by Mark Spaid
“What I can’t understand is why I’m invited,” Dave said.
“Same here,” Warren said. “Is she wanting a crash course in physics?”
“I’m not sure, I received the list and a phone call from a White House staffer confirming the people listed,” Justin answered.
“Why us?” Little Wolf asked.
“Maybe she’s trying to nail down the Native American and Hispanic vote,” Andy offered to laughter.
“It’ll be neat meeting the President,” Julieta said.
“What’s your wardrobe like, Lind?” Tatiana asked.
“I have everything I need.”
“There’s a formal state dinner with the Russian and The Ukrainian President,” Jozette reminded her.
“I know that and I have a stately dress for the occasion,” Belinda replied.
“Stately?” Jozette asked with a grin.
“Yes, Jo, I can look dignified if I want to sometimes. I just prefer to look delectable and irresistible.”
“Well, you’re that, honey, and then some,” Tatiana said chuckling and there was laughter.
* * *
“Why are we being treated like little kids?” Jessica asked.
“What do you mean?” Darcy asked.
“We have baby sitters the whole time and we have to sleep here in your house.”
“You don’t like our house?” Darcy asked.
“Of course, I like your house, that’s not it,” Jessica said.
“What is it then?” Darcy asked.
“Why can’t we stay in our own homes?” We’re all eighteen except Zara and she’d stay here anyway.”
“I don’t suppose if you were staying at your house that Dixie might end up staying with you?” Paulita asked. Jessica looked down then up with a grin.
“Maybe.” They all laughed.
“Look, we can all stay in here and you and Dixie can use the bed,” Paulita said.
“What will you guys do?” Dixie asked.
“We’ll watch,” Paulita said and they all laughed hard, even Jessica though Dixie rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Why are your parents staying with us?” Mallory asked.
“They weren’t invited,” Darcy said.
“But why were Mr. Dave, Miss Tatiana, Mr. Warren, Miss Ariel and Little Wolf and Julieta invited. They’re not journalists?” Melanie asked.
“We don’t know and I’m not sure the adults know either,” Jessica said.
“My dad probably is better off not going. The travel and the strange environment could cause him problems,” Darcy said.
“What do you mean?” Mallory asked.
“In a strange country, there could be pollens, dust, allergens that he’s not used to and it doesn’t take much for him to have an asthma episode,” Zara said.
“Makes sense and at least we have cool parents watching us,” Dixie said.
“You mean some of our parents aren’t cool?” Melanie asked.
“No, they’re all cool but not all parents are like ours,” Dixie said.
“Yeah, how about Lacey Gregory’s parents. Her dad beats her mother and Lacey sometimes,” Darcy said.
“We’re lucky to have the moms and dads that we do,” Dixie said. Jessica noticed that Zara was looking away.
“Zara, we’re sorry for talking about our parents,” Jessica said.
“Don’t be, I don’t know who my dad is and my mother died when I was very small. Lamonte raised me and now Darcy’s parents have taken me in as their daughter. I’m happy.”
“And my sister,” Darcy said and gave Zara a hug.
“Paulita is the only one who isn’t adopted by someone,” Mallory said.
“Ray is kind of my unofficial adopted dad.”
“He’s a neat guy, Paulita,” Darcy said.
“Yes, he is, I never knew my real dad, I was two when he died. Ray and I talk and play video games.”
“He plays video games but he’s old,” Melanie said.
“Maybe but he’s good. I have fun with Ray and I think Mama likes that.”
“Of course, she does,” Jessica said.
“What’ll we do while they’re gone?” Dixie asked.
“Sleepovers,” Jessica said.
“That’s a given, we can’t go anywhere so, every night is a sleepover,” Darcy said.
“What about the daytime?” Mallory asked.
“The zoo,” Melanie said.
“Yawn,” Jessica said.
“The library,” Melanie continued.
“Honey, I love you but if you keep going, we’ll have to get you those glasses that set on the end of your nose and you can become a Nineteenth Century school marm,” Paulita said and they laughed.
“Well, I tried and I like the library and the zoo.”
“How about something a little more…alive,” Dixie said.
“The mall,” Mallory suggested.
“Better,” Jessica said.
“Paintballing,” Jessica suggested. Melanie’s shoulders sagged. Her limp and her somewhat compromised right arm made physical activity a challenge.
“No, I don’t like that,” Paulita said after seeing Melanie’s reaction.
“Well, what then?” Darcy asked.
“How about the arcade?” Dixie proposed.
“Not bad,” Mallory said and Melanie nodded approval.
“Okay, so, why don’t we go to the arcade and the mall the first day,” Darcy said and it was agreed. They talked and caught up on each other’s life for the next few hours while the travelers prepared to depart.
* * *
“When do you leave?” Will asked.
“In two days,” Justin replied.
“We take a private jet to D.C. then transfer to Air Force One,” Jozette added.
“Wow, Air Force One, you’ve hit the big time,” Warren said.
“Hey, you’ll be with us,” Justin said.
“Yeah but we’re just steerage passengers,” Warren quipped and there was laughter.
“What does that mean?” Belinda asked. Little Wolf looked at Jozette and she nodded.
