Dean Atwood [Atwood - She’s an Easy Target

ALSO BY DEAN ATWOOD

AGUA DE VALENCIA

THE RETREAT TOWER

THE SECRET TARGET

SHES AN EASY TARGET

Dean Atwood

Copyright 2018 by Dean Atwood

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be produced in any form without permission.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Seth for designing the cover.

Chapter 1

It was after seven oclock on a Friday night and Happy Hour at Millers Downtown had ended. Gradually, the early drinkers were leaving and being replaced by the evening dine and drink crowd. It was the first time in a month that Quinton Target and Blaire Saunders had walked the short distance from their townhouse to the outdoor mall in Charlottesville, Virginia to have dinner together.

It was a warm, summer evening but it wasnt humid. They elected to sit at an outside table. Quinton watched Blaire as she stared blankly at the menu. He sensed there was something besides a dinner selection on her mind.

She lifted her head and said, What?

You seemed distracted. What were you thinking about?

Nothing in particular. Its been a long week at work. Its taking me a while to unwind.

Do you want to talk about it?

Not really.

Are you sure?

Yes, Im sure. You know there are things Im not allowed to discuss with anyone outside of the NSA and that includes FBI agents like you.

Lets not fall back into that trap of keeping things from each other and using the confidentiality requirements of our jobs as an excuse.

Thats easy for you to say. You dont have to take frequent polygraphs like I do at the NSA.

Im not asking you to share state secrets.

Its not that black and white. The interrogators dont just ask me whether Ive stolen or leaked classified information, they grill me for hours about everything, including my sex life, to find out if Im vulnerable and could be coerced into revealing sensitive data.

Well, it must be a pretty short discussion if youre answering questions about our sex life, lately.

Blaire looked shocked and hurt by his comment. Her eyes watered as she spoke. Im sorry I havent been more attentive to your needs, she said.

No, Im the one whos sorry. I shouldnt have said that. I know youve been under a lot of pressure. You should refuse to answer those kinds of personal questions. Its sexual harassment.

Refusal to answer any question is grounds for termination. The same rules dont apply to us that apply to ordinary employees. Its not only acceptable for those administering the polygraph to ask embarrassing personal questions, its required.

Is that whats bothering you? Did you fail a polygraph?

The last thing I need from you tonight is the third degree.

All Im asking is that you dont shut me out. I want to be there for you, but I cant if you hide everything important in your life from me.

Im not hiding anything from you, she said defensively. I havent done anything wrong.

I didnt say you did anything wrong. But I can tell youre worried about something. What is it?

All I want is for the two of us to enjoy a Friday night like a normal couple. Cant we relax and forget about the NSA and FBI for a few hours?

He took in a deep breath and held it for a moment before letting it out. I can if you can, he said. He placed his right hand on top of her hands, which were resting palms down on the table.

A young woman with a petite figure approached their table and flashed her pearly-white teeth in a smile that said, tip me well because Im cute and friendly .

Hi, Im Lisa. Ill be your server this evening. Can I get you something to drink while you look over the menu or are you ready to order?

Ill have a Black Angus burger, fries, and a Bud Light draft, Blaire said. What do you want, QT?

Ill have the same. Please bring the drinks first. Weve had a tough week at work.

Tell me about it, Lisa said. This is the third double shift in a row for me.

After the waitress left, QT said, Youre living on the wild side tonight. Usually, you order the grilled chicken salad and a glass of wine.

I dont want to be too predictable. You might get bored with me.

Thatll never happen.

I didnt really think it was possible but Im beginning to wonder after your comment.

The waitress brought their beers and said, Is there anything else I can get you while youre waiting for your meals? Would you like to order an appetizer?

No, but you can bring each of us another beer with our burgers when theyre ready, Quinton said. These will be gone by then.

Youve got it, she said and moved to the table next to them to take the orders from the guys sitting there. From the crude comments hed overheard them making, Quinton had learned they were UVA students, taking summer classes. They were at Millers to get drunk and pick up girls, not necessarily in that order. They didnt waste any time competing to gain favor with the cute waitress.

Youre ordering our second beers before weve started our first ones? You do remember I have to go out for a work assignment for a few hours at ten tonight, dont you? Blaire said.

Its early yet. Youll have time to sober up.

Are you trying to get me drunk, so you can have your way with me before I go to work? Blaire said in a manner that indicated that she was half joking and half not.

Thats not a bad idea. It would give you something interesting to talk about during your next polygraph. The only problem is that you can drink me under the He stopped before finishing his sentence and stared at a red, laser dot as it circled around Blaires left nipple and then her right before coming to a rest in the center of her chest.

She followed the path of his eyes to see what had captured his attention and her eyes widened when she saw the laser dot.

Get down, he said as he pulled his pistol from its case and pointed it toward a man standing in the walkway across from them, about sixty feet away, partially hidden behind a huge willow oak tree that was three feet in diameter.

Blaire put her hand on Quintons shoulder and said, Stop! I know that guy. Hes with the NSA.

The man stepped away from the tree. He lifted a laser light pen into the air and waved it before putting it in his pocket. Quinton put his gun back into its holster. He looked around, expecting to see mass panic, but everyone seemed to be safe in their own little bubbles eating, drinking, conversing, and ignoring the fact that hed pointed a loaded gun at someone.

Im going to have a talk with that idiot. I couldve killed him.

Let me handle it, Blaire said.

Why dont you bring him over here and introduce him to me? Well both talk to him.

I dont think thats a good idea. Youre too hot under the collar.

QT glanced at the man. He estimated that the guy was in his early forties. His hair was thinning, and he was slightly built except for a paunch that hung over his belt. Even from a distance QT could tell that his face was pitted, most likely from acne when he was a teenager.

OK, well do it your way, but signal me if you need my help.

That wont be necessary. Hes annoying, but harmless.

Im not convinced of that.

Blaire got up from the table and moved slowly toward the man. The college guys at the table next to them turned their full attention to her. She was wearing white capri pants that accentuated every jut and curve of her buttocks. She gracefully swung her hips from side to side in a way that was seductive without being overdone. Her blonde hair was long enough for it to swish ever so slightly in rhythm with her hips.