The flight took three hours, and most of that over the North Pacific. When they finally set down in Longyearbyen, the Svalbard capital of some 1,800 Norwegians, clouds shrouded the little town in near darkness. It was amazing the pilot had even been able to land in that soup.
They took a cab to one of the only real hotels in the town and plopped down onto a feather bed. Jake closed his eyes and his body felt like he was spinning. He needed a damn drink. Couldn’t come down this hard.
Anna ran her hand across his forehead. “You’re sweating like a pig, Jake.”
“I need a drink.”
Her hand moved to his chest and she grasped him by the shirt, catching a handful of hair. “No. You need to tell me why you’re drinking so much. Don’t you love me?”
Opening his eyes, he said, “Of course I love you, Anna. It has nothing to do with you.”
“But it does, Jake. It affects me. What happens to you happens to me.”
He rolled to his side and gazed at her. She was so beautiful. Colonel Reed was right, though. He couldn’t let this woman get away. They had had a good two years. Not perfect, with both of them gone on business so often, but pretty damn good when they were together. And even while they were separated by distance, they maintained contact by cell phone and e-mail. It wasn’t perfect. But what relationship was perfect? Maybe they needed to get away more often…together. This would be good for them. He only wondered if she knew how much pain he was in at this moment. God he needed a drink.
“Are you okay, Jake?”
He hesitated. “I will be. A part of my mind is telling me I need a drink, and the other part is telling me I can’t have one. My body is agreeing I can’t. Two against one.”
“Why don’t you take a shower and we’ll go get something to eat.”
“Reindeer steaks?”
She laughed. “Or salmon.”
His stomach became unsettled with the thought of fish. He thought he might lose his lunch, which had consisted of a large pretzel at the airport before the flight. He rolled off the bed and went to the shower.
Once the shower started, Anna pulled the satellite phone from her backpack, turned it on, and punched in the long number from memory.
“Yeah, we’re in place in Spitsbergen,” she said in French. She listened carefully as the shower droned on in the bathroom. “I understand. We go to the site tomorrow.” She listened again, hoping Jake would take a long shower. “All right. When I know, you’ll know.” She clicked off the phone and quickly plugged it into the wall to make sure the charge was full.
Then she pulled out her cell phone, found a full signal, which amazed her, and hit in another number.
“I know it’s short notice,” she said in German, “but I need to extend my vacation beyond the weekend.” Listening, she heard the shower stop. Hurry. “It’s personal. And I haven’t taken vacation in almost a year.” Pause. “Thank you.” She flipped her phone shut just as Jake came out of the bathroom, naked, wiping his long hair with the towel.
“That feels much better,” Jake said. “You should give it a try.”
She moved close to him and placed her hand onto his penis, which almost immediately responded to her touch. “I plan on it. But first…”
Once they had tested out the bed, Anna went in for a shower. Jake picked up the SAT phone and checked the last number dialed. Interesting. Then he did the same with Anna’s cell phone. Not as interesting.
Knowing Anna would be a while with the shower, the blow drying and the make-up, he took out his own phone and made a call across the pond to an old friend in Washington.
“Sidewinder Three Eight Four,” Jake said. A pause of silence on the other end. He had only used this call sign a few times in the past few years. Only when he really needed information he could not get anywhere else. And why not? Since he had left the old CIA, the Agency had called on him many times for help. Now it was his turn to get help from them.
“Lindberg one three three.”
Jake smiled as the shower continued. He still had time. “Your favorite ex-officer. I take it this is a secure line on your end.”
“Of course, Jake. What about your end?”
“Where do you have me located?”
Hesitation. “What the hell you doing in Brazil?”
“I’m far from it,” Jake said, smiling. “Tell me everything you know about any Op in Norway.”
His contact hesitated too long before saying, “You know I can’t talk to you about anything ongoing.”
“I understand.” More than he was letting on. “Tell me if Colonel Reed is involved.”
“Jake, you know the rules. What have you gotten yourself involved in this time?”
How the hell should he play this? He could need their help down the road. Better to come clean. Jake explained what the colonel had hired him to do, and then waited.
Heavy sigh on the other end, just as the shower stopped. “You’re on Spitsbergen Island right now.” It was a statement. “Colonel Reed was correct. Captain Olson, we believe, either died up there or was taken by the KGB or GRU. Either way, he’s long dead. It happened around the time of the Reagan Gorbachav Summit in Iceland.”
Jake remembered that now. He thought his old friend had died on a flight to Iceland, where he was supposed to provide intel support.
“What really happened?” Jake asked. He heard the hair dryer turn on.
“Jake,” Anna yelled. “I hope you plan on taking me out to the best restaurant in town.”
Jake turned the phone away from him and yelled back, “Of course.”
“What was that?” Jake’s contact asked.
“I have a lady friend.”
“The Interpol?”
Shaking his head, Jake guessed the Agency had done a complete background check on Anna. “Yeah.”
“I’ve seen photos. Very pretty.”
“Thanks. Now can you tell me what kind of shit I’m stepping into?”
“I’ll need to do some research and get back with you.”
He guessed as much. “I leave for some glacier in the morning.” He checked his watch. “I’ll call you in twelve hours.” He flipped his phone shut just as the hair dryer turned off.
Anna opened the door to the bathroom and looked at Jake in the mirror as she put on mascara, dressed only in a thong and a bra. “Who were you talking to, Jake?”
Jake shook his head. She had to have the best ears in the business. “Asking for a little help.” He came up behind her and placed his hand on her bare cheek. “I hope you have something to keep these cute buns warm.”
She wiggled away from him. “Hey you just got that. And you saw me buy the silk long underwear.”
He leaned against the door frame. “Well, I think I was still a little wasted.”
She set down the mascara. She rarely used much make up and needed to use none at all. She was a natural beauty. “What did the Agency tell you?”
“Not much. I have to get back with them in the morning. Ready to eat?”
“Famished.”
They headed out. Their hotel, the Radisson, was situated on the edge of Longyearbyen, which wasn’t saying much. The town was a cluster of colorful wooden structures in yellow, red and green. Walking the streets for a few blocks and finding only a pizza joint and a couple of cafes, they decided to return to the restaurant attached to their hotel.
They had barely sat for a short moment, when Jake had a strong urge for a drink. He needed a drink. No.
Anna ordered them both a strong cup of coffee, which came in a few minutes. Then they both ordered the salmon.
“You could have ordered a glass of wine,” Jake told her.
“That’s not fair. We need to have clear thoughts. Besides, I think I might be getting a beer gut.”
He laughed. “You have the nicest tummy I’ve ever seen.” And if she wasn’t so hot it would have pissed him off. She could eat damn near anything and not put on a pound. “Did you make a pact with the devil to keep that beautiful figure?”