Operation (30 page)

“Complicated,” she said. “Isn’t everything that’s worth doing that way? If it wasn’t, then everyone would be doing it, wouldn’t they?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t follow,” Reese said.

“There are risks to everything that comes with life. What makes a person’s character is whether they decide to take those risks or not. Here’s a good example. Take relationships between men and women. People get married and from that moment on, they have to make decisions that will affect their relationship. They will meet other people, possibly have affairs and maybe even fall in love with another person. But each step of the way, a decision is made. Some people will make reckless decisions in a casual or ambivalent manner. Others will carefully think them out, painfully weighing consequences in their heart and soul. Yet in the end, by all standards that society holds dear, they are both wrong in equal degree.”

“I see what you’re saying but I don’t see what point you’re trying to make.”

“I ask you John, which person would you choose: the reckless one or the one who has thought it through?”

“It doesn’t matter. As you said, they are both guilty by default.”

“Guilty by standards of others is inconsequential in this scenario.”

“Why?” Reese asked.

“The one that makes reckless decisions is bound by their disposition to do it. Yet the others, the thinkers, they are the ones that seek a reason first, then go and do it. One sees and understands the risks, where the other considers the risk after the fact.”

“I think I understand. It’s all about feeling and emotion, not impulsiveness. It means more because the person has considered the consequences of their actions and knowingly takes the risk.”

“That’s pretty close,” she agreed. “So which one are you, John?” The words came across her lips slowly and lingered in the air between them.

“Well—”

“No. Wait,” she said, not allowing him to answer. “Let me see your hand.”

“My hand?”

“Yes, and before you ask, I learned palm reading from my grandmother.”  

He nervously offered his hand to her.

“You’re shaking,” she said. “Are you nervous?”

Reese flushed. “Well, maybe a little.” He lied. His heart was stomping in his chest.

“I won’t bite, I promise.”

He felt her hands wrap around his and the first thing he noticed was the coolness from them. “Why are—”

“Low body temperature and very slow respiration. It’s a family thing.”

“Ah, well, that must be good,” he said, stumbling over the words.

“It has its advantages,” she said and smirked. “Now hush, I have to concentrate.”

In the silence, he could hear his heart beating in his ears as he felt her smooth hands sliding across his own, her slender fingers probing their lines and valleys. He couldn’t believe how sensual it felt and the arousing effect it was having on him.

 “It is as I suspected,” she said as she focused her eyes upon his hand. “You are a man of many thoughts, but they are private and you seldom share them with another. You try to understand what others cannot. You risk everything to this end and yet you are unsure of much. And you believe that you think too much but you’ve committed to change that recently.” She looked up at him. “Am I in the ballpark, John? Hmm?”

The words struck him hard in the chest, sucking away his breath; because they were so very true. “Yes, I’d say you were in the ballpark,” he answered. The sound of the coffeemaker gurgling its last few drops of water into the pot drew his attention away from her question and saved him from having to clarify his answer any further.

“Well, coffee’s ready. I’ll get us some cups.”

He began to withdraw his hand, feeling a slight resistance to its removal. He looked at her and found her eyes locked upon his.

“I’m a little too forward for many men,” she said. “I sometimes say something that scares or intimidates them. I didn’t mean to…I hope I didn’t offend.”

“You didn’t. What you said was true, so how could you offend? Perhaps some don’t like to hear the truth. What caught me off-guard was the realization that someone else saw me for what I am. I hope that doesn’t scare you?”

“No, it doesn’t. I just hope that perhaps you can share some of those thoughts you keep tucked way down inside with me.”

“Well, we’ll just have to see about that,” he said as he gripped her hands tightly for a brief moment. He found himself not wanting to release them; there was something about holding them that…well, made him feel complete or fulfilled in some way. Another gurgle from the coffeemaker pulled at him and he reluctantly let go.

