Dangerous Pursuit (The Protectors)

by Margaret Daley

  The chiming of the bells of the cathedral permeated the crisp December air. The wind swept through the Salzburg street like a large broom clearing away debris. But Mark didn’t feel the cold bite of the wind. His thoughts were on the note in his hand. He found a private place and read the invitation to meet with an old friend. A chill having nothing to do with the cold temperature encased him.

  Out of habit Mark turned his head from side to side, inspecting the narrow street near the Alter Markt. Whenever Michael Rutledge was around so was trouble. The street was nearly empty. Only an old couple stood beneath a trade sign of stained glass and wrought iron.

  Satisfied no one was following him, Mark went through the stone archway and into the tavern, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkened interior before moving toward the table. The tavern offered warmth, privacy, and a good selection of food and drink. Mark had to commend Michael’s choice of a meeting place.

  As Mark made his way across the room toward a table in the back corner, his gaze darted about, alert and gauging. He knew something big was about to happen.

  Mark paused at the table and stared into the shadow that concealed his friend’s face from his view. Michael Rutledge lifted his hand and indicated that Mark should take a seat. There already were cups of coffee on the table.

  “Have you heard from your sister and brother-in-law lately?” Michael asked, nothing revealed by the tone of his voice.

  Mark smiled. “Is that why you went to all this trouble? To inquire about my family?” His grin took on a mocking twist. “You could have saved yourself a lot of time by phoning, texting, emailing, whichever you prefer.”

  “Those means can be intercepted.”

  Mark took several sips of his coffee, his eyes completely accustomed now to the dim lighting in the tavern. He could make out the expression on Michael’s face, a half grin that Mark was very familiar with. It hid a troubled countenance that confirmed Mark’s feeling that something big was about to happen.

  “Sam and Brock are fine. I believe they returned to New Orleans a few weeks ago. Sam has finally decided to sell her bookstore since she’s rarely there anymore. Is that enough information for you?”

  “Always did like your sister. Too bad she met Brock first.”

  Mark was surprised by Michael’s admission. He never thought Michael would allow himself to like anyone—it would be too dangerous. That was why Mark never let Michael recruit him into the “business.” He didn’t want to cut himself off from people as Michael had. Mark vividly remembered how he had gotten his sister involved in a perilous situation in the Amazon. The mad man who had been after Mark had nearly killed her. He would never again put someone he loved in such a position.

  Between sips of coffee they spent the next few minutes talking about the two years since they had last seen each other in Brazil. Every muscle in Mark’s body was tight. He knew the favor that Michael wanted was something Mark wasn’t going to like. The agent was merely easing into the request.

  “I read your book about that escapade in the Amazon,” Michael commented too casually. “All those years I knew you I didn’t realize you had such talent as a writer.”

  “I wish I hadn’t written that book. It’s been trouble ever since.”

  “I seem to remember hearing the advance on the book was quite large. You call that trouble?”

  “I didn’t need the money. Remember the gold I discovered?”

  “If managed right, you won’t have to work another day of your life.”

  “That’s probably why I wrote the book. I like to work. The life of leisure is boring. But the fame that came with the book’s publication and the popularity of the movie made from my novel is too much for me. That’s why I escaped to Europe.”

  “Getting too hot for you in the States?”

  Mark recalled his last visit to the States. A woman had stolen the master key at the hotel he was staying in so she could surprise him when he had returned from a meeting with his publisher. When he had practically had to throw her out of his hotel room, she had yelled rape and had started shouting all kinds of accusations at him. Luckily the New York police were able to get to the bottom of the situation.

  “You could say that. I like a pretty woman, but everywhere I went I felt like I was suffocating. Either a woman wanted to mother me because of the danger I had gone through, or she wanted to seduce me to get the gold I had found. I’m not looking for a mistress or a mother.”

  “What are you looking for?”

  Mark had never been a cynical man until recently. He didn’t like the feeling. “I don’t know anymore. I suppose that’s my problem. I’m at a standstill in my life.”

  Michael leaned forward, throwing his face into the light. His expression was serious. “I have a proposition for you. A job, so to speak.”

  “I’m through, Michael.” Actually Mark had never been a part of Michael’s governmental agency, but occasionally he did a favor because of his knowledge and familiarity with South America.

  “I need you.”

  Mark tensed. Those three words, as Michael well knew, were all Mark needed to hear to agree. It was Michael who had saved his life in the Amazon when the Major had been after him. He owed Michael.

  “What’s the job?”

  “It’s really not a job. I want to use your chalet for a few days. It’s that simple and easy.”

  “Simple? Easy?” Mark arched an eyebrow and stared long and hard at his friend. “With you it never is.”

  “I want you to be there, too, so no locals will think it’s strange that people are coming and going from your place.”

  “My chalet is isolated. I doubt anyone would notice.”

  “Precisely why we want to use your chalet, but I don’t want to take any chances. I need you there more as a precaution than anything else. You’ll be our cover.”

  “I know I shouldn’t ask, but what’s going on, Michael?”

  “Something very important. I can’t tell you much except that it’s a top secret meeting between a Central American country that wants to shed its Cuban advisors and the United States. We didn’t have time to secure a safe place because the country just informed us that they wanted to meet right away. That’s when I thought about your chalet. It’s in a neutral country, which satisfies the Central American country, and as you say, it’s isolated. The Cuban don’t know about it, and if we’re lucky we can keep it that way.” Michael sat back in his chair and finished his drink. “As you can see, your chalet fits our needs perfectly.”

  “Do the Cubans suspect something’s up?”

  “I believe so. That’s why we’re not going the usual route.”

  “When’s this meeting to take place?”

  “In two days. They’ll arrive at night and leave at night.”

  “For how long?”

  “Probably three days over Christmas.”

  "What about my housekeeper and her husband? The chalet is their home.” Mark felt his skin begin to tingle with anticipation. This might be the most excitement he would have in a long time.

  “We’ll be your servants. Give them a paid vacation to see their son. We'll pay for it.”

  Surprise flickered in Mark’s eyes. “You seem to have thought of everything.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I never imagined Christmas being spent quite like this.”

  “Hopefully, the Cubans haven’t either,” Michael said with a laugh, but an underlying tension dripped off his words.

  “Should I leave first or you?”

  “I will. Wait ten minutes before following.”

  Michael stood, shook Mark’s hand, and added, “Until we meet again.”

  Mark watched his friend leave. A shudder snaked up his spine. He didn't have a good feeling about this.

  Bio:

  Margaret Daley, an award-winning author of eighty-four books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love st
ories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com/.

  Other Books by Margaret Daley on Amazon:

  Dangerous Interlude

  Deadly Race