Ladyfish (4 page)

Finn jerked her head over her shoulder. “It’s the moss green one under the tree.”

“The dark green one with the top down?” Oz grinned. “The dark green one with the top down that is probably one of the sexiest cars ever made?”

“You really do like cars, don’t you?”

Oz wasn’t listening anymore. She practically skipped across the asphalt to the car.

“A nineteen sixty-seven moss green Ford Mustang. Leather bench seats. Twenty-one spoke wheels.” She ran her hand from the headlights down to the windshield. “This isn’t a car.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Then I should take it back. I specifically needed a car.”

Oz looked at her like she’d gone mad. “This is so much better than a car.”

“Really? And why is that?”

“This is an orgasm on wheels!” Oz was grinning from ear to ear. “I would love a car like this.” Oz’s enthusiasm was infectious and Finn laughed as Oz ran her hands across the leather seat, the hood, and delicately across the chrome along the top of the windshield. She loved the jubilant reaction and felt like she was watching a child open her favorite Christmas present. Finn reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys. She tossed them to Oz, who caught them easily.

“Go on, then.”

“Huh?”

“Take her for a ride. I’ll finish unloading the cart and I’ll see you back here when you’re done.” She was already heading back to the cart when Oz caught hold of her arm and stopped her.

“You’d let me just take off in your new car?”

“Sure,” Finn said, still smiling. The smile faded quickly as she saw the pleasure in Oz’s eyes replaced by anger. She felt the fingers gripping her arm tighten and grabbed Oz’s hand to pry it off.

“You don’t even know me. I could just take off and never come back. Why would you do that? Do you really have so much money that it doesn’t matter if someone just disappears with your car?”

“I thought you’d enjoy taking the car for a ride. I thought I could help you out with the work that needs to be done. It’s not like I don’t know where to find you. That is why I offered it to you. I’m sorry I offended you.” She finally yanked her arm out of Oz’s grip. “I’ll try to make sure I don’t do it again.” She stalked back to the tubs and heaped the rest of the equipment into the clean water.

“Finn?”

Finn continued pushing the equipment in and out of the dirty water, trying not to let Oz see the tears threatening to spill. She had wanted to do something nice, and Oz had thrown it in her face. She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

“Finn, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. That car is probably my dream car. I guess it upset me that you could part with it so easily.”

“I can take care of myself, Oz. I’m not a child.” She pulled another mask out of the tank and shook off the excess water. “I’m here to get away from someone who was smothering me. I don’t need a replacement, and I don’t need someone telling me what to do with my life.”

“Sure. I’m sorry. Please, can we start over? You’ve been fantastic, helping with the work, offering me a ride in your fabulous car. I’ve been a jackass.”

Finn snorted her agreement at the frank assessment and felt the tension leaving her shoulders.

“Please let me make it up to you?”

“And how do you plan to do that? Point out the water so I don’t get wet?” Finn glanced up from the water and grinned to take the sting out of her words.

Oz pushed her hand through her hair and the salt coating it made it stick out at odd angles. “Yep, I totally deserve that, but I have something else in mind. Let me take you out to dinner. Show you some of the sights. Maybe a drink after? You are over twenty-one, right?”

Finn splashed some of the water at her. “Of course I am. You were doing well till then. Don’t blow it.”

“Hey, it’s a compliment.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Seriously. Most women would have loved that comment.”

Finn sighed and punched at the material in the water. “I’m sure. The only problem is that I know I look about twelve. Even with ID, sometimes I can’t get served. So yes, in twenty years I’ll be very grateful for my youthful looks. Right now, I’d love to be taken for a grown-up.”

Finn watched as Oz stood back and looked at her, taking in the forest green T-shirt, at least three sizes too large and the baggy black cargo shorts. Finn found herself hoping Oz liked what she saw, but she doubted it. A messy ponytail kept her hair off her face, and her sunglasses hid her eyes, which she considered her best feature.

“Can I make a small suggestion?” Oz asked, her head tilted slightly as she continued to look Finn up and down.

“And what would that be?”

“Maybe, if you do want people to see you as a grown-up, and I’m not saying that you should, but you know, if you do, and don’t be offended or anything, but maybe you should…”

“Not dress in clothes that are too big and look like I’m wearing my mother’s, father’s, and older brother’s all at the same time?”