He rose from his chair and went to pour the coffee. As he stood there, he felt her eyes on him. It was rather exciting. He returned to the table with two cups of coffee and thought perhaps the conversation needed to be lightened up a little.   

“So, anyways…what do you do besides break into people’s homes?” he asked as he sipped his coffee.

“Cute, and nice shift,” she answered and laughed. She cupped her hands around the cup, warming them, but didn’t drink. “Actually right now, I’m kind of between jobs, so I have a lot of free time. So I decided to go back to school and see if anything peaked my interest.”

“So what did you used to do?”

“Worked for the government. I guess you would say in the capacity of a freelancing advisor in international matters. I kind of got burned out and decided it was time for a change.”

“Sounds important.”

“Not really. I’m fluent in several European languages so I was in demand.”

“I can see where your language asset could come in handy. You don’t know how many times I wished I could translate some of the works I find. Instead, I have to find a translator and then trust what they tell me.”

“Well, if you need anything translated, I’d be more then happy to help.”

“Thanks, appreciate that. So how far does your interest lie in the myths and legend realms, especially your fascination with vampires, as you so astutely put it the other night?”

“You make it sound like a one-person crusade.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Society is fascinated with the vampire concept. They can’t leave it alone. Someone is always doing something with them.”

“Why is that, you think?” he asked, curious to see her reaction.

“Simple. Vampires have great buns!”

“What?” Reese asked, as he nearly burned his lip on the coffee. “Did you say great buns?”

She laughed. “Got you on that one!”

“You’re going to have to explain that one, young lady!”

“Well, first of all, I’m not that young.”

“Exactly,” he said and quickly regretted it.

“John. How dare you. You broach the dangerous area of a woman’s age. How sacrilegious for a first date,” she said, as she brushed back a few strands of hair that had fallen across her face. “A military man should understand the rules of engagement.”

“Ah, okay. So this is a date?”

“Why not?” she countered quickly. “I’m having a good time, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” he answered, without any thought. “Yes, I am.”

“Well, in case you’re interested, I’m thirty-four.”

Reese tried to hide his reaction to the age difference. He knew from the moment he saw her that she was probably younger then he was—he just didn’t want to think about it. He was forty-two, which meant there was an eight-year difference between them.
Perhaps too much of a difference,
he thought. But he countered that thought with another.
Come on, eight years isn’t really that much, it’s not like it was a hundred years or anything, for Christ sakes. Let it go, John.

 He rose from the table to refill his cup.

“Need a refill?” he asked.

“No. I’m fine, but it’s you I’m wondering about. You’ve got that look. You’re disturbed by the age difference. What does it mean? It’s just a number.”

“Anyways, where were we?” he asked.

“Shift number two, you’re making me dizzy, John,” she said. “But okay, I’ll play along and stay away from sensitive areas you don’t want to discuss.”

Reese thought she said it with an understanding way that hinted to him that it was something to be talked about later. Would there be a later? He returned to the table with a new cup of coffee.

“We were discussing vampires and their long-lasting appeal,” he said. “You were giving me your opinion of why they continue to hang around.”

“Yes. But I’m surprised you don’t see it yourself. It’s obvious something about them fascinates you beyond the normal myths. You just avoid explaining what for some reason. That’s why I asked the question the other night at class.”

“Another long story, but continue.”

“You have lots of stories, don’t you? Anyway, look at what society has done with them. They portray male vampires as these romantic creatures that prey not only on human blood, but on the emotional psyche. They have become the ideal lover and companion and have taken the role of the proverbial sexy man because they are relentless and don’t carry the emotional baggage of the common male.”

“What about the female vampire?”

“Virtually non-existent. Men have not jumped on them, no pun intended, as the women have. Hence my earlier joke about male vampires having great buns. I think it’s because women have a stronger emotional drive then men do. Men generally fixate of the sexual aspect, not the emotional one.”

“Interesting concept,” he said, feeling a smile form on his lips.

