Tell Me No Spies by Diane Henders

my side. Though I’d rather have him on my front… I
jerked my dirty mind to heel in time to catch Sam’s hurried
explanation.
    “I just want to run
some tests. Nothing unusual, you don’t even have to be in the
network.” As Kane’s gaze continued to bore into him, he fingered
his beard nervously and continued, “I’ll just put the electrodes on
your forehead again and ask you to do some mind exercises.”
    Relief seeped into my
taut shoulders. “Oh, like the ones you used to give me when you
came to the house.”
    “Uh… yes… I didn’t
realize you remembered those.”
    “Of course, why
wouldn’t I? You did them three times a year for what, twelve
years?”
    Sam finger-combed his
beard with what seemed like unnecessary vigour. “Most people
didn’t-” He clammed up and stroked his moustache.
    “Aydan, is that all
right with you?” Kane inquired.
    “Fine, no problem.
Let’s get it over with.”

    Down in Sam’s lab,
Kane appraised my shaking hands. “Are you all right?”
    “Fine,” I assured him
a little breathlessly. I drew in a deep breath and let it out
slowly. Then did it again. Ocean waves. “It’s actually a bit better
today.”
    He scowled at me.
“You’re a lousy liar.”
    “Thanks. Speaking of
which, have you come up with new ideas about my cover?”
    “Why, has Rossburn
been giving you trouble again?”
    “No.”
    I hadn’t even seen him
out riding his horse, and I didn’t know whether to feel glad or
sorry. Glad I hadn’t seen him. Sorry I had to avoid him.
    Kane glanced at Sam’s
approaching figure. “We’ll talk about it later.”
    After a couple of long
hours underground, I burst out of the time-delay chamber into the
lobby, only hyperventilating a little. I handed in my security fob
at the desk and tossed a wave over my shoulder as Spider and Kane
emerged from the chamber.
    “See you.” I scuttled
for my car.
    The sun-warmed
upholstery soothed my tense muscles, and I closed my eyes and
leaned into it, soaking up the heat. At the tap on my window, my
body spasmed and my eyes flew open.
    “Jesus Christ!” I
rolled down the window with shaking hands. “Don’t do that! You
scared the shit out of me.”
    “Sorry.” Kane rested a
forearm on the roof of the car and leaned down. “Should I come with
you to Blue Eddy’s?”
    “You can if you want.
He doesn’t officially open for another half hour or so, but he’ll
probably give you a beer anyway.”
    “I wasn’t thinking of
beer. I was thinking of Rossburn.”
    “I can’t imagine why
he’d be there. The weather’s good, so he’ll still be busy on the
farm. He wouldn’t come into town for lunch, and he doesn’t know my
schedule anyway.” I grimaced. “I really don’t think he’ll be too
interested in talking to me again, under the circumstances.”
    Kane lifted an
eyebrow. “You might be surprised. I wouldn’t give up on you that
easily. Somehow I doubt if he will, either.”
    “Oh.” I spoke into the
short, awkward silence. “Um… I’ve got to go.”
    “All right. See you
around three.”

    My heart lifted when I
unlocked the back door at Blue Eddy’s. Eddy was obviously hard at
work. The bluesy notes of his piano curled sensuously around me and
I swayed with the rhythm. His face lit up when he caught sight of
me.
    “Hi, Aydan!”
    I grinned back at him,
the weight of Sirius Dynamics dropping from my shoulders and
washing away in the stream of music. “Eddy, I swear to God, coming
here once a week is the only thing that keeps me sane.”
    He laughed while his
fingers continued to dance effortlessly over the keys. “Glad to be
of service.” The tune slowed to a simple, wistful melody as he
examined me, his sharp eyes seeing too much as usual. “Aydan, is
everything okay? You’ve seemed really down lately.”
    “Everything’s fine.
I’ve been really busy with one of my other clients, so I’ve been
tired, that’s all.”
    “Okay.” He continued
to scan my face, a faint frown creasing