In Danger and Falling Fast

Chapter 1-2

Talk about skin of your teeth timing. Maggie saw Kurt Halstead dart into the briefing room and snag a seat near the far end of the long conference table. She raised an eyebrow as she met his gaze. He just shrugged and smiled. The stockily-built ex-Navy SEAL was freshly shaved for a change. He had dark hair, buzzed to about an inch long, and intense blue eyes.

A short woman with slightly graying light brown hair stood at the head of the table. She wore the standard khaki skirt and blouse uniform. “For those of you I have not met with individually yet, I’m Captain Jill Hubert. Admiral Lang has appointed me as the new commanding officer of this unit. I confess I am new to SPAWAR but most definitely not to the naval intelligence business. I wish we had weeks, even months to settle into a comfortable working relationship but unfortunately, the world is unwilling to grant us that kind of time. We have somewhere between a week and ten days to get up to speed. Rousseau, present the Intel that was acquired just two days ago.”

Mike stood up and picked up the remote for the video screen on the wall. Maggie had only seen him in his khaki officer’s uniform a couple of times before and she let herself admire the whole package for one long moment. Blond hair, cut high and tight, and the way the crisp lines set off his muscular form was practically a “Go Navy” advertisement.

“We’ve been actively tracking suspects affiliated with the Paris bombing for several months now,” Mike began. “Everything went very quiet for two months after the event, then tidbits of Intel began popping up again. ISIS has a number of operators scattered through a handful of different countries. There’s a rumor going around that a Rwandan named either Hermann or Herve may be setting up a meeting with a Swedish citizen in Syria. I know that sounds vague. It does get better.” He pushed the button on the remote. A slightly grainy photo was displayed of three men about to get into a car on a European street. “The tallest is the Rwandan. The man to his left is Salah Abdeslam, ISIS logistics chief. The photo was taken three days before Abdeslam’s arrest. We don’t have a name yet for the third man. He’s estimated to be in his late twenties or early thirties. The photo was taken in Manchester in the UK, and we think he may be traveling under a Moroccan passport with the name Omar Harrak. There are indications this may not be his real name.”

Mike triggered the remote to show another picture. This one was of an import document. “Harrak orchestrated the shipment of hydrogen peroxide to a warehouse on the west side of Prague near the Vltava River. The document lists a professional laundry company as the recipient of the peroxide. We think it may be destined to be a component of TATP, triacetone triperoxide, one of the most volatile and unstable explosives currently being used in terrorist activities. The shipment is in transit right now and as far as we know scheduled to arrive in nine days.” Mike sat down.

Captain Hubert stepped forward again. “So, here’s our game plan. Morido and Harrison are being sent to Prague tomorrow, so we can get eyes on the location of the warehouse. Yes, we viewed it with satellite imaging already, but so far, that hasn’t yielded much information. While Morido and Harrison are there, they’ll secure a location, apartment or hotel, which ever seems most appropriate for setting up long-term surveillance. Halstead and Degginger will follow in one week to replace them and hypothetically be present for the delivery of the peroxide. I want everybody present to read through the full Intel package we have so far. We’ll meet again tomorrow morning at ten, before Morido and Harrison leave. Questions?”

There appeared to be none.

Hubert continued. “Halstead and Degginger, hang around. I have some details to discuss.”

Maggie ground her teeth a little. Did details translate to a dressing down because word had filtered around that she had a relationship with Kurt and Mike? Or was it really just details of their upcoming assignment? She exchanged a glance with Kurt, but he didn’t indicate he knew any more than her.

The rest of the unit filtered out of the conference room. Kurt and Maggie stayed, but got to their feet.

Captain Hubert held out her hand to Kurt. “I feel like I should make a personal assurance to you that none of the things that happened with Givens will happen with me. I read through the dossier of the events. I know you trusted him and he tried to have you killed.”

Kurt shook Hubert’s hand. “Ma’am.”

Hubert turned to Maggie. “I know you’re new to this unit. Admiral Lang speaks very highly of you as do your previous superiors in Homeland Security.”

“Thank you.” Maggie shook hands with Hubert.

“We have one week for the two of you to get up to speed with working together. I saw the notes that said you’d been to the shooting range and begun some other simulation practices over the past three weeks. How’s it progressing?”

“Fine, ma’am. We both have fairly extensive field backgrounds.” Maggie looked at Kurt.

“Do you think you’ll be ready for Prague?” Hubert asked.

“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Kurt said.

“Your cover is probably going to involve the two of you sharing a room, depending on what Morido and Harrison pick for a local address,” Hubert said. “Any problem with that?”

“We’re adults. We can handle it,” Maggie said.

“Okay, keep training, read the Intel, see you tomorrow.” Hubert gave them both a brief nod and departed.

After Hubert was out of the room and down the hall, Kurt leaned in and whispered, “Because sharing a bed with you would be such a hardship.”

Maggie gave him a look and made a middle finger gesture.

Kurt just grinned.

* * * *

“You haven’t unpacked anything other than the coffeepot and the mugs,” Mike said. “And your fridge has exactly two things in it.” He peered into the near vacant space inside the refrigerator. He had arranged to meet Maggie at her new apartment after work. Originally, Kurt had been slated to follow but he had been pulled away by Harrison to discuss what type of location might serve them best in Prague.

“Does this mean I can convince you to take me out to dinner, or at least order something to be delivered?” Maggie said from the den.

“Do you want to wait on Kurt? Or let him fend for himself?”

“We can wait. I’m not starving. I am never ever gonna get all this s**t unpacked before going to Prague. Well…whatever.” Maggie came into the kitchen. “Speaking of coffee…”

“Are you planning on making a pot? You rival Kurt in caffeine consumption, and considering he’s a SEAL…”

Maggie put a finger against Mike’s mouth. “Caffeine makes the world go ‘round.”

Mike licked Maggie’s finger. “So do other things. Horizontal things.”

“Why does it have to be horizontal?” she teased him.

“It doesn’t.” Mike lifted her and pressed her back against the wall. Maggie wound her legs around his hips. He ground himself against her and indulged in a kiss, swiping his tongue along her teeth as she opened her mouth to him.

The two of them groped and rutted for several minutes, before Mike asked, “Up against the wall okay by you?”

“Uh-huh.”

Mike eased her to the floor and she immediately began unzipping her slacks, pushing them down and stepping out of them. Mike hurried through a similar motion, only shoving his own slacks down around his thighs. He didn’t even have to go hunting for a condom. One outcome of a long late-night talk between him, Kurt and Maggie was that they had all agreed to blood testing and exclusivity.

Spreading her legs, Maggie leaned back against the wall, both hands on Mike’s shoulders. Mike pushed into the slick heat of her body and Maggie made a low sound of pleasure. He gripped her hips and thrust in again. Within moments, she had her legs wound around his body again. He kissed her hard and sloppy and she just laughed.