“State disagrees, and we work at the pleasure of and under the direction of the President.”
Holy shit, this is a big fucking deal.
“I’ll do my best, but I can tell you he’s not going to change his plans at the directive of the United States. Considering his prior relationship with the agency, I’d think you would talk to him yourself.”
“Those aren’t my orders. Or yours. That’s all.” He picks up the phone on his desk, and I’m dismissed.
Fuck.
I call Erik as I’m heading out to my car.
“Ace. How’s it going?” The King of Limaj, a small Eastern European country that borders the Middle East, Turkey, and Georgia, is a good friend. Almost like family, though I wouldn’t tell Director Dickhead that.
“I need to talk to you. Can you send the jet for me? I need to get to you sooner rather than later.”
“We’re actually in Vegas for a few weeks. Can you get here commercially or do you still need me to send the jet?”
“I’m good. See you tomorrow.” I disconnect.
He knows me well enough to know if I’m not talking about it on the phone, there’s a reason.
I meet with Erik the next day and he’s as pissed off as I expected him to be.
“The CIA has no say in what I do with my country,” he grumbles, twirling a snifter of brandy between his fingers. “Do you think they know something we don’t? About traitors within Parliament and/or our military?”
I shrug. “If they do, it’s news to me, but obviously they only tell me what they think I need to know.”
“I appreciate the heads-up,” Erik says, “but I’m not putting my plans on hold. The CIA can kiss my ass.”
“I figured as much.”
“But what about you? What happens to you if you don’t get me to stop?”
“I’m trying to hang in there for one more year, to get my pension, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t. I’ve got a trust fund from my dad, and I know a European king who’d probably be willing to give my sorry ass a job.”
Erik grins. “Any time, my friend. Any time.”
“In the meantime, if you wanted to buy me some time, keep your plans under wraps. You can keep things quiet while you’re in the planning stages.”
“I can.” He nods. “And I’m happy to do that for you. What are you doing next?”
“Actually, I’m on assignment.” I grin back at him. “I’m trying to convince the King of Limaj to put his plans to build an intelligence agency on hold.”
“Oh, wow.” Erik raises his eyebrows as if he has no idea what I’m talking about. “Well, good luck with that. He’s probably not going to cooperate, so it might take a while.”
I laugh. “I’m counting on it.”
Chapter 2
Shannon
I love my job, but some days are harder than others. Today is one of those days I can’t wait to get home, run myself a bath, and pour a glass of wine. My students are restless, staff meetings endless, and I lost my favorite pair of gloves. The last year has been lovely, but the three years before that were hell between my disaster of a marriage and losing my dad.
The opportunity to teach high school level English at an exclusive private school in Cologne, Germany was just what I needed. Peace and quiet in my personal life, a job I love, and malleable teenagers to help mold into young adults. Money isn’t an issue, because I inherited sizeable sums when my father and grandmother died, so all in all, most days are fine, but when I start feeling like I’m going crazy… That’s something else altogether.
Shit. I need to get my head out of my ass.
I manage a smile for Mrs. Winkelhofer, my elderly landlady, as I let myself into my apartment building. Normally I run after work, but I haven’t been sleeping worth a damn so it’s getting harder to find the energy to run. Fear is getting to me, and there doesn’t seem to be a damn thing I can do about it. If I was still in Washington, D.C., it would be a different story, but here in Germany I’m beginning to feel very alone.
