The New Year of 2002 starts off with a literal bang, when Mark Vincent is called to WBIS headquarters and learns the Washington Bureau of Intelligence and Security has been disbanded. He's not happy with the situation, but he's ready to make his own way in the intelligence waters of DC. However, when Trevor Wallace, known as The Boss, requests he accept the CIA's offer of a job, Mark reluctantly agrees. He isn't surprised to find working for the CIA is exactly what he expected, with the Company not allowing him to do his job. Mark lets his resentment be known as he's partnered with one officer after another, with no success. As a result, he's determined to leave the CIA, in spite of his promise to the man whose opinion he valued so highly.<br><br>Quinton Mann is viewed as royalty in the intelligence community. He had a run-in with Mark Vincent a few years before, while Vincent was still senior special agent for the WBIS, and Quinn had developed a healthy respect for him. Now, however, it's his turn to partner with the man considered by the alphabet agencies to be a sociopath.<br><br>Quinn can see what the problem is, and he's aware Vincent might not remain CIA for long. Now, the year is drawing to a close. Will a drink on Christmas Eve change things for both men?

No One Should Be Alone

Susan’s eyes widened. She’d never met the Ice Man before, had never even heard of him, and it came as something of a shock to her. “Okay, fine,” she said at last, petulance in each word. “But I’m telling my friends I broke up with you, and you’d better back me up!”


She didn’t seem to realize there was nothing she could do if I chose to reveal the truth behind our “breakup.” However, I was a gentleman, and when anyone approached me about our no longer seeing each other, I simply said Susan had decided to move on.


The Company had plans in the works for another ball in a week’s time, and of course Susan would be there, since she was now dating Richard Custiss, who worked in Financial Management at Langley.


“Ah,” Gregor said now. “I told Portia she didn’t have to worry about you.”


“Mother didn’t care for Susan?” They’d met a time or two when I’d escorted Susan to various functions on Capitol Hill.


“Not really. Not that she would say,” Gregor hastened to assure me.


Chapter 12