Agents Under Fire by Dana Marton

right,” Gabe agreed. “Let’s see what we can find out about the man. See if we can connect him to the congressman. Maybe this is Wharton’s dark secret. Maybe he had Hatch killed over there or whatever.”
    Jake told them about the house the resistance used, gave an approximate location to be passed on to their Army connection in Kabul. He’d been an Army man himself, not that long ago. He wanted to help, if he could.
    They strategized for a couple of more minutes. After the call ended, he took a shower, gave himself time to think, then headed to Allison’s room. Not without some degree of anticipation.
    Cut it out. No anticipation . Regardless of her fiancé’s death, nothing could happen between them. He didn’t fool around with heiresses. The good-time gals he usually hung out with when he was on leave kept him contented. No need to add any complications to his life at this stage.
    She opened the door on the second knock, and looked up at him with a puzzled, cautious expression. “Can I help you?”
    Complication never looked so good. He leaned against the doorjamb. Not because he wanted to appear cool. He needed the support. An antique ivory clip held up her mass of golden hair, leaving the slim curve of her neck exposed. She’d ditched the shapeless dress and wore silk pants with a sleeveless silk blouse, the fine material hugging her slim figure.
    Along with the sudden wave of lust, he felt a pang of guilt over what he was about to do. He stifled the first, and brushed aside the second. He was a seasoned soldier, working for the FBI on this mission as a temporary agent. He’d cheated, lied and killed in the past. When on a mission, you did whatever it took to reach the mission objective.
    He pasted on his most winning smile and slapped on his travel writer persona like a mask. “You know, I was thinking. If it’s that important to you to stay in Lahedeh, you could tell the police you hired me as your guide and protector. It’d make the locals more comfortable. I could help you figure out where your fiancé got off to.”
     
     
    ~~~***~~~
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    The police station turned her stomach into a lead ball just as fast as it had the last time, but being there did seem somewhat less threatening with Jake Tekla by her side. They waited in the chief’s office, the guard keeping an eye on them from the open doorway.
    “ I appreciate that you postponed your trip for me,” Allison told Jake in a low whisper.
    “ The travel magazines can wait.” He flashed her an easy smile.
    Which made her feel uneasy. Something about the man set her on edge. She kept having this weird feeling when they were together, the same she’d had the one and only time she’d ridden a roller coaster, a sense that something terrifyingly exciting was about to happen.
    The ride had turned out to be mostly terrifying.
    She glanced toward the door, wishing the commissioner would come in. She wanted the interview to be over with. After this, she would owe Jake even more than she already did. She had no idea how she was going to repay him, since he’d refused money. Being beholden to him made her feel decidedly uncomfortable, but she didn’t have any choice but to accept his help.
    An older man strode in, his tanned skin stretched tight over his cheekbones, his cold eyes immediately settling on her. The police chief followed him, remaining standing as the commissioner took the chair behind the desk.
    She reached up to make sure she still had her head covered.
    The commissioner flashed her a contemptuous look then shifted his attention to Jake. “Who are you?”
    “ Jake Tekla. Travel writer. I’m hoping to put together a book on the natural beauty of your great country,” he said smoothly. “Miss Myers hired me as her guide and guardian for the very brief time she’ll be spending here.”
    The commissioner said something to the police chief in rapid Arabic. The chief responded. Then Jake put in his own