Chapter Six

Sarah watched the pastoral scenes of northern Virginia pass by her window as Matt guided the car along the country highway. She sighed quietly.

Matt reached for her hand. "You okay?"

"Oh, yes. I just love coming out here. Thanks for thinking of this, Matt."

"You thought of seeing the horses."

"But it was your idea to spend the day in the mountains. Are you sure you want to go riding?"

"It sounds perfect."

"Fred did seem happy that we were coming. The girls who normally exercise the horses couldn't come this week."

"Tell me about the horses."

"My dad insisted that they call my mom's horse Panda. It was my grandmother's and grandfather's nickname for my mom. He's black with a white blaze. My mom named Daddy's horse Pilgrim's Peach. He's a buckskin. I just call him Pilgrim. I don't think Peach suits him at all."

Matt laughed a little. "Why Pilgrim's Peach?"

"Daddy said it had something to do with the case Mom helped him solve when they first met."

"I kind of like that idea. Pilgrim is a great name. Which one do you ride?"

"Daddy prefers I ride Panda—Mom doesn't ride him very much anyway. He thinks Pilgrim is too big for me—he can be a little hard to handle."

"I am not exactly an expert rider. I mostly rode at my friends' houses. My sisters always hogged our horses."

"He'll respect you because you're bigger. He's smart enough to figure out that you're strong enough to handle him." She sat up straight and peered out the window. "Our turn is coming up soon. Watch for the white house with the split rail fence on the right just after this curve. It's across from there—you'll turn left into the driveway."

Fred, who ran a boarding facility for several families, had a modest farm set several hundred yards off the main road. An old friend of Lee and Amanda's, Fred liked to keep a paternal eye on Sarah when she came out to the farm without her parents. He had Sarah and Matt practice riding the horses in the ring before they ventured onto the trail down to the creek.

Matt followed Sarah along the trail as it meandered through the trees. They could hear water tinkling over the rocks below. Birds sang above their heads and the sun filtered through the trees. Matt enjoyed watching it bring out the highlights in the braid that hung down Sarah's back. He knew the helmet was important, but he wished he could get a better view of her hair in that light. Occasionally she would look back at Matt and smile at him. Swaying only slightly with the horse, she sat well. "I can see you have had some practice, Sarah."

"Oh, anyone can ride a trail."

"I also meant in the ring. Fred didn't need to see you ride. He just wanted to see if I could handle Pilgrim."

"Well, I'm not like a lot of the girls around here. I couldn't compete to save my life. Daddy and Mom just wanted to be sure I wouldn't fall off. I was more interested in my running."

"Looks like you do a little more than stay on the horse. You hold yourself well in the saddle. I was kind of surprised you don't ride English."

"Daddy learned on a western saddle. I would imagine that's what you used in Texas…"

"Yeah. I was pretty relieved, actually." Matt laughed a little.

They rode on in silence, enjoying the quiet woods. Soon they were back at the stable.

"I hope you don't mind that we only rode an hour. I really hate getting saddle sore."

Matt smiled ruefully. His legs already felt an unfamiliar stiffness. "I do, too. Besides, this will give us time to poke around the area a little before we go back. I've never been out this way before."

"I should show you the cabin. I forgot to bring the key, but we can walk around it, and there's a nice little clearing where we can have a picnic."

A short time later they were back on the highway. Matt glanced in the rearview mirror. For an instant he thought he saw the car from the other night. That's not possible. He looked over at Sarah. She was watching the scenery out the window. Hoping she wouldn't be alarmed, he pressed on the accelerator and increased his speed a little at a time. When the car did not reappear in his mirror, he eased back off the gas. Hopefully I was imagining things. We're ninety minutes from D.C. here. Don't be paranoid, Granger.

They nearly drove past the driveway, which was nearly hidden from the main road. Matt was surprised at the isolated location of the cabin until he spotted the surveillance cameras placed here and there around the property. "It looks like the perfect retreat for a spy."

