A branch knocked at the kitchen window as his thoughts raced to the warehouse where the four old sailors from the USS Liberty waited for the rescue that would never come. Were there leaks now that the storm had intensified? Did the dampness hurt their aging bones?
Two of them popped nitroglycerin tablets fairly often while the others tried to remain calm and comfort their friends. They spoke in hushed voices of the Wakefield man; wondering where he was and if he were in the same dire predicament. One man, a former Marine, encouraged the other three to be prepared to escape when the opportunity presented itself.
Even though the speaker insisted they be tied up, he could not carry out the order. The containment area was not that large. Where would they go? Providing them a chair and a small table would be more than enough. Amon rebelled and gave each of them a thin blanket. Although extremely hot this time of year, Amon knew that old ones sometimes got cold. It would be a small comfort to old warriors, just like his grandfather who spoke of the Six Day War in 1967.
Their voices carried through the shabby walls meant to contain them. Speculation as to the reason for their capture ran amuck at first. With the sudden appearance of their armed guards bringing food and water twice a day, the old military men began to realize their capture had not been random. Although the guards kept their faces covered with handkerchiefs, the dark skin exhibited on hands and throat remained visible. The tongue of their captors sounded foreign; Middle Eastern. They were intelligent enough to make the connection.
Amon remembered how their rambling turned from 911, to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and finally to their forgotten war in 1967. He’d stood at the door listening to their stories of that day so long ago. They knew Israel deceived the U.S., their friend and ally. That treacherous act nearly drove the world to nuclear war between the Americans and the Russians.
With all the discord going on in Egypt these days and the demonstrations outside the American Embassy, many Americans objected to money going to prop up the fragile Egyptian economy. Unlike America, his people would never give money to a country who openly claimed to hate Egypt. Yet the American politicians continued to believe money could buy loyalty.
Egypt now resembled just another Middle Eastern country that couldn’t protect itself from internal strife and discord; radical Islam verses the desire to be free.
The speaker suggested they should shed light on the truth. Egypt’s status would rise in the eyes of the world. History implied the Six Day War had been a result of Egypt’s aggressive posturing. Many died at the hands of the Israelis. His grandfather escaped only to watch as his comrades were slaughtered.
What would become of this folly? Taking these frail men of a forgotten war against their will, to shame his enemy, seemed fanatical even to him. Killing these Americans and planting evidence to implicate the Israelis, if it worked, would haunt him. The end result of shaming the Israelis and killing the American president might just start another war; one that would level Israel once and for all. Or would it backfire to destroy his country?
~~~
“Ready?” The speaker appeared wearing his slick navy jogging suit. He zipped up the jacket and walked to the window in the living room to check for his security detail.
Although he’d told them to go home he doubted they’d obeyed. A dark sedan across the street appeared to be empty. His eyes went to the row of new condos constructed from old brownstones that had been slotted for demolition. One belonged to the Secret Service to watch over him during times like these; probably a one man operation on a night like this.
“Where did you park, Amon?”
“In your garage.” Amon moved to the hall, eyeing the surroundings with contempt. Luxury beyond necessity grated against his upbringing.
“Fool. How are we to leave?” Although his voice sounded calm, there was no mistaking the irritation.
He opened the door that led into the garage. “Your babysitter has already been taken care of, Mr. Speaker. Make sure your home security is as it should be in case anyone checks on you.”
“Go ahead. Forgot my raincoat. Be right there.”
Amon nodded and disappeared into the garage as the speaker hit the button for the garage door to open.
Jim walked back into the kitchen. He looked around admiring his home before moving to the espresso machine that arrived just yesterday. The review labeled it the best. The speaker demanded nothing less. There hadn’t been time to remove it from the box.
Opening a drawer, he moved aside some dish towels until he found the one he’d been saving; the one with his blood on it along with a paper towel he’d wrapped inside the folds. He’d cut himself shaving a few days earlier and used it to blot the mess. He threw it in the island sink as he placed the crumpled paper towel beneath the espresso box. The message written days earlier would reveal being a victim of a conspiracy.
The London Fog raincoat dripped a puddle beneath the barstool as planned. He stepped in the water with his dirty tennis shoes as he threw the jacket over his shoulder. Dragging his feet toward the garage door, then his coat, he created the appearance of a muddy trail on the marble floor.
Thunderous rain bands blew in the open garage as he slipped into Amon’s nondescript compact. As the car moved in reverse onto the flooded street, the speaker hoped by morning he would be President of the United States. Timing was everything.
Chapter 14
V ice President Warren McCall leaned back in his chair as his wife threw an Indian blanket across his lap. She felt his head again for fever. It was cool to the touch. Better, she thought. Taking the Dr. Pepper from the Secret Service agent as he quickly entered to look for himself at the VP, Dr. McCall added a straw before handing it to her husband.
“He’ll live, Terry. Don’t fret. I knew he shouldn’t have eaten that sushi last night with the Inuit folks who invited him in. But does he listen?” She turned her eyes back to her husband who spent most of the night hanging onto the toilet for dear life. “Lesson learned. Right, Honey?”
