"You’ve found no sign of him?” Trieze asked.

“That’s not quite true.” Dekim said. “My men said one of the bullets hit him. We’re checking the hospitals for anyone who fits his or the baby’s descriptions.”

“What else?”

“Heero himself is a lead. He went back to Tenajo before leaving Mexico. Does that suggest anything to you?”

There was a silence. “Hai.”

“Then we have an idea where he’s headed, don’t we?”

“But will he take him there?”

“Oh yes, most definitely. He’s not going to let him out of his sight until its confirmed. I’ve sent Odin Lowe to take care of the matter. He’s leaving Rome right away. Don’t worry, we’ll find Duo Maxwell before he can interfere.”

“He’s already interfered. He’s in our way and you are doing nothing about it.”

“I’m doing a great deal about it. I’ll call you when I know more.” Dekim hung up the phone. Trieze was nervous and this time Dekim couldn’t blame him. Time was of the essence, and he had hoped to locate the boy much more quickly. With any luck, Odin would get him and make the kill in time.

But Dekim seldom relied on luck. A backup plan was always wise.

If Mohammed wouldn’t come to the mountain…

He smiled.

Trieze would appreciate the proverb.

***************

It was almost noon when the helicopter landed at a deserted airport several miles north of Atlanta. There was no tower; one runway and only a few hangers dotted the scraggly landscape. It was the middle of the day, but no one was in sight.

“What is this airport?” I asked as I jumped from the helicopter.

“It doesn’t have a name.” Heero grabbed his knapsack and followed me out. “It’s used by a few legitimate private pilots and a lot more illegitimate ones.”

“Drugs?”

“Maybe. It takes money to buy this kind of privacy. I don’t ask.” He turned to the pilot. “Stay with him. There’s supposed to be a car parked behind the hanger for me.”

I shivered as I watched him walk away. It was actually warmer here than in Maryland, but I felt chilled anyway.

Something heavy settled on my shoulders. The pilot, Hilde, had given me her flight jacket. “Arigatou.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome. I guess you’ve been a little too busy to worry about a jacket.”

“I guess I was. You sure do get around. You’re the pilot who picked us up in Mexico.”

She nodded. “I’ve been put at Heero’s disposal for the next month or so.”

“Is that usual?”

She shook her head. “Not with all the budget cuts lately.”

“Heero didn’t introduce us. I’m Duo Maxwell.”

“Hilde Schbeiker.”

“I suppose you’re used to picking up people in unusual circumstances. You’re CIA?”

She nodded.

My gaze went back to Heero. “Have you worked with him before?”

She nodded, and then made a face. “The last time I screwed up, and I thought he was going to break my neck. I was surprised when he radioed me to pick him up this time.” “Well, I could do without the honor. He scares me shitless.”

“Does he?” I had almost forgotten how intimidating I had found Heero at first. “Have you known him long?”

“Two years. Libya and then Mexico.”

Heero had mentioned Libya in connection with Dekim’s partner, Trieze.

“The car’s here,” Heero had reappeared. “Take off, Hilde. We don’t need you any longer.”

Hilde nodded. “Sayonara, Duo.”

“Your jacket.” I slipped it off and handed it to her. “Thanks again.”

He grinned. “My pleasure.”

Heero took my elbow and urged me forward. “Did you find out anything interesting about me from Hilde?”

I didn’t bother to deny that I had tried. “No, except that she was in Libya with you.”

“Too bad. She may have been your last chance. You won’t find many people in my circle as loose-lipped. The CIA has lowered its standards drastically of late.”

We had reached a beige sedan parked by the road.

“I don’t want to question people like Hilde about what’s going on. I want you to tell me.”

“When I know myself.” He opened the passenger door for me and got in the driver’s seat. “There are clothes for both of us in the trunk. I radioed ahead and told them we’d need clothes and new identification. We’re staying at a motel north of town while here. Your name is Toshihiko Seki.”[1]

False names. New identification. It was all so unsettling. “I don’t like it.”

“Then we’ll get you another later.”

I shook my head. He didn’t understand. It wasn’t the name. I was beginning to feel as if everything was drifting out from under me. Quatre and Iris had slipped away from me. I didn’t even have my camera.

And it was my fault.

I’d been so worried and exhausted, I’d let myself coast along, letting Heero make his arrangements with Chang Wufei and Iris’s doctors, and now he was trying to arrange my own life. “We need to talk, Heero.”

He didn’t speak for a moment as he studied me. Then he glanced away and started the car. “Okay, no problem.”

