“Anything bad?”
“Lots. There’s crazies spouting off that it’s the work of aliens and an invasion is imminent. They say by eliminating all the bad guys we will let our guard down, it’s all a ploy to distract the police forces of the world so that the alien force can take over.”
“I guess that’ll never end? What’s the reaction outside of Europe?”
“Distrust and skepticism. The Russians are censoring news about the arrests, the Middle East hasn’t said much at all, but then many of the people arrested are radical Islamic terrorists, or supporters. China is fascinated, their Leader has contacted the American Ambassador and wants to discuss what’s happening.”
“What about the US President?”
“He wants to meet you.”
“Mr. Popular, suddenly?” Where do I start? “What happened to Cathy Vogel and Stewart Nolan?”
“They let them go. Vogel has sent you an email, said as soon as you want an on-air interview they would set it up.”
“Wow! The about-face by the CIA etc. was sudden. What happened?”
“All the pressure from Europe, mainly. You solved a lot of problems over there. The US President stepped in and asked some nasty questions, literally an hour ago, just when you were persuading Alberton’s daughter how nice Alaska was in March.” Sally laughed. “Alberton and co just had to back off.”
“So, I could have waited?” I said.
“I guess, but you didn’t know they would do such a quick about face.”
“So, what’s the market doing with all this good news?”
“Up, a lot. Dow’s up more than eight hundred points.”
“That’s good.” But I wondered for how long. “I think I should sell.”
“I can do that for you,” Sally said.
I hadn’t thought of that, Miss Hacker-in-chief. “Okay, sell half of everything in my portfolio.”
“Done,” she said
Sally sipped at her coffee. “Are you actually drinking that?” I asked.
“No, just letting it touch my lips, I can feel the edge,” she smiled and put the cup down.
“Now I have to decide what to do first? Also, how much do I tell and when do I drop the big bomb?” The waiter was hovering, he refreshed my coffee and looked at Sally’s full cup a little dismayed. I think he was about to ask if it was to her liking but decided to make himself useful elsewhere.
“Maybe you should revisit Espinosa?” Sally proffered.
“You’d like that!” She smiled, but didn’t reply. “I said twenty-four hours, didn’t I?”
“No, you said tomorrow, no precise time.” Trust Sally to have all the facts.
“Has he done anything?”
Sally shook her head and smirked, then lifted her left hand and shook it while mouthing ‘ouch’.
“Very funny, Sally. Does he have a plan? He must see the news like everybody else? Maybe he’s figured out who I am?”
“He called the local police and they are camped at his house. His idea is to have them explain to you that he’s really a good boy and an honest business man.”
My eyebrows raised, “as good a plan as any, I guess. Are they all on his payroll?” Sally nodded. “Can you prove it?”
“Sure,” she was enjoying this. “I can show a video of each of them taking money. So, lots of amputations,” she grinned.
The problem when you make a threat is you must carry it through or you might as well not bother.
“What about the Russian, is he shutting his business down?”
Again Sally shook her head and performed the same theatrical act with her left hand. I realized I’d entered the next phase of the Jo-el and Sally show and it was going to get ugly. Sitting there in the elegant surrounds of the Grand Hyatt coffee shop it was all a little distant, even though I’d become used to the instant changes in scenery from bouncing around the planet. I drank some more coffee and thought about the repercussions that my actions would have and I was sure that I couldn’t possibly imagine all the possible scenarios. I was right.
“Okay, decision time. Message the US President that I would like to meet him on Wednesday. Ask him for a time and a place. Also, message Maureen Fields to set up a meeting for Thursday, afternoon, better for my sleep needs. Tell Cathy Vogel I’d like to say a few words tonight, say, six eastern time. It’s redundant to meet with all the other leaders, they’ll have to wait. I want to see how Maggie and Sean do after their ordeal. As soon as they land text Maggie to come over for dinner tonight.” Sally’s face screwed up. “What?”
“Little problem there. Your housekeeper went in earlier and it’s a mess, a real mess, she didn’t know what to do, so she left. She called.”
“Right, Monday, cleaning day. I’d also forgotten about the raid. Shit! Show me.” My home appeared on my heads-up display, it was upsetting, every draw was emptied, every item on the floor. The garage was trashed, my bikes moved somehow and some of the parts removed, tank, exhaust pipes. Jeez! Upstairs was just as bad. I was just about to say that Alberton would have to pay to put it all right when I remembered I had twenty-three thousand dollars of his money, well the government’s money technically. I shut down the display.
“Find me a reputable company that does clean up and fix a time for me to meet them at the house.” Sally nodded.
“And Maggie?”
“Oh, yes. Tell her I’ll take her to dinner, wherever she wants.”
“All done.”
“Gosh, I could rent you out as an assistant,” I grinned.
“Thanks a lot,” she said, “is that all I’m good for?”
“Nah! You’re a keeper. Which reminds me, Adrianne. How about half an hour with her, later?”
“Doing what?”
“Jeez, Sally. An interview,” I exclaimed sternly.
“Just checking, you were mightily distracted when you last saw her.”
I was quiet while I reminisced about the island in the Pacific, that was fun, maybe I could have a little more down time. All work and no play as they say. Sally was giving me a dirty look; she couldn’t read minds but mine was transparent at that moment.
“I can’t figure out the time zone, you set it up, okay?”
Sally frowned, but nodded.
I finished my coffee, then exchanged cups with Sally and swallowed most of hers, which was cold, in one go. “Let’s go see Espinosa.”
Sally perked up. I stopped by reception to pay for the two extra nights, then we made our way back to the suite. The room was made up, the breakfast things gone. I changed back to Jo-el.
“What’s he doing?”
“Lunch with his wife, just the two of them. Bodyguards outside the door, two policemen in a room down the hall, also eating.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted Espinosa’s wife around but you can’t have everything. “Bounce me in, full shield, I’ll play it by ear.” I left my wings off, I felt they were becoming somewhat redundant.
Espinosa saw me first and was startled. He dropped his fork that he was using, American style, in his right hand and pushed back a little way from the table. He didn’t say anything. His wife had her back to me initially, she read his face and quickly swung around to see me. Fear and hatred washed over her, she gritted her teeth and spat out a piece of meat. She was a lot younger than her husband, maybe in her thirties, I assumed a trophy-wife, but I didn’t care. Espinosa pressed a button under the table and the two goons came in through the door, guns at the ready.
I spoke English, but they heard Spanish. “Don’t use your weapons, remember Manny.” Both kept their weapons trained on me and looked back and forth at Espinosa, waiting for instructions. He bowed his head and indicated with his hand to drop the weapons. As they did so, the two policemen came through the door behind them.
The air in the room filled with fear. I watched all of them, their breathing was heightened and they shook.