The VP frowned as he took a sip of his Dr. Pepper. “Yeah. Yeah. Here I am stuck inside listening to you instead of out there with my Inuit buddies fishing my heart out. They’re going to think I’m a wuss.”
“You are a wuss, Dear. Now relax and catch up on your reading. Here’s the e-reader I bought you for your birthday. The Old Man and the Sea is already downloaded,” she giggled trying to tuck the blanket around him. “Read this and be glad you can’t get into that kind of trouble.”
He offered a grumpy “Humph” as his doctor wife left him with the Secret Service agent. “How are things in Washington, Terry? Anything going on I should know about?”
Terry smirked. “Looks like the hurricane will hit pretty close to D.C. The president is speaking to a teacher conference or consortium thing tonight. Prime Minister Levi showed up and is tagging along.”
The VP frowned as his brow wrinkled in bewilderment. “Levi? I wasn’t informed of any visit?”
“Last minute I think.”
Vice President McCall yawned, laying the e-reader on the lamp stand then picked up a western he’d brought along for his fishing trip. “The Israelis don’t do last minute. I’d bet my next fishing trip the president has known about this for some time. He should trust me more.”
“Yes, sir.” The agents knew it was easier to agree. “Can I get you anything, Sir?”
“No thanks, Terry. You’re a good man. Oh, turn on the Weather Channel, will ya? I’m hoping everyone in D.C. is as miserable as me.”
The agent nodded and did as the vice president requested before leaving the room.
~~~
Realizing Carter walked at her side with a bit more purpose than most of the conference goers, Tessa cocked her head to steal a glimpse of the ex-astronaut. His blond hair, cut close, appeared to be hinting at a touch of gray around his ears. The blue-gray eyes searched their surroundings with a hawk-like determination in hopes of locating her uncle who meant the president harm.
“Are you staring at me because you’ve decided I’m way better looking than Hunter, or is there something else you want to tell me?” Carter turned his eyes on Tessa momentarily before slipping his arm through hers, then looking away.
Unsuccessful at trying to pull free of Carter, she realized his grip only tightened. Forcing herself to relax, she teased him with a smile and patted his arm. “What’s our story, Theodore Carter Johnson? Are we former friends or lovers?”
Surprised at the coyness, Carter stopped as they entered the ballroom where several hundred tables were draped in white table clothes. He lowered his mouth to her ear and felt a wayward curl touch his lips. “Let’s go for lovers. Your friends will probably remember me.” He grinned, pulling down her hand into his. “I mean who wouldn’t? Maybe you’ll find that an interesting option someday.” She shot him a disgusted look. “Then again, I’m afraid a mutual friend of ours might just send me straight to hell if I tried anything.”
“My uncle catches you being inappropriate he’s likely to choose a target besides the president. He’s the one you should worry about. He’s not a big fan of the government.”
“Whatever did you do with that sweet and innocent Grass Valley housewife I met last year?”
“She fell in with a bunch of conspirators who play mind games with innocent people.”
Tessa spied her friends several tables from the front. They stood watching their approach with drinks in hand. Shelly, clearly the stronger of the two, eyed them mischievously as if she’d discovered a great secret about her perfect friend. By the time they reached the table, the tarnish to her good girl reputation fell into shambles, without the slightest possibility of an acceptable explanation.
“Ladies, we meet again. I had no idea you were friends with my old flame.” He smiled with unabashed elation at seeing them. Without hesitation Carter kissed each of Tessa’s friends on the cheek before looking back at her with something like adoration. “Sorry. I stole Tessa away when I saw her wandering around looking for you. We had a little catching up to do.” The smile suggested a little more than catching up.
“I’ll bet.” Shelly spoke as her lips took a sip of a dirty martini. “How is it you’re here?”
“Helping out at the Air and Space Museum.” He pointed at Kate. “I thought I saw you there today.” He worked a kind of quarterback charm on the women. “Care if we join you?”
“Sure. I want to hear all about your old flame.” Shelly shifted her eyes to Tessa as if expecting a great revelation.
Tessa grinned, revealing clenched teeth. Narrowing her eyes at Carter, she addressed her friends. “So, everyone have a good day? I never got around to asking.” She knew her voice sounded trite.
Too many emotions surged through her veins; Chase’s passionate rescue the evening before, being cornered by him in a dark room and now on the arm of the former astronaut. Throw in an uncle bent on killing the president, a hurricane that threatened a blackout and a couple of friends who suspected her of having an affair; it was astonishing that she hadn’t collapsed into a blithering idiot. Yet she stood cool as a cucumber, participating in Enigma lies, to protect the president.
Carter slipped an arm around her bare shoulders. “Chilly, Baby Cakes?” He smiled sensing a move to be free from his touch.
Shelly eyed her before taking a sip of her drink. “Baby Cakes?”
“It’s a long story, Shelly,” Carter laughed. “But…”
“Never mind,” Tessa snapped. “He calls everyone that, even the dog.”
