“Ask the analysts to figure out a good common thread that would get all three of us out here at the same time. Possibly even to help Ed Ralston beef up The Dungeon. There were signs of disrepair in a few places, although not obvious to casual observers. So The Dungeon may be losing money. That could be a good cover story to bring in new Doms to help turn the place around, even if they are only temporary.”
Tanner nodded, taking a few more notes. “Good thoughts. I’ll contact Shapiro as soon as I hang up with you, and call Brent Weston after that.”
Dex smiled, glad Tanner had been open to his suggestion about bringing in Logan and Camren. It would make everything a lot smoother from his perspective. As would having Brent in the know. “Brent will be a big asset on this,” he observed aloud.
“It’s too bad he already has two careers. He would make a great agent.” Tanner laughed. “The chain of command was pissed at the time, but a few years ago when Brent waded in and saved your ass on the Fletcher Heights op, he brought himself to the attention of the higher-ups. They’ve watched him ever since, and he’s been deemed a definite asset.”
He narrowed his eyes and pinned Dex with his intense gaze. “You know…the op you weren’t even supposed to be on, if I remember correctly?” His voice lowered dangerously, and Dex winced.
He had nearly been fired over that incident, and later worried it might affect his chances of becoming a field agent. Tanner had saved his ass in both cases.
“What are your initial thoughts about Miss Fretwell?”
The memory of Kate’s sparkling green eyes flashed across his mind. “She’s smart, ambitious, and independent.” Dex left out attractive, responsive to his touch, and sexy as hell. “She also has some terrific self-defense skills.” He laughed, but didn’t elaborate. “I’ve already gotten close. Now that I have the new information, I can hone in to find out if she’s involved or not.”
Tanner studied Dex, as if he were an open book. The man knew him well. “You like her.”
Dex nodded. “She’s not what I expected after Shapiro told me she was a sub to several of the rich and famous. Granted, she has been, but I have a hard time seeing her willingly involved in something like this. But it’s just as hard for me to see her unwittingly involved.”
Tanner’s expression remained unchanged, not giving Dex any clues as to what his boss was thinking.
Jason cracked his knuckles, the pops sounding loud over their video connection. “Understood. I have confidence that you’ll get to the bottom of this, and sort it out quickly. Time is of the essence.”
Tanner pinned Dex with an intense look. “With any other agent I would leave much more time for them to get caught up, but I know that computer of a brain you have will have retained every word for later retrieval.” He tapped his temple with his index finger.
Dex shook his head. He’d tried to tell Jason several times he didn’t have an eidetic memory, or photographic memory, as the man still insisted on calling it. Details had always fascinated Dex, so he tended to soak them up more easily than most people. But if he were ever pressed to reproduce an entire page of information he’d been shown, he’d be screwed.
The important details stuck with him, but the rest seemed to leave only enough of an impression to help him solve problems and correctly read situations, which was fine with him.
“Jason.” Dex met Tanner’s gaze squarely. “Thanks for going to bat for me on this. I won’t let you down.”
Tanner smiled. “I know. Now get out there and save the world.”
Chapter 7
Kate winced at the sound of the dreaded ring tone that heralded a call from her father. The conversation was always the same, and it left her feeling drained and angry. She had been dodging his calls for a week, and a small niggle of guilt had begun to accost her. If her mother were still alive, she would be horrified at what the relationship between father and daughter had become.
For that reason, Kate reached for her cell, still remembering the discussion she and Dex had in the VIP lounge about their respective parents.
At the thought of Dex, the stings and aches left in her body from the amazing scene they’d played together reminded her of the intense pleasure he had repeatedly plunged her into.
Another ring pulled her back to the impending discussion. It was already almost eleven p.m., so her father was probably trying for a time he thought she would most likely be home and willing to answer. She had always been a night owl.
After taking a deep breath and saying a quick prayer for patience, she picked up her phone and touched the screen to answer. She tried for a neutral, casual tone to start the inevitable. “Hello.”
“Kathryne,” came her father’s clipped reply.
She clenched her jaw until it ached. She hated to be called Kathryne, and he damn well knew it. No doubt he did it to set her on edge.