Shock of War Read Online Free Page A

admired—what she loved—was the way he treated the little girl, M ạ . He’d been so tenderly attentive and fiercely protective at the same time.
    He had a good smile as well. Boyish. And shoulders—she liked his shoulders, though he wasn’t a bodybuilder type.
    Mara thought of the army officer she’d met in Vietnam—Zeus. Now there was a physical type she went for: high school quarterback, super jock, and not a dumb one, either.
    Making love to him would be … interesting.
    Athletic.
    But it’s Josh I want, Mara thought, glancing back at the video screen.
    Her sat phone buzzed. It was Peter Lucas.
    Mara cringed as she answered.
    â€œBoss?”
    â€œMara, excellent work up there. Those Chinese assassins—dead?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œSecret Service says they are. They’re singing your praises. There’ll be a commendation. Good work. Hell of a job.”
    So I guess I don’t have to do any more penance for Malaysia, Mara thought.
    â€œI watched the show. CNN, Fox, everybody’s got it. Your boy is good. Very, very good. You coached him?”
    â€œSome special troubleshooter came down,” said Mara. “Jablonski. The president’s guy. He’s a political handler or something.”
    â€œWell, Josh was great. Very, very convincing.”
    â€œHow’s M ạ ?”
    â€œThe little girl is fine, as far as I know.”
    â€œCan you send somebody to check on her?”
    â€œDon’t go maternal on me, Mara. The girl isn’t my department.”
    â€œI’m not being maternal. She has no family. I’m just looking out for her.”
    â€œYou did that in Vietnam, Mara. That part of your job is done.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œLook, they kept her from having to go in front of the UN, right? She’s in good hands.”
    â€œThat sounds perverse.
    Lucas didn’t respond. Normally his sense of humor was just as black as hers, but certain things he didn’t joke about.
    â€œWhen am I going back?” she asked.
    â€œBack?”
    â€œAre you sending me to Vietnam, or back to Bangkok?”
    â€œI don’t know yet. I was thinking…”
    His voice trailed off. That was never good. Mara instantly realized the reason.
    â€œPeter, you’re not thinking of pulling me back to Langley, are you?” she said. It was more an accusation than a question. “Putting me on the desk?”
    â€œI’ve been thinking I need some help here,” said Lucas.
    â€œNo.”
    Mara’s voice was so loud she startled herself. She glanced around the room, making sure it was empty.
    No way she was going to get herself locked into an assignment at CIA headquarters as a desk sitter.
    â€œIt’s not a death sentence, for cryin’ out loud,” Lucas told her. “And it wouldn’t be permanent. Hell, a promotion would be involved. Part of your career path.”
    â€œBull.”
    â€œI need someone I can trust to represent me back here. I have to get back to Bangkok. When the Chinese take Vietnam, Thailand’s going to be next.”
    â€œ When the Chinese take Vietnam?”
    â€œWe’re talking days, Mara. At most. And Thailand’s next. Cambodia. Laos. The only question is which one they go after first.”
    Mara thought there were a lot of questions besides that one.
    â€œWhat do you think?” Lucas asked.
    â€œI’m not going to be your secretary, Peter. That’s not my skill set.”
    â€œI was thinking more my spear thrower.”
    â€œYou can’t put a good gloss on it.”
    She got up from the seat, anger stoking her adrenaline. Lucas might think of it as a promotion—maybe in some ways it was—but she deserved some consideration after everything. He ought to be asking her what she wanted to do. Dozens of people could carry water for him here. And better than she could.
    Unless …
    â€œPeter,