************

By the time we had driven to the Inn, it was close to eight. The motel was an older kind, with separate units, and after checking in we had to drive a short distance to our quarters.

Heero locked the door behind him. “It’s their penthouse unit. The penthouse is just a loft. Not as grand as it sounds but convenient. Bed and bath upstairs, the same setup down here together with a kitchenette, dining area.”

“It’s fine.” I said. “I don’t care. I just need a shower. Do I go upstairs or stay here?”

“Upstairs.”

I picked up my suitcase and headed for the curving stairs.

“I’ll carry it for you.”

“I’m not helpless.” But I was feeling a bit powerless and frustrated, and I needed this little bit of control.

“God forbid I infringe on your independence.” He turned away. “I need a shower myself.”

In the bedroom I opened the suitcase and found two pairs of black pants, a black leather jacket, a couple shirts that were either blacks or white, black boots, and five pairs of black boxers. Amazingly, everything fit. It shouldn’t have surprised me. The clothes Heero had brought me in the hospital had fit me too. He had a good eye.

A black leather wallet was at the bottom of the suitcase. Inside it had two hundred dollars in cash, three credit cards, and a driver’s license with my picture and Toshihiko Seki’s name. How had they managed to put this all together so quickly?

I grabbed the pajamas out of the suitcase and headed for the shower.

The warm water felt wonderful as it beat against me. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. Some of the tension began to ease out of me. I had been coiled up as tight as a spring, and that didn’t promise well for clear thinking. It was good to be cocooned there away from Heero.

I stayed in the shower a long, long time.

***************

“Heero, I’ve had news from Interpol.” Relena said when she answered her portable phone. “The word is Odin Lowe is heading for New York.”

Heero tensed. “Odin Lowe?”

“Dekim has used him before.”

“So have a lot of others.”

“I just thought you should know. He could connect to anywhere from New York.”

Including Atlanta.

“You should get him to a safe house.” Relena said.

“I can’t dammit. Not yet. Keep me informed.”

He hung up the phone. Odin Lowe. Not good.

He didn’t have to be heading for Atlanta. Dekim might not have made the connection.

Heero couldn’t take the chance. He had to know more.

***************

Heero was standing by the microwave in the kitchenette when I came down the stairs. He was wearing jeans and a dark blue sweatshirt and his normally messy hair was wet. He slammed the microwave door shut. “I hope you like chicken. I had them stock the freezer with frozen dinners. But it’s all chicken.”

“Most frozen dinners taste the same.” I sat down on the stool at the breakfast bar. “I need answers, Heero.”

“The chicken will be seven minutes.” He glanced at my towel-wrapped head. “You have time to go dry your hair.”

“There wasn’t a blow-dryer.”

“How remiss of them. Any other omissions?”

“Imagination. Not that I’m completely complaining, black happens to be my favorite color.”

“It’s standard procedure, navy blue or black and everything wash-and-wear. Anything else?”

“A camera. I want my camera.”

“I can’t help you. I didn’t see it after I took you to San Andreas. I assume Dekim has it.”

“But I need it.” I knew I was being unreasonable, but it was the final frustration for me. Without my camera I felt depleted… lost.

“Do you want me to pick up another one for you?”

Pick up? You didn’t just pick up a camera. You had to examine and look into and get the feel of it. “I’ve had that camera for years. It’s my favorite.”

“Gomen, I’m not going back for it. Do you want me to replace it?”

“No, I’ll do it myself.” I went back onto the attack. “I want answers. What you’ve told me about Tenajo has to be just the tip of the iceberg.”

“Not now. You already have me at your mercy, so there’s no reason for you to push. You’re exhausted.”

I was exhausted and my mind felt so blurry, I didn’t know if I’d comprehend anything he told me anyway. Maybe I’d cope better after dinner. Heero was being vague, and I was relieved not to have to be on the attack for a while. “You’re not off the hook.” I took off the towel and began to dry my hair.

“I see you’re making due without a blow dryer. That adaptability must have come in handy in some of the places you’ve had to go. L2 isn’t long on beauty salons these days.”

I stopped in mid-motion. “How did you know I was in L2?”

“Dekim requested a report on you and your friend when you were sighted headed for Tenajo. He wanted to make sure you weren’t with an agency that would bring difficulties down on his head.” He opened the refrigerator door. “So I tried to convince him he should let me come after you and terminate any threat.”

I stiffened.

He took out a carton of milk and set it on the bar. “He wouldn’t let me do it. I realize now he wanted to let the disease kill you.”

