Dead Promise

by Linda Wells

  “Baby, come on, bring me tea,” she said again.

  He looked over at her. She was propped on one arm, facing him, her long hair falling over her shoulder, wisps barely covering her breast, the other one bare, the sheet tucked around her waist. She expected him to make love to her again, as he always did. God, she was delicious. He wanted her, but they’d both have to wait.

  “In a moment,” he said.

  He grabbed the newspaper, reading as fast as possible, trying to absorb what had happened.

  Two passengers on Century Air Flight 27 from NYC to London experienced flu-like symptoms upon their arrival at Heathrow. They were taken by taxi to their hotel, where they became severely ill. From there, they were immediately transported by ambulance and admitted to an unnamed London hospital. They have been placed in quarantine as a precaution. Both patients, whose identities have not been released, are US citizens, traveling to London on business. A hospital spokesperson wants the public to be reassured that they do not, as yet, have a confirmed diagnosis. As soon as they have any further information, the citizens will be informed. The public is being encouraged not to panic.

  “Shit!” He threw down the paper, spilling tea all over the silver tray.

  He had thought he had all contingencies covered. He was afraid. It was not a familiar emotion. How could this have happened? Maybe it was a fluke. With the news about the avian flu traveling so fast, anyone who became sick would think he or she might have it. They didn’t even have a confirmed diagnosis. He had to stay calm. Maybe he should join his sexy playmate. He needed to escape from this potential nightmare.

  He walked to the bed, threw his robe on the floor, leaned down, and kissed her soft brown nipple. Her arms went around his neck, and she pulled him into bed. The newspaper, the television report, everything disappeared. Her warm body enveloped his, and he entered her. She was ready, wet. He nuzzled his face into her neck, his heaviness on top of her, her legs around him. The world was suspended as he fell into their rhythm of love.

  58

  Christ! The phone! He didn’t want to answer it. He was just getting started with his lovely playmate, her moans so loud he hardly heard the ringing.

  “God, sweetheart. I better answer this,” he said, impatient.

  She clung to him as he pulled out of her.

  “Shit.” He swore under his breath, not wanting to stop. Naked, he hurried to the office adjoining his bedroom.

  “Yes?” he asked.

  Damn it, what now!

  “Yes, Margaret, put the call through.”

  “Good evening, Douglas,” said the president. “Or I guess I should say good morning.”

  “Good morning, Mr. President,” answered Ambassador Bishop.

  “You sound a bit breathless,” said the president.

  “Yes, Jake, sorry about that.” He chuckled.

  “I don’t have a lot of time, so put your pants on. We have a situation, and I need your help,” Jake said.

  “Of course. I assume you’re calling about the viral infection. Tragic,” he responded, trying to sound concerned. He hoped he’d pulled it off. He was sick of being talked down to by Jake Howland. “I was just informed of the two possible cases in London. Shocking, and a bit unnerving, to say the least.”

  “I would call ‘unnerving’ an understatement,” said Jake.

  The ambassador didn’t miss the intended insult.

  “Yes, Jake, I realize the seriousness of this event,” said Doug.

  “Please call the prime minister right away. Set up a teleconference as soon as possible. Let’s get started with a joint effort on this thing. Let’s assume these two who arrived in London yesterday have H5N1. We need Prime Minister Mitchell to back us up,” Jake said. “Jane will get on board, and we can stop any further spread. Get back to me as soon as you’ve scheduled the meeting. I want you on the call, too.”

  “Yes, Jake, right away,” he said.

  “Thanks.” And the president hung up.

  Jake never minced words. He’d always been like that, since they’d worked together in North Carolina. Jake had been governor at the time, and Doug had been a senator from North Carolina. And he had hated Jake then, always pushing, and Jake knew Doug still hated him. Jake had always thought he was smarter than Doug. And Doug had played along with it.

  But one term in the Senate was enough. He’d gone back into the private sector, made enough contacts and promises as a senator to keep his hand in politics, while running a successful international investment firm. He had been a wizard at fundraising and had contributed generously to the party and to Jake’s campaign. The reward from Jake was a well-deserved thank-you, the ambassadorship to the United Kingdom. Doug had reveled in the prestigious appointment. Now he was positioned to follow through with his plans. He had international respect and access to those in powerful positions, as well as plenty of money to buy influence. His clever strategies were just beginning to pay off.

  Doug believed he could have had the US presidency if he’d wanted it. And Katherine, too. He wondered if Katherine had ever told Jake about that night. She was the reason he’d never married. It had been a chance meeting at the Inaugural Ball when Jake became governor. He knew she was happily married to Jake, but he made a pass anyway. They’d just finished dancing, and he thought her embrace had a hidden meaning, and he dragged her out of the ballroom onto a private balcony at the governor’s mansion. Doug could tell she was flattered, and he even sensed that she was attracted to him. He was a good-looking and sought-after bachelor. But when he tried to kiss her, she seemed genuinely shocked and made it clear that she wasn’t interested in cheating on her husband.

