smaller man’s. “Be careful, Viktor. Be very careful. Do not make any moves until and unless you are told. You want to know what matters right now? Security of our secrets. Exposure is our risk, and you my
friend
, have placed us in a very precarious situation.” Ivanov attempted to be cool. Jon Krause was an imposing figure. The intensity in the lager man’s gaze told Ivanov to tread lightly. “Now,” Krause pulled back. “The transaction in France is set for next Thursday. I expect you will deal with our Pakistani friends.”
“Prince Abadi will meet….”
Krause nodded. “Of course, our Saudi
friends
will handle this. Very well, Viktor. Strickland has arranged for CongressmanO’Brien to meet Edmond. I am certain he will be point on the coming exchange.”
“Your new president chose that man?”
For once Krause agreed with the Russian. “Strickland is not John Merrow.”
Ivanov stretched his neck in frustration. “This O’Brien, is he…”
Krause laughed. “You should be careful what you wish for, Viktor. You want to know about O’Brien? Strickland? Who they are? Why they are in this?” He made his way to the door and put his hand on it. “
Posmotrite v zerkalo
(Look in the mirror),” he said as he took his leave.
Alex sat in the corner of the large ballroom with Cassidy beside her and Dylan on her lap. She watched as Jane Merrow graciously made her way to each person in the packed room, thanking them and assuring each that John Merrow had valued their support and friendship. Dylan was growing a bit restless. There were very few children present and the mood remained somber. “Bored, Speed?” Alex asked. He just shrugged. “Hmm. Well, what if we take a little walk?” Dylan nodded hopefully. Alex turned to Cassidy and smiled. “Give me a minute. Okay?”
“Sure,” the teacher said quietly. She watched as Alex navigated the room and made her way to Jane. There was a short exchange that ended with the former first lady motioning to her eldest daughter. Within a few moments Alex returned with Stephanie Merrow at her side. A tall man in a Marine uniform followed closely behind.
“Dylan, this is Lieutenant Colonel Moore.” Dylan looked at the tall man in the uniform curiously. “He flies the helicopter that the president uses. I thought you might like to see it.”
“Can we ride in it?” he asked excitedly.
The Marine smiled. “I’m sorry, Dylan, no ride today. But, you can go inside it if you would like. I’ll even show you where I sit.”
Cassidy smiled and began to reach her feet when she noticed Jane Merrow approaching. “Cassidy,” Jane began. “I was hoping, maybe we could take this opportunity to talk. Do you think you could meet me in the study?”
Cassidy felt her heart stop in her chest momentarily and gave a nod with a forced smile. Jane gave her an understanding pat on the shoulder before turning to head toward the room. “Dylan, why don’t you go with Stephanie? I’ll catch up to you in a minute,” Alex suggested.
Stephanie offered her hand and Dylan accepted willingly. “No worries,” she said to Cassidy. “I promise we won’t lose him.”
“Cass, it’ll be all right,” Alex assured her lover. Cassidy remained uncharacteristically silent. “Honestly, it will be.” Cassidy took a deep breath and shook her head. Her lips were pressed so tightly together that they were beginning to become numb. “Come on, I’ll walk you over.”
“Alex…”
“Cass, you can’t avoid her.”
“I know,” she answered as Alex escorted her to the door.
“Just be yourself,” Alex said softly. Cassidy sighed and entered the room were Jane Merrow was standing beside a small table, looking out an oversized window. “I’ll see you two in a bit,” the agent said with a wink to the former first lady.
“Thank you, Alex,” Jane replied. “I thought here would be good. You can see the South Lawn from here. So, you will be able to see Dylan when they reach Marine
friend
, have placed us in a very precarious situation.” Ivanov attempted to be cool. Jon Krause was an imposing figure. The intensity in the lager man’s gaze told Ivanov to tread lightly. “Now,” Krause pulled back. “The transaction in France is set for next Thursday. I expect you will deal with our Pakistani friends.”
“Prince Abadi will meet….”
Krause nodded. “Of course, our Saudi
friends
will handle this. Very well, Viktor. Strickland has arranged for CongressmanO’Brien to meet Edmond. I am certain he will be point on the coming exchange.”
“Your new president chose that man?”
For once Krause agreed with the Russian. “Strickland is not John Merrow.”
Ivanov stretched his neck in frustration. “This O’Brien, is he…”
Krause laughed. “You should be careful what you wish for, Viktor. You want to know about O’Brien? Strickland? Who they are? Why they are in this?” He made his way to the door and put his hand on it. “
Posmotrite v zerkalo
(Look in the mirror),” he said as he took his leave.
Alex sat in the corner of the large ballroom with Cassidy beside her and Dylan on her lap. She watched as Jane Merrow graciously made her way to each person in the packed room, thanking them and assuring each that John Merrow had valued their support and friendship. Dylan was growing a bit restless. There were very few children present and the mood remained somber. “Bored, Speed?” Alex asked. He just shrugged. “Hmm. Well, what if we take a little walk?” Dylan nodded hopefully. Alex turned to Cassidy and smiled. “Give me a minute. Okay?”
“Sure,” the teacher said quietly. She watched as Alex navigated the room and made her way to Jane. There was a short exchange that ended with the former first lady motioning to her eldest daughter. Within a few moments Alex returned with Stephanie Merrow at her side. A tall man in a Marine uniform followed closely behind.
“Dylan, this is Lieutenant Colonel Moore.” Dylan looked at the tall man in the uniform curiously. “He flies the helicopter that the president uses. I thought you might like to see it.”
“Can we ride in it?” he asked excitedly.
The Marine smiled. “I’m sorry, Dylan, no ride today. But, you can go inside it if you would like. I’ll even show you where I sit.”
Cassidy smiled and began to reach her feet when she noticed Jane Merrow approaching. “Cassidy,” Jane began. “I was hoping, maybe we could take this opportunity to talk. Do you think you could meet me in the study?”
Cassidy felt her heart stop in her chest momentarily and gave a nod with a forced smile. Jane gave her an understanding pat on the shoulder before turning to head toward the room. “Dylan, why don’t you go with Stephanie? I’ll catch up to you in a minute,” Alex suggested.
Stephanie offered her hand and Dylan accepted willingly. “No worries,” she said to Cassidy. “I promise we won’t lose him.”
“Cass, it’ll be all right,” Alex assured her lover. Cassidy remained uncharacteristically silent. “Honestly, it will be.” Cassidy took a deep breath and shook her head. Her lips were pressed so tightly together that they were beginning to become numb. “Come on, I’ll walk you over.”
“Alex…”
“Cass, you can’t avoid her.”
“I know,” she answered as Alex escorted her to the door.
“Just be yourself,” Alex said softly. Cassidy sighed and entered the room were Jane Merrow was standing beside a small table, looking out an oversized window. “I’ll see you two in a bit,” the agent said with a wink to the former first lady.
“Thank you, Alex,” Jane replied. “I thought here would be good. You can see the South Lawn from here. So, you will be able to see Dylan when they reach Marine
Similar Books
