getting your boys in country. I’m just filling in until they do. So I guess I’m your temp.” He took a healthy swig of his drink and sat back in the armchair and looked around at the lobby. “Jesus, I can’t believe I’m back here again. I was here a couple of weeks ago, sent out on a babysitting mission, and now I’m dragged back here for a few days. Eh, at least the booze is good.”
Jesus Christ, did the dude ever stop talking? But then again, it was becoming difficult watching and following Stamov alone, not to mention keeping an eye on Sadie and her new boyfriend. “Come upstairs; I have his schedule and his car license plate and…”
“No need, Tennant. I already have my brief.” He threw a cell phone at Simon, who caught it without taking his eyes off Garrett’s. “You can get me on that if you need me. I’m going to unpack and then I’ll be all over Stamov like a rash. No sweat.” His eyes flickered over Simon’s shoulder. “Or maybe you can just take the evening off.”
At that second, he stood up as the finance minister held out his hand. “Franḉois! I didn’t know you would be here.”
Simon backed away fast as Garrett scoffed at the minister’s proffered hand and instead brought Stamov into a Gallic embrace. “It is so good to see you, my friend. I only agreed to come because of the fine cellar of wine they keep at the hotel here. You must join me to take advantage of it, oui ?”
“But of course, comrade. Already you have made this visit more pleasurable. Come. Let us leave this party and”—his voice rose in excitement—“make our own party!” Some of the minister’s hangers-on applauded and cheered.
Simon had seen nothing like it in his life. Garrett must have been on the job for a long time to achieve that level of comfort with a Russian cabinet member. What the hell was his background that he could seamlessly switch between characters? He wondered if he was even English.
Anyway, as soon as he could get upstairs and check out Garrett’s story, Simon knew exactly how he was going to spend his unexpectedly free evening.
It took three minutes on the phone to Barnum to confirm his new “partner” was legit. His boss promised to send the unredacted parts of Garrett’s file if he could get his hands on it but assured him that he was the best available backup.
Simon was worried, however, that his team was having issues getting into Greece, but his boss told him it was need to know, and he didn’t. Business as usual at CAG. He signed off and pulled up the phone app that let him find Sadie. He’d stuck a microscopic chip into her purse when she’d gone to the bathroom. It was done on pure instinct. He always kept at least ten of the trackers in his wallet because you never knew when you were going to lose a mark. If one went into a busy subway station, by far the best bet at continuing surveillance was to tag the mark and then just wait for him to materialize again. He just hadn’t gotten close enough to put one on the minister yet, but since Garrett and he were such good friends, maybe he’d delegate that job.
Since he’d sneaked it into her bag, he’d justified it a million times in his head by telling himself that it was for her safety. He owed her at least safety while he was in the city. It was a gift that she wouldn’t know she’d received.
It sounded weak even to him.
* * *
Sadie managed to snag their favorite table outside the Athinas bar and café. It was important for Platon to feel comfortable whenever he was with her, and these little things built up trust, whether he knew it or not.
And of course he never would.
She ordered a coffee so that she could order them both a beer when he arrived without overdoing it. As she looked around for him, she took out a notepad and pen to scribble down a shopping list. Again, totally nonthreatening. Something that a mom would do. Her whole time with Platon was built around these layers of security and
Jesus Christ, did the dude ever stop talking? But then again, it was becoming difficult watching and following Stamov alone, not to mention keeping an eye on Sadie and her new boyfriend. “Come upstairs; I have his schedule and his car license plate and…”
“No need, Tennant. I already have my brief.” He threw a cell phone at Simon, who caught it without taking his eyes off Garrett’s. “You can get me on that if you need me. I’m going to unpack and then I’ll be all over Stamov like a rash. No sweat.” His eyes flickered over Simon’s shoulder. “Or maybe you can just take the evening off.”
At that second, he stood up as the finance minister held out his hand. “Franḉois! I didn’t know you would be here.”
Simon backed away fast as Garrett scoffed at the minister’s proffered hand and instead brought Stamov into a Gallic embrace. “It is so good to see you, my friend. I only agreed to come because of the fine cellar of wine they keep at the hotel here. You must join me to take advantage of it, oui ?”
“But of course, comrade. Already you have made this visit more pleasurable. Come. Let us leave this party and”—his voice rose in excitement—“make our own party!” Some of the minister’s hangers-on applauded and cheered.
Simon had seen nothing like it in his life. Garrett must have been on the job for a long time to achieve that level of comfort with a Russian cabinet member. What the hell was his background that he could seamlessly switch between characters? He wondered if he was even English.
Anyway, as soon as he could get upstairs and check out Garrett’s story, Simon knew exactly how he was going to spend his unexpectedly free evening.
It took three minutes on the phone to Barnum to confirm his new “partner” was legit. His boss promised to send the unredacted parts of Garrett’s file if he could get his hands on it but assured him that he was the best available backup.
Simon was worried, however, that his team was having issues getting into Greece, but his boss told him it was need to know, and he didn’t. Business as usual at CAG. He signed off and pulled up the phone app that let him find Sadie. He’d stuck a microscopic chip into her purse when she’d gone to the bathroom. It was done on pure instinct. He always kept at least ten of the trackers in his wallet because you never knew when you were going to lose a mark. If one went into a busy subway station, by far the best bet at continuing surveillance was to tag the mark and then just wait for him to materialize again. He just hadn’t gotten close enough to put one on the minister yet, but since Garrett and he were such good friends, maybe he’d delegate that job.
Since he’d sneaked it into her bag, he’d justified it a million times in his head by telling himself that it was for her safety. He owed her at least safety while he was in the city. It was a gift that she wouldn’t know she’d received.
It sounded weak even to him.
* * *
Sadie managed to snag their favorite table outside the Athinas bar and café. It was important for Platon to feel comfortable whenever he was with her, and these little things built up trust, whether he knew it or not.
And of course he never would.
She ordered a coffee so that she could order them both a beer when he arrived without overdoing it. As she looked around for him, she took out a notepad and pen to scribble down a shopping list. Again, totally nonthreatening. Something that a mom would do. Her whole time with Platon was built around these layers of security and
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