Commitment (19 page)

Wednesday, December 17
^th

ell, Sparrow. You are looking well.”

“Does that surprise you somehow?” Claire Brackett asked.

Dimitri Kargen laughed. “Not at all, Sparrow. I assume you have taken care of the matters we discussed?”

“Don’t I always?”

“Mm. Perhaps not always as prescribed. The money is secure?” Kargen inquired.

“Of course,” she answered.

“Is that so?” another voice called. Ambassador Daniels confidently made his way into the large office. “I hope it is, Claire,” he said.

“I had O’Brien replace his campaign manager with your agent. I assumed he had all the necessary information,” she answered.

“Yes. He did,” Daniels replied. “The funds should arrive in the Swiss account by Christmas.”

“Why so long?” Kargen asked.

Daniels cocked his head and narrowed his gaze at the SVR agent. “You don’t want those funds traced back to you; do you, Dimitri?” He watched as the Russian’s posture stiffened considerably. “No, I shouldn’t think so. Buying and selling nuclear material is not something your government needs in the press. If we want this to work, it has to leave no trace.”

“I thought the point was to tie the…”

“Yes. It is. First we erase. Then we create,” Daniels responded.

“What does this have to do with me?” Claire asked.

“Perhaps I just appreciate your,” Daniels paused and allowed his eyes deliberately to scan the length of Claire Brackett’s lithe body. “Company,” he raked his eyes over her again.

Dimitri Kargen smirked slightly. “Sparrow, you certainly are well traveled,” he teased her.

“Easy, Mongoose,” she winked.

Daniels bristled slightly at the interaction before him. His advances toward the young Brackett were intentional. Claire’s propensity for utilizing her physical attributes was legendary. “Claire, President Strickland has arranged for some diplomatic assistance to arrive in Moscow. The exact time has been kept in a very tight circle. The route not disclosed. Someone sees the need to be extremely cautious.”

“And?” Claire asked with a roll of her eyes.

“And, I want you to find out when this trip is planned, who, and how,” he answered.

She looked at him for a long moment and then smirked. “And how would you propose I do that, exactly Mr. Ambassador?”

“Use your charm,” Dimitri offered.

“Are you suggesting I seduce the president?” Claire looked at the ambassador directly.

“Well, I know he isn’t exactly Colonel John Merrow, Sparrow,” Daniels chuckled. “I don’t care who you seduce or how you seduce them. Just get the information. Either get it from the embassy in Moscow or get in Washington. Just. Get. It.”

Alex waited patiently in the small café. She sipped her cappuccino and pondered the paper before her. “Looks like interesting reading,” a voice roused her.

Alex looked up from the paper at the handsome man before her. MI6 agent Ian Mitchell was as imposing as he was
good-looking. At 6’4, his broad shoulders, dark sunglasses, and the slight scruff of his face served to embellish his natural commanding stance. “Ian,” Alex greeted.

The MI6 agent relaxed and removed his glasses to accept a seat across from Alex. “Agent Toles. What brings you to my fair city?” he asked.

“Where the sparrow flies,” she began.

“Ah, yes. She left her meeting with your good ambassador about forty minutes ago. Booked a flight to Minsk for Friday,” Mitchell noted the concern and question in Alex’s eyes. “No worries for now. She is entertaining a guest. I suspect she and Mr. Kargen are in for the evening.”

“Why Belarus?” Alex asked.

“I’m not certain, to be honest. A neutral meeting place of sorts? I have it on some authority that your president is moving some assets into Moscow.”

Alex nodded. “That’s what Agent Krause indicated, yes; at General Waters’ behest. You think it has something to do with that?”

“Perhaps,” Mitchell shrugged. “If they are moving that Cesium, well….”

Alex shook her head in frustration. “You think Daniels is pulling her strings?”

“At the moment. He’s into something outside our scope. British Intelligence has been watching the ambassador closely of late, more closely than our normally collegial relationship would warrant. He’s had more calls from representatives of Markov’s administration than any diplomat I have ever encountered.”

“We both know that the only thing diplomatic about Daniels’ presence is his immunity,” Alex said.

“True. We both know there are very few diplomats,” Mitchell winked. “He knows something, Toles. I would lay odds it involves that Cesium we have been chasing.”

“All right, stick with our friend Sparrow,” she replied as she folded the paper in front of her and pushed out her chair.

“What are you planning?” Mitchell asked.

“Are you worried about me, Ian?”

“Alex,” his tone changed. “Daniels is no novice.”

“You let me worry about Paul Daniels. I know his weakness. Trust me. He wanted to shift our plans to dinner. Business first at the embassy, then dinner. I know exactly what his game is where I am concerned. I can handle Paul. You just follow Claire.” Alex stood to leave and turned back. Mitchell had reached his feet, and Alex extended her hand. “I don’t expect any issues, but if you don’t hear from me….Agent Krau…”

He shook his head and offered her a smile. “I will expect your call late this evening.”

