Kim Baldwin - The Gemini Deception

Shield wanted to tackle her, pin her down and say something, anything to hurt her back.

She quietly caught up and said, “So, who’s playing with whom?”

“You’re a big girl,” the president said. “Deal with it.”

“I can deal with it just fine.”

“I’m glad.”

“Question is, how are you dealing with the political game you’re participating in?”

Thomas stopped halfway down the steps and turned around. “What game?”

“I know Moore is up to something,” she whispered, mindful of the pair of guards positioned at the bottom of the staircase. “It’s only a matter of time before I find out what, but what I don’t understand is your involvement and his power over you.”

“I’ve slighted you and you are obviously being irrational,” Thomas replied in the same low tone.

“Am I? Is it a coincidence your hands shake whenever he’s around?”

Thomas looked at her with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

“You’re terrified of him.”

“I’m not.” Thomas stood her ground.

“What did he make you do?”

“Even if you were right, why would I tell you anything?”

“Because if Moore can kill once, he can kill twice.”

“Kill?” Thomas glanced nervously toward the other bodyguards. “Killed who?” For the first time during this conversation, the president looked sincerely worried.

Before Shield could answer, Kenneth Moore came into view at the bottom of the staircase.

“There you are.” Moore smiled up at them. “Is there a problem?”

“No, sir,” Shield replied as the two women descended to meet him. “We were just talking about our mutual passion for tennis. Madam President agreed to teach me a few tricks tomorrow.”

“I see.” Moore looked apprehensive. “How interesting.”

“Hardly,” Shield said. “It’s common knowledge Madam President is a strong player.”

“ Madam President is,” Moore agreed cryptically.

Thomas laughed nervously and clasped her hands together to hide the slight shaking. “Oh, I don’t know about that. It’s been months, and I’m sure I’m not up to par.”

“Time for our meeting, Madam President.” Moore took the president’s arm and led her away toward the Oval Office. “We have a lot to talk about.”

*

Southwestern Colorado

As soon as Pierce called her with the news of what they’d found at her house, Cassady Monroe booked a ticket on the first plane out of Boston, which left at five a.m. There were no direct flights, so by the time she picked up her car in long-term parking and reached the EOO headquarters, it was almost one in the afternoon. She found Pierce in his office with Grant and Arthur. “Let me see the note,” she said without preamble.

“Your concert is tonight,” Pierce reminded her.

Cass extended her hand. “The note.”

Pierce gave it to her and Cass read it three times before she looked up at them.

“It’s not a suicide note,” Arthur said.

“And I’m sure she didn’t walk out on you.” Grant put a hand on Cass’s shoulder.

“Then what the hell is going on?”

“When we got there, the alarm hadn’t been activated,” Pierce said.

“Jack always turns it on. She’s afraid of me walking in on a burglar. The fact that I can take him down or sense someone is there doesn’t seem to impress her.”

“We also found a half-eaten sandwich and milk on the counter,” Arthur said.

“She’d never do that.” Cass didn’t know if she should feel relieved or more worried. It was becoming clear Jack hadn’t just left or done something to hurt herself, so that meant… “She left to protect me from something.”

“Some one ,” Pierce said.

“Who?”

“Do you know if she had any contact with past…clients?”

“Yuri Dratshev was in touch a week or so ago. He said he had a job for her.”

“You said she stopped taking hits,” Arthur said.

“She has.” Cassady didn’t bother to hide her irritation. “Jack said Dratshev wouldn’t stop trying to reach her, so she planned to call him to tell him she’d retired.”

“I want to meet with Dratshev,” Pierce said to Arthur.

“With what excuse? Arthur asked.

“I’ll think of something.”

“You don’t think he did something to Jaclyn?” Grant asked.

“I doubt it,” Cassady replied. “As far as I know, he has a lot of respect for her, especially after the Owens case.”

Pierce got up. “Maybe, just maybe, Jaclyn decided—”

“I know where you’re going,” Cass glared at him, her temper rising, “and no…Jack promised she’d never go back to that life.”

Pierce raised his hand to calm her. “Cassady, listen to me. Maybe she was threatened to do so.”

“What would Dratshev threaten her with? He doesn’t know where to find her. He doesn’t even have her real name. He doesn’t know anything.”

“Maybe he managed to find her, somehow. It’s possible he took Jaclyn at gunpoint, which would explain the sandwich.”

“Why would he come with it now, nearly two years later?”

“Could be something good came up, and he desperately wants Jaclyn for the job,” Arthur said.

“And is using something,” Pierce added, “evidence, or whatever, against her if she doesn’t accept his offer.”

“Do you think he’s threatening her with me?” Cass asked.

“Why would you think that?” Pierce replied.

“Yes, I think he is.” Grant looked at Cassady. “Jack wrote that she had to do this because she couldn’t bear the thought of anyone ever hurting you again. I think Jack decided to go to him to protect you.”

“Then why the undertone of finality?” Cassady looked down at the piece of paper. “‘Know that I will always love you,’” she read. “Jack knows I’d forgive her. I’d understand her having to take a job to save her own or my life. I’d do the same.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Cassady,” Grant said.

Pierce turned to Arthur. “Does the Russian still live in Manhattan Beach?”

“I’ll have Reno check,” Arthur replied.

“Have me booked on the first flight out tomorrow,” Pierce said. “I want to see him ASAP.”

Arthur started to leave, but Cassady put a hand out to stop him. “Make that two tickets.”

Pierce frowned. “We don’t know what he’s holding against her. It may be you, or it may not. It’s not wise to expose the company or your relationship to Jaclyn and give him ammo.”

“How would I be exposing the company?”

“He knows who I am,” Pierce replied. “Yuri and I have met.”

*

Houston, Texas

TQ smiled as she looked out the window of her office at the downtown skyline. Everything was falling nicely into place. Her guest, confined to another of her apartments in the same building, was cooperative, the double was performing even better than she’d hoped for, and the culmination of her plan to cripple the illegal-weapons agenda was only hours away. She couldn’t wait to be able to return her attention fully to growing her business and, with it, her power. Now all that remained was to tie up all the loose ends. She called Kenneth Moore to make sure everything was on track for the big announcement.

“We are going public with it tomorrow,” Moore said.

“As scheduled then. I’ll call the Russian imbecile to have his people get Thomas ready.”

“Oh, and the florist and her gal pal need to be taken care of as soon as the switch takes place,” Moore said.

“Of course. You sound worried. Do you want to share something?”

“I think Wagner talked to the bodyguard.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I caught them talking, and when I asked what it was about, Kennedy said the president had promised to play tennis with her.”