"So you flying to Greece to save me from that maniac wasn't chasing?"
Sean blushed. "That was a guy just trying to save the woman he loves." He started to lean across the table to give her a kiss.
"And where are you off to next?"
The question caught him off guard, and he paused. "What do you mean? I have some time off. Tommy hasn't lined up anything until later next month."
Her eyes flickered. "Then why is he here to see you?"
"What?"
Sean turned his head and looked out the window. He hadn't seen his friend pull into the driveway. Tommy was already getting out of his new BMW.
"Not expecting him?" Adriana asked.
Sean sighed. "No. He's probably just popping by on his way into the office. You know how he is about his coffee."
"I'll get the milk out," she said and got up from her chair.
"No, don't worry about it," Sean insisted. "Relax. I'll get him set up."
She eased back into the seat but wore a suspicious look on her face.
Sean backed over to the refrigerator, keeping an eye on her. He almost ran into the kitchen island but deftly swiveled his hips to avoid it. As the front door opened, he placed the milk on the island's granite surface next to a clean coffee cup.
"Hello?" Tommy's voice echoed from the foyer. "You guys in the kitchen?"
"Yeah, Tommy. We're in here."
A few seconds later, Tommy stepped into the room. His laptop bag hung from his shoulder across a crooked tie and an untucked button-up shirt.
"I thought I smelled coffee." He noticed the cup and milk on the island. "Oh, is that for me?"
Sean slipped back into his seat at the table and nodded while taking another sip.
"Sweet." He moved like a wild animal taunted by the smell of fresh meat, making quick work of the milk and coffee pot until his cup was nearly brimming. He started to raise the mug to his lips and then realized he'd not greeted his hosts.
"Where are my manners? I'm so sorry, Adriana. How are you?"
She laughed. "I'm fine, Tommy. Drink your coffee."
"Thanks," he said and took a long sip. Afterward he let out a long, satisfied "Ahh."
"So what brings you over at this hour of the morning? On your way to a meeting, perhaps?" Sean raised an eyebrow. He knew better. Tommy was up to something.
Whenever his friend popped by on the way to the office it was because he either wanted something or had a new gig for them. Sean had quit working for the International Archaeology Agency a few years back. As fate would have it, he hadn't remained retired for long. His attempt at running a business in Destin failed miserably, in large part due to the fact that he had to leave it more than once to fly across the world.
Tommy put both hands out wide in a display of innocence. The coffee in his right hand sloshed to the point it nearly spilled over the edge. Somehow he managed to keep that from happening.
"What are you talking about? I don't need a reason to come visit my best friend in the entire world." His eyes shot from one side of the room to the other. "House looks great by the way."
"So what's going on now, Tommy? A new assignment pop up out of the blue?"
Tommy slid into one of the open chairs at the table and stared at the chessboard. He ignored the question at first. "She beat you again?" he asked, motioning to the board. He passed a playful glance at Adriana. "He's never been very good at chess."
"You're not here to talk about my chess career, buddy, so just spit it out." Sean sounded irritated, but he was partially amused.
Tommy's nose crinkled as he nodded at Adriana. "You beat him again."
"Of course I did. He's terrible."
The two turned their judgmental gaze at Sean, who just rolled his eyes. "Fine. Yes, I suck at chess. I don't care. Just tell us what it is you want so we can get back to our vacation."
Tommy leaned his head back a bit as if he were being blown by a bitter wind. "Whoa, someone is a little defensive."
Sean started to say something again, but Tommy cut him off. He put a hand out to keep his friend from standing up. "Okay, I kid. Seriously. I won't bother you about your chess skills — or lack thereof — anymore. You're right. I'm here to ask you a question."
"And by question you mean you want to see if I'll go with you somewhere on the other side of the planet."
Tommy bit his top lip and pointed his finger at Sean. "Funny you should say it that way."
"What?"
"As it turns out, that's exactly where I'm going. The other side of the world, I mean."
"Look, Tommy, I've been looking forward to spending some time here with Adriana. We're going out to Las Vegas next week, and I'd really like to play some golf."
Tommy raised both eyebrows and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Sean had noticed them when his friend came in. Tommy typically had to wear his glasses when he'd forgotten to get more disposable contacts.
"I'm not here to ask you to go somewhere with me."
Sean and Adriana exchanged a curious glance and then looked back at their guest.
"You're not?" they almost said simultaneously.
"No, I'm not." Tommy pretended like he was hurt by the insinuation.
"Oh," Sean said. "Okay. So you really did just stop by to say hello?"
Tommy winced. "Not exactly. There is something I need you to do."
"But it doesn't involve flying across the globe?"
"No, nothing like that. I was just gonna see if you would take care of HQ for me."
Sean wanted to make sure he understood correctly. "You mean you want me to take care of the lab and offices?"
"Yeah, but it's not that involved. No one will be there. I gave the kids next week off. They protested since they're pretty much there all the time by choice. But I basically made them an offer they couldn't refuse."
"Wow. I'm impressed."
Alex Simms and Tara Watson, affectionately known as "the kids," were Tommy's laboratory assistants. They were two of the most brilliant researchers he'd ever met and had an incredible knack with technology. It was Tara and Alex who'd brought in the new quantum computer units and elevated IAA capabilities years beyond any competitor. If they had a weakness, it was that they enjoyed their toys a little too much.
"Tara was starting to get a little pale. So I booked them a vacation to the Caribbean."
"Sounds romantic," Adriana said.
Tommy rolled his shoulders. "Maybe. I don't know about those two. You'd think working together all the time there'd be some kind of feelings, but I've never sensed it."
"And those senses of yours are so astute."
Tommy cocked his head to the side. "You mean like yours were about the girl in Japan?"
Sean snorted a laugh. "Fair enough."
"So anyway, I need you to come in with me so I can just show you a few things. All you'll have to do is check the systems to make sure they're all online in case I need to access anything remotely. While you're there, you can just make sure everything is okay."
"Sounds like I'm taking care of your cat."
"If I had a cat, yes. That's probably accurate. If you're not doing anything, I figured you could come in with me this morning, and we could knock it out. I'm flying to Australia in a few hours."
"I love it when you assume I've got nothing else going on in my life."
Tommy's lips creased and displayed a toothy grin. "What are friends for?"
Twenty minutes later, the three were headed into Downtown Atlanta. The IAA building was located near Centennial Olympic Park. When Tommy's parents died in a plane crash, he'd used the money to found the agency and carry on their legacy in history and archaeology. The area around the building had been fairly trashy at first, but in the years since he created the IAA, things had changed dramatically.
Entire blocks had been torn down and replaced by the massive Georgia Aquarium, museums, conference centers, and expensive hotels.