#

  With full bellies and in quiet, the five Turkmen with whom Ryan had traveled joined him near the rock outcropping. They stayed low with their eyes fixed on the surface of the Mediterranean. When the silent, dark inflatable came into view about a hundred yards off the Samra Beach, Ryan shook hands with each of the Turkmen. Adil Suileman grasped Ryan in a bear hug. His voice low.

  “Come back, one day, my American friend.”

  “I will. I’m expecting you to get this mess cleaned up. Work with Israel. They would welcome it and can provide you the assistance you need.”

  “I will. I promise. It will begin when the skinny one, Jewel, I think she is called, brings me my Fargo films.” They laughed.

  Ryan ran in a low crouch.

  Suileman lost sight of Ryan, but then saw him against the white of the surf. He wadded out and slipped into the inflatable. The Israeli commandos soon padded them out of sight.

  #

  LATE THAT NIGHT, SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

  Ryan smiled as he stepped aboard the Israeli Dolphin class II submarine. “Permission to come aboard, Captain?”

  “Permission granted, Mr. Testler.” The captain reached out and shook hands with Ryan. “The Deputy Director is waiting in the secure area off the control room. There’s coffee there. You know the way?” Ryan nodded. “I won’t delay you. He’s eager for your report. I understand you need to get back to America as quickly as possible. You’ll want to know, we dock in Israel early day after tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Captain.” As Ryan descended into the sub, he heard, “Rider aboard.” This spread the word that a non-shipmate had entered.

  In short order, Ryan was in the secure room, coffee in hand, responding to the director’s inquiry. “Bottom line, Director, the mission was a success. Target is removed. No incidences during extraction. I might add, the Syrian Turkmen Brigade, more particularly, a local leader, Adil Suileman was a great help. A good man. Receptive toward your country. A strong leader. Smart. I don’t know where that’ll lead him, but don’t forget him. He’s a friend and a real leader.”

  “That’s good to know. Thank you. Were our people on the ground of help?”

  “Adi Selinger was very helpful. I understand someone other than her delivered my weapon in position. All in all, the mission went well, which attests that your people did what they needed to do.”

  A knock on the door caused them to stop talking. “I took the liberty of ordering in some midrats, as the crew calls the rations available mid-shift. I’m a bit hungry myself and figured you might be.”

  “Thank you, Director.” When the door shut and they were again alone, Ryan returned to the mission. “I had a surprise opportunity to talk with a man you’re aware of, Henri Benoit.”

  A snort was all the acknowledgement the director provided. “Explain?”

  “Pretty straightforward. I saw him. With the help of a local free agent of unsteady loyalty, Ahmed El Sayed, I had the opportunity for a long, up close discussion with the banker. I’d like not to get into the particulars. He was outside my mission for you, so I feel I should first report it to my own government. I would expect your contacts in the CIA will be open to sharing more with you.”

  The director nodded. “Fair enough.” He continued nodding slowly, one elbow on the table, that hand over his mouth. “I suppose that’s how it should go. Was El Sayed aware that you met with Henry Benoit?”

  “He knew of the meeting. I used the glassblowing shop in the basement of his hotel. El Sayed was not aware of who Benoit was, and didn’t get a direct look at the man.”

  “Good. That would be information that innkeeper would sell. Now, back to Benoit. Did you take the opportunity to ask Benoit about these persistent rumors of an inpending attack of some sort on our soil or yours? A possible assassination.”

  “I did. He claimed he knew nothing. At that point in time, I doubt the man would have been capable of lying. He did share he has, several times, heard rumbles about an upcoming coup attempt in Turkey.”

  The director waved a dismissive hand. “These rumors are standard fare. Turkey has long had opposition factions in its military that want to replace the government. I doubt anything will come of it this time either. Actually, such an attempt wouldn’t be all bad. While there’s always opposition everywhere, even in your country and mine, the Turkish government is strong, as is loyalty to it. Such an attempt can be expected to fail. The coup attempt would identify the militant opposition. The government could then prune them out.”

