C. Paradee - Deep Cover

Several things processed in Blue's mind concurrently, each impression separated only by nanoseconds - a silver Cavalier pulling in too slowly...a window rolling down... an object being extended from the driver's side...

She threw her body against Shelby's, wrapping her arms around the analyst in a tackling move. As her momentum carried them both to the ground, their impact coincided with the unmistakable crack of a weapon being fired and shattering the relative silence of their surroundings.

Blue rolled them beneath the undercarriage of a nearby Jeep Cherokee before releasing Shelby and taking a covering position in front of her, weapon drawn and ready; but the Chevy had accelerated out of the parking lot and into the street. Following procedure, she reached for the miniature cellular phone attached to her waistband, relieved that it hadn't become dislodged during their fall.

She quickly glanced at it and pressed one, the speed dial associated with Earl's private phone. When he answered, she simply stated, "Code 1, apartment complex," and disconnected.

Shelby was terrified and scooted further under the car until she heard Kris whisper. "Don't go any further. We may have to move fast if he comes back."

Blue rose to her knees, keeping well below the windows of the car, and chanced a quick look around. The silver Cavalier had not returned, but unwilling to take any chances, she remained in place, shielding Shelby's body with her own.

Fortunately, the shot hadn't attracted the attention of any of the apartment dwellers and Blue knew that was most likely because, to an untrained ear, a shot sounded remarkably similar to a car backfiring. She knew it would only be a matter of minutes before Earl's team arrived and waited for her associates alertly, but patiently.

Shelby remained frozen in place, not uttering a word. She had no intentions of doing anything to divert Kris' attention. Her arm was throbbing painfully, and her hip hurt, although not as badly. She could see blood dripping from a scrape extending the length of Kris' arm as she held her gun over them protectively.

Confusing questions tumbled through her numb mind. Which one of us was shot at? Are these the guys that Kris said she'd take care of? What's really going on? Was this about the case or only about Kris?

A quarter of an hour later, which seemed like an eternity to Shelby, she watched Kris lift her cell phone up and say, "Okay."

"Earl's here. Stay down until I make a visual ID."

The sounds of a couple cars and quiet voices filled the air. She watched Kris cautiously rise, and then stoop down.

"It's okay." She extended her arm to Shelby once she cleared the underside of the Jeep and helped her up. "You okay?"

Shelby scooted from beneath the car and painfully stood up. Noting Kris' concerned gaze, she said, "My hip's a little sore and my arm is killing me, but yeah, I think so."

Earl strode over to Kris and Shelby. "What in the hell happened?"

Blue shrugged. "Not much I can tell you. The shot was fired from a silver Cavalier, probably a '95 or '96. I didn't get much of a look and by the time I was in a position to see the license number, he was too far away."

"He's probably long gone."

Though Kris nodded in agreement, Earl quickly dispensed search corridors to the six agents that had accompanied him.

"Any ideas who it might be?"

Kris shook her head. "None."

"What about you, Shelby? That's twice you've been shot at in a parking lot. Once could have been coincidence, but twice? Not likely."

"No."

Kris gazed at Shelby. Noting her pale, drawn face, she turned to Earl. "Any reason you can't direct the operation from inside?"

"No. Let's go." He moved slightly behind Kris, as she slowly walked next to the limping analyst.

This was the strangest case he could remember working on since he'd retired from the field. More was going on than was apparent, but what that could be, he had no idea. He was going to have to devote some of his time to trying to find out. Earl also questioned the wisdom of leaving Shelby on the case. There was no proof that either shooting was case related, yet it couldn't be ruled out either. He decided to see what Shelby wanted to do.

Kris reached down, picked up Stormy, then handed her to Shelby as they walked through the door. She'd known that greeting the kitten would be her companion's first priority upon entering the apartment and, noticing how she was favoring her arm and trying to hide a slight limp, had wanted to save her any further discomfort. She was rewarded with a warm smile.

Once all three of them were seated in the living room, Earl opened the discussion. "Shelby. I'm thinking about taking you off this case. Do you have a problem with that?"

A quick influx of color brightened her pale face. "Yes, I do. I started it, and I want to see it through."

Earl had expected that answer. "Okay, how about moving to a safe house?"

Kris stood up. "I don't think that's a good idea. There is obviously a leak on this case and until you find it, she's safer with me."

"Hey look, I wasn't insinuating you can't handle this assignment. I'm just trying to look out for her welfare."

"How are you going to keep the location secret? She can be shot at just as easily going in and out of a safe house as here. Unless you intend to keep her locked up twenty-four hours a day, what are you going to do? Surround her with operatives every time she moves? You could be exposing her to even more danger if the security breach extends to one of the agents guarding her."

Shelby tried to think of something light to say to ease the tension between Earl and Kris. "You must have really pissed Bob off."

As Shelby's words sank in, Kris grinned. "Nah. He was just an overgrown wus."

"What are you two talking about, and who is Bob?"

Smiling, Shelby said, "Oh, just a guy we met at the gym who wasn't too happy about taking no for an answer."

Earl looked at Kris, only to find her gazing at him, amused. He could just imagine what had transpired. "Any possibility..."

"No, Earl. Shelby was just tweaking you."

He turned toward Shelby. "Is there anyone that you can think of who might have a personal grudge against you? An old boyfriend? Someone from your old job? Anyone at all?"

"No." Shelby hesitated as an image appeared in her mind, but discarded it as paranoia. "I can't think of anyone who would shoot at me."

Kris watched Shelby closely. She instinctively felt there was something she wasn't sharing. The operative intended to pursue it later.

Earl mused aloud. "We're no further than we were before."

Kris' voice turned serious. "No, but Earl, everything points to a leak. You need to find it." But I'll probably beat you to it.

Shelby lifted Stormy from her lap and stood up. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back."

Once Blue heard the door close, she met Earl's direct gaze with her own. "Did you know the grapevine has Blue here? Thought you might find that interesting."

"Shit!"

"My thoughts exactly. Now tell me you don't have a leak."

Earl mused, "It would seem so. How'd you find out?"

"Shelby mentioned it earlier."

Raising an eyebrow, Earl looked at her in surprise. "You told her Blue was your code name?"

"Not hardly. She has somehow pieced it together herself, but I don't think she's really made up her mind if I am or not."

Shelby's eyes widened as she walked up the hallway. So I was right. She knew the evidence had pointed toward Kris being Blue, but even though she'd actively thought about it, deep down she really hadn't believed it, even going so far as to convince herself that an operative that valuable and deadly would not be brought in to work a desk case.

But this was cold, harsh reality. She could no longer hide behind the comfort of not knowing for certain. The woman she was growing increasingly fond of was the notorious Blue whose reputation was the beating pulse of the rumor mill and whispered with awe throughout the Company's corridors. But, does knowing for sure really make any difference? No. It doesn't.