Quinton Mann, a highly ranked CIA officer, is used to being called the Ice Man. He’s astounded to discover himself in a relationship with Mark Vincent, not because Vincent is a man, but because he’s a top-rated WBIS agent. There they are though, for a total of five glorious days. But when Mark uses the excuse of going to Massachusetts for his mother’s funeral to end their relationship, Quinn’s not buying it.<br><br>No one screws with Mark Vincent. Even Mark doesn't screw with himself. Once he realizes how close he's allowed Quinton Mann to get to him, he does what any self-respecting spy would do -- he makes tracks out of there. But Quinn does something no one else ever has -- he comes after Mark. Maybe this relationship thing with a spook isn’t such a bad idea.<br><br>Meanwhile, something strange is going on in the intelligence community worldwide. It takes Quinn’s disappearance while investigating a rogue antiterrorism organization that results in Mark making up his mind. Quinn may be a spook, but he’s Mark’s spook, dammit -- and once he gets Quinn home, he intends to keep him. He knows without a doubt he’ll find Quinn. The question is, will he find Quinn in time?

Not My Spook

I took a stick of gum from a pack I kept in a pocket in my duffel, and while I chewed itthoroughly, I stashed my clutch piece, a Beretta Jetfire that I’d done some modifications on, in my pocket and left my Glock tucked in the springs under the bed.


When all the taste was gone from the gum, I left my room, locked the door behind me, and hung a Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob. Then I stuck a very thin ribbon of gum from the lower panel of the door to the doorframe. It was too fine to be readily seen,but it gave me an edge. If anyone entered my room while I was gone, I would know it. I wrapped the rest of the wad of gum in the wrapper to throw away later.


I went back down the stairs and nosed around. The first floor consisted of a dining room with five tables, and even though there were only me and the newlyweds, each table was set with place mats and place settings, crystal and silverware, and with a centerpiece of fresh flowers.


Chapter 37