Mark Spaid - Falcon Down

“It’s a one-way street, Jess. I have no interest in Mandy Simmons.”

“What about Tay Winters?”

“What about her?”

“Well, she’s tall and pretty like Mandy and you’re tall, why would you want a runt like me?”

“Do you hear me complaining?”

“Tay likes you. I saw her at the drugstore last week and she said she was going to steal you away from me.” Jessica lowered her head and cried softly. Dixie sat looking at her feet and shaking her head. Then she touched Jessica’s shoulder and her girlfriend looked up through wet eyes.

“Understand something, baby, I love you and only you. And, yes, you are all I think about when I’m not with you and when I’m with you. I never want to leave you. You’re my life, sweetheart, I hope you know that by now. I don’t care a bit about Mandy Simmons or Tay Winters no matter how tall they are. Jessica was crying big tears then she hugged Dixie and buried her head sobbing. Dixie held her tight and after a few moments Jessica looked up and smiled.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry just know that I love you. I’m not much for flowery expressions of love like you are but my passion is for you. Okay?”

“Okay.” Jessica wiped her face and they started walking again.

“The longer you live with Miss Belinda the more you act like her.”

“I know, isn’t it wonderful?” Jessica said grinning and Dixie looked to the ceiling and rolled her eyes.

Morning came and Andy tried to get on the President’s floor to tell the secret service what he saw but was met with a roadblock of two agents. He pleaded with them but they were adamant… no one entered the President’s floor. Finally, he sent a message to the President through the front desk. He waited and a few minutes later there was a knock on his door. He had told Dave and he suggested that Andy tell the President.

“I’m Trent Wilson, head of the President’s security detail. You said you had some information.”

“Yes, sir, I do,” Andy said.

“You can tell me.”

“I was sitting in the park across from the hotel yesterday and I saw two men, tall, wearing black hanging around the side entrance.”

“What were they doing?”

“Talking and pointing to the hotel and down the street. A car pulled up and they got inside for a few minutes. About ten minutes later the two men got out and the car drove away.”

“Then what?”

“They saw me and stared for a moment. Not long after that they went down the side of the hotel and disappeared.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.” Trent thought for a moment then nodded.

“Okay, thank you, Mr. Kline,” Trent said then left.

“What was that about?” Jozette asked as she’d been sitting in a chair reading.

“I saw a couple of characters lurking around the hotel yesterday.”

“What were they up to?”

“Nothing I hope.”

“Are we ready?” Justin said as they all stood in the hotel lobby.

“Born ready, Mr. Andersen,” Andy said and received looks from everyone except Dave who grinned.

“What?” Belinda asked.

“Roscoe Lee Browne, the Cowboys , 1973 with John Wayne,” Andy answered but there was no response. Jozette rolled her eyes at Tatiana who grinned. “Well, that went nowhere.”

“I remember, Andy… good movie,” Dave said.

“Okay, let’s get on the shuttle,” Justin said and they rode to the meeting. It was a city hall meeting room, an auditorium actually, though not a very big one. It seated about a hundred people. There were some photographers and a handful of reporters. They found ten seats together in the sixth row and sat. After a half an hour, security agents from both sides came in looked around then motioned to the side and a door opened. In walked President Lexington and President Deniken. They sat at a round table across from one another. Andrew and Henry flanked Ellen and Deniken was assisted by Vasily Boronovitch. There were two interpreters, one American and one Russian.

“Shall we get started?” Andrew said and it was interpreted for Deniken, though as mentioned earlier the Russian President understood English perfectly.

“Welcome, Madam President,” the Russian interpreter said to Ellen after Deniken had spoken.

“Thank you and welcome to you, Mr. President,” Ellen said.

“The salient parts of the treaty are before us on the table,” Andrew said.

“Madam President, the treaty as a framework is a good start. I believe that we can use it as a guide for negotiations,” Sergei said.

“I think it is fine the way it stands. It gives both sides the principal items they are seeking. The Ukraine stays out of NATO and The Crimea is given back to The Ukraine, where it belongs,” Ellen said.

“The Crimea is an independent republic,” Sergei posed.

“Mr. President, there is no one on this planet short of your propaganda department that believes that The Crimea is independent. Russia controls The Crimea much as the Old Soviet Union controlled Eastern Europe from 1945-1989,” Ellen replied.

“I am insulted at that last statement, Madam President. Russia does not control The Crimea,” Sergei said.

“Not to deal in clichés but I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, Mr. President,” Ellen said and Sergei nodded as a signal to move on to something else.

“NATO membership,” Andrew said.

“The Ukraine agrees to not petition for NATO membership as long as Russia honors the existing border,” Ellen said.

“But will The Ukraine keep its promise in perpetuity?”

“As long as Russia keeps the border as it is now.”

“I see and if Russia pulls all existing administrative offices out of The Crimea what about a naval base?”

“The Ukraine has agreed to a limited naval presence for Russia so they have a warm water naval port.” Sergei conferred with Boronovitch who nodded acceptance.

“Russia needs a full naval base either in the Black Sea or the Baltic. Russia would accept a base on Hiiumaa,” Sergei suggested. Ellen talked with Andrew and Henry. It was clear from the gestures that the two advisors were giving a definite no to a base in the Baltic.

“That’s not a subject that can be broached at this time. Estonia will not give up part of its land for a Russian naval base,” Ellen said. Sergei conferred again with Boronovitch and he sat back shaking his head no.

“Russia cannot be denied a naval base. Further discussion is necessary along those lines or there will not be a treaty,” Sergei said but his tone and facial expressions made it obvious he was not speaking for himself.

“I see, then I guess we are through for the day,” Ellen said. Security agents scrambled to clear a path for the two leaders. The Presidents left the room and the building. The rest sat in their seats until they received the signal to depart.

“Dave, any comment?” Justin asked.

“No surprise.”

“Really?” Andy asked.

“The Russians are hard to negotiate with for just about anything,” Dave replied.

“Will they work with the President to hammer out a treaty?” Jozette asked.

“They will but they’ll kick up their heels for all to see first.”

“When will they meet again?” Andy asked.

“Perhaps tomorrow. The aides on both sides will work out a meeting date,” Dave said.

“So, we get a break,” Justin said.

“Looks like it,” Dave said.

“They broke up the meeting, Comrade,” Nicholas Panesky, a lackey for Andrei Kulagin said as he came into Kulagin’s office. It was really just a room in a flea bag hotel in downtown Volgograd.

“No surprise. Deniken knows he’s on the clock. If he gives away too much too soon, he could be shot.”