“With all due respect, Madam President,” Kennedy said from behind them.
Both Ryden and Ratman turned to look at her.
“Yes?” Ryden replied.
Kennedy took a step forward. “I can teach you the basics, if you will allow me.”
“You know how to?” Ratman asked.
“I wouldn’t offer otherwise.”
Ratman turned to Ryden expectantly. “Kennedy can teach you.”
“What can I possibly learn in a few hours?”
“Anything is better than not at all.” Ratman glared down at her.
Oh, peachy. She could barely stand to look at Kennedy this morning. How in the world was she going to dance with her? “But…she’s a woman.”
Kennedy turned to her and said stoically, “I can teach you, Madam President, even if…I’m not a man.” The words were polite but the tone icy.
“We need this,” Ratman said.
She got up and walked past Kennedy without looking at her. “Fine. I’ll be ready in an hour.” Because that’s how long it’s going to take me to mentally prepare myself for humiliation.
It wasn’t that she was a slow learner or lacked grace. She found physical closeness difficult, and for some reason she didn’t want to give Kennedy that impression.
*
Near Colorado Springs, Colorado
Jack stuck her cell into her back pocket and went into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. She was restless and had no appetite, but she should get something in her stomach since she hadn’t eaten much in the last twenty-four hours. Cassady was in Boston and still not answering; the conductor required all the musicians to turn off their cells during rehearsals. She’d already sent a half dozen texts and left a voice mail for Cass to call her the minute she was free again. If she wasn’t careful, the constant barrage of I love you and I miss you like crazy. Is everything okay? messages might soon annoy Cass.
She retrieved the disposable prepaid cell she’d bought the day before and dialed the number Yuri had given her.
“So, how’s your brother?” Jack said as soon as the line picked up.
Without skipping a beat, TQ replied, “Dead.”
She snapped her fingers. “Oh, that’s right. I keep forgetting I killed him.”
“You called. How wonderful.”
“Yeah, well, once in a while someone amazing comes along…and here I am.”
“Indeed.”
“So, how do you see this playing out?”
“You’re going to come to me,” TQ replied confidently.
“How clairvoyant of you,” Jack said. “What else do you see in your crystal ball?”
“Options.”
“I can either bury or burn you. I’m open to both.”
“The options, arrogant friend, are for you.”
“Interesting. Do enlighten me.”
“You are either going to come to me out of your own free will, or I am going to force you.”
“Chilling scenario,” Jack said as she slathered some mayo on a piece of bread. “You should sell the movie rights.”
“I see the financial possibilities in that.” TQ laughed. “But I’m holding out for a conclusion.”
“I hate to keep you in anticipation, so here’s how many fucks I give: I’m holding up a finger. Guess which one.”
“Although I’m enjoying the banter, this conversation is becoming more counterproductive by the retort, and I’m a very busy woman. I suggest we bring it to a close fairly soon.”
“Good, because I’ve gotten more excitement out of a Cracker Jack box, and I’ve got things to do myself,” Jack replied. “That BLT ain’t gonna eat itself.”
“Very well.” TQ paused. “You either come to me, or I can come and get you.”
“I’m more than willing to meet you in person,” Jack said.
“And what would you do once we met?”
“Pretty much the same as you, and something tells me that doesn’t include dinner and drinks.”
“You’re wrong, Jack. I don’t want to hurt you. I merely want your cooperation.”
“Explain.”
“I want you to work for me,” TQ said.
“Say what?”
“You come highly recommended.”
“Have you been taking expired drugs?”
“I’ve experienced firsthand how…capable you are.”
“It doesn’t take a lot of skill to execute point-blank,” she said.
“But it takes a lot of nerve to kill someone like my brother.”
“Not really, him being a cripple and all.”
TQ chuckled. “It’s not polite to mock the physically challenged.”
Jack took a bite of her sandwich. “It is when they’re organ-stealing murderers. In other words, deranged assholes. Pretty much like you.”
“My brother was a talentless little man who depended on me for a reason—to wheel his sorry existence out of bed. I, on the other hand, Jack, am a savior. I give to people what doctors and belief cannot. I give them life.”
“I think I just heard harps play and angels sing. You do realize you kill people every time you save a life.”
“Some deserve to live more than others.”
“The ones who can afford you,” Jack said.
“Those who put a loved one above the costs.”
“Let’s just agree you’re—”
“God?” TQ sounded serious.
Jack laughed so hard she thought she might lose her lunch. “You…are…hysterical,” she said between spurts of laughter.
“You know what else is hilarious, Jack?”
Jack poured a glass of milk to wash down the sandwich. “Let me have a swig of milk before I choke.” She lifted the glass to her mouth.
It was TQ’s turn to laugh. “I hear a talented violinist is rehearsing for this weekend’s performance of Albinoni’s ‘Adagio in G minor.’ And I happen to know you’re not with her, since her every move is being monitored.”
Jack slowly placed her glass back on the counter. “This is between you and me.” She reached in her back pocket for her regular cell phone.
“Oh, and don’t bother warning Ms. Monroe. You see, a certain gentleman is seated in the dark auditorium as we speak. Should she happen to reach for her cell, he is instructed to execute her on the spot.”
“Don’t hurt her.”
“The only one who can harm her is you. It’s your call, Jackie. Had you agreed to come to me of your own will, you would have saved yourself the agony of option number two.”
“Where?”
“Someone will pick you up at the old Bingham’s warehouse in Denver.”
How the hell did she know they were in Colorado? “I can be there in two hours.”
“Oh, and Jack? Please come alone. My men are going to follow Ms. Monroe until you are safe and sound in my company. One wrong move or phone call and I will finish what Rózsa couldn’t.”
Jack’s heart rate accelerated. “That’s ridiculous. Anyone could call her, her work—”
“Then the sooner you get here, the less chance of that happening while she’s being watched,” TQ said calmly.
“Make it an hour and a half, bitch.” Jack hung up.
Chapter Sixteen
The White House
Shield wasn’t sure what had prompted her to make the offer, but Thomas’s reply had made her immediately regret it. She couldn’t figure the president out, and that was frustrating. One moment, Thomas was in controclass="underline" witty, charming, and respectful of Shield. The next, she was afraid, humorless, distant, and rude. The president clearly had regrets about their flirtatious exchange, which was understandable. It was also probably why she had to point out that Shield was a woman and thereby incapable of teaching her to dance. But did Thomas have to keep her back turned to her all morning or act so appalled at being touched?