A/N – The characters you know and love aren't mine – but you knew that. All the crazy OCs that you could do without (but I couldn't), those are mine
Chapter 35
They fell into a contented sleep.
The trio arrived at the executive airport with minutes to spare for their planned departure. "Oh the benefits of private jets and not having to go through security." Logan chuckled, as he pulled in front of PalomasBlancas, the Casablancas' private jet.
"You said it brother," Mac fist bumped Logan from her place in the backseat.
Veronica rolled her eyes. The weight of her gun belt pressing into her as she twisted in her seat to look at Mac. Veronica was conflicted on the subject of private jets. On one side, she bristled against the conspicuous consumption and obvious display of wealth that could be put to other uses, and she still had nightmares, less frequent with the passage of years, of watching a plane explode from her vantage point on a dark hotel roof. But on the other, not having to fight airport crowds, and being able to keep her gun with her in the cabin were pretty amazing things. She bit back any snarky comment about the expense, and instead patted her Glock, "You both forget, I am the security."
The other passengers rewarded her with happy laughter and she smiled back at them. The flight attendant opened Mac's door first and solitciously helped her from the car. Mac rolled her eyes when the man's back was turned and mouth DICK to the others. When he asked to take her computer bag, she merely smiled and handed it over politely. He is just doing his job, not his fault Dick has gone ridiculously over protective.
Veronica got out of the car and came around to give her a hug goodbye. Mac felt a little awkward about it, Damn Dick and his girl on girl fantasies. She tried not to hold herself too stiffly as Veronica whispered a goodbye to her stomach. "Marshmallow, I am counting on you to keep your mommy safe on her flight home. She is my best friend and she has to go deal with your daddy!"
With a laugh and a last waive Veronica was back in the Jeep and heading towards another hanger in the airport. Mac looked after them thoughtfully, embarrassment aside, it would be good to live near them again. She determined to tell them after they got back from Virginia about Dick's plans to move to D.C., and if it swayed their decision, she wasn't going to feel guilty at all.
Logan pulled up next to a non-descript black suv. "Ah government issue, can they be any more obvious?" He quipped. His orange jeep standing out in an obnoxious contrast. There was no covered parking so he pulled out a sunscreen. While they were temporarily obscured from any prying eyes, Logan took Veronica's hand and kissed it. "You know, we don't have to do this. We could just go buy an island somewhere, in the Caribbean, Greece, the West Indies?"
Veronica let the question hang in the silence for a moment before laughing, "What and miss out of government issue coffee, low pay, and high stakes danger? No fly-boy, you know me, a week of easy living and I would probably start a coup, best we see how this government wants to use us now."
Logan laughed with her and popped open his door, moving quickly to open hers for her. Inside he sighed though, a private island would be nice. The pulled their go bags out of the back and locked the Jeep. An older man with cross cropped hair, greying at the temple was standing at the stairs to jet. His eyes were narrowed, clearly studying them, trying to take their measure as they walked towards him. Veronica smirked at him.
"Lieutenant Mars, Agent Mars, I am retired Captain Palumbo, your escort for the flight." He reached out a hand first to Logan, than Veronica.
She shook it with a friendly smile. Logan tensed, wondering what was going to come out of her mouth. Veronica is at her most dangerous when she appears friendly. He pitied the man, and was surprised when she led the way up the stairs. As he and Palumbo entered the cabin, Veronica was fliting from seat to seat bouncing slightly. Picking one near the wing, she settled in with a happy sigh. "This one is just right." Ah, not quite the patented Amber voice, but close. She is messing with him, poor bastard.
Palumbo's face was stony, but he was no poker player, and his disapproval over Veronica's ditzy air was apparent. He focused his attention on Logan. As the plane took off, he grilled the younger man on his naval experience. He had served on the same aircraft carrier that Logan had been attached to before being sent to the Airforce exchange program and they easily swapped stories about ship culture.
Veronica watched them through lidded eyes feigning sleep. Palumbo was obviously interviewing Logan, grilling him with cleverly disguised questions, leading him through twists and turns of ethical scenarios and testing to see how much Logan would divulge. Despite the early slip of his mask when he showed his disapproval over her Amber qualities, now that she was "asleep" the man oozed the type of jocular comradery that was designed to inspire confidence. She was thrilled with her husband. Logan deflected questions with ease, charmingly spinning stories with no content and good humor. He carefully interspersed questions of his own, prying out tidbits from the man.
Confirming the intelligence that she and Mac had ferreted out of governmental databases last week, Palumbo admitted that he was once a protégé of Professor Haagensen. The man was good though, Veronica admitted internally, he stuck to his cover story that he was currently an international relations consultant working as a liaison between various foreign militaries and the Pentagon. He reminded her of Weidman, not as cold perhaps, but she believed the jovial façade was just that, a façade. Which means he isn't going to let much slip, unless he is rattled.
