Tsunami Connection Read Online Free Page A

her
heartstrings.
    The front door of the manor opened, and the inside lighting
cast a glow of warmth and welcome while outlining the large frame of their
host, inadvertently reminding her of her life choices. How could he let the
inside light leave him outlined like that, making himself a target in the
doorway?
    "We thought you'd never get here, girl. Yar driver's
'barmy'," Doctor John blurted in a pronounced Brummie, the dialect of
Birmingham, England. "I saw that turn. Come on up here," he added
again in dialect, laughing at Kefira's confusion.
    "Is that what they call the King's English? If it is, I'll
be a monkey's uncle," she retorted.
    "Yar a sassy wench.″ The Doctor overwhelmed her
with welcome, gave her a beery hug, despite it being their first meeting, and
then whispered into her ear.
    "You'll have to excuse my exaggerated accent. Your
friend's in the billiard room. I'll say he's got less spunk than you. Takes all
kinds, doesn't it?" he added, pointing the way towards a wainscoted
hallway that led to an oak stairwell.
    The scene was only missing a lamplighter preceding her up
the stairs. Launching Kefira back into this century, motion sensors lit the
passageway and the stairs, and then the sound of billiard balls, clattering on
a large table, led her on up.
    The door to the game room was open. Cigar smoke filled the
air. Overhead lamps cast shadows around the only table in use. Darkness between
the tables obscured the players from Kefira's line of sight. A cue stick rolled
onto the table and a serious looking, completely bald, young man about Kefira's
age stepped into the light he had activated with a switch near the table.
    "Kefira, I'm Zak. I've been looking forward to meeting
you," he said taking her in, slowly scanning her from top to bottom, just
his eyes roaming. His speech halted as she got close to him and her musky,
oiled scent rose up to his nostrils. Noticing her reaction, he added,
″Your file picture didn't do you justice."
    "Shouldn't we be talking business?" said Kefira.
    "Maybe we can start over again and–"
    "And get it right this time," Kefira jousted.
    "Ok. Ok. Please come out on the balcony and I'll give
you my assessment of our situation. Yochana sends her regards through
Sam.″ He opened the balcony door for her and the evening air gave her a
shiver. "I saw you give that martial arts demonstration. You were
astounding," said Zak, trying to change the tone of his shredded opening
gambit.
    "I don't recall seeing you there," she said, a
questioning look darkening her expression. "No, wait. You had long curly
hair, didn't you?"
    "Yep. I did. Sam pulled me out before the end. When I
go in the field I always shave my head. We need to work together on this. I'm
not sure what I did to spark you the way I did, but I apologize. Okay?"
    "Maybe it was just the drive here with that maniac
behind the wheel. Where did you get her, anyway?"
    His warm laugh filled the night air followed by hers and
both of the agents, at least temporarily, reconciled their differences.
    "I have a lead. It's Mac–" said Kefira, as Zak
interrupted her saying, "Yochana told me, MacAuley. I took the liberty of
looking his name up on all of the Mossad databases. He's a nasty number. I know
someone who worked with him before. The guy I know's a double for Mossad now.
We can go see him in Edinburgh. We know exactly where he is. I already booked
two vans, one with full surveillance equipment."
    Zak's presumption of the value of his authority surprised
her, though, despite the implied slight to her command, she appreciated his
efficiency. She was about to start sparring with him again when Sarah, the
round-faced rally driver, stepped out of the billiard room onto the balcony.
    "Okay, you two. Let's put the games behind us and get
to work."
    "I don't know what you're talking about," blurted
both Zak and Kefira at the same time.
    Sarah continued, "We all respect your rank Kefira,
Colonel, but don't forget Zak, Aden and I have been