“In the old days, Miss Belinda, when people traveled by ship…” Little Wolf started.
“Like the Pilgrims?”
“That’s right. In those times it was necessary for ships to ride low in the water or they’d tip over easy.”
“Then everyone would drown.”
“Yes, and they took on passengers, poor people, just to give weight to the ship and make it easier to steer.”
“So, they really didn’t like those people they just used them to get the ship somewhere safely,” Belinda conjectured.
“Miss Belinda, you are absolutely right.”
“Thank you, Little Wolf, for answering my question,” Belinda said then gave a twisted face look and crossed eyes to Jozette.
“Very nice, Lind,” Jozette remarked.
“You started it.”
“How did I start anything?”
“Because any time I ask a question you roll your eyes and make a face like I’m stupid.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You kind of do sometimes, babe,” Andy said.
“I do?”
“Yes, Jo,” Tatiana added and looked at Jozette who sighed.
“Sorry, Lind. I take it for granted that everyone knows what I know and I guess that’s not fair.”
“Okay, I’m fine and I always like it when Little Wolf explains things to me anyway.”
“Yes, he is so patient, we’re all lucky to have him with us,” Lexi said.
“Please, don’t, I have to live with him and he doesn’t need another reason to have a swelled head,” Julieta pleaded with everyone.
“I have a swelled head?” Little Wolf asked.
“Brave, sometimes it takes a bulldozer to get your head through the door.”
“Gee, don’t hold back, Maiden, speak your mind. She’s excitable sometimes, that Latin heritage I guess.”
“Ooh
h!!! You drive me crazy,” Julieta said with gritted teeth.
“Alright, kids, we love you both, Julieta you with your Latin temper and Little Wolf with your oversized ego,” Tatiana said as she put her arm around Julieta and pulled her close.
“Sorry, I lost my temper,” Julieta said.
“I’m sorry I bugged you, Maiden.”
“It’s a long flight to The Ukraine,” Dave said. “I don’t want someone pulling the emergency door to get out because they feel cooped up and can’t get away from each other.”
“We’ll be fine,” Jozette said as she pointed at Little Wolf with a look and he nodded understanding.
“Well, let’s lighten the mood and get ready for the trip of a lifetime,” Justin said.
“What should we call her?” Belinda asked.
“Madam President or Ma’am,” Jozette related.
“Not Ms. Lexington?” Belinda asked.
“No and don’t given any fashion tips to the President of the United States, Lind, please,” Jozette begged.
“You make it sound like I give everyone tips.”
“You do,” Jozette said.
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, baby, you do, I know you mean well and anyone would be wise to take your advice but not the President, please,” Justin said.
“Okay, if you think I shouldn’t then I won’t.” They all cringed thinking that Belinda did have some advice in mind having seen the President on television and having remarked about her hair in particular. “But her hair.”
“Lind, please don’t do it,” Jozette said. Belinda shrugged her shoulders.
“If you say so, then mum’s the word.” They listened but no one was quite sure that she’d keep quiet for the simple reason that it was almost impossible for Belinda to remain quiet even when she made an effort to do so. Belinda was a loving mother, wife and friend but she could not shut up if she had something to say.
* * *
“I need to see the ambassador, I’m an American,” Chip McCarty said as he stood nervously at the gate of the American Embassy in Moscow.”
“What is this about?” A man asked. There were two armed guards standing watch over a booth that checked cars and/or pedestrians coming and going. Embassy property was considered American soil. Once inside you were in America. Chip wasn’t being pursued by law enforcement or anyone else but he felt like it and was anxious to get inside. He had to tell someone what he knew…someone he could trust.
“It is urgent and I need to see the ambassador at once, please.” The man picked up a phone and began talking, whispering actually. Chip couldn’t hear. Maybe he was calling for security to haul the intruder away. No that was silly, there were two guys with rifles standing right here already.
“Someone will be here in a moment,” the man said and Chip relaxed a little. He managed to get his breathing under control and waited. A few minutes later a man in a gray suit came up and shook hands.
“My name is Harold Baylor and you are?”
“Chip McCarthy…Charles McCarthy.”
“May I see your passport?”
“Here,” Chip said and handed over the document that got him in the country and maybe out eventually…he hoped.
“This looks fine, Mr. McCarthy and why again are you wanting to see the Ambassador.”
“It is a matter of urgency and I need to see him soon.” The man looked Chip up and down then nodded.
“Follow me, Mr. McCarthy.” They made the long walk to the front door and entered. It was a huge building and Chip wondered why so much space was needed. Mr. Baylor took him into a room with large leather chairs and shelves with books. Art work decorated the walls and an attendant dressed in white arrived with a tray of tea and cookies.
“Can I see the Ambassador now?”
“It’s not that easy, Mr. McCarthy. Please wait here and I’ll pass along your request to the proper authorities.” As Harold Baylor started to leave Chip who had sat down then stood up and cleared his throat and Baylor turned around.