  When they finished eating, the director looked at Ryan. “If you need me, let the bridge know. Otherwise, I’ll be busy addressing other matters. I trust you understand. I’ll follow up with your government on your engagement with Benoit. How soon might that be?”

  “That’s a little uncertain. I’ve leveraged Benoit into providing me a list of every inappropriate money transfer he’s been involved in over the past ten years. Who ordered it. The destination of the money. Details.”

  “No shit. Seriously?”

  Ryan nodded. “I’m supposed to get it from him in a few weeks. After that, I’ll take the story of my encounter with Benoit and that list, assuming I get it, to the CIA deputy for covert ops. So, after that.”

  “Good enough.”

  “Sir, I have a separate vital matter that requires my immediate attention. I haven’t learned much in the way of specifics. Can you provide me a place to do that?”

  “I’ll see to it. One with secure facilities and acess to a lot of what you might need for gathering information and making contacts. Wait here. Thank you for your service to Israel. You are a true friend.”

  The director stood, as did Ryan. They shook hands. The director left.

  24

  NOON, THURSDAY, SOMEWHERE NEAR BEND, OREGON

  Linda picked up her ringing cell phone from the nightstand next to the bed in her hotel room. She hit the answer button in almost the same motion.

  “Good morning, Linda. You know who this is.”

  “Yes. Brad. I’m lucid and I don’t have Alzheimer’s. I know who you are.” Linda tossed back the covers and swung her legs off the side of the bed. She was getting up late. She’d fallen asleep late.

  “I’d prefer you not use names.”

  “You used mine. What do you want, Brad?”

  “You were not at the shareholders’ meeting you told me you were going to. Where were you?”

  “First off, I didn’t tell you I was going to the shareholders’ meeting. I told you I told Billy Knight I was going to that shareholders’ meeting. So he would know why I was leaving town.”

  “I know you didn’t go see your daughter.”

  “How do you know I didn’t?”

  “As I’m sure you would expect, we’re watching to be sure you don’t try to pirate Steffi out of school and make a run for it. We’d stop you. If you want Steffi to remain safe, leave her in Hobart and do what we require of you. So, where did you go?”

  “I drove east, nearly to Bend, Oregon, and hunkered down to stay out of sight.”

  “I was instructed to tell you that our employer agrees with your course of action.”

  “I appreciate your telling me.”

  “I was ordered to tell you.”

  “Now, let’s get our work done and you out of my daughter’s life.”

  “You’re a smart woman.”

  “Not smart enough. I somehow got myself in this mess, and I don’t see a way out of it.”

  “Performing your duty is how you get out of it. We need to meet.”

  “Why?” She raised her hand in frustration as if Brad could see her.

  “For your final instructions, M’Lady.”

  “We did that a few days ago, before I left.”

  “Yes, but all that’s changed. Anyone you may have told of that plan now knows nothing.”

  “Why would I tell anyone? Steffi’s safety is dependent, apparently, on my success.”

  “Not apparently. That is the single reliable fact in your life right now.”

  “Again, Brad, what do you want?”

  “I’ll meet you tonight at eight, in the parking lot behind your hotel. You will get in my vehicle.”

  “Then?”

  “Then I’ll take you where we’re going. Where you will learn all the rest of what you need to know.”

  “A few days ago you told me tomorrow, Friday, was D-Day. Has that changed?”

  “You’ll learn that tonight.”

  “Not good enough. I’ve already heard from who you call the target—about an hour ago. He asked me to come to his condo Saturday night, for dinner. On your instruction that I make myself available to him, I agreed.”

  “Exactly what did you tell him?”

  “That Saturday evening would be lovely. It would give me time to catch up on my sleep. He expects I will drive back tomorrow, which I will. You’ve reached me in the Bend area.”

  “And?”

  “And what? That’s it. He said good. Oh, if you must know, he also said he wanted me fully rested when we get together.”