“You would have killed us?”

He shook his head. “If I could have done it without blowing my cover, I’d have warned you and tried to get you out of the area without Dekim knowing.”

“And if it would have blown your cover?”

He got out two glasses from the cabinet. “Then I would have had a decision to make.”

“But you blew your cover at San Andreas.”

“It was a calculated risk, and by that time I’d found out a lot more about the operation.” He poured milk into the two glasses. “I’d been trying to work into Dekim’s confidence for over two months. I needed that information.”

The passion in that last sentence caused my eyes to widen. “Why are you telling me this?”

“So you’ll know how important stopping Dekim is to me.” He looked straight into my eyes. “If I’d needed to do it, I would have killed you and your friend.”

“Nothing should be that important.”

“Tell that to the people who died at Tenajo.”

“But you didn’t save Tenajo.”

“Iie.” His lips tightened. “No, I didn’t.” He turned his back on me and reached up into the cabinet.

He was feeling guilt, I realized suddenly. Terrible guilt. Underneath that harsh exterior, he was a human after all. The knowledge came as a shock.

He brought down two plates from the shelf. “Take the milk into the dining room. I’ll bring the chicken.”

His face was once more without expression. I got off the stool and picked up the glasses. “Frozen dinners seem more suited to the kitchen.”

“My mother taught me that dinner should always be served in the dining room. It’s a habit that I can’t shake.” He paused. “And yes, I did have a mother. I didn’t crawl out from under a rock.”

I found myself smiling. “I was thinking more along the lines of a metal egg from an alien planet.”

He blinked. “My God, I believe you’re joking with me.”

I had been joking. Incredible. Not only had I found humor in the moment, but I also felt enough at ease with Heero to indulge in it. “A temporary lapse.”

He made a face. “Don’t worry. I won’t grow on you. Too many rough edges.”

Rough edges, an alarming perceptiveness, and an almost fanatic intensity- he possessed all those things. He had shown a moment of weakness, but he had recovered with lightning swiftness. I had been crazy to think he was vulnerable in any way.

“Sit down. I’ll get the silverware.” Heero was behind me setting the steaming plates on the table. “It’s not very nourishing but it’s food and you haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday. I heard your stomach growl in the car on the way from the airport.”

“It’s rude of you to mention it.”

“It would be ruder not to feed you.”

I was hungry. Yet, there was something wrong with that reality. When you were worried or depressed, your body should just stop being beset by basic needs.

He was back with the silverware and napkins. He sat down opposite me. “Dig in.”

I picked up my fork. “Is that what your mother would have said?”

He shook his head. “Part of my rough edges. Some things are ingrained, others we learn for ourselves.”

But his table manners were impeccable, I noticed. “Is your mother still alive?”

He shook his head. “She died a long time ago. So did my father. What about yours?”

“Didn’t know ‘em. I lived in an orphanage for most of my early years, they kicked me out and I found others ways to make ends meet.” I fidgeted a bit. “That’s when I ran into Quatre. I was fifteen at the time. He let me stay at his house.”

“No problems?”

I grimaced. “A few. I wasn’t the most stable of kids at the time. I gave him a pretty rough time, but we worked things out. I really hated leaving Tyngate.”

“Tyngate,” he repeated. “It sounds like an estate.”

I shook my head. “It was just a big house on the river, nothing too fancy. That’s where Quatre lived at the time.”

His gaze was fixed intently on my face. “But you loved it?”

“Sure. I miss it sometimes. But Quatre was right, we had to move on, he was getting involved with Trowa. Its just wrong to cling to the past like that.”

“Tell me about this Tyngate.”

“Why?”

“Just curious.”

“I told you, it wasn’t much, comfortable as hell though. Quatre had a pier and a boat. I don’t know why it meant so much to me.” I looked down at my plate. “Quatre and I had wonderful times when we were there. We swam and sailed, a tree house to just sit and talk in. It was the first time in a long while I had felt truly safe. It was like no matter how complicated or weird the outside world became, Tyngate stayed sort of safe… and innocent.”

“Innocence seems to be at a premium these days. You guys should have kept the house.”

I shook my head. “Quatre hadn’t really gotten into his business thing, there wasn’t much insurance. Quatre had a hard enough time trying to support the two of us. He would be the closest I have to a brother. No, he was right to have sold the house.” I hadn’t thought about Tyngate for a long time. I felt a sudden wave of nostalgia. “Every kid should be able to grow up in a place like Tyngate. It should be written in the Constitution.”