“Mr. Baylor, what I know, no one else does and I think it is a very serious situation. If the Ambassador will give me one minute, I think he’ll see that I bring dire news and he needs to act immediately.” Baylor thought for a moment then left. “Well, I can’t make them listen.” He perused the room and found a floor length mirror. He paused to look at himself then began chuckling. “I guess I don’t project a very dignified appearance. His hair was messed up, his clothes were dirty and he had a three-day beard. “I guess I’d look okay in Greenwich Village with an easel and a pallet but here I’m way out of place. I can’t believe they didn’t haul me away. I think I can see Mr. Baylor’s reticence.
“Mr. McCarthy, hello, I’m Landon Endicott, Ambassador to the Russian Federation.”
“Hello, sir.” They shook hands and the Ambassador offered a chair at a long wooden table and they sat. Baylor sat at the other end.
“Now, what is this matter of urgency?” Chip took a deep breath and looked at Harold Baylor who nodded for him to proceed.
“Okay, here goes. My friend and I, Ronnie Stemweiss was his name.”
“Was?”
“He was killed two nights a go.”
“Where and how?”
“In Volgograd by Kulagin’s men.” Endicott looked at Baylor. They were well aware of Andrei Kulagin and his activities.
“Why?”
“We were reporters here to do a story on the Stalinists.”
“What is your paper?” Chip chuckled.
“It’s a four-page weekly. It’s a paper in name only. The editor, if you can call him that, cashed in a college bond to finance our trip over here from the states. So, you can see it was a shoestring operation but Ronnie was a serious journalist with a degree from Ohio State. For me it was just a lark until something real came along. He said we had to get close to Kulagin and we got too close. We were inside the building in Volgograd.” At this Endicott sat up with wide-eyes and looked again at Baylor.
“What did you hear?”
“Something we weren’t supposed to I’m sure. I think they’re planning something big for the meeting between Deniken and President Lexington. He mentioned capturing the two leaders.” Endicott and Baylor looked at one another with concern.
“What else?” Endicott asked.
“I don’t know but this Kulagin is a fanatic, he had my friend killed and would’ve killed me but I got away.”
“That’s all the details you have?”
“Yes, I’m short on concrete evidence but his attitudes and hatred for the present Russian Government was what scared me. He reminds me of the kamikazes in World War II in the Pacific.”
“That’s strong language.”
“He was talking about restoring the old Soviet Union.” Endicott thought for a moment then stood up.
“Thank you, Mr. McCarthy for this information.”
“Are you going to contact the President?”
“I can’t discuss that with you.”
“Of course, I’m sorry but this business has me jumpy.”
“That’s alright, I wish everyone was a diligent as you are.”
“I have a request.”
“Yes,” Endicott said.
“Ronnie had all of our money and airline tickets home. I don’t have a place to stay or any money for food.”
“You can stay here; we have plenty of room and you’ll be fed. We’ll work on getting you passage back home.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.”
“You’re welcome and we’ll see to your needs.” He was given a room on an upper floor and food was brought up to him. He slept in a bed and didn’t think about being killed, at least not yet.
* * *
“What do you make of this business, Mr. Ambassador?” Harold asked as the two men walked into Endicott’s office.
“I’m not sure but I don’t like it.” They discussed what Chip had told them for a few minutes.
“Are you going to ca
ll Washington?” Landon picked up the phone then stopped and thought for a moment.
“No, I want to see Yuri first.”
“Petrovsky?”
“Yes, the more I get to know him the more I trust him.”
“Shouldn’t you call the local authorities?”
“They can’t be trusted; I mean as a group they’re fine but there are Stalinists everywhere. Including in their ranks. Call Yuri and get him over here as quick as you can.” Yuri Petrovsky was a colonel in the local Moscow militia. The militia was formed decades ago, ostensibly to protect the mayor of Moscow. There was actually, little need for that but the Russian government was in love with any law enforcement group. The militia in addition to providing security for the mayor, on a ceremonial level, acted as an information clearing house. Landon had met Yuri at an embassy soiree a year ago and they’d struck up a friendship. They had lunch every other week or so and kept in contact through email. They knew their emails were monitored so they spoke in vagaries as a sort of code. Yuri was concerned about the Stalinist movement as was Landon and they shared what they learned.
“I’ll call him.”
“No, you know where his office is. Go there and tell him to meet me at our usual location in thirty minutes. Harold nodded and left. Landon changed into a worker’s uniform and slipped out the back way of the embassy. There was always some kind of a truck delivering things and there were workers out there nearly every day. He blended in then slipped away. Harold delivered the message to Yuri who thanked him. After Harold was gone Yuri changed into a sweat suit, baseball cap and left by the back door as a jogger. A few minutes later he entered a small cafe located a block from the Kremlin. He sat with Landon who had ordered tea for them. They shook then both instinctively looked out the window at the seat of Russian government. The Kremlin dates back to the Thirteenth Century and has undergone several changes, re-buildings and renovations. It became a walled fortress inside the city and was home to the Tsars and the Soviet government in the past. Today it is the residence of the Russian President. It was a hiding in plain sight strategy as they both figured no one would suspect a meeting of international intrigue in view of the Kremlin.
“Welcome my Russian friend,” Landon said as Yuri sat down.