Part 10

POV - Rader

Yesterday gave me sight of Foster I never thought I would see. Complete opposite to always immaculate and composed image I'm so used to. It is shameful to admit, but wet, smeared with blood blouse stuck to the body in most compromising ways and skirt ridden up to almost inappropriate length attracted me. Good thing she was too out of it to notice my openly predatory stare.

Truth to be told, I would have never expected it from myself. There was nothing even remotely erotic about the whole situation, but the images of perfect curves and silky skin still makes my heart beat faster and lower body tense. It is maddening. Hopefully I will manage to get a hold of myself, before the whole thing spins out of control.

For the first time in a long I'm at the office on time. It gives me a chance to look at the bloody reports Foster was fussing about yesterday. Problem is that I have absolutely no desire to deal with the papers so I end up surfing the web.

Nice pictures from Miss October...

The phone rings.

Crap!

It is Bennett.

And the day started so well...

He wants us to come over, new assignment. I look at the clock. It is almost eleven. Where the hell is Foster? The doors to my office are open so I would have seen if she or Cal would have arrived.

For Lightman it is nothing new to be late. He is like a cat that walks wherever and whenever he wants without any respect for people, time or privacy.

Foster, on the other hand, is always punctual like a Swiss watch. Military could set the time by her.

I wait for thirty more minutes, but still none of the bosses blesses us with their presence.

To make the Commander wait is not a bright idea, especially after yesterday's fiasco. I guess I will have to be the patch. Let's hope Commander won't be too offended, because he always wants to speak only with someone who corresponds to his level, Foster in particular.

At the entrance I almost collide with the Mistress of the Minions. There is no more time to waste. We have to be in CIA headquarters. I grab her by arm and without any explanations drag out.

"What?" The woman is clearly startled as she tries to get rid of my grasp.

Don't get too excited, it is not a kidnapping! I smirk to myself.

Aloud I say, "Bennett. Twenty minutes."

Foster nods. I know she understands. Without further questions she follows me to the car and opens passenger doors. Despite my previous nasty comments I have to admit that one thing you can always count on when dealing with Foster is her professionalism. She never asks silly questions and easily adapts to any situation, even most unconventional one. It is rare a quality, especially in women.

We drive in silence. From the corner of my eye I observe her. Foster has lost that sickly grey pallor she wore yesterday, but still looks pale. Dark circles underlay her expressive eyes and deep lines of worry are embedded on her face. Instead of usually immaculate hair styling there is a bit messy knot on the head. No makeup either. It looks as if she was thrown out of the apartment without having a chance to grab at least a brush, but I like her better this way. It proves that she is just a human after all, like the rest of us mortals.

I want to ask her whether something is wrong, but I know that her only reply would be "I'm fine". Foster never reveals her problems or personal issues to anyone at the office, least of all me. So I swallow my curiosity and focus on driving.

The woman is so lost in her thoughts, that even my sharp manoeuvre to avoid asshole taxi driver does not bring any emotions on her face. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that I'm transporting a statue and not a human being.

Only when I'm already parking she finally opens her mouth. The question takes me by surprise.

"By the way - what did you promise to Bennett?"

I wonder...

"You were in the room when we spoke."

"Jack!" her tone is serious. I know I'm playing with fire, but can't stop myself. It is simply too much fun. With all the seriousness I can muster I announce, "Don't you recall? I promised him you, more specifically – a night with you."

Foster's expression is priceless despite the fact that she knows it is a joke.

I just want to see how far I can get with it, "More importantly - you agreed..."

The woman almost chokes from such audacity, but her face regains at least some colour. With that healthy blush on her cheeks she looks like a human again and not that creepy character from the Night of living zombies I was driving the whole way.

To my big surprise a glimpse of smile slides across her face once initial shock is over. It is very brief, almost unnoticeable expression, but I still see it as bright as the light of the day.

Who would have thought that somewhere in this serious and unattainable person could be hidden the same sparkle of raw and twisted sense of humour I have.

I guess that old saying – never judge the book by its cover – has some truth in it after all...

tbc