“Write your congressman. They’re always ready to embrace anything that touches kids. It’s politically correct. Drink your milk. That’s politically correct too.”

I was glad for the change of subject. Memories such as Tyngate would be connected to Quatre and they sharpen the anxiety I was feeling. “I’m drinking it. I told you to stop giving me orders.”

“I wouldn’t want to ruin my image by being polite.”

The words were said without a smile, and it took me a minute to realize that it was meant to be funny. “I wouldn’t worry about that.”

“But I do. All the time.” He picked up his milk. “It’s necessary.” He drank deeply before lowering the glass. “Perception is everything. It’s what makes the-- Why are you laughing?”

Without thinking I took my napkin and wiped his upper lip. “You have a mustache. You remind me of Trowa. He always end up with--” The thought of Trowa reminded me of Quatre’s situation. How could I have forgotten it for even a short time?

“You’re close to Trowa Barton?”

“Trowa’s always been kind to me. I like him very much.” I became aware of the tension that hadn’t been there a minute earlier. “Why do you ask?”

“What about anyone else? Who else are you close to?”

“You sound like Dekim. He was giving me the third degree too.”

“Dekim’s reasons and my reasons aren’t the same.”

“I hope not. He was interested in any next of kin who might bother him if he cut my throat.”

“And I’m interesting in keeping you from getting your throat cut. Do you have an ex that you keep in contact with?”

“No.” I wrinkled my nose. “It was only maybe a nine month fling. One big mistake. Quatre warned me that he was a loser, but I didn’t believe him.”

“Why not?”

“My hormones got in the way. He was a musician. He was gorgeous, sexy, and he could even hold a conversation if it didn’t get too deep. He didn’t like deep.” I sipped my milk. “And he had no use for fidelity. He was sleeping around two months after we got together.”

“But it lasted nine months.”

I shrugged. “I’m stubborn. I didn’t want to admit I’d made another mistake. So I tried to make it work. But there wasn’t anything there to build on.”

“Another mistake?”

“I’m not perfect like Quatre.”

“Tell me about your other friends. Anyone special?”

“No I travel a lot. It’s hard to maintain friendships when you’re always missing anniversaries and birthdays and—Why?”

“Where do you live?”

“I sublet an apartment in New Orleans.”

“Any neighbors that you’re fond of?”

“I like all my neighbors.”

“No one in particular?”

I shook my head.

“Pets?”

“You shouldn’t have pets if you’re not there to take care of them.”

“So you have no one but Quatre and Trowa?”

I frowned. “I have friends, lots of friends. All over the world.”

“I’m sure you have. Don’t be so defensive. I’m just trying to determine her you’re vulnerable.”

“I’m not vulnerable.” Sudden uneasiness overcame me. “Am I? Trowa?”

“Maybe. Your New Orleans apartment is already under surveillance, but after dinner I want you to give me Barton’s address and phone number. I’ll arrange protection for them.”

“Done. But I don’t think we have to worry right away. Trowa went to visit his sister Catherine; Quatre had mentioned something to me about them going on a camping trip. They’re suppose to be gone the three weeks Quatre and I were suppose to be in Mexico.”

“How accessible?”

“Not unless you’re a grizzly bear. Trowa’s really into nature and animals, he’s real hard-core. They’ll park his car at a ranger station and live off the land. He’s really good with wild animals, he has a knack for it.”

“Would he have a radio?”

“No, but probably some flares.”

“You’d better give me the location of the ranger station so I can put a man there to meet them when they come out.”

“Good idea.” I leaned back in my chair. “Now tell me what we’re doing in Atlanta, Heero.”

“I told you. I need help from a friend.”

“What kind of help?”

He didn’t answer.

“What kind of help?”

He scowled. “You’re not going to let it go, are you?”

“Why should I? It’s my life. It’s Quatre’s life. You’ve been very nice to me, but I don’t want protection if it means not knowing what’s going on. I can’t function like that. Everything has to be clear and out in the open. You’ve not been telling me everything, have you?”

“No.” he said. “I can’t tell you everything. Not yet.”

“When?”

“I’m not sure.”

“That’s not good enough, Heero. I’ve let you push me and prod me and run the show. From now on, if you want me to cooperate, you cooperate with me.”

He studied my face then slowly nodded. “Okay. But I don’t know everything myself yet. It would be guesswork. Let me go see my friend and we’ll talk afterward.”

“I want to go with you.”

