“Unfortunately,” Byrnes said. “Figueroa was a good agent, or so we thought. Smarter than Covington. We were onto Covington, but we had no idea Figueroa was involved. I’m surprised John gave him up.”
“Covington was a coward,” Jordan said.
“I suppose you’re right.”
“So what happens next?”
“After we take care of Traiman’s last team, here in Rome, I’m going home and do my best to wrap up this whole mess.”
“The VX?”
“Already have a team in possession of the shipments from Marseilles. It’s all under control.”
“Under control, sure.”
“One battle at a time, Jordan.” He turned to Christine. “Goodbye, Miss Frank. Sandor, I’ll see you in DC.”
Jordan sighed. “Yes sir,” he said, “you will.”
They watched as the deputy director walked through Doney’s front door and strolled up the Via Veneto, quickly lost among the tourists and locals, on his way back to the embassy. When Jordan picked up his espresso again, it was cold. He signaled the waiter to bring them two more.
“You’re thinking about your friends, about the people… all of that, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he said.
“What you did,” she said, “it needed to be done.”
Jordan stared at her. “Yes,” he said at last, “it did.”
The waiter brought fresh coffee, and Christine topped them off from the bottle of anisette. “Let’s make a toast,” she said.
“To what? The end of tyranny for today? Or peace for all time?”
“To Anthony,” she said solemnly.
Jordan nodded. “Sure, and to doing what needs to be done.”
They touched cups before drinking and then sat silent for a while.
“Well, let’s look on the bright side,” he said. “At least we didn’t catch pneumonia in the Med.”
“Or drown.”
“That’s true.”
“Next time we tour the world together, let’s make our plans a little more carefully.”
“Fair enough,” he said.
He paid the check and they set off for their hotel, Jordan hobbling along on his cane as they slowly walked the ancient streets of Rome.
About the Author
Jeffrey Stephens was born in New York City and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science at the age of 16; he completed a B.A. in Creative Writing from Pennsylvania State University at 19. Jeffrey began his first novel in 1970, which would not be completed for several years as he entered the Fordham University School of Law. His private legal practice has included extensive civil and criminal courtroom experience, and he has represented a wide range of celebrity clients. Continuing to practice law while completing several novels, he only recently decided to pursue his career as a novelist in earnest, with the encouragement of his wife, Nancy.
Nancy and Jeffrey live in Greenwich, Connecticut, where they raised two sons, Graham and Trevor. All avid skiers, golfers and tennis players, they have traveled extensively as a family throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, including a fateful trip years ago to Portofino, Italy, the setting for the climax of TARGETS OF DECEPTION.