Betrayal (54 page)

“Well, well, if it isn’t the sparrow.” Ian Mitchell watched as Claire Brackett entered the hotel. “Now what has Daddy charged you with?” He lifted his phone and placed the call.

“What is it?” Krause answered quietly as he placed the small travel drive into his pocket and turned off the computer. He kept his peripheral vision keenly attuned to his surroundings as he meticulously sifted and replaced papers on the top of Ambassador Paul Daniels’ desk.

“Guess who is in London?”

“Sparrow,” Krause guessed. He carefully placed the ambassador’s chair back in its original position and headed for the door.

“You knew?”

“No, but I expected. Just watch her. This will not be her final destination,” he replied. “Wherever she goes, Ian…follow. Just because he sent her doesn’t mean she’ll follow what he prescribed.” Krause made his way to the staircase and scanned
the scene unfolding below. Alex was leading Ambassador Matthews toward the small foyer, engaged in conversation. She was a natural. Jane and Cassidy were standing near the middle of the room. Two magnificent women, he thought. He watched as Ambassador Daniels leaned toward Cassidy as if to imbue her with some secret and struggled to contain his laugher. ‘Not a chance in hell,’ he mused to himself. Deliberately, he made his way to the women. “Sorry about that,” he offered as he slipped a hand around Jane’s waist.

“So, Mr. Krause,” Daniels began, keeping close proximity to Cassidy. “What brings
you
to London?”

Krause answered smoothly. “I had an invitation I couldn’t pass up.”

“Is that right?”

“Of course.”

Daniels studied Krause. He had only crossed paths with the agent a few times in his career. Paul Daniels prided himself on being the consummate spy, the perfect agent, and a master at subterfuge. He could assess a person readily at a distance and within moments determine weakness, strength and concoct the perfect scenario to endear himself. Krause’s cool exterior and natural composure matched the ambassador’s effortlessly. “I suppose this is boring for you, given your line of work,” the ambassador grinned. If he had hoped to provoke Jonathan Krause, he had seriously miscalculated.

“Oh, I don’t know, Ambassador. Business and diplomacy are not so different. I would say we share many things in common.” Krause smiled and glanced at Cassidy.

“Perhaps,” Daniels responded. “Why don’t we head toward the dining room? See if we can’t find that agent of yours?” he smirked flirtatiously to Cassidy who simply nodded politely.

“What do you think?” Jane whispered to Krause as they followed.

“Smug enough to make a mistake,” he answered. Jane smiled. “We’ll see what Alex gets from Matthews.”

“Did you…”

“We got what we came for. Let’s see if we make the bonus round. Sparrow is here,” he said softly. Daniels turned to the pair following behind and Krause offered him a steely gaze. ‘We’ll see,’ Krause mused as the ambassador turned his attention back toward Cassidy, ‘what you are hiding, Ambassador.’

“I thought we were set to meet in Moscow.”

“Plans change, Sparrow.”

“What is you want Dimitri?”

Dimitri Kargen lifted his finger to his lips and pondered his response. “You will recall that we had an agreement.”

“There is no need for pleasantries. What is it you desire?” she asked.

“What is it your father asked of you?”

“I think you know. Simply to deliver a package from the ambassador to you.”

“And, does that make sense to you, Claire? Why send Ambassador Matthews here to retrieve the package at all? Why not simply send you in the first place?”

“I am sure he has his reasons.”

“Mm. Yes, he does not trust our good ambassador. Perhaps for good reason,” Kargen said.

“So? What then?” she walked slowly toward her Russian compatriot.

“I want you to go home. Wait a day and return to the states. I will deal with the ambassador.”

Claire Brackett smirked. “My father will not like that.”

“You will tell him that I already intervened. That Matthews had already passed the goods to me.”

“And what about what you are supposed to give to me?”

Kargen wet his lips. “There is nothing. Daniels has already received those files.”

“All right,” she answered as she moved closer to him. “Why do I have the feeling there is more that you want, Dimitri?” she asked as she allowed her hand to graze the opening of his shirt. He allowed her hands to roam but made no move to further engage her advances. “Your friend; it is time for him to deliver.”

“You mean the congressman,” she hummed in his ear as she circled him.

“I do. He will announce his intention to run for your senate.”

“And why should you care about the good congressman’s political future?”

“I don’t. Our contact in the states will assist in the financing of his endeavor,” he explained.

“Oh,” she let out a seductive laugh. “You’re using him as a funnel.”

“It’s time, Sparrow. Tell the admiral I had already secured the goods from Daniels, and deliver the message to Mr. O’Brien.”

“Things for the congressman have been a bit strained. What if he refuses?” she asked.

“That would be unwise.”

