King and Maxwell (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 6)

23

“I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN,” SAID Michelle to Sean as she watched the lady walking toward them.

They were sitting in a food court at a local mall. It was late afternoon so there were few patrons at the court. They were at a table as far away as possible from the other diners eating there.

Approaching from one end of the food court was Dana Brown. She was dressed down from the last time Sean had seen her, but her black tights and long white shirt rode well on her curvy and buxom figure.

“Pretty complete package, at least on the surface,” noted Michelle, staring at the approaching woman.

“Yeah,” said Sean. “But just keep any and all thoughts like that to yourself. We’re here for information, and to get that we have to play nice.”

“I always play nice.”

He glanced at her, shook his head, and looked back at his ex as she arrived at their table. They rose and Sean said, “Michelle Maxwell, Dana Brown.”

The two women exchanged tight, polite smiles and a quick handshake. They all sat and Sean said, “I’m assuming you have something for us since you called to meet?”

Dana kept her gaze on Michelle for a second longer and then turned to Sean.

“It was harder than I thought.”

“Did you think it would be easy?” remarked Michelle.

“Since I was dealing with my husband, yes, actually. I’m sure you know how easily a man can be manipulated if a woman merely addresses his basic needs.” She glanced demurely at Sean. “Pillow talk, like you said.”

Michelle shot a glance at Sean and said, “I’m sure.” She added, “But it sounds like addressing basic needs wasn’t enough here.”

Dana smiled and sat back. “That’s why you have a Plan B, which I did. I won’t go into great detail about how I accomplished it. I’m assuming you simply want the results.” She turned to Sean. “This Wingo situation is being treated very seriously at the Pentagon.”

“But how did you broach it with him?” asked Sean. “Like I said, I didn’t want you to go out on a limb.”

“I told him I was worried about him. He hasn’t been eating; he’s been moody. I knew something was up. So I just flat out asked him what was wrong and I wouldn’t take national security BS for an answer. I was his wife and I trumped that. And if he couldn’t trust me we had big problems.”

“And what did he tell you?” asked Sean.

Dana looked down, her features not nearly as confident. “I know this might sound somewhat surprising for me to say at this point, but I do feel guilty about doing this, Sean. He told me certain things in the strictest confidence, and I guess I’m having some doubts.”

“He will never find out you told us, Dana. I promise you that. I don’t care if they subpoena us and we have to commit perjury and go to prison. Your name will never come out from us.”

He glanced at Michelle, who nodded. “You have my word too, Dana. As you know, we’re former Secret Service agents, with emphasis on the ‘secret.’ We’re just trying to help a kid who’s trying to find out the truth about his dad.”

Dana took a deep breath and leaned in closer. “Sam Wingo wasn’t really in the reserves. He was still regular Army, but he left a year before his pension technically would have kicked in.”

“Why?” asked Sean.

“To establish himself as a civilian. To take a job with a company.”

“And to get married to a woman he hardly knew?” said Sean.

“Curtis didn’t come out and say that, but I suspect that was also true.”

“A lot of subterfuge. With what goal in mind?” asked Michelle.

“Something happened in Afghanistan. Wingo was on a top-secret mission to deliver something to someone. Only it never got there.”

“What was it?”