  He couldn’t blame her. Doug had a reputation as a player. And she wanted no part in a secret love affair. And he wasn’t prepared to offer permanence. Plus the timing had been all wrong. If Jake hadn’t come back from Iraq, maybe Katherine would have been his. And maybe it wasn’t too late. But that was probably wishful thinking, even delusional. It would have been nice if she had given in to his advances. He knew he had charm, and he’d wanted to one-up Jake. Sleeping with Katherine would have at least given him that satisfaction. But she wasn’t the kind of woman to compromise. Now he was holding the cards. And Jake would soon find out how little power he had. Paybacks with some karma thrown in were a bitch. And Katherine could have had him. Tough shit to her, too.

  The ambassador heard his playmate calling for him to come back to bed.

  “Just a minute,” he said impatiently.

  He rang Margaret at his embassy office.

  “Call the prime minister, and ring me as soon as you get her. It’s urgent,” he said.

  He slammed down the phone, went to his bedroom suite, and climbed back into his playmate’s waiting arms. God, she was eager. This wouldn’t take long, and he needed to finish. He spread her legs forcefully and entered her. She gasped, taking all of him, and he buried his face in her neck and fucked her hard. He shuddered as he came, kissing her mouth.

  “Sorry, sweetheart, but I have to get ready for a meeting,” he said. He patted her ass. “Get dressed. More later, if you’re a good girl,” he said, as he rushed to the shower.

  He had a lot on his mind, and he couldn’t be bothered with her right now.

  She said something to him, but he ignored her. He was planning his next move. And he hoped that the colonel was dead by now. He’d find out soon enough.

  59

  Wally stood up slowly and stretched his legs, tired of watching Ray stare at the computer screen. Wally was aching, still sore from the night in the van. He took his cell phone out of his shirt pocket and checked messages. George wanted to hear from him ASAP. He hit redial. She didn’t even say hello.

  “You have anything?” she asked.

  “Not on the account, but Ray’s working on it,” said Wally. “But we have a possible location of this Director. Chen received several calls from London on a cell phone she had stashed in her nightstand.”

  “Good jo
b,” said George. He could hear the excitement in her voice. “What about the address or other calls?” she asked.

  “Timco’s still working on the number,” he said. “How’s it going with you?”

  “Nothing, but I think we’ll know something soon,” she answered. “Or at least what we don’t know.”

  Ray looked at Wally. Ray had found something.

  “Gotta go,” said Wally.

  “Call me!” she said, hanging up.

  “What?” Wally asked Ray.

  “The account’s in Chen’s name, ten million US currency.”

  “What bank?”

  “Swiss World Bank,” Ray answered. “The money was transferred from the account of the JKH Society.”

  “What’s the JKH Society?”

  “It looks like one of those private investment and charity groups, nonprofit, that accepts donations from big players, corporations, political bigwigs; you know the types. A legal money-laundering scam. Pay for play. When I checked it out, guess who’s the CEO?” asked Ray.

  “Just fucking tell me,” said Wally, leaning over Ray’s shoulder, trying to see what was on the monitor.

  “Jacob Howland,” said Ray.

  “Holy shit!” said Wally. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “No, I’m not.” Ray started printing the file.

  “You better be fucking sure,” Wally said.

  “I’m sure,” said Ray.

  “I want the dates of deposit, who made the deposits, when it was opened, transfer of funds, anything you can get,” said Wally.

  “That’s the weird part. There’s only been one deposit. The whole ten million. June fourth,” said Ray.

  “Yesterday?” asked Wally.

  “Yep.”

  “This is going to blow sky high,” said Wally. “But keep looking. Something smells to me.”

  “Me too,” said Ray. “So far, no other names are showing up, no other deposits, nothing. No withdrawals. Just the one lump sum.”

  “I want to know everything you can find out about the JKH Society,” Wally said. “Something isn’t making sense.”

  “I’m doing a search now,” Ray said, grabbing the papers coming off the printer. “Give me some slack.”

  “Hey, you have all the slack you want,” said Wally. “But you can find out, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It doesn’t make sense,” Wally said, thinking aloud. “Why would a name be on the account?”

  He was looking through the papers that Ray had stacked on the corner of his desk. One was a printout of the electronic transfer into the numbered Swiss bank account in the amount of $10 million. The deposit was marked JKH Society, with the account number. No other names or deposits or withdrawals. Ray had also printed out the information about the transfer into Chen’s account, with the amount and date of deposit.

  Ray was focusing on the screen.

  “Don’t tell anyone about this,” said Wally.

  He knew he’d have to tell George, but he didn’t want the shit to hit the fan. Not yet. Not until he was sure. But Ray didn’t miss anything. They’d worked together long enough that Wally trusted him. But this was big.

  Ray’s phone rang. “Yeah?” he answered. After listening, he said, “Thanks, man. Get the number.”

  He hung up and turned to Wally. “The only calls Chen received on her cell phone were from one location in London. He’ll have the number soon.”

  “Good,” said Wally.

  60

  The monitor showed that the plane was on the ground, and Rose Lin couldn’t believe this moment was truly real. She didn’t know how long it would take for the plane to taxi to the gate, but it seemed like forever. Longer than the life of sheer existence without Lee. Suzy had enabled her to go on, but Suzy was also the reminder, a marker of her loss. Rose Lin had never expected to see Lee again. She had spent her life mourning her daughter. But now, waiting to be reunited with the child whom she had not seen since she was a baby, was like the moment before opening a gift, expectant and thrilling.

