Feeling bold and no pain, he drifted back to her. "Hi, there."

Her eyes lit on him. "Hi."

"Hi," he repeated, then realized what he'd done.

"You're pretty friendly."

"Uh, well, it's my party. You're alone?"

"Yes. And I've been waiting to talk to you."

Mitchell grinned and turned back to his friends still on the dance floor. "Oh, man, oh, man. Those guys put you up to this?"

"I'm not a prostitute--if that's what you think."

"No, no, no, I meant--"

"What did you mean?"

He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I bothered you."

She snorted. "I said I wanted to talk to you. Have a seat."

"Uh, okay."

He sat and tried to keep his gaze from her cleavage. Mission failed.

"I'm here at the request of Lieutenant Colonel and General Keating."

"Excuse me?"

She offered her hand. "I'm Captain Susan Grey."

He took her hand. "Lieutenant, I mean Captain Scott Mitchell."

She made a face. "I know."

"I drank a little too much. Sorry."

"We've been watching you for a while, and we like what we see."

He wanted to answer, So do I, but instead said, "Who are you? And why have you crashed my promotion party?"

"Sorry about that. My schedule is incredibly tight, and this was the only opportunity I could find before I ship out tomorrow."

"Where you headed?"

"Classified."

"Sounds . . . pretty classified."

"You're cute, Captain, but only half as witty. I'll cut right to the chase before your mouth gets you in any more trouble. You're a captain now, getting ready to lead an ODA team. Well, we've got something else in mind."

"Again, who are you?"

"I'm sure you've never heard of us, and we prefer to keep it that way. We're D Company, First Battalion, Fifth Special Forces Group."

"So you're just another company."

"Mitchell, I think you'd be surprised over the differences between us and the average ODA team."

"Oh, really? You guys saying you're better than us?"

"I already did."

Mitchell grinned crookedly. "Prove it."

Grey stood, reached into her purse, and withdrew an envelope. "We will. In here you'll find everything you need."

"Are you making me an offer?"

"Enjoy the rest of your party. See you soon." She wiggled her brows, then quickly left.

"Who was that?" asked Rutang, arriving at Mitchell's side.

"The most conceited woman I've ever met."

"You get her number?"

Mitchell glanced down at the envelope. "Sort of."

EIGHT

EIGHT

OLYMPIC VILLAGE
BEIJING, CHINA
JULY 2008

People's Liberation Army Captain Xu Dingfa dropped his duffel bag in the apartment's entrance foyer, didn't bother closing the door, and collapsed onto one of the beds. He rubbed his eyes and ran fingers through his crew cut.