“Tania?”
“There was a Tania on my last trip to Russia, celebrating her sixtieth. She was a regular on the tours. A real Russophile—and a pain in the ass. But no Jacob or James.”
Alice shot to her feet.
“Alice?”
“Where did I put my capris?” She ran into the bedroom, located them and dug into the pocket. “Here, look—the card of the woman I told you was bankrolling Randolph’s campaign. Her name is Tania. Tania Garrett.”
“The fuck?” Carter’s turn to stand abruptly. “That’s her—the Russophile. She must have come on my trip three times over the years. A billionaire. And her husband’s name was …Jake.”
“Short for Jacob?”
“Could be. They’re financing Randolph’s campaign? She’s the ‘Tatiana’ that Nika was saying is key to all this? Oh, that’s just fucking great. Not only are we taking on the U.S. government but the establishment as well.”
“The Tatiana on the list—it’s only the ‘T-A and then the I-A’ that’s visible. It’s not ‘Tatiana,’ it’s ‘Tania.’ Nika must have been just confused on the name—there never was a Tatiana. And the blue car—if she’s behind Randolph’s campaign, maybeshe’sthe link to the car. Is this enough to take to the authorities?”
“Not nearly, not yet. It’s quite a leap from four letters on a handwritten list and the ravings of a woman who was losing her mind to murder and treason. I haven’t seen any mention of a Tania or a Jacob or Jake in the kompromat. But this is a good lead.”
Carter’s phone rang, making them both jump.
“Yeah?” he said, answering it. “It’s for you, Alice,” he said darkly. “It’s Malik.”
“Oh God,” Alice said as Carter put it on speaker. “Malik?”
“I’m so sorry, Alice.”
“What? What is it?”
“It’s… You’d better meet me at the hospital. And you’d better be quick.”
“What’s happened?”
“I’ve gotta go. Just … get there.”
Chapter 27
Alice
Alice had a hard time getting dressed, she was that shaky.
“I just have to ask this,” said Carter, stepping in to fasten the buttons on her blouse, which gave her flashbacks to him dressing her in the boys’ bathroom at her school, several lifetimes ago. “Are you sure it’s not a trap?”
“Kimberly wouldneverdo that to me. She wouldn’t put me through it. Plus, you heard her yesterday—she basically pushed me out the door. She wants me to see this through.”
“What about Malik?”
“He wouldn’t lie about this.”
“He didn’t say much at all. He just said to meet him at the hospital and hung up. It’s almost like he was carefulnotto lie.”
“He was obviously not thinking straight. You need to start trusting that most people don’t have an agenda.”
“Everyonehas an agenda.”
“He doesn’t, other than to look after Kimberly. Don’t judge him for the five minutes you’ve known him. He’s a good guy—he’s just a little overprotective and he’s under a huge amount of stress. Where are my jeans?”
He passed them to her. “That’s exactly why I’m asking. When people are under that kind of pressure, they do things theywouldn’t normally contemplate—like cooperating with the FBI to lure you in.”