Oz blew out a relieved breath. “Yeah. That’s it.”

“I’m in disguise.”

Oz laughed. “Disguise?”

“Yup.”

“Like Superman and Clark Kent type disguise?”

“I think more like Supergirl and whoever the chick was without the blue tights.”

“Really? And what are you disguised as?”

Finn shook her head. “It’s not what I’m disguised as, but what I’m trying not to be.”

“And what is it that you’re trying not to be?”

“My father’s daughter.”

“And looking like a little girl playing dress-up helps?”

“At the moment. My new disguise is going to be as a diving instructor. Working woman of the world, able to make a living for myself, and not dependent on anyone.” Finn looked away, trying to figure out how to move the conversation away from her family issues.

“What other changes does this disguise include?”

“Well, let me see. New place to live, new car, new career. Everything, really.”

“What about Pete?”

“What about him?” Finn frowned as she began rinsing the snorkels.

“Does he have a place as your boyfriend in this new disguise you’re making?”

“My boyfriend?”

Oz nodded.

“Pete?”

“Yeah, Pete. The guy from the airport last night.”

Finn burst out laughing, enjoying the look of confusion on Oz’s face.

“What’s so funny?”

“Pete isn’t…” She was laughing again before she could finish her sentence. “Oh God, that’s funny. Pete isn’t my boyfriend. Never has been, never will be.” She stretched tight back muscles, noting the way Oz’s eyes strayed briefly to the tight material pulled across her breasts. “Trust me, I’m
soooo
not his type, even if he were mine. Did you miss the part earlier where I told you that he was chatting up the bartender at the hotel? Male bartender.”

“I guess I did.” Oz was smiling again. “Sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. I haven’t laughed like that in ages. Pete and I have been friends for as long as I can remember.” She turned back to the water vats. “My father has decided that he’d like us to get married. We both object to this. Strenuously. Pete will most likely lose the job he has at my dad’s company when he gets back to the UK for helping me get away.”

“That doesn’t sound like a good thing. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Well, if your dad will do that to your friend for helping you, what will he do to you?”

“Well, if I’m lucky, he’ll disown me.”

“And if you’re not?”

“He’ll try to get me back home and make life very difficult if I don’t, for me and anyone else around me.”

“Sounds like a nice guy.”

“He’s great.” Finn smiled sadly at Oz. “But let’s not talk about him anymore.”

Oz grinned and grabbed an armful of equipment. “So, tonight. Dinner?”

Once again, Finn felt the tension start to recede. It seemed Oz knew how to defuse a situation. Which made sense, since she couldn’t have tense, panicked people diving with her. Suddenly, dinner with her sounded like the best thing in the world. “Sounds good. I’ll go back to the hotel to change and let Pete know I’m heading out for the evening. Where should I meet you?”

“Well, I can pick you up from the hotel?”

“You could, but then you’d have your car and you wouldn’t get to drive the, and I quote ‘orgasm on wheels,’ would you?”

Oz’s eyes lit up. “This is very true. What do you have in mind, Linda?”

“Who’s Linda?”

Oz smiled at Finn’s confusion. “Supergirl, without the tights. Linda Lee. Superman’s much more gorgeous cousin.”

“Right, got it. How about if I pick you up?”

“Really?”

Finn looked at her quizzically. “Yeah, really. Never had a girl pick you up before?”

Oz thought for a moment. “As a matter of fact, I haven’t.”

Finn burst out laughing again. “Sorry. I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true. Honest.” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “To tell you the truth, it’s always been the other way around.”

Finn’s laughter stopped and a slow smile slid across her face. “Now that I can believe.”

“So don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to protect.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

John Pritchard pushed his hands through the little hair he had left and puffed out his cheeks before addressing the team before him.

“Listen up, people. Mike Shepherd was found floating in the canal at Camden Locks with a bullet through the head. The location is less than two hundred yards from Sterling’s daughter’s home. We know his cover was blown on Friday night when his wire went out. We know he was with Jack Kant at the time, and we know he was watching Sterling’s daughter. Now we know he’s dead. Without him, we have diddley fucking squat.” The MI6 chief waved the pages he held in his hand at them. “These pages”—he tossed them across the desk—“are all we have to show for six months’ worth of digging on this bastard.” He looked at each face in turn. “William Sterling is laughing at us.”

