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mentioning the award did have a way of garnering instant respect.
    “I know how to gather information without being discovered,” she continued. “Jamieson isn’t the first highly guarded target I’ve followed. I make sure that when his bodyguards do spot me, they see a completely harmless woman.”
    “Now that I can believe,” Mark muttered.
    “Yes, you’ve already expressed how threatening you find me.” She’d often used her appearance to put people off guard. Her curly blonde hair, short and curvy stature, and big blue eyes often lulled subjects into thinking she was a ditzy blonde. Only later, when her story ran, did they realize they’d given away more than they’d intended.
    However, in the eighteen months since she’d given up her career, she’d made an effort to be a strong role model for the female high school and college girls she taught. To her surprise, it annoyed her that Mark had bought into the ditzy female routine, even though that had been her goal. Her pride wanted him to recognize her intelligence. See her more as an equal than a person to be ignored.
    Squelching those thoughts, she said firmly, “Your opinion of me doesn’t matter.”
    Liar. You want him to like you. Respect you.
    Desire you.
    Faith ignored the voice in her head. “I want to find the place where Kerberos keeps the personnel they’ve kidnapped. Because I’m convinced Toby isn’t dead. I’m afraid they took him to wherever it is that they create their enhanced soldiers.” She didn’t think they would have put Toby into their program yet. They’d need him to confirm all the locations where he’d stored his research and every person who’d received copies of his notes. Even then, she wasn’t certain if they’d put Toby into the program, or just kill him.
    Mark’s lips thinned and a muscle next to his left eye started twitching, setting all her instincts into high alert. “What do you know about Kerberos?” she asked.
    At the same instant, Mark snapped, “Tell me everything you’ve learned about the enhanced soldiers.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down. “No. You first. Prove you really want to help me. Otherwise, I’m out of here.”
    He raised an eyebrow.
    “What? You don’t think I could escape from you?” she asked.
    The corner of his mouth lifted in disdain.
    “You caught me unawares before. So what? I’m prepared now.”
    “I’d like to see you try.”
    There was something sensual beneath the threat that held Faith immobile. Then she shook her head. “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving until you give me the information I need. So talk.”
    After a long, probing look that made her want to squirm in her seat, Mark turned his attention back to the ocean. Finally, he spoke. “Kerberos is Wayne Jamieson’s private black ops group.” When he glanced over at her to check that she understood, Faith nodded.
    “Kerberos specializes in assassinations and other actions the government can’t publicly take credit for.”
    “But…I thought Kerberos ran teams of enhanced soldiers.”
    Mark looked away, but not before Faith saw the bleakness in his eyes. “Yes, now it does. But Kerberos initially started out with squads of normal men. Men who’d met strict physical and mental requirements and believed wholeheartedly in the organization’s mission. A few years ago, Kerberos started funding a lab doing research to create a superhuman soldier. The methods used to transform the men are quite…painful…and ultimately fatal.”
    No. Oh, no. “What do you mean, fatal?” Toby’s notes had mentioned that the escapees had all died, but that seemed to be a result of confrontations with law enforcement. He hadn’t mentioned anything about the long-term effects of the program beyond the insane rages.
    “The drugs involved eventually cause madness and death by massive organ failure.”
    Remnants of her nightmares beat against her mind. Pictures of Toby bleeding to death. Screaming in