Kim Baldwin - The Gemini Deception

“What does ‘do as instructed’ mean?”

“We must ensure you never resurrect this arms agenda,” he said. “And, of course, you’ll never let on to anyone—ever—that it hasn’t been you all along calling the shots. If you’re even contemplating that, I’d advise you to think hard about it. First, no one would believe you. Our double has successfully fooled everyone…your cabinet, your vice president, even your family. And you can be sure that nothing will be left behind that would in any way confirm what you know. No fingerprints, stray hairs for DNA, or anything like that. We run a very clean operation, with no loose ends, as you witnessed yourself in the switch. You’d only damage what remaining credibility you have at this point if you say anything. Everyone would see you as a fragile, hysterical woman who couldn’t handle the stressful demands of the job. You’d go right from the White House to the crazy house.”

Before she could respond, he added in a threatening tone, “And of course, much more is at stake than your reputation if you do anything to alert authorities to what’s happened. The repercussions would be swift and severe, and keep in mind the target won’t necessarily be you next time, but those closest to you—like your sister and her family. Or your father. Oh, sure, you could assign them bodyguards or try to keep them in protective custody somewhere for a while. But you must know by now we have very highly placed resources and the ability to penetrate whatever security necessary to achieve our objectives. Nancy has two children, I believe?”

Elizabeth pictured the faces of her niece and nephew. While she might be willing to put her own credibility and life at stake to expose the conspiracy, she could never do anything to jeopardize them. If she had to choose between her arms bill and her family, the decision was easy. She would have to keep quiet; they’d proven what they were capable of. “I understand what’s expected of me.”

“Excellent. Your guards will be in very soon with some newspapers from the past several days and computer printouts so you can catch up on what’s been happening in the outside world while you’ve been our guest. We want you to be able to pick up your duties without alerting anyone that something’s amiss. You’ll also be provided with what we need you to wear to make the switch back.”

He got to his feet. “Questions?”

“How do you plan to reinstall me in the White House without anyone knowing?” she asked.

“You’ll find that out in due time,” he said, and went to the door. “Be patient, Madam President. This whole ordeal will be over in a day or two at most.”

*

Southwestern Colorado

“You’re not going anywhere, Cassady,” Monty said, getting up from his desk. “Running off half-cocked when you have no idea where to start looking won’t help. You know her best. We need you here.” As soon as he’d finished briefing her on what he’d learned from Dratshev, Cassady headed for the door.

Anticipating just that reaction, Arthur now stood between her and her objective. “Come on, Monroe. Listen to him.”

Cassady turned back and glared at him. “You have two minutes to convince me yours is the better option. You said the feds have been trying to find TQ for years.”

“They haven’t devoted the resources we will,” Monty replied. “And we have a much greater incentive.”

“If organ trafficking and the weapons trade aren’t enough incentive for the feds, then what is? Wouldn’t they have stopped her by now if they could?”

“Feds go after what they’re told to. Too many powerful people are in no hurry to stop the likes of TQ because they either profit from her, collaborate with her, or fear exposure.”

“And what’s your grand plan?”

He turned to Joanne, standing beside him. “Honey, alert Reno to get Landis here ASAP.” Landis Coolidge, aka Agent Chase, was the EOO’s best tracker. Monty knew her presence would reassure Cassady, since it had been Landis who’d helped Jaclyn find and rescue her from Andor Rózsa. Unfortunately, it would take some time to get her here, since she was on assignment in the South Pacific.

“We’ll give Chase anything she needs, and I’m calling in every favor I’m owed,” Monty told Cassady. “Contacting everyone I can who might have dealt with TQ or know more about her than we do. And Reno is going over her brother’s records again. If we need to, I’ll have him crack the Agency’s computers. If anyone has a lead on her, they would.” He would first try his contacts in the CIA, but he wasn’t optimistic they’d be forthcoming.

“What happened to Dario’s estate?” Cassady asked. “Who claimed his body and buried him? There’s a place to start.”

Monty shook his head. “Dead end. I explored that possibility right after he died, because TQ threatened Jaclyn. Federal authorities froze all of Dario’s assets, and the funeral arrangements, such as they were, were made via phone by an attorney. There was no wake, and Dario was cremated.”

“What happened to the remains?”

“Messengered to the attorney’s office in New York. Reno searched the firm’s records and found no mention of Dario or TQ.”

Cassady’s posture deflated. “We have to find her, Monty.”

“We will, Cassady. I promise you, we’ll keep looking until we find her. I’m not going to lose her again.”

Chapter Twenty-seven

The White House

Next evening, March 7

Ryden picked at her dinner. The White House chef had prepared another tantalizing feast—tonight’s menu included filet mignon, twice-baked potatoes, and an array of grilled vegetables, normally her favorite. But she’d barely managed a few forkfuls though she’d skipped dinner the night before and breakfast that morning. Her appetite had disappeared since she’d basically told Kennedy to go to hell.

The sentiment couldn’t have been further from the feelings she had wanted to express, but she knew one wrong word would mean curtains for both of them.

Up until a few days ago, all that mattered to her was getting through this ordeal alive so she could start her life anew, but Kennedy had somehow managed to warp her priorities. Ryden was doing her best to keep her distance and discourage Kennedy from looking too deep into the abyss of deceptions, but it hurt to push away the only person who seemed to sincerely care for her. She had been groomed to be selfish—for an orphan, it was necessary for survival—so people like Kennedy hadn’t existed in her reality.

But somehow Kennedy had managed to convince her that some people really did give a damn, and not because they could profit in some way. Ryden knew Kennedy was being honest concerning her motivation to uncover what was going on, that she sincerely cared about Ryden’s safety on a personal level.

Why did it take a fake life to find an honest person? And why couldn’t she bring herself to tell Kennedy the truth?

Not that it would matter. Even if she could have the unrealistic luxury of including Kennedy in her life after she was set free, she wouldn’t have the guts to look Kennedy in the face after all that had transpired. She was too insecure about her background and bland personality, and she felt too guilty about what she’d done to even fathom embracing the acceptance and attraction of a woman like Kennedy, a rich woman who happened to have morals and self-sacrifice embedded in her genes.

No, she had nothing to offer a woman of such a high caliber, which made telling Kennedy the truth as unappealing as kissing Ratman. She would have to leave Kennedy and every thought of her here in the White House. Here, she was at least the kind of woman Kennedy could appreciate: a strong, capable leader who had achieved greatness but somewhere along the way, beyond her control, had become trapped in a deceitful game.