Читать книгу Armageddon - Dale Brown - Страница 17

Dog hustled from the Dolphin shuttle helicopter that had dropped him off at Dreamland toward the black SUV waiting to ferry him over to his quarters. He was surprised to find Danny Freah behind the wheel.

‘Personnel shortage?’ Dog asked as he got into the passenger seat beside him.

‘Wanted to have a chat.’

‘Fire away,’ said Dog, bracing himself.

‘We had a problem with the demonstration this morning,’ started Danny.

Dog listened as the captain detailed what had happened. ‘I’m sorry, Colonel,’ said Danny as they arrived in front of the small bungalow that served as Dog’s quarters here. ‘I’m truly sorry.’

‘Well, the outcome wasn’t what we’d hoped, I agree,’ said Dog. He wanted to sound philosophical without sounding as if he were making light of the situation – a tough balance. ‘But actually it doesn’t sound that bad. If the technical people explained about the smoke grenades, I’m sure it’ll be kept in perspective.’

‘We screwed up in front of a bunch of people who would like to chop off our heads,’ said Danny.

‘Congress doesn’t want to chop off our heads. Just our budget,’ said Dog.

‘Yeah.’

‘It’s all right, Captain.’ Dog opened the door. ‘I’m going to just put this stuff inside and then head back over to my office. Can you stay a minute and give me a lift?’

‘Yes, sir.’

Danny’s mood was even more somber than before. Dog pulled his bag out of the truck, searching his mind for a better pep talk as he walked up the path to his quarters.

When Jennifer saw Dog finally coming up the walk, she leaned against the wall, knowing she’d be just out of sight when he came in. She listened to him fumbling with the key; as the door creaked open she heard her heart thumping loudly. She hesitated a second, suddenly feeling foolish for sneaking into his apartment to surprise him.

Dog, oblivious, closed the door behind him and took a few steps into the dimly lit cottage.

‘Hey,’ she said, staying back by the wall rather than going to him as she’d planned.

‘Jen!’

He sounded surprised, not shocked but taken off-guard, as if she were the last person in the world he’d expect here, the last person he wanted to find here.

‘What are you doing?’ Dog flipped on the light.

‘I was surprising you,’ she said.

‘Great,’ he said, but it sounded unconvincing to her.

‘Do you want some wine?’ she tried, struggling against her growing anxiety.

‘I would but I have to get over to my office and then look after the congressional delegation. Maybe later, okay?’

‘Oh.’

‘You all right?’ He put his arms around her but somehow it felt forced and unnatural.

‘I’m okay,’ she said.

‘I do have to go. I’m sorry,’ he said.

Kiss me, she thought. Kiss me. But even when he did, she thought he was distracted, and she felt worse than before.

‘Later?’ he said, letting go of her.

She forced herself to nod. But then she added, ‘I may have to work.’

‘Oh. Well. Try to come over.’

‘I will.’

Then he turned and, without bothering to change, went back out the door.