The Alien Accord by Betsey Kulakowski

Author:Betsey Kulakowski [Kulakowski, Betsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Babylon Books
Published: 2021-06-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Kitty Donovan sat in the Region VI Area Director’s office, with her hands in her lap, her gaze directed at the broken nail that was visible between the wrappings of her splinted thumb. She was furious at the organization for the method used to extract her from her previous assignment. The team put her at risk, and while she hadn’t been seriously injured, she hadn’t escaped completely unscathed. A broken thumb wasn’t the worst of it. Her whole body ached, and she’d spent nearly a week flat on her back in bed.

“Dr. Donovan.” The Area Director came in behind her, but she couldn’t even turn her head to look at him. He came around and sat down at his desk with a file that was nearly two inches thick. “Do you realize your actions have put this whole organization in jeopardy?”

“My actions?” she snarled. “You nearly killed two people. One of those was your best field operative ... me!”

“I can assure you, we carefully planned everything,” he said, sitting back in his high-back leather chair. “Your safety was our top priority. Dr. Grayson was treated and released from the hospital within twenty-four-hours of the event.”

“Safety my Aunt Fanny! I’ve been laid up for a week,” she said. “You broke my finger!”

“Broken bones heal,” he said. “But you nearly blew your cover. What were you thinking? A sexual liaison with your intended mark was not authorized.”

“It got the job done,” Kitty stated. She didn’t mention she and Michael had hooked up in collegeand were sweethearts, if truth be told. Had she not been in the position she was in, it would have been easy to allow herself to fall in love with him all over again. Using her body to accomplish her objective was a move James Bond wouldn’t have given a second thought to. She’d done what she had to do.

“And you’re confident he’s studying the same signals as Dr. Budnikov?”

“I’m positive,” she said.

“What did he tell you?”

Kitty hesitated. “It wasn’t what he said that convinced me,” she admitted.

“Gawdammit, Donovan! I need specifics.”

“I can’t give you specifics,” Kitty said. “But, from our discussions, and the time he had access to Hubble, I am absolutely positive.”

“You gave him access to Hubble?”

“Not long enough for him to confirm anything,” she said. “Just long enough for me to confirm my suspicions.”

The director stared down his nose at her a long moment. “You’re dismissed,” he said. “That’ll be all.”

Kitty didn’t move. “But ...” she all but squeaked. “His data needs to be collected. We need to shut that project down.”

“You’re correct,” he said. “We’ll take it from here.”

Kitty scooted forward in her seat. “This is my assignment. I’m the Senior Coordinator. It’s my job.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Your position has been compromised.”

“My position at NASA has been compromised,” she said. “But as far as anyone there knows I’m out on medical leave.”

“Which is another reason for you to just go home,” he said. “You have no business in the field.

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