Daughter of Destiny (26 page)

“Just after you came down here to order breakfast, Mike called.” She picked up her utensils and began to cut into the fluffy scrambled eggs mixed with parsley, cheddar cheese and bits of ham. “He said Marston is our enemy as far as he's concerned. There's lots of peripheral evidence that makes Mike fear he's the culprit. The dude is well known as an amateur archeologist, and he's got a world-class collection of sacred objects that most museum curators would die to have.”

Spearing a piece of bacon, Jake said, “Is there any proof he hired those men in Australia to nail our hides?”

“Mike's still working on that angle,” Kai picked up her coffee and sipped it. “They've taken DNA samples from the two dudes found in the Huey crash. So far, the Aussie police didn't find any identification on them that they could use. The helo was pretty well burned up.”

“Yeah, but what about their names on the manifest at the Yulara airport?”

Shrugging, Kai murmured, “They didn't file a flight plan, Jake. There are no names. No trail to follow. The Huey was owned by Marston Enterprises—that much is a fact. Mike's now getting the Aussie police to contact the company. He thinks it's a front, and so do I, for running stolen objects for Marston when he wants them sent to his Hong Kong home.”

Kai wore a pink mohair vest with a bright red long-sleeved shirt beneath it. Instead of her Rail Riders, she had put on a trim-looking pair of tan wool slacks. Jake noticed that she wore small coral and sterling silver earrings to complement her outfit. Today she looked highly feminine,
and he wondered why the change. Not that he didn't like it. He'd never seen Kai in a dress or skirt, but her life on a Navy carrier would discourage her wearing anything but a flight suit.

Stopping himself from devouring her with his gaze, Jake decided he'd better concentrate on eating his breakfast. “Well, we know someone wants the totems.”

“That's right….” Kai studied Jake across the table. Despite the lingering questions, she was enjoying their time together in the small hotel. It was an old Victorian that the owner had lovingly restored and brought back to life. She liked the soft classical music playing in the restaurant, the many green plants in decorative pots that graced the small dining area. It was like bringing nature indoors, and Kai appreciated the gesture.

Finishing his breakfast, Jake sipped his orange juice, watching Kai butter her toast and slather grape jelly across each piece. Smiling to himself, he recalled Kai's love of grape jelly and peanut butter sandwiches as a child.

“Remember how I used to steal jars of grape jelly and peanut butter from my home and bring them out to the beech tree for you?”

Lifting her head, Kai drowned in his warm golden eyes. Her heart responded to the tender smile pulling at Jake's well-shaped mouth. There was nothing to dislike about him. This morning he wore a simple fisherman's cream-colored sweater with a light blue cotton shirt beneath it, the collar visible above the crew neck. The pair of stonewashed blue jeans he wore emphasized his long, hard thighs. As always, he wore a pair of dark brown leather
boots. In this weather, with below-freezing temperatures at night, it would be foolish to wear street shoes.

Kai smiled wryly. “Yeah…You knew that was my favorite sandwich, and you always had those jars tucked away in a box behind the beech.”

Warm feelings threaded through his heart as he saw her blue eyes soften at that shared memory. “We've got a lot of past history with one another.”

“I know….”

Fear stabbed at Jake. He took another sip of juice and set his glass and plate aside. Folding his hands on the table, he murmured, “You thought about what you're going to do now that you've retrieved the crystal mask, Kai?”

Nodding, she wiped her mouth with the white linen napkin and dropped her hands in her lap. “I've been thinking a lot about what Grams said the other day, about looking ahead.” Her heart beat a little harder. “I need to get a job. But it has to be something I love to do.”

“You have any ideas about that?” Jake held his breath. Kai always kept her cards close to her chest. She wasn't one to confide in anyone; she'd learned not to in childhood.

Rubbing her brow, she set her own plate aside, picked up her coffee cup and rested her elbows on the table. Staring at Jake, she saw worry in his darkening gold gaze. His mouth, usually so quick to show that little-boy smile of his, was pursed.