“You know I got rid of the dog when you left.” Again, the grin and examining eyes. “You really are a looker in that dress.”
Shelly and Kate looked incredulously at their friend over the rim of their glasses.
Tessa felt her embarrassment buckle beneath the anger that threatened to tell the truth. But the approach of two men dressed in uniform choked the words back. She knew them. They’d met a year earlier when she’d been snared into Enigma. Their eyes slid down her body before turning to Carter.
“Hey, buddy!” Carter stuck out his hand to shake the Marine’s. “I see you’re back on your feet.” A year earlier Tessa had managed to topple the man with no more than a broomstick, giving him a concussion in the process. “Tessa, do you remember First Sergeant Cooper? The last time you met…”
Tessa tried a dazzling smile, but the sergeant didn’t reciprocate. “Yes, of course.” She realized her mistake when he took her outstretched hand in a vice grip response. He looked younger than she remembered. With a nod he released her hand matter-of-fact.
The second man participated in a mission led by Chase at a lab in Knoxville, Tennessee. Forced to tag along brought her into contact with the worst sort of people. His ‘awe shucks’ grin and twinkling brown eyes was a sharp contrast to his partner. “Tessa. I didn’t know you would be here.” He took her hand and pulled her close enough to kiss her lightly on the cheek like a familiar friend. “How’ve you been?”
“Great until I got here,” she sniffed as her eyes cut to Carter. “How’s the leg?”
He slapped his right leg lightly and laughed. “On a night like this it gives me a little pause.”
Crazy as it sounded, Tessa saved him from a Libyan terrorist by pepper spraying the killer. Even so, the soldier still took a bullet in the leg. He glanced at Shelly and did a double take. “Hi. I’m Ken Montgomery.”
Shelly sat her drink down and extended her hand. “Ken, I want to be your Barbie.”
Ken laughed. “Barbie it is. Who’s your friend?”
Kate stepped forward shyly, trying not to make eye contact with Ken’s buddy, the Marine. “Kate. So how is it you guys know Tessa?”
Marine First Sergeant Tom Cooper offered his hand to Kate in a friendly shake. “Let us join you for dinner and we’ll tell you all about it.” Tessa caught the beginning of a cover-up.
It wasn’t hard to figure out that Carter arranged baby sitters for her two friends. At least if all hell broke loose they’d be safe. Nothing could protect those men from Shelly and Kate, she thought with amusement. Telling her friends half-baked lies and shimmers of the truth might ruin her already damaged reputation once and for all. Someone needed to catch her up to speed when the evening was over so she didn’t trip over some fabricated storyline. Revealing the danger the country faced, with any luck, would stay a secret to the general public.
People took their seats when waiters began placing salads on the table. Friendly noise filled the ballroom over the tinkling of water glasses and silverware. Tessa tried to focus on the nonsense chatter of her friends flirting with the soldiers seated next to them, but like Carter, her eyes took on that danger scan, hoping to locate her uncle before he did anything stupid.
Oblivious to the guests as they started their salads, Tessa noted men at other tables who failed to take the appearance of an academic. Their toned bodies didn’t look like teachers who’d feasted on one too many cupcakes in the teacher’s lounge. She spotted Zoric across the room, looking sullen and intense, sitting with a group of older teachers who ignored him. She’d never seen him in a suit. It softened him, she realized, and wanted a chance to tell him how handsome he looked if their evening ended on a positive note.
Two tables away sat Dr. Ervin, listening attentively to those around him, but failing to be drawn into the conversation. His eyes, t
oo, scanned the room except for the moment he looked at her and nodded. She realized in that instant the professor was more dangerous than he appeared. Even from her position she could see a shoulder harness bump under his suit coat.
The thought of Chase surfaced. Could he be with the president? Then it occurred to her she should be trying to locate her uncle instead of obsessing over a man who clearly gave little regard to her sense of values.
The night before flooded back into her head as she laid down her fork and took a sip of ice tea. Remembering the pounding rain, the feel of the concrete table beneath her body, clouded her vision of the hundreds of people around her. His dark eyes excavating into her psyche brought back the realization that she’d crossed a line of no return.
Touching her forced a violent reaction at first, but as Chase protected her from harm, the resistance crumbled with what could have been a passionate moment. With a gun exploding in her ear and blood mingling with the puddles on the ground, Tessa knew Chase was not a man to offer romantic dinners or tantalizing words of love. Sickened at her foolish school-girl crush, she tried to refocus without much success.
In the last year each day she said a prayer for him or wondered about his safety. Sometimes he’d haunted her dreams with passion and other times with lethal force. She’d never known a real American hero until the day he saved her from Libyan terrorists. They’d started out as untrusting partners then forged into an awkward partnership. Wondering if their paths would ever cross again, she realized now he would force his will on her for as long as Enigma found her useful.
The disquieting sensation of seeing him again the night before and now here at the conference forced her to acknowledge the danger facing her was not just her uncle making an assassination attempt on the president. Chase murdered the self-respect she held so dear, knowing she may have fallen in love with him.
The Enigma Series Boxed Set Page 51
