CIA Headquarters
McLean, Virginia
Agent Clayton Webb stood by the glass door that lead into the ops centre, any second now Casey McDaniels should step out of that elevator to meet him.
Across town Casey McDaniels put the last of the clothes she had left at Clay's back in her suitcase and shut it tightly.
She looked down at the bag, here in one tiny bag was her life.
Everything of importance that she owned was in it, everything that told of who she was , who she had been.
She looked again at the powder blue envelope resting on Clay's bedside stand.
She hoped he understood, hoped he knew why she was doing this.
She brushed another tear from her cheek, strange how the tears came now.
They had not come when the Russians tortured her in the prison camp, she would have welcomed tears then.
They had not come when her mother & father died.
They came now, when she knew that leaving the man she loved, was the only way to keep him alive.
She took out the letter she had written and re read it for what must have been the 100th time.
Did it say enough? She wondered. She folded the letter again; her fingers wet with tears staining the paper.
With one last look, she turned and left the apartment locking the door and slipping the key back under it.
13.00 EDT
Clayton Webb's Apartment
Alexandria, VA
He knew she was gone the minute he opened the door.
The shiny silver key to his apartment lay on the floor 2 feet from the door.
He walked into the empty silence, praying that he was wrong.
Praying that he would find her curled up asleep in his bed, like she had been this morning.
But as he walked into the empty bedroom, he knew he was wrong.
The letter in powder blue envelope on the bedside stand said 'Goodbye', he didn't have to read it to know that.
He reached out for the envelope sitting down heavily on his bed.
With a shaking hand he opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Clay,
Some things should never be said in a letter, Goodbye is one of them.
I know you may never understand why I'm doing this, but know that I do this because I love you.
For the time we shared I thank you.
I would rather have loved you for an hour than another man for a lifetime.
Forgive Me
Casey
Clay brought the piece of paper to his face and breathed deeply.
The faint smell of gardenia's drifted off the paper.
She was gone.
She had left, left him, left them...left without an explanation.
He ran his palm over the pillow, where her head had rested just a few hours ago and new purpose filled him.
He didn't know what had made Casey run from him, from them...but he was sure as hell going to find out.
'Blue Pacific' Ocean Liner
StateRoom 1013
Casey stood on the balcony , staring out at the moonlit water of the Atlantic.
She had done the right thing, she assured herself.
There was no other thing to do...leaving was the only way to assure his safety.
She'd come back some day, she told herself, when she was sure the threat to Clay was ended...even if she had to end it herself.
From the promenade deck, a pair of startlingly blue eyes watched the lone figure on the balcony.
The owner, a tall man, shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat.
This was going to be a mission he would enjoy...