“See,” she said. “That’s exactly what I mean. You think about the concept of a female vampire and you are attracted to it, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” he said. In fact, he had wondered about it occasionally and had meant to talk with Dimitri about it, but he had never gotten around to it.

“So do you agree with my premise?”

“It’s an interesting one, I’ll give you that. Female vampires are mentioned occasionally in stories, but not as often as men. It would be interesting to find some additional data about them, wouldn’t it?”

“Then you’ve come to the right person,” she said matter-of-factly. “I have what you seek, so to speak.”

“What?”

The telephone rang, causing Reese to jump. “Geez, who the heck is that at…” he looked at his watch, “at 3:30 in the morning?” He was surprised that over an hour had gone by since coming home, but he wasn’t surprised about the phone ringing. He imagined that it would be like this until the operation was over. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said to Christina.

“Sure.”

He grabbed the cordless phone from the receptacle and stepped out into the hallway.

“Hello?”

“Reese,” the voice answered. “Pattoon here, just wanted to let you know we haven’t found anything yet.”

“Thanks for the update, but I thought you were going to call if you found something.”

“Oh yeah, sorry about that. I guess you better go back to sleep then. Your briefing is only two and a half hours away. You need your rest.”

CLICK
.

“Asshole,” Reese said, more loudly then he intended.

“That doesn’t sound good,” Christina called.

“Work thing,” he said, as he returned to the kitchen and replaced the phone back into its cradle. “It’s not only a unique situation, but the people involved are…how do I put it… not team players, maybe.”

“I see,” she said. “That is a kind interpretation; I can sense your true feelings about them.”

“Hmmm, right on the money with that one,” he said, as he glanced at the clock. “And at 3:30 a.m., they are even harder to comprehend.” He didn’t sit down, but instead stood next to his chair.

“Speaking of,” she said. “I need to be going so you can get some rest. It’ll be morning soon.” Christina rose from her chair. “Thanks for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, as he noticed her cup was still full. “But you didn’t like it?”

“Don’t drink the stuff; it keeps me awake at night.”

“But you could have said something. I—”

“I could have, but I chose not to. Girl’s prerogative,” she said as she winked at him. “It’s been an enjoyable evening, John. Thanks for not throwing me in jail for breaking and entering.”

“Wait a minute,” he said, stepping toward her. “You’re going to run out on me after dropping your bomb about having information about female vampires?”

“Well glad to see I have found something you’re interested in.”

“Ouch! That one hurt,” he said playfully.

“No ouch, just playing,” she said. “There’ll be time to talk about vampires later; that is, if you want to see me again.” She stepped to within inches of Reese. “What do you think, Commander? Will there be another time?”

Her abruptness amazed him. There it was, laid before him—time to choose. Turn left and retreat into his private little world, or turn right and perhaps experience something special. It didn’t take long to decide.

“I think there will be another time. I enjoy your company very much and we have much to talk about.”

“Yes, we do,” she agreed and laughed a little.

“What?”

“I just wonder if you will really talk about what matters.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will, John. You will.” She said nothing more and turned, making her way back through the hall and toward the front door.

He made his way with her and as they reached the door, he felt nervousness settle upon him. Should he get her number? Of course he should; how else would he be able to contact her?

“Christina, you—”

She removed a piece of paper from her pocket. “Here’s my number. I will be here for the next few days, but after that I have some business I need to attend to.”

“Oh, I see,” he said.

“There you go again,” she said.

“What?”

“That negativity of yours, John. Look, I was being subtle; you can call me tonight if you like. I would
really like it
if you called me tonight. Blunt enough?”

“Yeah, blunt enough. Sorry, it’s just the way I am. If there is something that can go wrong, it does.”

“I know,” she said, moving close to him. “You really have to stop that. You’re an attractive man, John. Very attractive.”

Her face was only a few inches from his. He could feel her breath tickling his skin. The thought of kissing her jumped into his thoughts, his lips touching hers and—