by J C Ryan
More than a few seconds passed while she avoided eye contact. She seemed to have an internal struggle with what to say, before she finally looked directly at him. “When it’s the child of a married man, someone whose indiscretion might affect the fate of an entire nation and the European Union.”
It was Rex’s turn to be shocked. “You don’t mean…”
“Yes. The child I carry is the President’s.”
“Oh, shit,” was all Rex could say.
“Indeed,” she commented with heavy irony. “Merde. I was stupid, there is no excuse for it.”
When Rex found his voice again, he said, “Still want to hit me over the head with that pan or throw me off the yacht?”
Margot shook her head slowly without looking at him. “No,” she whispered. “But Rowan… I… I’ve caused so much trouble. I thought I did the right thing to disappear and to protect the President and my country, but now…” the tears were streaming down her face again.
“Margot, I’m able to help you...”
“How can..., what…”
“You know the answer by now.” Rex grinned slightly.
She nodded. “Yes, of course, not of importance for now. Right?”
Rex nodded. “So, let’s put our heads together, figure out why these parties are following you, and then come up with a plan. What do you say?”
“I say thank you, Rowan. You are very kind to have put yourself to all this trouble for a passing acquaintance.”
It’s kind of what Digger and I do. Rex didn’t voice his thought, neither did he respond to her praise. “Now, why do you think these people are following you?”
“I can’t imagine. I don’t know any state secrets or anything. All I can think of for now is that it’s got something to do with my pregnancy. During the campaign there were rumors about me and the President,” she said with a certain measure of bitterness. “That’s why I disappeared without a trace. I didn’t want it to become known and ruin his presidency. Despite our affair, he really is the best thing for France right now. I believe that, and I love my country. Besides, he has a family who doesn’t deserve to suffer because of our stupidity. I was starstruck, it was never love, and it’s certainly no excuse to destroy him or his family, much less France. So, I decided to put aside my political ambitions and raise my baby quietly.”
“That’s admirable, Margot, if self-sacrificing.” Rex paused. He knew the answer to the next question he was going to ask, but again he wanted to hear if from her. “How did you make the arrangements? You don’t strike me as the deceptive type.”
She laughed mockingly. “No? Well, if I am, apparently, I’m not good at it, since I’ve got three different sets of people who seem to know all about my movements and have been following me. I’m surprised the press isn’t here in full force, sticking a microphone in my face. But in answer to your question, my brother helped me. I guess he’s no better than I am at it.”
Again, Rex suppressed the sigh of relief he felt. “Your brother? Is that the older gentleman who appears to be the captain of this yacht?”
“Henri? No, but he’s a friend of my brother, or perhaps a friend of a friend. I didn’t ask too many questions. I phoned my brother from Vanuatu when I found out I was pregnant and asked him to help. He arranged everything else, including a new identity for me. Henri says the papers aren’t very good, though.”
“Good enough to get you into Vietnam,” Rex murmured. “Be that as it may, now we know how the Russians know about your movements. As a senior official in government, you must know about tapping of phones that’s been going on across the world for years.”
Margot frowned.
“The name Edward Snowden ring a bell?”
Margot’s hand flew to her mouth, and she nodded.
Rex continued, “Well, as you can imagine, anyone close to the top levels of governments are targeted by default. You would have been high on their list—don’t doubt that for one moment. And do I have to tell you this is happening all over the world, not only in Russia? Everyone does it. You get on a phone and you can be assured someone somewhere is recording it.”
Margot was shaking her head. “My stupidity has no bounds, it seems. I knew all about this but just never thought it could be happening to me.”
“They most certainly would’ve been tapping your phones and those of anyone with whom you spoke.”
“Like my brother... oh, my God! Not only did I phone him from Vanuatu to make all the arrangements; I also spoke to him just as we left Singapore.”
“Yep, you can assume they’ve known about your plans from that first phone call you made to your brother. They’d never had a challenge to follow you. I bet they were waiting for you here. The question is, what’s their purpose? Just to bring down France’s government by getting proof of a scandal? Would it come to that? What could they gain by that? If we can figure that out, we’ll have our answer. I overheard Ida telling your tails not to interfere with you—just keep track of you and wait for further instructions.”
Margot was staring into middle space when she spoke. “But are these Russians on assignment from their government, or are they private citizens with some agenda we can’t guess? And how would the French know I’m here? Surely, they aren’t tapping my and my brother’s phones, too. Are they press, maybe? But if so, how did they find me?”
Rex didn’t think most press agencies would have had the technical know-how to track her the way he had, and he didn’t particularly want to go into that or raise more questions from Margot about how he did it. For now, he’d keep that to himself. However, she had a valid question.
“Don’t be so sure that your government wasn’t tapping your calls. As I’ve said before, there is evidence that all calls of all people are somehow tracked. Maybe not all of them are recorded, but they’ll know who called whom. As for you, your position in government and closeness to the President, in official capacity I mean, you can bet your bottom Euro on it—they would’ve tracked and probably recorded them, as well.
