C. Paradee - Deep Cover

"No!"

The operative's brow furrowed, surprised at the vehement response. "What do you mean, no?"

"That won't work. You've got to meet Earl ahead of time and tell him the truth. We do it your way, and you don't have anything left to bargain with. They'll already have Sergei."

"Yeah, but they can't prove he's Sergei. They need my testimony to do that."

Shelby shook her head in disagreement. "Maybe. But that's not good enough. What if they just haul in some of the men that he has with him? Wouldn't be the first time they ignored diplomatic immunity when they suspected someone of being a spy."

Kris carefully considered Shelby's words. She knew her plan wasn't perfect, and her partner's concern was valid. If the Company got what they needed at the time of the bust, she would lose her advantage in the bargaining process. And if she lost that, she could lose everything she was fighting for.

The operative sighed and ran a hand through her hair, glad they'd finally inched their way to the exit. "You're right. I'll have to set up a time to meet with Earl and explain it all to him." Kris gazed at Shelby momentarily before turning her attention back to the road. "You do know that he might ask me to surrender to him right then and there?"

"He could, but I don't think he will. You said you trusted Earl. I've got a feeling he trusts you, too. Even if he did want to take you into custody, all you'd have to do is tell him that my safety would be jeopardized." Shelby gazed into Kris' eyes. "And it would be, so you convince him, okay?"

Kris took a steadying breath at the implications of the frank statement. "He'll agree. Or he'll wake up with a big headache after I leave."

"I'm going with you and waiting in the car."

One look at the determined expression on her partner's face, and Kris swallowed her protest. "Okay."

Shelby hid her surprise, pleased at the easy victory. "Good. Now let’s go catch some spies."

Kris raised her eyebrows, and shook her head as she drove slowly through the congested Washington streets.

Shelby could see her partner growing more restless with each passing minute. They'd been sitting in the car for over an hour and a half and Maggie still hadn't appeared. All talked out about the case and their plans, she searched for a light topic. "If you could live anywhere you wanted to, where would you go?"

Raising an eyebrow at the off the wall question, Kris quirked a half smile. "That's easy. Wherever you were."

"I was being serious," Shelby protested, though pleased by her partner's answer.

"So was I." Kris met Shelby's eyes and held them for a moment before returning her gaze to their surroundings. "I don't care where I live if I'm with you. If you're happy, I'll be happy. That's what's important to me, not where we are."

Shelby basked in the warmth generated by the words, and a silly grin appeared on her face. "I never knew you were a such a romantic."

Kris could feel the blood rushing to her face and she glanced away . A romantic? Me? No way! Let's be honest here. Maybe a little where Shelby's concerned.

The blond woman cleared her throat, smiling warmly when Kris faced her. "That's not a bad thing. But don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

Kris shrugged, feigning indifference. "Wouldn't matter anyway. No one would believe you."

"Humm...you don't think so?" Her eyes dancing mischievously, Shelby said, "Want to place a wager on that?"

"No!"

Shelby nodded. "Don't worry, sweetheart, your secret's safe with me." She chuckled when Kris' face reddened again, but her merriment died abruptly when Kris spoke.

"There she is." Kris inclined her head towards the right side of the street they were facing. "See the guy in the gray jogging suit? Right behind him."

The analyst already had the camera up and was snapping off shots as she tracked the woman down the street. Her skill would be sorely tested because she had to have a shot of Maggie making the actual drop in the blind man's cauldron.

Kris listened to the whir of the camera as her partner fired off shot after shot until Maggie had made the drop and disappeared from sight. She waited for fifteen minutes to ensure Maggie had completely left the area, then turned to Shelby.

"Come on. Let's go get it."

Shelby walked nonchalantly along with Kris as they stopped momentarily along the street to gaze into shop windows. She was fully aware that the operative stayed between her and the street and blocked her body with her taller one when they stopped at each storefront. It was a very comforting feeling.

Blue leaned over the blind man sitting on the ground, watching as Shelby walked behind him, looking for the hidden container. "Looks like you had a good day. People must be feeling generous."

The man nodded. "Yes. Perhaps you, too, would help a blind man."

The operative nodded. "Sure," and dropped some coins into the metal cup on the ground next to him.

In a lightning fast move, he grabbed Shelby's arm just as she retrieved the small microfiche container, but he froze when the cool, hard metal of a gun's bore pressed against his neck, and the sound of a round being chambered dominated his senses.

Blue growled, "Let go of her arm." With her jacket loosely draped over her arm and weapon, she was carefully shielding the gun from casual onlookers.

He wasted no time, immediately releasing the slender arm. "Please, they will kill me."

"No they won't. Because the only way they know there was a drop is if you tell them. But I would suggest you find another way to supplement your income."

The man's head bobbed up and down. "Yes, yes, I will do that."

Kris removed her weapon from his throat, glancing around to make sure no one was watching them. "Good. You'll live a lot longer if you do."

She nodded to Shelby and they began retracing their steps back to the car. Once they departed the area, the analyst asked, "Now on to Maggie's?"

"Yeah, but let's stop at the Burger King drive through along the way. You've gotta be hungry, I know I am."

"I am hungry." Shelby was actually starved, but she didn't want Kris' concern for her to jeopardize getting the information they needed. "You sure we have time?"

Kris smiled reassuringly. "When the phone tap or bugs are activated, they automatically send signals to a remote tape recorder I hid outside her apartment. We won't miss anything. I just want to make sure we're there when Michael arrives. Pictures are worth a thousand words."

"So why did you bring that little tape recorder if it's already being recorded. In case someone finds the other one?"

"Partly, but also in case of a malfunction. I don't want to take any chances."

Shelby nodded in agreement and shifted in her seat. Lately it seemed like she was spending most of her life in a car. She'd be glad when the repairs to her own car were finished. It was a lot more comfortable than this rental was.

She rewound the roll of film in the camera, then carefully removed it, secured it in the plastic container, and placed it in her purse. She'd shot off 20 pictures, and needed a new roll for Michael at a faster speed. It would most likely be at least dusk, if not dark, by the time he appeared, if he showed at all.

Following a shortcut Shelby suggested to bypass most of the busier main thoroughfares, a short time later the two women parked in a congested area of the parking lot of the apartment complex where Maggie lived.

Shelby was leaning against the car door, and straightened when the tape recorder came to life. Listening to it, she looked at Kris and gave her a thumbs up. "Bingo!"

The operative grinned at the happy smile on her partner's face. Maggie had called Michael and he was due over within a half-hour. "Might be able to get an early night in after all. We leave once she tells him. No sense hanging around here and taking a chance on being spotted."