  Robert stood up and began pacing around the waiting area. Rose Lin watched him, wondering what was going through his mind. He’d been there for her most of her life. He was the kindest and most loving husband and father. How would he feel about Lee? She knew he would accept her, but the adjustments would be hard for them all. Lee was a stranger who was suddenly entering their lives. And where did Suzy fit into all of this, and how much did she know?

  Robert walked over to Rose Lin.

  “It won’t be long now,” he said. “How are you doing?”

  She wasn’t sure how to answer him. But it was so like him to care about how she felt, putting his own feelings aside. It had been that way since they met. She had never loved him more than she did now. Traveling halfway around the world to meet her daughter.

  Rose Lin had frozen in shock when Suzy had handed her the plane tickets and shown her the photos of Lee and herself. She hadn’t understood it all, but it didn’t change the fact that she had to get to Lee. She trusted Suzy, and Rose Lin knew things would work out. Her inner strength had formed when she was young. She’d had to be strong when she’d lost her first husband, Suzy and Lee’s father.

  “I’m fine, Robert, but it’s so hard to wait,” she answered.

  Robert had been glancing at the television screen in the corner of the waiting room. “Rose, look. They’re talking about the terrorist attack in New York City. Unbelievable…” His voice trailed off. “It’s worse than I thought,” he said.

  “Oh no! How awful,” she exclaimed. “I heard about it before we left, but Suzy didn’t seem to know any details.”

  “A biologic attack…” His voice trailed off as he watched the monitor. “A virus that appears to be spreading,” he said, talking to himself. “I wonder if we’ll be able to fly back to the States.”

  They stared at the screen in disbelief.

  “Robert, what does this mean?” asked Rose Lin.

  “I don’t know. But it’s serious. A weaponized virus that spreads quickly,” he said. He was deep in thought, and Rose Lin saw the alarm on his face. “They’re taking precautions, but they’re saying many have already died from it, mostly in New York City.”

  At that moment, Rose Lin saw passengers, already through customs, making their way into the main waiting area for family and friends of arrivals. Her eyes quickly fell on the beautiful Asian girl with long dark hair who was pulling a small black carry-on behind her. She was walking with a nice-looking young Chinese man, who seemed to be guiding her through the passenger arrivals area. Everything else around Rose Lin disappeared, her eyes focusing on the beautiful girl, who was searching the faces of those waiting. She looked exactly like Suzy. A younger mirror image of herself. With a quick intake of breath, Rose Lin crumpled to the floor.

  61

  Suzy had fallen asleep, and Max was slouched down in the chair by her bed, one leg crossed over the other, staring at her. The nurse, Elliott Washington, stepped out of the room.

  “What’s up?” Mark asked, as Elliott approached him and George.

  “He’s just sitting in there. She isn’t saying much, from what I could hear,” Elliott answered.

  “What’s her condition?” asked George.

  “She’s stable, still groggy from the surgery and pain meds. But she should be alert and able to talk by tomorrow or possibly the next day,” he answered. “Concussions can affect each patient differently.”

  “She recognized the colonel?” asked George.

  “She called him Max,” said Elliott. “And they seemed familiar to each other. But she kept falling asleep. I don’t think they said much, but that’s just my observation. He was holding her hand, and they were whispering. It looked like he was comforting her.”

  “But you didn’t hear anything specific?” asked George.

  “No, but she was crying and upset,” he answered. “I gave her a pain pill. I think it’s too soon. The neurosurgeon was here, too. T
old the colonel he could stay, but not to press her.”

  “Thanks, Captain,” responded George. “Call me when she’s conscious.” She handed Elliott a card with her cell phone number. “Or if you hear anything they say,” she added.

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Elliott, sticking the card in his pocket as he went back into Suzy’s room.

  “Mark, why don’t you talk to Colonel Graham before we leave? See if he knows anything,” said George. “And the nurse said her surgeon was here. He said the colonel could stay with her. I think it’s a good idea.”

  “Agreed. I’ll get him,” said Mark.

  “I’ll be down the hall for a few minutes.”

  Mark watched George throw her purse over her shoulder and walk away. He tried to put himself in Max’s position. He felt he could now.

  Mark went into Suzy’s room, passing the guards posted outside her door. He touched the colonel’s shoulder and motioned for him to step outside. Max followed him into the hallway.

  “Let’s sit over here,” Mark said, motioning to the bench near the window. “What did Suzy tell you?”

  “I doubt it’s anything you don’t know already. You read the NCS report,” he answered.

  Max didn’t seem defensive, just factual. Mark didn’t get the sense that he was hiding anything.

  “Yes, I know what’s in the report. She was being coerced and possibly threatened by this Director. Did she mention the virus or her involvement in planning the attack?” he asked.

  “She was groggy and kept falling asleep,” he answered. “But she was being threatened. That I’m sure of.”

  “She recognized you, right?” Mark said.