Sarah laughed. "Well, that was Daddy's intention. He and Mom picked this place not too long after they were married. It was meant to be a getaway, and Daddy wanted it to be secure. It's hard to find, and he has the surveillance cameras… Leatherneck rigged a way to check the footage from home using some kind of secure internet connection. I guess it uses a satellite. I'm not sure how much all this involves Agency equipment…"

"Well, I won't ask any questions. It's a great place." They peeked in the windows. The two-bedroom cabin wasn't large, but it was comfortable, with a well-appointed kitchen.

"Do they come up here often?"

"Not as often as they'd like. You hungry?"

"I'm starved."

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"I know I lost them. It is difficult to follow an agent, especially on these country roads. I could have been spotted." The Hispanic man let his voice rise as spoke into his cell phone. "I can wait for them in Arlington. They act like lovers. Perhaps he will spend the night." After a few more minutes, he ended the call and continued his drive back to D.C. in silence.

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The afternoon sun was no longer overhead, and the shadows were lengthening. Matt gazed out across the valley from their perch on the rock and sighed. "This has been a wonderful afternoon, Sarah." He wrapped his arm more tightly around her shoulders and kissed her hair. "This view is amazing, and it's so peaceful here. I really enjoyed sitting here with you and just talking about things."

"I'm so glad you like it. I wish I could come up here all the time." Sarah shifted uncomfortably. "And as much as I would like to stay here longer with you, it has been a long while since we stopped at that gas station. I need a restroom." She pulled away from Matt and looked at him apologetically before grabbing her boots to put them back on.

"I suppose good things can't last forever. We should probably start heading back towards D.C. Maybe we can stop at some diner along the way?"

"That would be nice."

Matt jumped down from the rock and reached up to help Sarah down. They gathered the remains of their lunch and headed to the car.

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"How was Sarah?"

"She's fine. Although she seemed to be in a hurry." Lee glanced over at Amanda as he slipped his phone in his pocket and took her hand again. They continued slowly down the beach.

"Do you suppose she was with Matt?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. Last time we talked, it sounded like they had a lot of plans."

"And?"

"I just hope things aren't moving along too fast. They just started dating a week ago."

"But they've known each other over two months. They're young. It's exciting to be in a new relationship."

"I know." Lee looked down at the sand as he walked.

Amanda watched him. She decided to change the subject. "What was that about Thursday night?"

"Sarah offered to make us dinner when we got home. Just the three of us." Lee smiled a little.

"That sounds nice." Amanda smiled her own knowing smile, but didn't say anything. Lee always grew jealous when Sarah had a boyfriend. Eventually he got used to the idea.

"Yeah. Listen, I think Matt should come to the house Friday to brief us on the trip. It may take several hours—we'd be more comfortable there and it will be private. Besides, I want to start distancing ourselves from the office, if we are going to 'retire.' Even if we are still unofficially with the Agency."

"Sounds good to me."

"Okay, that's it on the shop talk, I promise."

Amanda leaned her head on Lee's shoulder and squeezed his hand. He brushed his lips across her hair and they continued their walk.

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Sarah put her phone back down on the table by the gazebo and came back to the mat where they were practicing. "I'm sorry. My dad likes to check in with me. Where were we?"

"Let's see. I think you were about ready to flip me and pin me."

"Ha ha. Can we practice the knifehand a couple more times?"

Matt smiled ruefully. Sarah was getting the hang of the move. He grabbed a cushion off the chair. "As long as you hit this, instead of my arm."

Sarah worked on the knifehand move a few more minutes, and then sparred with Matt again. She had been able to do little more than attempt her moves, as he effectively blocked her every time. She grew frustrated. "Can't you take it easy on me? You've had more practice."

"You won't learn if I don't react seriously." Matt was learning about Sarah's stubborn side. He decided to make it work to her advantage.

Sarah stared at Matt, her face taking on a determined look. Matt was struck by her resemblance to Lee at that moment. They began their moves again. As they sparred, Matt worked his way around behind Sarah. She was waiting for him. Before he knew what was happening, she had thrown him off balance and managed to land him on the mat. She stood back and looked at him uncertainly as he got up.

He offered her a high five. "Nice one."

"Are you okay?"

"Sure. I'm glad we used the mat, though."