When they were an hour out of Dulles, Veronica decided it was time to "wake up." "Oh! I can't believe you let me sleep so long. Are we almost there?" She queried in a too loud voice, interrupting Logan and Palumbo's soft conversation.
"I believe ma'am we are about an hour out of Dulles. In about two hours, we will have you at the hotel and checking in, and then if you would be so kind, the missus and I were hoping we could take the two of you out for the night." Palumbo was keeping the stony face at bay and trying to keep the same level of cordial cheerfulness in his voice that he had been employing with Logan for the last several hours.
Veronica let her face crumble. "That is so kind of you, but Logan must have forgotten to tell you we have alternate plans." At this Logan raised his eyebrows imperceptibly at her, and Veronica smiled in a seemingly oblivious fashion. She continued, "Our dear friend, Dick, is something of a hotel magnate and is considering purchasing some properties in the D.C. area. We promised him that we would stay at one of them, and give him our unbiased review. Something like a secret shopper." She tittered.
Palumbo's frown was almost imperceptible, but she caught it flash across her face. Gotcha, you had already bugged our rooms in your hotel. Your move old man. "Well, of course I understand that, the bonds of friendship, and I am sure it is an upgrade over anything they put on the government dime for you. But my Petunia would be awfully disappointed if she didn't get the chance to meet the pair of you. She would be ashamed to admit it, but she has had a bit of a celebrity crush on the Lieutenant for years."
Veronica didn't let her eyes flick to Logan's face, but she could almost feel his shudder of disgust. Wrong move, any good you did with your good ole boy charm this flight is now gone. Do your research man. "You simply must convey our apologies to Petunia, I really wish we had known that you had planned to be so accommodating to us. Really, to kind of you. But we have tickets for the Kennedy Center tonight, friends were called, strings were pulled. We simply can't back out now. Surely next time we are in D.C. we can make it up to you. Of course, I am sure Logan wouldn't mind autographing something for Petunia, or even better…why don't you to move closer together? Give me your phone and I will take a selfie of you together to send her."
She held out her hand for the phone imperiously, flicking her fingers when the man didn't hand it over with enough alacrity. Her smile only broadened when she saw a vein on his temple start to bulge. He handed the phone reluctantly to her. "Well, aren't you silly, you haven't unlocked it! What is the code?" She looked at him expectantly her blue eyes large and guileless.
Palumbo grinned at her, "Now Miss Veronica, I can't be giving out my code. Matters of national security and all that." He reached out to take it back from her.
Veronica giggled again. Man I forgot how annoying Amber can be! And seriously how is he buying this? I know he has read my file. The phone slipped as she reached across the aisle to him and bounced on the floor, just as the plane started its descent. It slid forward towards the cockpit. "I'll get it!" She trilled and quickly bounced up from her seat, blocking Palumbo's way as he attempted to rise.
Logan interjected, "You know she was just kidding about that autograph thing right? I don't really do that." The man turned back to Logan, distracted and nodded. "And we are really sorry about tonight. So often going on assignment, or to interview is such a cold thing, we didn't expect the hospitality."
"Well, Logan, one thing you will learn about studying under Professor Haagensen is that his protégés are like a fraternity. We are brothers, family first. If you are offered a spot, and accept, your family is our family. We want you to understand that, and to be comfortable, and it starts on day one."
Veronica returned to her seat with a smile. That might be the first true thing he has said all flight. She handed him his phone, successfully spoofed to a burner phone in her carry on. He swiped a few buttons and tapped in a code. Then he handed the phone back to Veronica. "Petunia would really appreciate a photo."
As the plane finished its descent and landed, she considered blowing her own cover. She was to a point professionally insulted at how the man was giving over to the Amber persona, and how his casual chauvinism lead him to discount what he had read on her. He even had recounted a few of her own exploits to her, making clear his knowledge. But his spin always chalked up her success to luck or her partner. She wondered if he was playing her right back, but as she simpered for details of his Petunia, and she replayed details of his social media accounts in her head, she doubted it. This man really just doesn't believe that women should be in the intelligence business or law enforcement, what a pig. Part of her itched to tell Logan that she changed her mind, and that a private island would be just right.
a/n So I just crossed 100 followers, how awesome is that y'all? Seriously, you guys just make my day, and I am going to admit it, reviews also tickle me pink. It is so nice to know that you enjoy my stories. So that being said, would you mind going to my profile? I posted a poll – I would like help on planning out what to write next. The conclusion of this story is already outlined in my brain and it isn't that far off…another 6-13 posts depending on how much PWP smut I feel like sneaking in. So input would be appreciated (either in the comments or the poll or even message me!) Thanks!