Chapter 3
Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Rollins approached the Northwest Airlines check in desk at Los Angeles International airport. "Two checking in for flight 316 to Dulles," said Jack brusquely, handing the clerk their tickets.
"Yes sir. You're aware that this flight connects through Minneapolis/St. Paul?"
Jack had not been aware. That would add an extra 2 hours to the time he was with Irina. He silently cursed the bean counters at the CIA, but managed to respond neutrally, "My travel agent must have forgotten to mention it."
"Of course, sir. Any baggage, Mr. And Mrs. Rollins?"
"No, just carryons. We sent the rest of the luggage ahead." Jack was only packing for one night, and Irina had virtually nothing to pack - she would be furnished with prison garb at Langley once she arrived.
The clerk looked up and smiled at Irina as he checked their photo id's. "Business or pleasure?"
"Oh, definitely pleasure," Irina smirked, leaning over and giving her "husband" a squeeze. "We're off on a vacation." She leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "My husband's let me out of my cell for a week!" She winked at the clerk and grinned at Jack.
Jack wanted to shake her. He was continually amazed at how a woman who could be so serene and contained in her cell could so quickly start hamming it up for a crowd once she was out. He did not have the energy for her games today. Pasting a loving smile on his face he took the boarding passes and steered her towards their gate. "Cut it out," he hissed.
Irina glanced sideways at Jack. They had made so much progress together since she had first returned. She had slowly chiseled away at the layers of anger and distrust he surrounded himself with whenever he was with her. But something new was here - something was bothering him, and she couldn't put her finger on what it was. He seemed preoccupied, not making direct eye contact with her since he had picked her up from her cell. Almost as though he was afraid she would guess.
Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Rollins approached the Northwest Airlines check in desk at Los Angeles International airport. "Two checking in for flight 316 to Dulles," said Jack brusquely, handing the clerk their tickets.
"Yes sir. You're aware that this flight connects through Minneapolis/St. Paul?"
Jack had not been aware. That would add an extra 2 hours to the time he was with Irina. He silently cursed the bean counters at the CIA, but managed to respond neutrally, "My travel agent must have forgotten to mention it."
"Of course, sir. Any baggage, Mr. And Mrs. Rollins?"
"No, just carryons. We sent the rest of the luggage ahead." Jack was only packing for one night, and Irina had virtually nothing to pack - she would be furnished with prison garb at Langley once she arrived.
The clerk looked up and smiled at Irina as he checked their photo id's. "Business or pleasure?"
"Oh, definitely pleasure," Irina smirked, leaning over and giving her "husband" a squeeze. "We're off on a vacation." She leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "My husband's let me out of my cell for a week!" She winked at the clerk and grinned at Jack.
Jack wanted to shake her. He was continually amazed at how a woman who could be so serene and contained in her cell could so quickly start hamming it up for a crowd once she was out. He did not have the energy for her games today. Pasting a loving smile on his face he took the boarding passes and steered her towards their gate. "Cut it out," he hissed.
Irina glanced sideways at Jack. They had made so much progress together since she had first returned. She had slowly chiseled away at the layers of anger and distrust he surrounded himself with whenever he was with her. But something new was here - something was bothering him, and she couldn't put her finger on what it was. He seemed preoccupied, not making direct eye contact with her since he had picked her up from her cell. Almost as though he was afraid she would guess.