  “Eight. Tonight. Behind your hotel.” Brad hung up.

  Fifteen minutes later, Brad called back to say his boss was not happy with the change.

  “This boss of yours must be a real doofus. When a man asks a woman for a date, particularly their first, she cannot, without seeming unreasonable, negotiate the night. He asked for Saturday. In fact, he said that something unexpected had come up and he needed tomorrow night free. It was my place to either say yes or no. I figured the boss would want me to say yes, so I did.”

  “That moves things out another day. Instead of our meeting tonight, we’ll meet behind your hotel tomorrow night at eight, that’s Friday.”

  “Yes, asshole. Friday follows Thursday every week. I get it.”

  #

  An hour later, Linda called Ryan for the third time in the past twenty-four hours. Still, no answer. “Damn you. I’m running out of time. Saturday night, I’m supposed to murder a man who seems decent enough.” She stopped herself from babbling needlessly, slapped the flip phone shut and slid it onto the nightstand beside her bed. She was alone and she knew it. For whatever reason, her prince was off duty.

  God, I hope he’s all right. Wherever he is. I’ve been so occupied with my situation. He could be injured and unable to reply. Or worse.

  She only had tonight and tomorrow to find an answer. Billy Knight was someone else’s problem. Someone who would kill to solve that problem. Someone who found Linda and found the leverage they needed to force Linda to kill to make their problem go away. She had no answers, only a fait accompli, she would have to kill Billy to save Steffi.

  After hours of lying in bed staring at the ceiling, she took two sleeping pills and eventually drifted off to sleep.

  25

  FRIDAY EARLY

  The sun wasn’t up when Linda woke to go to the bathroom. Light brightened the drape over the window, just enough to show someone seated in the chair in front of the drape. His shadowy presence was framed by the faint predawn glow.

  Oh, my God.

  Linda reached toward the lamp on the nightstand to her left.

  “Don’t turn it on.”

  That’s not Brad’s voice. . . . Holy shit. It’s him. Somehow …

  Linda bolted upright in her bed. The covers sliding down to her waist. Her bare breasts exposed. She pulled the covers back up, holding them bunched in her fist.

  Ryan draped one arm over the knee of his crossed leg. “I told you, any morning I could be with you when you woke. So, what’s this calamity all about? Who’s this Brad fellow and why does someone want Billy Knight dead? And who is he, anyway?”

  “How do you know that stuff?”

  “Your messages.”

  “I left no messages.” In her emphasizing, she spread her hands. The covers drooped. Given her history with the man, this time she left the covers where they sagged. “The recording on your phone said no messages could be …” She paused.

  “You shouldn’t believe every message you hear.”

  “Please, I’m in no mood.”

  “You know that’s a special phone. I had it made to my specifications. Expensive, but worth it.”

  “But it said no messages.”

  “Yes. That was a dandy little feature. We thought of it at the last minute. Brilliant in its simplicity. The recording mechanism is the same as with most cell phones. The only difference is instead of the message saying leave a message, the message says you can’t leave a message. We then turned off the standard beep alert that signals when to begin your message. Other than that, the process of recording remains the same. It records whatever words or sounds occur until the caller hangs up. You muttered or vented after most of your calls, before actually hanging up. When a phone call isn’t answered, the caller sometimes talks in frustration. The most honest messages are left when the caller doesn’t know it’s a message. You even cursed at me for not answering. You rambled a bit, clearly frustrated, even angry that I hadn’t answered.”

  “I’m sorry. I had no right to expect you to be at my beck and call.”

  “No apology. It’s human nature. Even though you felt you couldn’t leave a message, you blurted out something to release your tension. You mentioned Billy Knight and Brad, with no last name.”

  “I don’t know his last name.”

  “Not to worry. I’ve done some research on them both. Not much, but enough to know the basics. Just not why it’s happening, or who’s pulling the strings. That’s the key part we don’t know, who’s behind this. So, tell me everything. Start with your first inkling that something was wrong and stop when you get to right now. I’ll try to not interrupt.”

