SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

Carl immediately recognized Danielle Serrate. Her red hair was up but her features, despite her having a little more makeup on, had the same model beauty as before. She saw Carl and for some reason he felt gratified that she had recognized him. He was dressed simply in slacks and a short-sleeved blue shirt. He stepped up to her and took her suitcase from her hand.

“Ms. Serrate, you’re looking…a bit cleaner.”

“You have a singular wit about you, Commander,” she said as she gave him the once-over.

“I’m like that, singular and witty,” he said as he started for the door. “If you don’t mind, ma’am, we have a busy day ahead of us.”

“May I ask our destination?” she asked, catching up with the much taller officer.

“You may ask,” he said as he flagged down marine corporal Sanchez, who would be accompanying them to Stanford. Carl lifted the trunk lid and laid her case inside, then paused. “Is there anything you would like to retrieve from your luggage?” he asked with his hand still on the trunk.

She smiled and opened the rear door of the rented Chevrolet. “No, I have everything I could possibly need,” she said significantly as she entered the car.

Carl slammed the trunk and walked to the other side of the car and climbed in. Her answer meant that she wasn’t armed. He wouldn’t push the point of the illegality of her having a weapon even if it were still hidden in her suitcase; after all, he wouldn’t like it if someone took his toys away if he visited France.

“Again, I’ll ask you our destination.” She looked at Carl over her sunglasses.

He tapped Corporal Sanchez on the back of his shoulder, signaling him to drive.

“Stanford University,” he said curtly. “And I want you to know, I was ‘volunteered’ for this assignment.”

“I look forward to spending time with you also, Commander.”

Carl could see her mocking smile in the reflection of the window.