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department, the National Security Agency. He hated to believe that his
own cohorts would try killing him for no apparent reason, and the
CIA supposedly wasn't allowed to operate inside the boundaries of the
country. He mulled all this over in his mind but came to no
conclusions other than that he was damn well going to keep his eyes
wide open for the rest of his stay here, however long that might be. He
dropped a bill on the table and departed. No sense letting alcohol dull
his judgment.
* * * *
It was nearing the noon hour as he entered Spring Rock Park. The
temperature had risen some but it was still breezy and cool. Yet
despite that, a goodly number of strollers and joggers were already
present. He found the center of the park easily, simply by following
the widest path. He passed a number of groves of trees which would
have made good ambush sites but he wasn't overly worried; if that
were the way an assassin intended to work, the SUV hit wouldn't have
been attempted, and he had already reasoned that a murder in
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Masterville would be poor strategy. Nevertheless he kept a close
watch on both foliage and people as he walked along, not hurrying,
but not going slowly, either.
As the large pond (or small lake, depending on how you looked at it)
came into view, he saw that he would have to make a half-circuit
around it in order to get to the renovated log cabin. There were
numerous benches along the way, some being used for workers on
lunch breaks, but vacant for the most part; the wind made it hard for
picnickers. Halfway around the lake, he was not overly surprised to
find Lisa sitting at a bench and nibbling on a sandwich as if trying to
make it last. Her face brightened when she saw him and he was sure
his did too, if the increased thump of his pulse was any indication.
After the first surge of emotion at the sight of Lisa, Daniel's next
impulse was to turn and run. Someone had just tried to kill him, and
chances were, another attempt would be made. If it happened here,
Lisa would be in the line of fire of whatever method was used next. He
stopped, wanting to talk to her; yet scared to risk it.
It was Lisa who made the decision for him. She slid sideways off the
seat where she had been sitting and stood up, smiling in his direction.
The breeze was in her face, blowing her long red hair back and
around her face in swirls of rusty red fire. It also whipped the
becoming green dress around her knees and between her legs,
presenting as pretty a picture as he had enjoyed for a long time. He
stayed where he was, unable to move while she walked up to him.
Her smile faltered as she saw his face. Daniel, is something wrong?
Hello Lisa. He scanned their surroundings and seeing nothing
threatening, managed a weak smile. No, nothing now. Someone did
almost run over me as I crossed the street back there. As soon as the
words left his mouth, he wondered why he should be telling her that.
Concern replaced her smile. Are you hurt? Goodness, how could
that happen right downtown?
I don't know. Anyway, it's nice to see you. Do you usually eat lunch
here in the park?
Lisa blushed prettily, but she was honest. Not very often. Frankly, I
hoped I would run into you here. Are you sure you're okay? You look
pale.
I'm fine, Daniel said. He studied her face, seeing no hint that she
might have known anything about the attempt on his life. So long as
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we're here, why don't we sit down?
They went back to the bench where Lisa had been eating. Daniel sat
across from her, wondering what in hell he was doing making eyes at
another woman when his cover presented him as a married man.
Lisa's hand slid across the table and covered his.
I hope you don't think I'm too ... forward, I guess. I know you're
married, but I thought we connected somehow when we met. If you
think I'm nutty, or just a brazen hussy, you can tell me to leave. Lisa
told the small fib about knowing he was married with what she
hoped was a straight face.
Daniel had to laugh.Brazen Hussy ! He hadn't heard that expression
for years! Lisa, you weren't wrong. I felt the same thing. It was ...
unusual. I've never met a woman-anyone, I mean-who made such an
immediate impression on me. I don't know what it means, though.
And actually, I'm not really married.
His mouth dropped open after uttering the last sentence. His mouth
appeared to be leading a life of its own this morning.
Before he could think of a way of covering up, Lisa nodded, smiling
prettily. I know. She hesitated, thinking of her instructions, to learn
all she could of what the NSA agents were here for, but no one had
told her that one of them would practically bowl her off her feet at
first meeting. Looking at his honest, expressive face she felt
something like a surge of weakness sweep over her body, but she
managed to continue. I knew-well, we both knew that you worked for
the, uh, government.
If Daniel's mouth had dropped open before, it practically gaped now.
He closed it, thinking of Shirley's suspicions. How right she had been!
The problem now was whether the attempt on his life had anything to
do with them-and he had to think it did, though from what source, he
wasn't sure.
Does anyone else here know?
Lisa squeezed his hand. I don't think I should say anything more just
yet. I probably shouldn't have said as much as I did, but I wanted to be
honest with you.
Hmm. Thanks. Well, let me elaborate a bit. That close call crossing
the street wasn't an accident. I think someone wanted to kill me, and
probably still does. Would you have any ideas about that? Daniel
watched her face closely as she answered. He wasn't suspicious of her
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personally, but he needed some answers.
Oh, Lord, no! No one here would do anything like that! I'm just sure
they wouldn't. Her expression showed horror at the very notion.
All right. I had to ask. And now I have to tell you something else:
being near me might become dangerous to your health.
You mean someone might try to kill me, too, just because I'm with
you?
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