"That seemed incredibly awkward. I don't see how these girls can flip a guy in the movies. They must fake it. You just kind of fell over."

"I'm a lot heavier than you. If we practiced enough, you could probably flip me." Matt rubbed his back a little. "I think I'd rather go for a run now, though."

"If you don't mind driving somewhere, I thought we could go on my favorite trail at Rock Creek Park."

"Oh, I love it there."

Sarah was animated. "That's great! Do we need to stop by your place to get anything?"

"Nah, I can run in this."

Matt was surprised at Sarah's pace. That one day a couple of months ago, when he'd followed her across the Georgetown campus, she had not run this fast—perhaps because she had not wanted to draw attention to herself. Today, she was not slowing down. As the path would narrow, he would let her go ahead of him. Not that he minded the view. Her ponytail flipped around as she ran, and her running shorts showed off her long legs. He found his eyes wandering to the shorts themselves, and then forced himself to concentrate on running once again. Neither one spoke as they covered the five mile route Sarah had planned. It meandered through the woods, crossing the creek twice. They walked an additional half mile just to catch their breaths and cool down.

"I haven't run that hill before."

"I love that part. It feels so good to get to the top."

"I have a feeling you won races when you competed."

Sarah looked at Matt sheepishly. "Maybe a few."

"You can still keep quite a pace."

"I love running as fast as I can. I hope you weren't thinking of a light jog."

"Oh no. It might have been a little faster than my usual run, but it's good for me." They had reached Matt's car. He stopped to look at what he thought was someone watching them by the trees to their west, but shook his head when he realized no one was there. He fished his key out of the knife sheath that was strapped to his waist under his running shorts. It was bit cumbersome to carry his knife, but he did not want to go unarmed, especially in somewhat isolated places. He had rigged a way to keep his car key secure in the sheath, and if he needed it, his sidearm was locked up in a safe hidden under his seat.

"If you aren't too tired, we could grab some dinner."

"I'd love to."

"I just need to take a quick shower at my apartment. Do you mind?" Matt did want a shower, but he also determined that if they were being followed, and he could not shake the tail, he would at least be leading the tail to his place, not Sarah's.

"Not at all. It's easy to stop on the way. I could order something to be delivered while you're in the shower."

Matt did not see another tail, either on the way to his apartment or on the way to Maplewood Drive, so he did not say anything to Sarah. When they reached her house, Matt went to the den so she could get her shower while they waited for the Chinese food to arrive. Before going upstairs, Sarah watched him look at the framed photographs on the bookcases. "Feel free to look at the photo albums on the lower shelves. It might be amusing for you."

Sarah came back down a little while later. Her hair was still wet and she was barefoot, but she was wearing a fresh t-shirt and shorts. She curled up on the couch beside Matt, who was looking at the albums. "No food, yet?"

"Nope." He looked up at her for a moment before looking back at the album. "You were a beautiful young girl. No surprise there, though."

"Oh Matt, you can't mean that. Didn't you see me with braces? What about those crazy braids?"

"You were cute. And I love it when you wear your hair in a braid, like you did yesterday." He looked up at her again and gave her a kiss. That scent of roses again. "Mmm. You smell nice." He went back to the book. "I love the photos of you with your brothers. It looks like everyone doted on you when you were little."

"Yeah. I said I was spoiled—well, at least my dad and brothers tried to spoil me. Mom and Grandma had enough sense to keep things under control."

Matt stared at one photo in particular that caught his eye. Sarah was perhaps sixteen years old, and he could see that her slim figure had only filled out a little since then. Wearing a big grin, Lee was beside her with his arm around her shoulders. Sarah stood proudly in her track uniform, two medals hanging from her neck. Noting that she was just as beautiful then, he wondered what would have happened between them if they had met at the time. He had been a gangly teen—not filling out until he was nearly twenty.

Sarah craned her neck so she could see what Matt was staring at. "Oh, the regional championships for track. We had a great season my junior year. I went on to state in the two-mile. Those are for the mile and two-mile. Daddy was pretty tickled."

"How did you do at state?"

