile at Shelby's last comment. "I didn't mean to offend you. I just don't want you to go to any extra trouble on account of my staying here."

Shelby met Kris' eyes. "It's no trouble."

Kris had to force herself to look away from the dancing green pools that were brimming with sincerity. The operative suddenly realized she wasn't going to win this battle and capitulated. "What do you want me to do?"

"Protect me, of course." Shelby grinned when a smile finally appeared on Kris' face.

"That I can do."

"Why don't you put your things in the bedroom? I'll change the bedding for you after dinner."