“As for the Russians, I don’t know if they are government sanctioned. I doubt it, because their methods aren’t very professional. I spotted them a mile off.
“The French are better. I’d say they probably are government. When I saw them, I’m sorry to say this, but I thought they might be following you and the Russians because they suspected you of collusion or spying.”
“What?! How could you even… I would never… Why would they think… mon Dieu, I have it!”
“What?” he prompted.
“The Russians! They want to push Giles to sign the gas pipeline agreement, despite his campaign promise to follow his predecessor’s lead not to sign it. We talked about it at length during the campaign, and we agreed it’s not in France’s interest to enter into that agreement. But why would they think I had any influence over his decisions?”
“Did anyone else know about the affair?” Rex asked. “Your theory is plausible, but only if they have some idea that controlling you would cause him to change his mind.”
“Not really. There was speculation. There always is when a man and a woman collaborate closely. I was his campaign manager, you know. But no one ever let us know they had proof.”
“Not your friends, not your brother, no one?”
“No. Unless… Could it have been Ida? She was in my hut on occasion. Oh, mon Dieu, she must have seen the positive pregnancy test! It was in my bathroom. Of course, that’s it! Not tapping my brother’s phone at all. And Rowan, I have never told him who the father is! They don’t really know, do they?”
“I suspect they’ve figured out where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It may be pure speculation on their part, but it’s true, isn’t it? Gaining control over you would force Aguillard’s hand, one way or another. All they really have to do now is start a rumor and let the media do the rest. You can’t deny you’re pregnant, and it’s already clear you’re not going to have an abortion…”
“I’ll never do that�
�have an abortion. But I can’t let them use this to get that pipeline. Do you know what that pipeline would do to my country? Or, for that matter, what it would do to the European Union? Even NATO would be affected. But I would think if that was their motive, they would have kidnapped me already. What else could it be?”
Rex was silent as he thought through the threads of what she’d shared and what he knew about the followers. She was right, of course. Kidnapping her and threatening Aguillard with her demise or with producing her when she was more visibly pregnant to break the scandal would be more effective than just following her around. And it still didn’t explain the French involvement.
There was one glaringly obvious solution—not foolproof, but it would take the wind out of the Russians’ sails. Rex didn’t expect Margot to mention it, but he was sure it would’ve crossed her mind. If not already, it would soon. He could stand up and claim the child was his. Given the gravity of the situation, he would have no problem doing it. But there were a few stumbling blocks. One being that he hadn’t known her long enough to make the math work for how far along she was. Another was he’d have to give up his anonymity and have his face splashed all over the media across the world, and that was a nonstarter. Yet another was a fleeting thought of an Israeli woman living in Italy that crossed his mind. The question he had to ask himself was if his personal interests should outrank the damage to France, the EU, and NATO?
Wait, hang on there, Dalton. Don’t get ahead of yourself. First get her to safety, then sit down on your ass and think through it carefully.
The only way to find out what her followers wanted would be to have a chat with them and ask. But that he could only do once he’d seen her to safety.
He became aware that she was staring at him, waiting for him. “Okay, here’s what I suggest we do. We have to break up their plans, whatever they are...”
“How would we…”
“We should get you out of their sight, tonight.”
Margot had evidently been thinking along other lines as Rex had his silent conversation with himself. “You know, I don’t have any idea what Giles would do if he knew of the baby. He’s an enigma. Very determined to have his way with France and her future, but he’s warm and personable to his friends. I don’t know whether he’d fall on his own sword and admit to the affair and that the baby is his, or whether he’d cling to power and sign the agreement to keep the scandal from becoming known.”
Rex pointed out that either one would get the Russians their pipeline. Another special election would almost certainly get the opposition’s party into power, and the new President would sign the agreement anyway—that’s what Aguillard’s opponent had promised during the election campaign.
Margot, grimly pragmatic now, said, “There’s even a possibility he would want me dead. If I’m gone, then all his problems are solved. No more scandal, no more threat to his marriage, and no more leverage for the Russians.”
In his mind, Rex quoted Stalin darkly. Death solves all problems—no man, no problem. “But surely he wouldn’t…”
“I simply don’t know anymore. From what you’ve told me so far about my countrymen following me and how the government would’ve been listening to my telephone calls, surely the President must know all about my pregnancy, and he surely knows how I got pregnant. Those French guys out there are likely here on his orders.
“Rowan, I’m worried. Giles can be ruthless when he’s up against a wall.”
“I don’t think that’s why the French are here,” Rex replied, “though they may well be government agents. If the Russians had been ordered to kill you, they could easily have done so already and disappeared. But I think their purposes would be served more readily with you alive. Either way, we can’t allow either group to take you. We need to get you out of here without them following.”
“I can get my brother to help.”
“No, Margot. That’s what compromised you in the first place. I can help. But you’ll have to trust me, and do precisely as I tell you.”