  “First, I need to go to the little girl’s room.”

  “Ah, yes, the reason you woke. I’ll wait.”

  Linda came back wearing a hotel robe from the hook on the back of the bathroom door. She started talking as she walked. The bathroom light still on in the mostly dark room.

  Ryan met her as she passed by the foot of the bed. He leaned in, she raised her face to his, and they kissed. “I’ve missed you.”

  She put her hand around on the back of his neck, their faces remaining close. “I’ve missed you, too.”

  He stepped back, tugged on her robe tie. It came undone. He slid his hands inside the robe, then up and over the caps of her shoulders. She relaxed her arms, and the robe fell to the floor. He cupped her breast, circling her nipple and tweaked it with his thumb. It rose in response.

  Linda had looked into his eyes many times, but never explored them as deeply as she did now. The life in them suggested a history of torment and conflict, perhaps beyond understanding. He breathed through his mouth, the warmth touching her face. Ryan was not a huge man, but he had a presence that left no doubt one would not want him as an adversary. She was a Ryanholic. Like with chocolate, she wanted to lick him, to taste his familiar flavor.

  He moved in until his length touched her own. His hands circled her waist to grasp the mounds of her butt. They kissed again, their tongues reaching in to extend their intimacy. Then she pushed back.

  “God, I want you. But I just can’t. Not now. I can’t indulge my own lust. Not with my daughter’s life being threatened. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I just can’t.”

  “I understand. It’s wonderful just knowing your desires toward me haven’t changed.”

  “If anything, they’re stronger.”

  “What about Dixon Wardley in Caruthers?”

  “Dix is a good man and, said plainly, a very good lover. But he’s a standin, not you. I know that now. I’m sure you have . . . been with other women in the long time we have been apart.”

  “Yes. No recriminations. Let’s get back to you and your situation. That’s number one right now.”

  Linda left her robe on the floor and walked back to the bed. She propped up the decorator pillows and the bed pillow before stepping one foot into the bed, and collapsing onto one hip. She leaned into the soft support from the pillows and slid her feet under the covers. Ryan picked her robe up and extended it across the foot of the bed. Settled, she took a deep breath. “How were you able to research anything on Brad? All we know is his first name.”

  “From what he said during the calls.”

  “But those calls were on my phone.” Linda pushed her feet deeper under the covers.

  “You didn’t erase his calls. You just hung up.”

  “But you didn’t have my phone.”

  “I got here a few hours ago. You must have taken something to let you sleep. You were—”

  “I was exhausted. I haven’t been sleeping. Last night, I took a double dose.”

  “I’ve used the time to listen to the calls from Brad and this Billy Knight.”

  She drew up her knees. “Here in my room while I was sleeping?”

  Ryan nodded, adding a smile. “More importantly, listening to some of the terms or words Brad used. ‘Mission,’ he used that several times. He also said ‘at ease.’ Some of attempts at humor were also telling. That kinda stuff let me make some guesses about his background. The men who do this kind of thing, trained men who are more than street thugs, are not a large community. That gave me a place to start. Not me, but people I know who do this kind of thing very well. I’ve had to call in some favors. Those efforts are still underway. Okay, go ahead, give me the full rundown, in the order it occurred. Stop to think whenever you need to. I’ll be quiet ‘til you’re done.”

  Linda first mentioned the box of roses she thought Dix had sent to her in Sea Crest. That is, she did until she found the blemished picture of Steffi under those roses. After that she went over the various smartass threats from Brad, the visitor to her hotel room in Portland, and finished with Billy’s request that she wear the same dress tomorrow night that she wore to his parents’ anniversary party.

  Ryan’s cell rang. He made a motion for quiet with his hand before answering. He listened for a minute or so, then replied. “Okay. It’s about six now, that’ll be fine. I’ll see you there.”