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North Dakota was as close to heaven as she’d found, but she wouldn’t hold it against him for loving the sea. “I’m going to catch that sleep. Wake me when we’re fifteen minutes out?”
    “Sure.”
    She clicked off the light and closed her eyes, holding the medallion in her fist. If she had seen some interesting history, she was willing to bet Sam had probably made some of that history in classified missions not to be revealed for half a century. Life had become complicated enough lately without diving headlong into the start of a new relationship, as attractive as that thought may be. It was better to close her eyes and sleep.
    The day wasn’t supposed to end like this. She should have flown to Washington and dropped off Sergey’s message and then headed back to North Dakota.
    It was going to hurt bringing this home and causing her sister more worry. Lord, being needed isn’t worth this, not when it’ll touch my family.
    Sam interrupted her thoughts. “What are you thinking about that has you frowning?”
    “Home.”
    “That’s normally a good thought.”
    “I’m regretting the coming explanations.”
    “Start with ‘I’m okay,’” he said. “They’ll eventually forgive the rest. Sleep, Darcy. You need the rest. And I’m not dozing off until you do.”
    She smiled. “Well when you put it that way . . .”
    * * *
    Darcy slept expecting trouble. Sam watched her hand twitch as the noise of the engines changed tempo. She had a blown mission, someone trying to kill her on U.S. soil, and she had to improvise her plans. Darcy was pretty good at thinking on her feet for a retired spy.
    He’d always prayed to meet an interesting woman. He didn’t want to spend forever alone, but finding someone who could handle his profession, love of travel, and deal with the danger inherent in his job was tough. Darcy St. James qualified. Did she live in the D.C. area or elsewhere now that she was retired? He’d have to find out. Was Darcy even her real name? He leaned over and touched her shoulder. She was dreaming; he could see it in the movement of her eyes. “We’re here.”
    She jerked as she woke. “Sorry, I burnt the eggs,” she murmured.
    He laughed softly. “Just a dream.”
    “More like a bad memory. I got distracted this morning.” She stifled a yawn as she sat up.
    “You’ll crash when this day finally ends.”
    “That’s an understatement.” Darcy tightened her seat belt and gathered together her things.
    The plane descended and settled onto a runway. It taxied to a far hangar. Sam picked up his bag and Darcy’s and led the way down the stairs. She gestured to the car Gabriel had arranged to have waiting in the secure lot. She got the keys from the lockbox and handed them to Sam.
    “I need to make one quick stop, and then we’ll head to headquarters. Sorry for the late night, but they’ll need to debrief you and Gabriel needs my notes.” She circled around the passenger side as she pulled out her phone. “Take a right at the light, cross the Potomac River, and head north on Wisconsin Avenue. We’ll miss the traffic, such as it is.”
    He started the car. “What’s the first quick stop?”
    “My place.”
    Sam shot her a glance, but her attention was already focused on her call to her partner to let him know they were in town. This would be an interesting visit.

Four
    * * *
    SEPTEMBER 9
    Sunday, 11:50 p.m.
    Bethesda, Maryland
    Sam paid attention to the neighborhood, memorizing the directions on the off chance he’d have the opportunity to pay Darcy a social call someday. The apartment complex she directed him to was unusual. There was a guard and a raised gate at the entrance, and the buildings along streets named Birch, Oak, Willow, and Pine were set farther apart than he would have expected.
    “Take the second street, Willow, to the first building on the left. Pull in at the first garage and hold up the badge to the card key reader by the mailbox to raise the garage