Brad Thor - The Lions Of Lucerne

She was right. Scot needed her help, although only minimally. He didn’t want her to get too involved. He took a deep breath and then began his story. “Yes, I was there. I was one of the only two survivors, last I heard. Most of the agents were either buried alive in the avalanche or…” Scot hesitated.

“Or, what? What happened?”

“Or they were shot to death.”

“Shot to death? That’s terrible.”

“It gets worse. A woman I was good friends with and a friend of hers were killed Tuesday night, not long after I had drinks with them, and I’m now the number one suspect in their murder.”

Jackie would never have succeeded at professional poker playing. Her face went from rapt attention to all-out shock. “Murder? You?” she managed.

“Yup, and it looks like my gun, which was stolen from my apartment, was used to kill them. Also, several large deposits were coincidentally made to my bank account right around the time of their murders and the kidnapping of the president.”

“Are the two events connected?”

“In too many people’s minds right now, I’m the connection. I have been framed both for the murders and for being the inside leak that helped the kidnappers take the president.”

“But I thought the Secret Service thought so highly of you. The few times I heard from you, it sounded like everything was so great.”

“It was great.”

“Well, what about your boss? Your superiors? They know you. They should be able to vouch for what kind of a person you are. Surely they know you weren’t involved with any of this.”

Her vote of confidence meant more to him than she would ever know. “The problem is that my immediate supervisor, who was also my very good friend, was killed in the kidnapping and the next boss up is somehow involved in all of this on a very bad level.”

“Aren’t there any people higher up than him?”

“Yes, there are, but the evidence against me is pretty overwhelming. The last I spoke with them, they invited me to come in so I could prove my innocence.”

“Prove your innocence? Whatever happened to ‘innocent until proven guilty’?”

“That’s why I’ve always liked you, Jackie. You get right to the point. Those were my feelings exactly.”

“So, you fled here to Switzerland? Are you trying to avoid extradition?”

“No.”

“Well, forgive me if I’m overstepping my bounds, but I think I know you well enough. If you are innocent, and I believe that you are, doesn’t running only make it harder for you in the end?”

“Depends on how you look at it.”

“What do you mean?”

“You see, I know I didn’t do it, and so do the people who are trying to frame me.”

“Okay…”

“Well, they seem to have changed their minds about framing me and tried twice yesterday to kill me.”

Jackie drew in a sharp breath. “Are you okay? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

Scot smiled. “You know me. I’m bulletproof. They’re going to have to try a lot harder than that.”

“They’d better not. So what now? Do you plan on hiding out over here until things cool down? Do you need money-?”

“No, I’m okay in the money department for now, but thanks. I have a few leads I want to follow up-”

“Leads? Over here?”

They were getting into tricky territory, and Scot chose his words very carefully. “There are some people I need to track down and talk to who might be able to help me out. When the time is right, hopefully I’ll have my ducks in a row and will be able to go home. In the meantime, nobody can know I’m here.”

“Well, I won’t say anything.”

“I appreciate that. I also need to ask you a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“I need a place to stay.”

The look on her face said it all. She really wanted to help him, but what he was asking was a major imposition. Despite the camaraderie that existed between all of the freestyle skiers, even if they were from different countries, Jackie’s husband had always viewed Scot as competition both on and off the hill. Rolf was extremely jealous of him and was not happy with the way Scot occasionally showed up for a visit or a letter from him would appear in the post. Scot’s last visit had not gone well, and Jackie and Rolf had fought for over a week when he forbade her to ever see or speak to Scot again. Rolf would prefer that he was out of Jackie’s life for good.

“You know you’re not Rolf’s favorite person.”

“I know, and I have felt bad about it ever since I was last here. I didn’t mean to upset him.”

“I think it’s more his problem than anything else. He’s always felt threatened by you.”

“I don’t know why. He’s a good-looking guy with a beautiful wife and both a successful business and political career. He’s still active in politics here, isn’t he?”

“Oh, yeah. More than ever. Listen, like I said, the whole thing between you two was always his problem more than anything else.”

“Jackie, I’m sorry to put you out. If I thought there was anywhere else I could go, I would. It’s just I’ve got some very heavy things to work out, and I need to stay somewhere safe. I don’t think anyone would come looking for me at your place. I know this is a burden, but I need your help.”

Chewing on her bottom lip, she swirled the raspberry-colored liquid in her wineglass. “In one sense you’re lucky. First, I was around to get your message. You think you’re so smart. Full-double-full-full? You don’t think if Rolf had gotten that note he wouldn’t have been suspicious?”

Scot grinned sheepishly.

“Second,” said Jackie, ignoring the cute look on Scot’s face, “he’s in Bern for a week with his political party, so it won’t be too tough to keep you hidden away.”

Harvath breathed a sigh of relief as Jackie continued, “We’ve been rehabbing part of the Herberge for the summer. I can put you in one of the completed rooms, and no one should even notice. There’s a lot of sawdust in the halls, you still have to use coins for hot showers, and there will be no maid service, but my guess is you’re willing to accept the room under those conditions.”

“You are absolutely right. I owe you big time.”

“Yes, you do. Now, how do I get you the key?” wondered Jackie as she bit down once again on her pouty, strawberry pink lip. “Ah. I’ll leave it with a note under one of the garbage cans in the alley behind the main building. We have about six cans, all painted bright red. One of them is smaller than the others. I’ll put it under there. All I ask is that you use the back stairs and try not to draw any attention to yourself.”

“Believe me, I have no intention of doing that.”

“Could have fooled me with that haircut and dye job of yours.”

They both laughed, and Scot reached across the table and took Jackie’s soft, freckled hand. She tensed at first and then relaxed.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, Jackie. I don’t know who else I could have turned to.”

“Well, even if Rolf was in town, we would have found a way to deal with this. You and I go back a long way.”

“We certainly do.”

“I just hope you can get yourself out of this mess you’re in.”

“I will. Don’t worry.”

Jackie gave his hand a squeeze and rose from the table. “I take it drinks are on you?”

“You bet. When can I look for the key?”

“The garbage was picked up this morning, so I don’t think there’ll be any problem if you try in about an hour. You remember the back way, round by the volleyball court?”

“You have the volleyball court going even in the cold?”

“Scot, have you forgotten the stupid stuff we used to do in the middle of winter after a couple of drinks?”