"Well, I didn't place, but I almost did. I got sick the week before and just wasn't feeling well. I went to state in cross country that same school year, but didn't place there either. Still, it was fun to have the experience."

"I knew you were fast. I should be honest. You had me moving today." Matt thought for a moment. "You know, I've been wondering. You're still twenty-three, right?"

"Yes, my birthday is in January. I was actually due right after my parents' one-year anniversary, but I came a few weeks early."

"And your masters' program was two years?"

Sarah could see where this was going. "I see you've done the math. I skipped a grade in elementary school. Second grade was too easy, so the teacher recommended I move up."

"I also knew you were smart, too."

Sarah blushed a little.

"And cute. I love it when you do that." He leaned towards her and kissed her.

She sat back. "Do what?" She wasn't used to Matt's playful side. He was usually more serious.

"Blush."

Matt put the album aside, moved closer to Sarah and kissed her again. She decided she liked this playful side of him. Her arms went about his neck as he placed one hand on her back and another on her bare leg. He let it wander along her soft skin as they continued the kiss.

Just then the doorbell rang.

Matt reluctantly pulled away and ran his hand through his hair. "That's the food. I'll get it." He pulled out his wallet and went to the door. Sarah took a breath to steady herself and went to get the table ready.

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"Quit lecturing me. At least I was able to follow them on their run. Listen, he almost saw me today. He suspects nothing, but I was in his line of sight. I need to back off. We should target the girl and keep track of his partner. They think we believe he is dead. Yes, I'm aware that they could be playing dumb. I am being careful…" The man sighed as he listened to the voice on the phone. "I know! It's all about sending a message and making things right with el cabecilla once again. There are still five of us. We can do this."

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Sergey looked out the window of the train at the Azerbaijani landscape, and then back at Alexei. Gyorgi slouched in his seat, dozing. "We are almost to the Caspian Sea, Alexei. Are you ready for another boat ride?"

"The pills Gyorgi bought for me in Istanbul helped when we crossed the Black Sea. I will be okay."

"Only another week before we arrive in Atyrau. Then we will see if our friends are happy with us."

"They will be, Sergey. Get some sleep. Who knows what it will be like on the ship?"

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Matt began packing up the equipment with Amanda's help as Lee gathered his notes. "You've done a thorough job, Granger. I think our IDs and covers will be quite believable. I can tell Jamie and Phillip probably went overboard with you." He smiled in commiseration. "There's enough information and equipment here to set up a field office. The culture notes were a nice touch. I can imagine where you got that information."

"Thank you, Sir." Matt colored a little and kept his head down as he finished packing up the last of the equipment. Amanda looked at him sideways before glancing at Lee and frowning.

Lee noticed the look and took pity on Matt. "I don't mind if you asked Sarah to do a little research. Just as long as she is using your Agency computer and not hers."

"We took that precaution. She was a big help, actually."

"Jamie tells me that you're coming on Sunday. It will be nice to have you there." Amanda smiled at Matt and rested her hand on his shoulder briefly. "I guess Sarah introduced you to everyone a couple of weeks ago?"

"Yeah. It was great." Matt smiled at her.

"Well, Sarah should be here soon. Thank you for coming here for the meeting. I feel quite prepared for our assignment."

"It was my pleasure. I agree with Lee. It's nice to meet away from the office without all the interruptions."

Matt picked up his laptop bag, and then stopped. "Oh, I have a question. Lee, Amanda—do you know a Cheryl Collins? She goes to my church and she met Sarah there last week. My clearance did not show any connections to the Agency, and Jamie could not find any either. Yet, she claims to know you both—and she remembers Sarah as a baby."

All during Matt's explanation, Lee and Amanda had exchanged glances. "Does she know you're Agency?"

"No. Sarah wasn't going to give her last name, but I thought Cheryl was a low risk, so I didn't stop Sarah from giving her full name." Matt's face was troubled. He wondered why Lee and Amanda had not allayed his concerns.

"Well, she was very helpful to me years ago. She was a member of my 'family.' She knew Amanda, and she met Sarah a few times when Sarah was very young."