Alex made no verbal response. She smiled and removed her hand from his grip, nodding her agreement as she left.

“Ambassador,” Alex smiled at Paul Daniels.

“Alex. I thought we passed all those formalities when you visited in the spring,” he said.

“I suppose so.”

“So, let’s get the business portion of our evening put to bed,” Daniels winked. The words were not lost on Alex, and she fought to suppress a chuckle at his arrogance. “I’d much prefer catching up. You certainly have been busy since our last meeting. From investigating to negotiating,” he commented.

“I suppose that’s one way of looking at it,” Alex admitted sarcastically.

“What is it that I can do for the head of Carecom then?” he continued as he offered her a seat on the sofa.

“Stillman and BGA,” she answered.

“What about them? I know there is concern about tariffs and port restrictions, but Alex, while I can argue the administration’s case here; even plead that it is not in the best economic interest for either of us…I cannot compel…”

“No, the restrictions are not an issue for Carecom, easy to navigate. What concerns me are their orders, Paul.”

“I’m not sure I follow you,” he asked for clarification.

“There are….inconsistencies. Inventory records don’t match payments Carecom received…”

“Sounds like an accounting issue,” he dismissed her.

“Perhaps,” she responded. “I would still appreciate…”

Daniels smiled. “Your roots are showing,” he winked. “You think Carecom was laundering. You want me to check the government orders to Stillman and BGA. See if they match the original orders placed,” he surmised. “I have one question.”

“That is?” Alex asked.

“Do you hope it was your father or do you hope it originated here?”

Alex pursed her lips and then smiled. “I just want it rectified, Ambassador. I want Carecom in the clear. That’s my job.”

“Of course, it is,” his statement dripped with insincerity. “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll need some information.”

“I’ve already had the documents sent to your attention,” she assured him.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me? Long trip for a five-minute conversation,” he observed.

“A good excuse to visit,” she winked. “I have other business in the area.”

“Then I am glad you found a reason to fit me into your schedule. Now, what about dinner? I took the liberty of making a reservation at your hotel for seven-thirty,” the ambassador said.

“That’s not for another hour,” Alex said with the raise of her brow.

“I expected your needs might take a little longer. How about a drink beforehand?” he suggested. Alex just smiled. “Wine, was it?”

“That’s Cassidy’s drink,” she replied evenly.

“Yes, I recall that now. I prefer a good scotch. Interested?” he raised his brow.

Alex tipped her head in acknowledgement. She accepted the first drink and sipped it generously. She pretended to listen with great interest as the ambassador continued offering what she could only describe as scantily veiled sexual innuendo at every turn. This was a scenario that she had grown accustomed to over the years. It was part of being a woman in a business dominated by egotistical men; men who were used to getting their way in every conceivable way. Inwardly, she gloated. She understood the power of seduction; the allure of conquest. In fact, she’d mounted more than a few conquests of her own throughout the years. For Alex, affairs of the heart and the bedroom had always been purely for personal satisfaction. That reality had proved her ace in the hole many times during investigations. She could play the game as long and as convincingly as any man who cared to engage her, and she could end it so abruptly as to leave the most polished silver tongue stunned into silence.

Paul Daniels sat on the arm of a chair, sipping his third glass of scotch, making little effort to conceal his intentions as he leered at Alex. Alex sipped her drink slowly and watched him carefully. “We probably should be getting to that dinner,” she suggested, deliberately holding the ambassadors gaze as she stood.

He pulled her toward him and she raised her brow. “No rush. I’m sure you have many interesting stories.”

Alex leaned into his ear and took a moment to scan the top of his desk more closely. “Which stories interest you, Ambassador? You mean my time in the military? No…” Alex took a step back and opened her eyes wider.

“We have a great deal in common, Alex. We both know it,” he said, lifting his scotch to his lips before placing it on the side of his desk. Daniels pulled Alex closer, and she allowed it for a moment, focusing on one area of the desk behind him
intently. “You and I have similar needs, similar interests,” he said cockily.

Alex rolled her eyes over his shoulder and retrieved the scotch carefully. She gently pressed him away and smiled. Seeing her expression, Daniels grew bolder and reached out greedily with his hand. Alex took the opportunity to place the scotch in it and deliberately closed the ambassador’s fingers around the glass. She placed her lips closely to his ear and whispered her reply. “I suppose we do…have much in common, Paul.” She pulled back and lifted the hand he held his scotch in toward his lips. “We both enjoy a good scotch. We both know the other is not exactly who they claim to be. And, as I recall from my last visit, you were quite interested in my wife.” She patted his cheek and took another deliberate step back. “Since she is not here, I guess we will both just have to settle for dinner.” Alex turned gradually on her heels and headed toward the door. “Finish your scotch, Paul. We’d better get something to fill you up. You look a bit pale.”