“I did…and I'd like to discuss it in a minute with you. Right now, I'd rather tell you that I had another dream last night,” she said in a low voice.

“Like the original vision you had?” Jake remembered
Grams saying that Kai would be given another dream, about the woman who would be responsible for finding the next clan totem.

Quirking her lips, Kai held the cup between her hands. “It was about the totems. I saw her, Jake. I saw the seven-pointed star crystal appear, and then I saw her face—the woman who's supposed to find it. She's got straight dark brown hair that barely brushes her shoulders. Her face is oval, and she has high cheekbones and green eyes.” She saw Jake studying her intently. “This is all so crazy to me…”

Pursing her lips, she went on. “She was standing on a gold sand beach and I could see a city in the background. And then I saw this black snake crawling around her feet, and I heard hissing.”

“Okay,” Jake murmured, “so far so good. At least you know what she looks like. Did you get a city name? Her name?”

Shrugging, Kai muttered. “I heard Lima. I guess that's Lima, Peru. But what would our clan totem be doing down
there?
” She threw up her hands in frustration. “This dream doesn't make sense to me! I'm afraid I'm making it up, because I feel pressure to produce something for Grams, so our nation can find the other two totems. I don't know….”

“Listen to me,” Jake whispered, gently placing his hand over hers, “you're
not
making this up, Kai. Whatever you dreamed is solid. We've seen it before. You were told where Ooranye lived, shown things you needed to know. What else did you see or hear?” Jake could see Kai fighting the dream and its meaning. She was a no-nonsense combat
warrior having mystical experiences, and she still wasn't entirely used to it.

“I saw an Apache helicopter,” she muttered, lowering her eyes. “And you fly one. So that's why I think I'm making this all up. I must be—”

His fingers tightened around her hand. “What else did they show you?”

“She was wearing a black uniform of some kind with a mandarin collar. I could only see her head and shoulders….”

“What color was the Apache?”

“Black.”

Jake patted her hand, then released it. “Then it belongs to a black ops outfit, Kai. The ones I know of are camouflaged either in jungle or desert color schemes. I know some are painted black, but I don't know where they're stationed.” He smiled as he saw her perk up a little. “This is something we can talk to Mike Houston about. Perseus is part of the inner circle of secret squadrons around the world. He'd know who has black Apache helicopters, I bet.”

“Okay…I still think it's a wild-goose chase.”

“I don't. You still look bothered by something. Care to share?” Jake liked the intimacy that was developing between them. He craved more of it. Seeing Kai give him a sheepish look, he smiled more broadly. “Remember? I'm the one whose shoulder you always cried on? How many times did we sit and talk about what was bothering you?” Jake was glad he had been there for Kai. He wondered what she would have done if she hadn't had someone to lean on. Would she have turned to drugs? Been so rebellious that she broke the law and got sent to juvy court? None of the possibilities were good.

“It concerns you—and me.” Kai felt her heart pounding with dread. “And I'm afraid. Me, of all people! I can with no problem stare down a SAM missile trying to knock me out of the sky, but when it comes to confronting myself and how I feel about you, I'm scared to the point of losing my voice.” Kai gave him a twisted smile and set her coffee down as the waitress came over and took their dishes away. When they were alone again, Kai devoted all her attention to Jake, who was sitting relaxed, eyes curious.

“I'm going to take Mike Houston up on his offer to work for Perseus.” She waved her hand in a helpless gesture. “I'm cut out for combat, Jake. I hate the idea of not being in the military, and yet no one will have me now with a BCD.”

“That's good news,” Jake murmured. “So why are you looking like your best friend died?” His mouth quirked slightly. Jake felt Kai searching for words. She was nervous, shifting her feet repeatedly beneath the table and occasionally bumping his boots. She got that way when something really serious was bothering her.

“Well…dammit, Jake, this isn't easy….” Her nostrils flared as she looked at him.