“I don’t have much of a choice, it seems. But may I ask what expertise you have in these matters?”
“You know the answer,” Rex replied tersely.
“Yes, of course, not of importance for now. Right?”
Rex grinned. “You’re a quick study. We’re going to get through this just fine.”
“I trust you, Rowan. I’ll do as you tell me, and I hope one day you’ll be able to answer all those questions that are not of importance now.”
Rex made no reply. He was busy outlining a plan in his mind.
Chapter 40
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
AFTER A FEW minutes, Rex thought he had the answer, but he needed to know that he had Margot’s buy-in. She’d had enough trauma tonight that her acquiescence to his demand that she does what he tells her might have been on the spur of the moment and not what she really felt.
“Margot, what do you want to do now? What would you do if you became aware of all this, but I wasn’t here to help you?”
“Knowing what I know now, I would’ve been in a panic. Maybe I would’ve phoned, no couldn’t do that… I don’t know Rowan. I really don’t know. I guess I would’ve been sitting there in a corner crying my eyes out. Maybe I’d follow through with my plan and go to the convent where my brother arranged for me to stay during my pregnancy and the birth. But… now that I know what’s going on, that might just put those people in danger.”
Rex nodded.
“Rowan, what can I do?”
Now he was convinced she was sincere. “How about we get you out of this country and to another safe place instead?”
“That seems to be the only logical option. But how can I do that? I can’t contact my brother for help. What…” she paused and looked at Rex, and it was clear she had just realized something important. “Did I hear correctly? You used the word ‘we’ when you suggested to get me out of the country?”
Rex grinned and nodded.
“You can do that, too?”
Rex scoffed. “Of course, I can.” He winked.
“How… okay scratch that. Not important to know for now. But you must have other responsibilities. Why? You barely know me. I can’t ask you to do this for me. I’ll just have to take my chances.”
Rex heaved an exasperated sigh. “Woman, try to get this through your head. If I didn’t want to help, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me how you can do all this?”
“I’m sure.”
“What do you want me to do?” she asked. “While you make the plans, I mean? Should I go to a bank and withdraw some money tomorrow? Do I need cash?”
“You don’t need anything. I’ll take care of it,” Rex answered. “Just stay put while I get things started. Right now I want you to pack a small bag with your absolute necessities, with the emphasis on absolute necessities. Nothing else. Whatever you need we will get you when we get there.”
“Where is there?”
Rex smiled.
Margot knew that look by now and answered her own question, “Not important to know for now?”
“Yep, you’ve got it.”
“Rowan, I insist on paying. I have the money to arrange everything, just not the skill.”
“Margot, stop! We don’t have time for that now. We’ll sort out the money later. Go pack your stuff and get ready to leave, and wait for me to come and get you. I’m going to take Digger and scout our options for getting you off the yacht. I’ll be back soon.”
He left a chastened Margot to her packing, hoping against hope that she at least followed directions about how much she could take and hoped she wouldn’t do anything stupid such as phoning her brother.
I need to get that damn cellphone off her and destroy it.
Exploring the inside of the yacht, he discovered an exit that would put him on the other side of the cabin, away from the eyes of the followers. However, there was a bright light from a pole on the p
ier that might as well have been a spotlight trained directly on the door.
Looking behind him to make sure Margot wasn’t within earshot, Rex took out his satphone and called Rehka again. “Can you do your trick with the security cameras again? I need to get Margot off the yacht unseen. Also, there is a light out here that’s going to make it difficult to get out of here unnoticed. It’d be great if you could do something about that.”
“To get the loop on the security cameras going will be quick. I looked at the lights earlier, and that shouldn’t be a problem either. Stay online. I will make that happen right away.”
Rex waited. It wasn’t much more than ten seconds when she came back on the line. “Okay, the security cameras have been taken care of, you can go for it. You have fifteen minutes. Just say when you want the lights off.”
“Thanks! Okay, you can do the lights now. After I’ve got Margot off the yacht and we’re in a safe place, I’ll get in touch to let you know what’s going on. It could be in an hour or so. In the meantime, please start looking at flights from here to Mumbai for Margot as well as Digger and myself. Don’t book anything yet, just send me a list of all available flights for the next two days.”
“Okay, will do. I’ll wait up for your call. Take care, Ruan.”
It was only then that Rex did the math in his head and realized it was almost as late in Mumbai as it was here. “Thanks, Rehka. You’re the best.”
“I know it,” she said, her voice altered by the grin he suspected she had on her face. “You use that on me every time you ask for the moon.”
Ten seconds later, the light that had been lighting up the exit went out, along with several others in the immediate area.
Good girl.
Now he had no issues disabling the watchers if necessary.
First, though, he and Digger needed to check on the Russian. He went out the same way he'd come in and gave Digger the hand signal to follow him as they went cautiously to check on the Russian. They found him fast asleep and snoring worse than ever.
No wonder. A full bottle of vodka would do that to anyone.
