Shelby found herself drawn into the story. "You said you didn't like them."
"I hated them and the headmaster at the school. They constantly preached the sins of capitalism, but the more I interacted in school and at college, I realized my views of this country were very different than theirs."
Kris met Shelby's eyes and held them. "I began to love this country and the opportunities available here, and I spent every waking moment trying to find a way out."
"If you weren't going to help them, why'd you join the Company?"
Kris told Shelby what she could. "I knew if I proved myself the best of the best, I would remain in the field and inaccessible to the Russians. In any other job, they could've kept tabs on me a lot more easily. When the USSR collapsed and the Russian Federation was formed, I began to hope I never would be contacted. Many moles never are."
"Why didn't you just tell the CIA and offer to double?"
The operative sighed inwardly. Shelby really cut to the chase, and she still had to be careful what she revealed. "I really didn't want to double. I love this country and it has my loyalty, but I am still Russian. That complicates things."
Shelby nodded. What a horrid way to live. To always wonder if you'd be called upon and staying on the move to prevent that from happening.
"Is that why you said you had to stay in wet ops?"
Kris nodded. Partly. "I knew if I was ever contacted, it would end my career. I'm not sure I would've been contacted now except for that major leak in the Company."
Shelby got up and refilled both of their cups as she digested the information. "We've got a lot more to talk about."
She thanked Shelby for the coffee, then said, "Go ahead. Ask what you want."
"I want to know what happened to you last night."
"When I went out, they were waiting. I don't know how many there were, but I never had a chance because they shot me with a tranquilizer gun. They took me to an interrogation room to teach me a lesson."
"To teach you a lesson?! For God's sake Kris, they beat the shit out of you. What did you do to them?"
"They found out the information I gave them was useless." Kris sighed. "I'd hoped it would take them longer to check it out. Was I ever wrong."
"What did they want?"
"To know where our operatives were. Somehow they knew I had access to some of that information. So I gave them three names of agents that had just completed their mission and been reassigned." Kris chuckled mirthlessly. "Don't think they appreciated it, too much."
Shelby nodded, suddenly understanding. "So that's why you were checking their completion dates."
"Yep."
"Are they the guys that have been following us?"
"Yes, but I think I was followed by someone else when I first got into town. Haven't seen that tail again, though, so I don't know for sure."
"How'd you get wet last night?"
"I passed out during the beating. They turned a hose on me to wake me up. Crude, but effective."
Shelby heart went out to Kris. "Did they make you talk?"
"No. They'd found something more interesting they wanted and told me I had a week to get it. They have...unexpected leverage for their demands."
"What?"
Kris sighed audibly. "They've got my mother."
Surprised at the revelation, Shelby commented, "You said she was dead."
"I thought she was. After they worked me over, they sent her in. I thought it was just a trick and didn't want to believe it was her." Kris turned tormented eyes to Shelby. "But it was. She's alive. She is their ace in the hole. I don't give them what they want, they kill her first." Kris lowered her head to her hands, suddenly overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation.
What a mess! Shelby thought over what Kris had said, instinctively knowing the operative was telling the truth. She had done nothing wrong except conceal her origins, but how would Kris ever convince the Company of that?
She reached across the table, laying her hand on top of Kris'. "Hey." When the agent looked up, she continued, "You must have a plan. How can I help?"
Kris couldn't believe her ears. "You'd help me? After everything I've told you? You don't hate me?"
Shelby smiled ruefully. "I don't hate you. I could never hate you. Don't you think I know the chance you are taking telling me this? I could turn you in, and I know you've thought of that. Yet, you told me anyway. Why?"
"I felt I could trust you and..." She paused, considering the danger to Shelby once again, but knowing she had passed the point of no return, "...and, I need your help. I was going to tell you last night, even before I found out they had my mother." Kris gazed into the emerald eyes clearly conveying the depth of her feelings. "I wanted there to be a chance for more for us, but I had to find a way out."
Shelby couldn't believe what she was hearing, and her heart skipped a beat even as she was struggling to come to grips with the past Kris had revealed. "You wanted more for us...?"
Kris reached across the table, taking hold of Shelby's hands as she gazed deeply into her eyes. "I love you. I'd give anything for the chance of a future with you."
Shelby found herself drawn into the intense blue eyes brimming with emotion. She'd known Kris cared about her, but to know that her own dreams were mirrored by the tall woman was more than she'd ever hoped for. "I love you, too." Her eyes moist with tears of joy, she pressed Kris' hands to her lips, softly kissing each one.
A wave of exhilaration swept through Kris, momentarily pushing aside her fears and concerns. She knew that Shelby could have just walked away, yet incredibly, she had opened her heart to her instead. She loves me! The three words caressed her mind chasing away the loneliness and despair. Whatever came next, she would bear it because of this woman's love. She knew that, together, they would find a way out. "Will you help me?"
"In any way I can. But Kris, I won't compromise my country to do it."
Kris nodded in understanding.
"What do they want?"
"Your password."
Her voice incredulous, the mood broken, Shelby exploded, "You've got to be kidding. No way in hell..."
"Shelby, I know that, and I'd never ask for it. But I've only got a week to find my mother. We've got to find the leak in this case. If we can, I should be able to find out where my mother's being held."
Calming down, Shelby agreed. "Makes sense. It would also give us something to give the Company."
"Yep. One of Russia's top spies is here under an alias. I'm going to serve him up on a silver platter, but I want to find the leak, too."
"Isn't that sort of doing the same thing you would have done if you'd doubled?"
"No. It's personal. Remember how you said you still hated your stepfather?" Shelby nodded, and Kris continued. "Well, I hate this guy. He punched my mother and left her lying on the ground when he took me to the institute. He took a personal interest in my progress there and wouldn't let me go home for visits, citing fabricated violations of the institute's rules. Then he told me she was dead. Now, he's threatening to kill her. Besides, he's doing damage to this country, and I have to stop that if I can. I'd turn him over in a heartbeat."
Shelby shuddered at the venom in Kris' voice. "What can I do to help?"
"You can help me find the leak. Someone close to the case is providing information and has been since day one. We've got to find out whom."
"Kris, I think we need to involve the Company now. What about talking to Earl?"