"We haven't been in touch for some time. Lee was worried about some embassy connections she had made. Nothing for certain. He couldn't justify putting anything on her record."

"Her association with the Agency is classified at a very high level. Not even Jamie has access to the records."

Amanda looked at Lee, then back at Matt. "Please don't be concerned, Matt. Just be cautious, and we'll tell Sarah to do the same. Most likely she never did anything wrong. I remember her as being a very kind person."

"She is. I've helped her around her house, and she kind of mothers me."

"Well, she doesn't know you're Agency. Just keep your ears open, and report anything to Francine." Amanda put a hand on Matt's shoulder briefly to reassure him.

Matt was just putting his computer in his Mazda when Sarah drove up. He locked the car and went to get her door for her.

"Hi." He reached out a hand to help her from the Corolla.

She kissed him on the cheek and noted that he returned the gesture more quickly than usual. Matt grabbed the grocery bag out of the backseat while Sarah gathered her purse and briefcase.

Sarah saw him glance at the house. "You must have figured out Daddy is probably watching us. Please try to ignore him. I've given up talking with him about it. He means well." She smiled encouragingly at Matt. "Does he know you're staying for dinner at my apartment?"

"I told them." They walked up the driveway together and climbed the stairs to Sarah's door. They would use her apartment tonight, since Lee and Amanda were home.

Once they were inside and rid of their burdens, Matt took Sarah's hand, drew her into an embrace, and kissed her more thoroughly.

Sarah sighed a little. "I'm sorry if my father makes you feel self-conscious."

"Oh, he's not that bad. Besides, I can't kiss you like that out on the street." He smiled down at her. "I couldn't wait for you to get here. It was strange being at your parents' house without you."

Sarah smiled back at him. "I've been looking forward to this all day." She pulled away and picked up a grocery bag. "Are you hungry? I hope you don't mind if I heat up some of the casserole from last night. It keeps nicely and I made enough for our dinner tonight."

"That was a great idea." Matt hoped they would continue this little tradition of cooking for one another after he returned. "Are you interested going to a movie? I've been wanting to see Thor before it left theatres—it's playing in Falls Church…"

"Okay, if you want to. I don't know a lot about it."

"Really? I'm surprised you haven't been wanting to see it. My sisters say the guy is a hunk."

"Maybe. I've seen the trailers. He doesn't hold a candle to you." Before he could protest, Sarah gave Matt a wink and disappeared into her bedroom.

He stared after her.

After Sarah had changed from her suit and heels into a skirt and blouse, she turned to the kitchen and her dinner preparations.

Matt leaned up against a counter. "I thought of a way we could keep in touch."

Sarah looked at him. "Really?"

"I'll be on a satellite phone, but we don't want anything unusual to show up on your regular phone, so…" He pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and handed it to Sarah.

"What's this?"

"It's just another phone—but it's one of those pay-as-you-go phones. I've already bought enough minutes to cover several international calls and a few months usage. I programmed the numbers for my satellite phone and your parents' satellite phones. Only call those numbers with it. The GPS chip has been removed. No one can identify the phone with you, as long as you don't let anyone know you have it." He watched as Sarah examined it. "Don't keep it with your regular phone. With the time difference, I'll probably have to call you early in the evening, say about six or seven o'clock. If I'm not doing surveillance or something, I should be able to talk with you then."

Sarah quickly looked down as she put the phone in her pocket. "I didn't expect to be able to talk with you."

"We can't talk for too long. We can't email. But, we can text—although I may not always be able to answer. Be careful not to say anything that identifies who you are, where you are, or who I am. Keep the information vague. We can sort of use our own code as we go."

Sarah stood there quietly for a moment.

Matt stepped up to her and tipped her chin as he bent his head to see her face better. Her eyes were glistening. "Hey. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I love that you got me the phone. It really means a lot to me, Matt."

Matt pulled her to him. He stroked her hair with one hand and rested the other on her back. She relaxed, breathing in the scent of his cologne and memorizing the feel of his arms around her.

"I'm going to miss you, Sarah."

Sarah kissed his chest and leaned her cheek against him. She couldn't say the words, but he understood.