“Whichpaired very well with your pencil skirt and heels.”
“I’mnot sure your boss thought so.”
Ismile at her like she’s the sun rising in the morning. “Thatwas the first day of many where you showed just how memorable you are.”
Shegives me a look like she wants to curl up in my arms somewhere andIwant to give her just that.Iknow this is our first mission together, butI’malready a huge fan of bringing her with me.ButthenCharliesays in my ear, “Okay,Milesis in place.Areyou ready?”
Iglance at my watch, and then say toMackenzie, “Speakingof my boss,Ineed to go send that information to him.Doyou mind ifIleave you for a minute?”
“Notat all.Yougo be a spreadsheet jockey.”Shegestures at the cat brooch onChristine’slapel. “Itlooks like me and my new friend,Christine, both have an affection for feline companions, so we’ve got a lot to discuss.”
Mackenzieturns to face me and uses both hands to straighten my collar, and then she leans in close, her breath tickling my ear as she breathes, “Whosays we can’t successfully combine your spy life and regular life?Weseem to be doing it just fine.”
Igrin as she pulls back, fully in agreement, and thenIgive her a peck on the lips.
I’mstill grinning asIhead out of the meeting room and toward the finance manager’s office to go be a spy.
EPILOGUE 1
HIGH-ALTITUDE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Mackenzie
I’mstanding next toJace, looking up at the cliff we’re about to climb whenIhear, “There’smyMacSquared!”
Iturn to see my parents walking toward me from where they parked their car by some trees not too far away, andIrun over to them and give them both a hug. “Thankyou for coming to see my first outdoor climb!”JacethoughtIshould invite them, butIdidn’t think they’d want to drive more than an hour just to watch me climb a cliff.Theysurprised me by saying yes.
Mymom is looking up at the cliff like it’s a rope bridge over a pit of snapping crocodiles and definitely not to be trusted as we walk back toward it. “Thisrock climbing thing is safe, right?”
“Don’tworry,Mom.I’vebeen taught by the best.”Itoss a smile atJaceas we near him. “I’vealso gotten pretty good at it.”
“Prettygood?” she asks.
“She’spractically a pro now,”Jacesays as he shakes my dad’s hand. “Ichose this spot becauseMackenzieandIcan climb up side by side, and it’s not too high for a first-time outdoor climb.Andwe’ve got my friendsTreytonandVincehere, who are going to be holding onto the other end of the rope from down here, making sure we don’t fall.”
Oneof my favorite things over the past few months has been rock climbing.IletJaceknow once that it was somethingI’dalways wanted to do, and he’s taken me to an indoor climbing facility every week since.Evenon the week when he’d gotten off an eight-hour flight fromViennajust an hour before, he was there.It’sone of the most fun thingsI’veever done.
Mydad studies the cliff, the harnesses that bothJaceandIare wearing, the ropes and gear that we are preparing, and the two operatives who are also climbing enthusiasts that are going to belay us.Thenhe looks back at me and says, “So, now that you two have been together for several months,I’vegot to ask— how are things going?”
“Gloriously,”Isay without hesitation.
Imean, sure.It’sbeen a bit of an adjustment getting used toJacesometimes heading out of town with no warning at all.Orhim going out of townwithadvance warning.AndsometimesIreally want to know details, but it’s classified, soI’vehad to work on keeping my curiosity at bay.
Andthere are times whenIcan tell thatJaceworries for my safety.Histells are usually along the lines of pulling me out of the way if a bike takes a corner too quickly while we are on my daily walk or shielding me whenever a car backfires.ButI’vefound that if he ever starts to worry, allIhave to do is remind him that he’s one of the most capable spies in the world, so with him is about the safest placeIcan be.
Butthose are teeny hiccups and are minuscule compared to how great it is to haveJacein my life.Iwasn’t exaggerating whenIsaid it’s glorious.
Likewe always do,JaceandIcheck each other’s harnesses, that our helmets are secure, and that our figure 8 knot is tied into both hard points.Wecheck our ropes, too.TreytonandVinceare doing the same.They’vegone with us to the climbing facility enough times that we’ve really gotten used to working together.
“Wegot here early,” my mom says, “so your dad andIalready drove around and found the road that leads to the top of the cliff.There’sa big, open space up there, so that’s where we’ll be.”Shesqueezes my shoulders in a quasi-hug. “We’llsee you at the top!”
Atfirst,Iam doing great.Iam climbing on the left,Jaceis on my right, and he is going up at the same speed as me, pointing out hand holds or where the bolts are to clip my quick draw into whenIcan’t see them.WithJaceat my side andTreytonandVincebelow,Ifeel completely safe.
Andcompletely exhilarated and free.
Abouthalfway up the cliff,Ishout down, “Take!”Jacedoes the same right after.
“I’vegot you,”Vincesays, and a second later,Treytoncalls up, “I’vegot you, too,Jace.”
