Red Eye to Los Angeles
By Kat Fenn
A/N: My apologies for taking so long to post, I promise life will be back to its normal scheduled programming soon and so will my writing!
Chapter 2
Cait looked up, startled, as Michael swept into the office. She had been so engrossed that she hadn't heard him come in through either the hangar or the front doors leading from the parking area out front.
"What's the matter, Cait, guilty conscience?" grinned Michael, as he made himself comfortable on the leather visitor's chair, and crossed his legs. Marella tried to hide a smile behind her hand.
"No, you just startled me, that's all!" said Cait, trying hard to hide the blush that crept up the back of her neck. She turned to put the now-empty in-trays back into the cupboard where they usually lived, and empty the one remaining in-tray holding the items she planned to do at home that night into her backpack, before turning back to Michael and Marella, with what she hoped was a more composed façade.
"So what's this in aid of? String and Dom won't be back for a couple more hours."
"It's you I need to speak to, Cait."
"Well, I'm right here, so speak…" Cait's voice trailed away as Marella handed her a thick cream folder.
"We need your help."
"Uh oh, here we go," thought Cait to herself. Aloud she said, "OK, I'm listening."
"We think someone's trying to steal a new superweapon we're working on, and we have a mole in the Firm that we need to flush out."
"So we need you to go undercover," added Marella. "At the Firm. All the details you need for your cover are in the envelope."
"Hey, just hang on a danged minute! I haven't said yes yet, and last time I checked I didn't work for you!" exclaimed Cait, inwardly excited that she had been picked for the mission over String and Dom.
"Cait, you would be perfect for the job. Plus I'm sure Dom and String could spare you for a couple of days? Besides, weren't you the one who was complaining the other day about wanting a bit more excitement in your life?" cajoled Marella.
"So what's in it for me?" asked Cait.
"Eternal fame and glory?" said Michael dryly, looking quizzically at Cait while stroking his chin with his left hand.
Cait looked at the two white-clad agents for a moment. She considered her choices, then decided that it would be a mistake for her to agree so quickly. "I'd need to talk to Dom and String, first. I am on Dom's dime, after all."
"If it's your salary you're worrying about, don't worry – we'll make arrangements for the Firm to reimburse you personally for the days you are away. Besides, I'm sure String and Dom wouldn't mind too much – the superweapon we're working on is a new laser for Airwolf."
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Karen sighed to herself. The last of the boxes going into storage had been loaded into the van she had borrowed for the day. The rest of her little apartment looked empty and forlorn. The clothes she was taking with her, together with the small gifts Nuno and Maria had sent for String, were neatly packed in the two burgundy-coloured suitcases. All she needed to do the next day was to pack her toiletries and she was ready to go. She hugged herself in glee. She couldn't believe the day was finally here – tomorrow she would board a plane (or planes) for LA – and String. She was looking forward to starting a new life in LA. She had always secretly craved adventure, and the idea of finding out for sure if String and her had a future together was indeed an adventure – plus the thought of finding somewhere new to teach, as well as starting work at Santini Air.
The sharp buzz of the doorbell startled her. "Skaaterboll*, it's us!" called out her mother.
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"Thank you!" said Cait, as the waitress put down a plate holding her order of cheeseburger and fries, with a big dollop of fiery bean chilli on the top, just the way she liked it. She waited till the waitress walked away before she reopened the cream file in front of her.
She had to admit, the information contained in the folder intrigued her. It was a case that she would love to sink her teeth into. Much as she loved her job at Santini Air, most days it was mundane, to say the least. This, would give her brain a much needed stretch. She would go undercover as an HR consultant under the guise of improving inter-departmental relations. Although the mole was suspected to be someone who was directly involved in the research and development of the laser, it was a distinct possibility that the trail would lead her into other departments, like testing or manufacturing. She smiled as she remembered what both String and Dom had said to her, earlier on that evening.
"Well, we can't tell you what to do or what not to do," String had said, economic with his words as usual. "Just be careful. Do your check-ins so we know you're OK, and don't be a hero."
"Besides, Karen will be here the day after tomorrow, so we'll be fine here. Besides, if the payoff is a new toy for the Lady, I'm not going to say no," Dom had added, with a big belly laugh.
Cait had promised to make sure that Karen knew how the paperwork system worked at Santini Air when she arrived, and given them both a hug and a peck on the cheek. "I'll be back before you know it," she had said brightly.
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* A South African term of endearment