“He’s a very sensitive person. I’m not going to ask him to break some rules. He may not go along with me if someone else is there.” He picked up the dishes and carried them to the sink. “Don’t worry, I don’t intend to skip out on you. I’ll be back tomorrow evening.”

I hadn’t been worried about that. “And I’m suppose to sit here and twiddle my thumbs?”

“Gomen.”

So was I, but it was obvious I wasn’t going to get any more concessions from him. “And do you promise me that you’ll be honest with me?”

“Would you believe me if I gave you my word?”

“Yes.”

He cocked his head to the side. “I’m honored. I promise you I’ll tell you all about my meeting when I get back tomorrow evening.”

The words still held a note of evasion. “The truth?”

“The truth.” He grimaced. “You’re very good at probing. It’s no wonder you’ve won so many awards.”

I looked at him in surprise. “You know a lot about me. Dekim said you weren’t able to get much information.”

“I didn’t want him to know anymore than he had to.” He shrugged. “I’ve admired your work for some time. I liked the pictures you took of the bandit in Somalia.”

“So did I.” I stood up. “Which reminds me, I have to call Une and tell her I can’t complete my article for her magazine.”

He shook his head.”

“She had deadlines. It wouldn’t be responsible to just leave her hanging. Besides, she can be a pretty scary lady when she wants ta be.”

“Let it go for a while. We don’t want any mention of Tenajo to leak out yet.”

“I wouldn’t tell her about--” Oh, well, they wouldn’t expect to hear from me yet anyway. “I’ll write Quatre’s address on the phone pad and then I’m going to bed. I’m so tired, I’m about to fall into a coma.”

“I’m surprised you lasted this long.” He began washing dishes. “You’ve been through a hell of a lot in the last week. You handled it well.”

I felt a rush of surprise and pleasure. “I guess we do what we gotta do.”

“I guess we do.” He added solemnly, “When we’re not perfect like brother Quatre.”

Was he teasing me? I wonder in astonishment. It was hard to tell. “He is perfect. Well, almost.”

“And you’re chopped liver?” He was teasing me. I smiled as I wrote Quatre’s address and phone number on the pad. “Hell no. I’m a damn good photographer and a magnificent human being.”

“I noticed you put the profession first.”

My smile faded. “So?”

“Nothing. I found it interesting.”

He was digging, trying to get at what he deemed the truth. “Back off, Heero.”

He nodded. “Gomen. I have an analytical mind too. It’s automatic for me to probe.”

Had I been under the microscope all evening? He certainly had asked a lot of questions and not all of them concerning my close associates. For some reason the idea stung. “Oyasumi.”

“Oyasumi, Duo.”

I started up the stairs. I had almost reached the loft when I looked back at him. Heero washing dishes was a bizarre sight. And yet every movement was precise and clean, just like the way he had killed the guard in San Andreas.

He looked up suddenly. “Nani?”

I searched for something to say. “You do that very well. Did your mother teach you?”

He nodded. “She always told me to clean up after myself. It’s smart. A clean deck makes life much smoother.”

Everything has to be smooth.

He had said those words at the hospital.

But I had spoiled his careful plans and a man had died. He had been angry with me; angry he had been forced to kill. “Go to bed.” He ordered. “I’ll be gone when you wake up. There are eggs and bacon for breakfast. Don’t leave the room. Don’t open the door for anyone. Do you understand? Not for anyone.”

“Yesh, I heard you the first time. When will you be back?”

“As soon as I have what I need.”

I turned and started up the stairs.

“Duo.”

I looked back at him.

“There’s no way you’re chopped liver.”

***************

“I can’t do this Heero.” Zech Marquise said. “I work with a team. Someone would know.”

“Give them the day off.”

“Why can’t you go through the regular channels?”

“There would be reports and reports on reports. I don’t want any leaks.”

“You could do it yourself.”

“I don’t have the facilities.”

Zechs bit his lower lip. “I don’t like this. It’s too scary.”

“You like it. You’re practically salivating to get started.”

“So I’m curious.”

“You owe me.”

“Shit.” Zechs ran a hand through his long, blonde hair. “Why don’t you take my firstborn child instead?”

“You don’t have any kids.”

“Well, its not that Noin and I haven’t tried. We’re trying this new hormone therapy that may work. When do you need this?”

“By tonight.”

“Impossible.”

“Do as much as you can. I need something, anything.”

Zechs scowled. “Then get out of here so I can get started.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Nothing like a little pressure.”

Heero smiled. “Exactly.”

***************