Seriously? We’re probably the same age.Jane shook her head. “No, no. Be honest. You’re upset because I found something you didn’t and that bothers you. You’re also irritated with me because you were the only woman here and now you’re not.”
“I’m not intimidated by other women.”
“And you have a thing for Rapp, which now feels threatened. Don’t be. I don’t play where I work. But hey, you do you.”
Gina’s eyes widened, and she flushed. “That’s ridiculous.”
Jane called it like she saw it, and though she hated to stereotype the office romance, she’d seen the way Gina eyed Rapp when he wasn’t looking. “Hey, you’re both good-looking, intelligent people. I’m sure you’d fit well together. I’m only here to help out before I’m back at the main office.”
“Your comments are offensive. I respectAgentRapp. I’m not in love with the guy.” Gina vibrated with embarrassment, glaring at Jane.
“Tomato, tom-ah-to. I don’t really care. It’s your business.”
“You’re making a mistake. I don’t like you because you’re only out for yourself, taking all the credit while the rest of us do all the work.”
“Look, if you want, I can cheer you on when you find leads and make arrests. Makes no difference to me who finds information as long as we stop this guy from killing again.”
Gina swore under her breath, but Jane heard her all the same. “You’re taking things out of context. I’m a professional.”
“I’m not saying you aren’t. But fixating on me isn’t helping us get the job done. Are we going to find Fellows or not?”
“Oh,we’regoing to. Because apparently, I have to babysit the new girl. Cannon, just admit what your power plays are really about. You think you’re better than the rest of us.”
I am better than the rest of you.
Jane surprised herself by not responding. But she didn’t fight people out of their depth. Jane had been raised and trained by people who tracked criminals and often killed for a living. She doubted Gina had had the same coaching, as accomplished as she might be. Though trying to knock her out might be fun.
After a pause, Jane asked, “Were you in the military prior to the Agency?”
Gina regarded her with caution. “Yes. Air Force.”
“Officer or enlisted?”
With Gina’s attitude, Jane would bet officer.
“I was a captain in Air Force Intelligence.”
“Interesting.”
“And you?”
“Marine captain, Intel as well.” Which in Jane’s mind, despite their similar ranks and specialties, put her several steps above Gina. But she refrained from saying so since the other, more inferior services, had issues with the obviously superior Marine Corps.
“Ah, now I get it.” Gina gave a short laugh. “Knuckle dragger.”
“Air Farce.”
“Jarhead.”
“Chair Force.”
They paused to study each other, and Jane mentally transposed Gina’s business suit with Air Force dress blues and imagined her lounging at work while drinking gourmet coffee and snacking on imported beignets. She had a feeling Gina was doing the same, envisioning Jane in camouflage utilities digging in the dirt and eating decade-old MREs.
“It would seem we have more in common than not.” Gina spoke calmly, ice frosting her words.
“Like the fact that we don’t want to wait for Harding Fellows to be picked up by someone else. And for the record, I don’t need a babysitter.”
Gina scoffed. “Oh, I know. I heard all about how you took down our suspect with just your pinkie finger to save the day. Superhuman strength in addition to that giant brain, huh, Cannon?”
