Chapter 6
Mantis and Alegria
Mantis prepared himself for the argument he and Doc would have about when he’d be ready for another assignment. Tomorrow wouldn’t be too soon for him, but he knew Doc would insist he take time off.
For what, though? Like he’d told Dutch, other than work, his life was empty. He could spend a couple of days with his family in Connecticut since he didn’t show up for Christmas, but after that, what would he do?
When he came home after being in Afghanistan for so many months, his plan had been to try to work things out with Alegria. He’d had no intention of taking on anything other than flying for at least a year. Maybe longer.
When Doc offered him the K19 partnership, Mantis turned him down, not knowing whether he could commit to the firm when what he wanted to do more than anything was retire.
Within days, everything had changed. Alegria refused to talk to him about anything other than work. K19 had an op that required every team member’s support, including his, and then at the end of that mission, Alegria had been shot.
Dutch had been the one to find her, barely alive, in the woods that night. Even then, he hadn’t let on that the two of them were together.
“You and Dutch head home,” Doc said when they reached the end of their call.
What should be a simple thing to do, wasn’t. Where was his home? He had a lease on a condo in Santa Barbara, but was that home? In the absence of anywhere else to go, it would have to work until he figured out what he wanted to do next.
“Hey, Doc?”
“Still here.”
“Is that partnership at K19 on the table?”
“Holding it open just for you.”
“I appreciate it, and I think I’d like to take you up on it.”
“Glad to hear. You’re part of the K19 team family no matter what, but having you official is what we’d all prefer.”
They talked about what was involved in terms of paperwork, and what kind of money Mantis could plan to bring in. The next step was for them to meet and finalize the deal.
“Once we’re stateside, I’m going to Darien for a couple of days, and then I’ll head to Santa Barbara.”
“Sounds good. Say hello to your parents for me, and let me know when you’re in town.”
Mantis thanked him and disconnected the call. He’d really lucked out when, as a fledgling CIA agent, he’d been given his first assignment to work with Doc and the K19 team. They were honest, ethical, and as he’d said, they were a family.
When he came ou
t of the room where he’d made his call, Dutch was waiting.
“Transport is scheduled for thirteen hundred.”
Mantis checked his watch. That meant he had at least four hours to kill, and Mogadishu wasn’t known for sightseeing.
“I have some travel plans to arrange. I’ll meet you back at the airfield.”
“I was thinking we could grab something to eat.”
As much as Mantis wanted to turn Dutch down, if he was going to be a K19 partner, that meant he was going to have to work with the man. Not just Dutch, Alegria too. He had to figure out a way to co-exist with the two of them.
“Where are you headed?” Dutch asked when they sat at a table in the cafeteria.
“What do you mean?”
“You said you had travel plans to make.”