“Can I help you?”

“No…this is mine to say.” Taking a huge gulp of air, Kai held his warm gaze and said, “I didn't think I was ready for another relationship after Ted. I was really burned, Jake. And then you dropped into my life. I never thought I'd see you again, but here you are….”

“I hope I haven't always been a pain in the ass, Kai. I know you didn't want me along on this mission at first.”
Jake held her troubled blue gaze. She was gnawing her lower lip now, a sure sign of agitation. In fact, Kai looked as if she was going to burst if she didn't get out what was eating her. Jake had no way to help her because he didn't know what she was trying to say. Instead, he slid his hand over hers. “In the past, I was your best friend, Kai. You can look back on our history and know that I care, that I'll listen to whatever's bothering you—”

“That's just it,” Kai whispered, her voice strangled. She gripped Jake's hand. “I guess I changed my mind about you—about us. Don't ask me when it happened. Maybe it was in the hut, when I crawled into your arms.” Shaking her head, she muttered, “I had forgotten what it was like to be held by someone who cared for me. How could I have forgotten that, Jake?”

“Time and life events have a funny way of doing things like that,” he murmured.

“Maybe you're right.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, here goes. I know Perseus demands a man-woman team on missions. I got to thinking that, since I'm joining, maybe you would think about it, too. That way, we'd be together…” Kai looked at him through her lashes, fear washing through her as she saw his surprise. “Mike told me before we left that your contract with the military is up in a couple of months, and that it would be time to re-up…or quit.”

“Would you want me as a partner?” He was afraid of her answer and saw cloudiness come to her blue eyes.

“Yes, I would.”

Watching Kai brush her hair away from her brow, Jake said, “I'd like to think that I contributed positively on this
last mission.” Opening his hand, he added earnestly, “We're a good team, Kai. We work well together. What one of us didn't have, the other one did and vice versa.”

Nodding, Kai scowled down at her tightly clenched hands. “I know…. I already talked to Mike Houston about that aspect and…us….”

Jake's heart thudded once to underscore the moment. Oh, he would miss flying his combat helo, no doubt about it, but on a scale of one to ten, he'd much rather be with Kai. Besides, there was danger connected to many Perseus missions, and the last thing he wanted to do was leave Kai open to attack. He simply couldn't fathom losing her now that he'd rediscovered her.

“Well…” Kai muttered, “you have a decision to make.” She forced herself to look at Jake, whose face wore a serious scowl. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I owe you an apology of sorts…and I'm as close as I ever come to making one….”

Jake sat back in surprise. “Apology? For what?” He saw a real struggle on Kai's face, the way her lips thinned, her eyes narrowed as she pulled her gaze away from him and looked up at the ceiling.

“I was wrong and Mike was right. I did need a partner on this mission. I didn't see the danger coming. I really didn't think I'd find the crystal mask, much less encounter someone willing to kill us to get it.” Licking her lips, Kai shifted her gaze back to Jake, who was looking stunned in the aftermath of her admission. “I'm a proud person, Jake. Maybe too proud. I've been on my own so long that I thought I didn't need anybody for anything. I could and did
make it solo.” She waved her hand in a frustrated motion. “The Navy torpedoed me with their prejudices against a good woman combat pilot, but that's the past and I gotta get beyond it.” Kai pushed her fingers through her hair in a nervous motion. “Mike really nailed my hide to the wall this morning in that phone call. He told me that if it hadn't been for your skills as a helicopter pilot, I'd be dead meat right now and that crystal mask wouldn't be home safe, but in the hands of someone who wanted it for the wrong reasons.”

Jake saw Kai struggling mightily to own up to her mistakes. His heart beat a little harder. She wanted him as a partner on future missions. Jake wanted to be a part of her life.

Kai muttered, “Damn, this is hard…” She blew a shaky breath of air between her taut lips. “Would you consider coming to work at Perseus—with me? Please?”