“And that is all you desire, Dimitri? Like my father, I am your errand girl?”

He snickered. “You are many things, Sparrow. This is not the small errand you suggest. You will have to decide who you wish to serve.”

“That’s easy,” she whispered, moving close enough to his face that their breath began to mingle. “There is only one person worth serving, Dimitri and only one person worthy of trust.” His eyes began to flicker with excitement as he allowed her to continue her seduction. “If you care to pay attention,” she offered with a bite on his neck. “I will introduce you.”

“I hope I am not intruding.”

“Nonsense,” Rose McCollum answered. “Cassidy will be glad to know you took her up on the offer.”

“I am not certain how Alexis…”

Rose smiled at Alex’s mother. “Alex will be relieved to know that you came.” Helen smiled sadly.

“Grandma?” Dylan called as he entered the room.

“Yes, Dylan?”

As Dylan came closer and took notice of Alex’s mother his pace quickened. “YaYa! You’re here!”

“Well, hello, Dylan,” she smiled sweetly.

He walked directly to her and studied her pensively for a moment. “Are you sad, YaYa?”

“Why would you ask that Dylan?” she smiled.

“You look like Alex when she’s sad.”

For the first time in several days Helen Toles felt genuinely happy. “I am all right. Thank you for worrying.” He nodded. “How are you?”

“Okay.”

“What is it that you wanted, honey?” Rose asked gently, noting a hint of sadness in his eyes.

“Can we call Mom?”

“Honey, it’s late where Mom and Alex are right now. They’ll call you when they can. They had a dinner to go to tonight.”

Dylan hung his head slightly. Helen watched him closely and her eyes narrowed but her smile grew. “You missing someone a little?” she asked him. He just shrugged. “I see. What if I let you in on a little secret even my daughter doesn’t know?” Dylan brightened. She beckoned him closer and whispered in his ear. “I will bet you some chocolate ice cream that I can beat you on that pool table downstairs.” His eyes widened in amazement and Helen winked at him, “but it has to be our secret.” He nodded enthusiastically. “So, you want to go rack those balls? I’ll bet Alexis taught you that.”

“Yep. I can do it. Alex usually breaks though.”

“Does she? Well, all right then, you go set that table up and I will be down in a few minutes.” Dylan nodded and started to run off and stopped suddenly. “What is it?” Helen asked.

“Are you gonna stay here tonight, YaYa?”

“Actually, Dylan I am going to stay the whole weekend if that is okay with you.”

“Then I can show you the Batcave,” he said excitedly.

“I’d like that,” she winked. Dylan nodded and scurried off. “He is quite something,” Helen laughed.

Rose beamed. “Yes, he sure is. And he loves Alex.”

“I can see that,” Helen sighed. “I wish I knew…”

A hand came to rest on Helen’s shoulder and Rose gave her an understanding squeeze. “Far be it from me to advise you where Alex is concerned…”

“No…please. She adores you. It’s…”

“Helen, the truth is I love Alex as if she were my own. I really do. It’s funny. I could see it almost from the moment she arrived. The way she looked at Cassie. The way she could seem to calm Cassie. Dylan, well…they were inseparable almost immediately. I can’t imagine this family without her. So much that they have been through in such a short time. I almost can’t remember when Alex wasn’t here.” She chuckled affectionately. “And, I know…I know Alex loves me too, in her own way.” Rose watched as Helen nodded knowingly and with evident sorrow. “But, I am not her mother. She only has one mother. Whatever has happened, Helen, well…I can tell you this; she loves you and she needs you. It’s a lot of change for all of them.”

Helen nodded. “I know.”

“What do you say you go show Dylan a thing or two so we can get what I imagine will be an evening full of superheroes over with and move onto a nice glass of wine?”

“Sounds perfect. Rose, thank you for…”

“Don’t thank me. Last time I watched Dylan I was plagued by nightmares of being Catwoman. I still haven’t recovered.”

Helen laughed. “Hence the wine?”

“Exactly,” Rose winked. They started toward the stairs when Rose stopped momentarily and grasped Helen’s hand. “Remember, this is your family too.” Both women smiled. Helen Toles had much to learn about her daughter and her life. She was determined that she would have that chance.

“So, Alex, we both know you didn’t come all the way to London for dinner.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Well, what’s on your mind?” Ambassador Matthews asked.

“You mentioned ASA at John’s funeral.”

He took a deep breath and let it our slowly. “Yes, I did.”

“What could he be trying to stop, Russ?” she asked somewhat pointedly.

Russ Matthews considered the expression in Alex’s eyes. She was guarded, but clearly concerned. He scratched his brow and leaned in closer. “You know. This is not the place, Alex. Not here.”

“I don’t know.”