Chapter Five #4
“If we retrieve both items, we stop it. Helen’s helped us with one, why not let her try to get the other?” Shahrukh suggested.
“You mean, remote view it?” Helen asked.
“Couldn’t you pinpoint where the explosive is?”
“No,” Jed said.
“Why not?” Flyboy asked.
“Because remote viewing doesn’t work like that. From what we know, the crates are somewhere in the hills in Macedonia. If it’s there, Hell would see the same mountainous surroundings unless there’s a specific landmark, which we don’t have. Isn’t that right, Hell?”
She nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Locating objects or persons in a vast area isn’t easy for a remote viewer. We sense the surroundings and describe them, but we don’t really know the exact spot.”
“Not understanding,” Sullivan said. “How did you manage to get the exact location of the SEED during the test then?”
“I described what I saw to my monitor,” Helen explained, staring hard at Jed, “and he appeared to recognize enough elements of my visual to narrow down the options. Then, he directed me to certain landmarks he knew would pinpoint the exact location. It appeared my monitor was picked specifically because he had inside knowledge of a number of places that are off-limits to outsiders.”
“It sounds like guessing to me,” Sullivan muttered.
“Unless immersive virtual reality’s more than just the monitor listening in on her remote-viewing sessions, Sullivan, but you’ll have to ask Hell about that,” Armando said and slyly added with a wink at Hell, “which helps you, Hell, to eliminate one more man off your list, hmm?”
Helen had to stop a grin from forming. Armando knew she’d been trying desperately to figure out which of them was Hades.
He had been one of the prime suspects, actually, until he’d kissed her and then backed off.
Something had told her the real person behind Hades wouldn’t have done that in real life; he’d have kept pushing, just as he always did in virtual reality.
“It takes time to eliminate a man off my list,” Helen drawled, sitting back and studying them, “and definitely more than a few questions about my remote viewing skills. I like being thoroughly sure, but I don’t think any of you would like me inside your mind that long, would you?”
She almost chuckled at the predictable “no fucking way” expression in their eyes.
A couple of them looked intrigued. One in particular was looking at her too intently.
She knew whom she was after but it didn’t hurt to let them all know that she was after their asses too for having played a part in not telling her what was going on.
Each of them had been testing her, wondering about her skill, and trying to see how far they could push.
She was enjoying turning the tables, letting them think she could get into their secrets if she chose.
Ha, take that. Her chin tilted up just a tiny bit when her gaze encountered Jed’s, which seemed to have the ability to make her spine tingle. The trickle of dried blood at the side of those masculine lips made him look even more dangerous. A bruise was starting to show.
“I wouldn’t mind it at all,” Heath said quietly. “It might be an interesting experience, having you in my mind.”
“I suggest you make the appointment later and keep your mind on breaking Mrs. Cummings for now,” Jed said.
Heath smiled slowly, as if what Jed suggested was child’s play. “I’ll hurry up the time table,” he promised softly. “Helen and I would make a good team, don’t you think?”
“Yes, don’t you, Jed?” Helen asked, smiling too.
Icy silver eyes met hers. Those eyes had been watching her all these months. “We’ll see. You’ll need to catch up on the Cummings files now that you’ve passed the test the other agencies demanded. De Clerq will give you the relevant passwords later so you can download from Eight Ball.”
The person she was trying to provoke wasn’t taking the bait. She felt frustrated. Cheated. Damn him, he was determined to be the one to set the tone and the pace of their relationship.
She quickly averted her eyes. Where the hell had that come from? They didn’t have any relationship. “Partnership,” she mumbled to herself, her mind scurrying to find another choice for whatever it was they had between them. “Collaboration. Dammit.” None of the synonyms fit.
“Did you say something?” Jed asked.
She shook her head. “It’s nothing.” That she wanted to share out loud anyway.
“Then let’s wrap it up. The old alliance within the KGB theory sounds interesting. I’m going to call up some old contacts. You all do the same. We have to find a way for us to infiltrate.”
With a few parting instructions, Jed turned and headed for the door. Helen frowned. Wait a minute. He wasn’t going to just leave again without talking to her, was he?
But he most definitely was. As the others got up, gathering their files and folders, Helen pushed her chair back and took several long strides after Jed. All she saw was the back of him, nicely molded in a pair of jeans, and the door shut.
“Do you think she’s going to hit him again?” Someone mockingly asked, followed by male laughter, as she slipped through the door.