“Sir—”

“I don’t want to hear it. Peter Green has agreed to come on board. He’s in Florida with Sterling’s daughter at the moment, but he’s not due back for nearly three weeks. I want to know as soon as he lands. Do you hear me?” He looked pointedly at the men and women crowding the conference table.

“Sir, do we know if Green is involved in the money laundering?”

Pritchard pointed at the scattered pages. “Does it look like it? His network has proven nearly impossible for our people to crack, and we have yet to gather direct information.”

“So he could be playing both sides of the fence here?”

“It’s possible, but having spoken to him, I don’t think so. He seems to be up front. We asked him to come in and work with us to get information on Sterling. If he’s as good with computers as he’s supposed to be, we might actually get some evidence on this bastard before his bank balance is bigger than the national debt.”

There were murmurs of agreement around the table.

“I want eyes on Green once he lands. He’s the key to cracking this wide open and I want him in here. Safe. Are we all clear?” A murmur spread around the room. “See to it.”

“Sir, do we have anything more regarding the rumors about the bio labs?” another agent asked.

“No. We’ve got rumors that he’s got scientists building biological weapons and more rumors that he’s selling them. Hell, I’ve even heard rumors that his daughter is the one building them, which makes no sense since we know Sterling is having his lackeys tail her. But there’s nothing concrete. Green may be able to shed more light on this side of Sterling’s operation too. We’ll have to wait and see.”

“Sir, I may have a lead.”

“What is it, Bates?”

“It’s not definite, but I have a contact who’s been working as protection for Masood Mehalik. He’s under the impression that there’s a big deal in the works. He doesn’t know details yet. But he’s prepared to give them to me when he does.”

“Finally, some good news. This guy got a name?”

“Hakim Qadri.”

“Is he sure this deal is tied to Sterling?”

“He said he overheard a phone conversation between the two of them, discussing a quantity of product. The only things Mehalik deals in are drugs and weapons.”

“Well, we’ve got nothing to suggest Sterling’s branching into drugs. Will he wear a wire?”

“I’ll ask.”

“Then get me everything you can find on this Mehalik guy.”

“Pete, you here?” Finn closed the door behind her as she slipped quietly into their suite. Getting no reply, she began flicking through the hangers to locate an outfit for dinner. She pulled out the only clothes she had that weren’t too large and draped them on the outside of the wardrobe door to let the creases drop out of them. She headed for the shower and emerged twenty minutes later, pink from the hot water and humming gently to herself.

“What ya up to, sweetie pie?”

“Shit, Pete! You scared the living crap out of me.” Finn grabbed the doorframe and tried to steady herself. Her father had taught her that bad things happened when you allowed someone to sneak up on you.

“Sorry.” He fell backward on the bed. “Have you had a good day?”

She towel dried her hair with one hand, keeping the towel around her chest tight with the other. “Yep. I got my new car, went down to the dive center, and I’m picking Oz up in about an hour to go out for dinner. Will you be okay on your own for the night?”

“Actually, I was gonna ask you the same thing. I have a date for the night.”

“You dog!”

“Yeah, I know. I’m hitting the shower. You all done in there?”

“Yup. I’ll probably be gone before you get out, so I’ll see you tomorrow. Pop down to the dive center if you’re getting bored, and I’m sure someone will be able to suggest something for you to do.”

“I’ll be fine. Probably sleep all day. Have fun, sweetie.” He sauntered off to the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later, she pulled up the zip on her jeans and tucked in the tail of her black tailored shirt with three-quarter length sleeves, checking herself in the mirror. She smiled, pleased with what she saw, and honest enough with herself to acknowledge that she wanted Oz to like it too. The memory of Oz’s eyes traveling the length of her body earlier made her blush. She shook her head and reminded herself that this was just a friendly dinner between two colleagues, not a date, and she had nothing to be nervous about. That didn’t seem to stop her hands from shaking though. She checked her makeup and ran the brush through her hair one last time before taking a deep breath and heading for the door, grabbing her car keys and wallet as she did so, and repeating over and over in her head that it wasn’t a date. She wouldn’t pin hopes on anything in her new life until her old life had been erased.