Mark Spaid - Falcon Down

“I’ll get him, Bonnie said and returned with the press secretary.

“You wanted me, Ma’am?”

“Kent, when we get back, I want to speak to the full Senate and I want an address to the nation in prime time to tell the American people that Gwendolyn Ramzeyer should be the vice-president. Can you arrange that for me?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I can.”

“Thank you, Kent.”

“So, your mind is made up, Ma’am?” Clarice said.

“Yes, it is.”

“Very well, then can we talk more about the bill to help abused women?” Ellen chuckled.

“Yes, Clarice we can.”

“Okay, I had an idea…”

“We’ll be landing in an hour folks,” Johnny Rodriguez announced as he walked down the aisle from the pilot’s cabin.

“What’ll we do when we land?” Belinda asked.

“The President will leave in her car first while we wait on board,” Dave said.

“Then what?” Belinda asked.

“A car will take us to the hotel,” Dave replied.

“Will we eat supper with the President?” Belinda asked.

“No, Lind, we’re here to do a story but the story is about the President, actually, both presidents. It’s not about us. We’ll be lucky to see her at all until we leave. I may see her briefly for an interview but that’s up to her,” Justin detailed.

“Oh,” Belinda said and her shoulders sagged. Jozette looked at Tatiana.

“Hey, we’ll tour the city, see the sights, find a nice café and whatever else we can do, okay?” Tatiana asked as she put her arm around Belinda.

“Okay,” Belinda said as she looked up at Tatiana and grinned.

“I can’t wait to get off the plane,” Justin said.

“I thought you were over your fear?” Warren asked.

“I’m better than I was but I hate a long flight. The one to South America was bad and this one is worse.”

“What language do they speak in… where are we going again?” Belinda asked. Little Wolf had told her and Jozette multiple times but Belinda tuned out things that weren’t interesting to her or about her, which tended to be the same thing.

“Kerch,” Miss Belinda,” Julieta said.

“Is that a city or a country or something?”

“It’s a city, Miss Belinda,” Little Wolf said.

“I guess everyone else knew that.”

“Perhaps but it’s not a requirement that you know geography,” Little Wolf said and Belinda grinned. “In Kerch they speak Russian, Ukrainian and other languages.”

“Not English?”

“No.”

“Will anyone understand us?” Belinda asked.

“No, but I speak Russian so we’ll be okay,” Tatiana said.

“Thanks for not making fun of me, Little Wolf.”

“I would never do that, Miss Belinda, you’re my friend.” Belinda smiled broadly and Tatiana chuckled under her breath.

“I read that the Kerch airport was not in good shape,” Warren posed.

“It wasn’t but when this meeting was announced they began some emergency repairs and upgrading. It’s now ready for Air Force One and the Russian President to land,” Dave reassured everyone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’ll be landing in a few minutes. Please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts.” They buckled up as did everyone on board.

“We’re beginning our decent,” Dave said. Belinda held Justin’s hand as he leaned back and closed his eyes. The landing was pinpoint and smooth.

“Ladies and gentlemen this is your captain again. We have landed. The passengers in the front should remain in their seats until you are given the signal to deplane. The Presidents car arrived and was inspected by Trent Wilson. The driver didn’t like it much but Trent didn’t care. The President’s safety was Trent’s job and he’d step on any toes he needed to do it. In ten minutes, the President’s car pulled away with motorcycles in front and behind.

“Okay folks, you can exit by the front door. A van is waiting for you,” an agent said. They hadn’t seen this one. Johnny Rodriguez was in the car with the President. They got up and left the plane. The van was waiting as a rather disheveled driver with a three-day beard and a dirty hat waited for them. They looked at one another and boarded, though somewhat reluctantly. It took twenty minutes to get to the hotel. The Kerch airport was nothing like a stateside airport. In America a large airport is like a city with cafes, shops, hair salons, car rental places, places to buy luggage etc. At the Kerch Airport there were no businesses anywhere. It was in receivership and only operated to local single engine planes for private use. There was no baggage conveyor so their luggage was loaded in a separate van that followed.

“Should we tip the driver?” Andy asked.

“Give him a twenty-dollar bill. American dollars are coveted over here,” Tatiana said.

“Why?” Ariel asked.

“They can sell them on the black market for twice the value.”

“I’ve got a twenty, Jozette said.

“Keep in mind this is not America. He doesn’t get a salary. His tips are all he makes,” Tatiana said.

“Well, here take this fifty,” Dave said.

“Add this,” Ariel said as she handed a hundred to Tatiana.

“He’ll be stunned,” Tatiana said. They arrived at the hotel. It was small but nicely decorated and seemed clean on the outside. They got out and Tatiana handed the money to the driver. His eyes widened and he actually smiled.

“ The Crimean Star ,” Andy said as they stood at the front desk. The lobby was crawling with security agents both American and Russian but there no other guests. Tatiana spoke to the desk clerk to get their keys and such.

“I think it’s just us and the President’s people,” Dave said.

“Is there a dining room?” Warren asked.

“Do you really want to know?” Dave asked. The hotel was clean but the furnishings were bare and no attempt had been made to decorate the lobby. The clerk at the desk had on a shabby suit of his own rather than a hotel uniform. The thought of a hotel kitchen at this place was not reassuring.

“I guess we’ll find a restaurant on the outside,” Warren said.

“Tatiana can talk us through so we don’t end up eating brains or fish heads,” Dave said and they laughed.

“Will we be on the same floor as the President?” Belinda asked.

“No, the President and her people will have a floor all to themselves,” Dave answered.

“Lind, none of us are going to see the President very much at all on this trip,” Jozette said.

“But she invited us.”

“Yes, to cover the meeting and do a brief interview with her, not to vacation with her,” Justin said.

“Lind, did you really think we would be with the President the whole time seeing the sights, eating at outdoor cafes together, taking scenic boat rides, etc.?” Jozette asked.

“No, no… well maybe,” Belinda said and lowered her head and sighed.

“Miss Belinda, I thought we’d see more of her too but I guess we’re just along for the ride,” Julieta said. Julieta knew exactly how things would go but she loved Belinda and couldn’t stand to see her hurt.

“Okay, we’re on the third floor,” Tatiana said as she handed out the keys and a brochure describing the local eateries and shops.

“I can’t wait to take a shower,” Belinda said. Tatiana looked at Jozette and Ariel and they grinned as did Julieta.

“That’s a situation,” Tatiana said.

“What kind of a situation?” Belinda asked.

“You see, Lind, in some European hotels the rooms don’t have bathrooms.”

“What?”

“There is one male and one female bathroom in the hall,” Tatiana said.

“You mean we have to share?” Belinda asked with a terrified expression on her face.