Chapter 9
Paul was already up when Janet woke up. He was dressed and out on the balcony when she got out of bed. She quickly got ready and joined him on the balcony.
"What's on the agenda for today?" she asked looking over the city.
"I thought since we don't have to start getting ready until 4:00 for the reception at 6:00 we could take a tour of a castle that has a winery in it and we'll have lunch there. They have a bus that will take us there and back. It's only 8:00 now and the tour leaves at 9:00 so we can have breakfast and still have time to make the tour."
"Okay, sounds like fun," Janet replied as she walked back into the room and grabbed her purse and jacket.
Paul didn't set his trap as they wanted the maid to take care of the room. He would check it when they returned.
They had breakfast, found the bus for the tour and had a nice tour of the castle and sampling some of the wines. They were back at the hotel by 3:00.
"I hope you don't mind but I'm going to take a nap," Janet told Paul yawning. "The fresh air and wine have made me sleepy and I still can't get over the jet lag. Will you wake me up by 4:30?"
"Sure. I could use a nap too as it's going to be a long night," he replied as he stretched out on his bed.
Before long both of them were asleep. Paul had set the alarm on his watch for 4:00 so they wouldn't oversleep.
((()))
Janet woke up to the alarm going off on Paul's watch which was on the vanity in the bathroom. She figured out how to shut it off but noticed Paul was still sleeping. He had sampled a few more glasses of wine than Janet on their tour. She stood there wondering how to wake him up and not get hurt. The first time she tried to wake Lee up, he grabbed her by the wrist and almost broke it. The second time she landed on her back on the deck of Seaview. Lee told her to put her hand on his knee so she would try that.
She walked over to his bed and applied a little pressure to his knee. He kicked her hand off but didn't try to grab her as he sat up in the bed.
"Sorry, but you slept through the alarm and I wasn't sure how to wake you," Janet told him. "Lee said I should wake him up that way so I thought it might work on you too. I didn't mean to scare you."
"No problem. That was a good way to wake me up or you might have been laying on the floor."
"Why don't you get ready first?" Janet said watching Paul run his hand through his hair just like Lee. "While you're getting ready I'll give 'grandpa' a call."
"Sounds good as I don't need that much time," Paul said as he got up from the bed and went into the dressing area. He shaved again, turned on the shower and took the white dinner jacket out of the bag. He took the pants from the bag and hung them on the rod along with the jacket. He took a leisurely shower, put on some after shave lotion and dressed. He had brought a tie but hoped he wouldn't need it but just in case he put it in his jacket pocket. He went into the room where Janet was on the phone talking to Lee.
((()))
Jamie released Lee from the hospital on Friday night after he had talked to Janet. The only way he let him go was that Chip promised to stay with him and make sure he didn't overdo it. Lee was hoping Janet would call as he had gotten the names of the contacts from Admiral Johnson. He and Chip were sitting at the table looking over some proposals when Lee's phone rang. "Damn," he said, "I left it by the couch." He started to get up but Chip had already gone over and picked up the phone and handed it to Lee.
Janet was worried when it rang quite a few times before he finally answered it.
"Hi gramps," Janet said happily. "How are you?"
"Hi sweetie, I'm just fine. Jamie let me go home yesterday," Lee told her.
"You're not by yourself," Janet asked worriedly.
"No, Cousin Chip is staying with me until you get back."
"I bet he likes that," Janet laughed.
"Julie's on assignment out of town so Chip's not a happy camper anyway so he doesn't mind watching me," Lee replied.
"How's everything going?"
"So far, so good," Janet said not telling him about the man that followed them as she didn't want him to worry. "The aquarium was very nice. Uncle Harry could spend a whole week in there. The president and some people from England were disappointed he was unable to attend but they made us feel very welcome."
"Is Paul behaving?" Lee wondered.
"Yes, he's being a perfect gentleman. Grandpa, I really miss you and wish you were here."
"Me too." Lee replied sadly. "Is Paul around I would like to give him some more information I found out from Uncle Johnson?"
"He just finished taking a shower, let me see if he can come to the phone."
"Make sure he's dressed before you get him," Lee said jealously.
"Calm down, Gramps. We have a system worked out," Janet answered. She put the phone on the bed and walked over to the dressing area just as Paul was putting on his pants and was shirtless. "Gramps would like to talk to you."
Paul walked over to the bed and picked up the phone. Janet stood there staring at him. She almost forgot it was Paul she was talking too not Lee.
"Hi Paul, Cousin Anton is real anxious to see you so you'll go to his place later tonight. He'll be waiting for you. After you visit him, Uncle Josif is expecting you. Anton will tell you how to get there. I know it's a lot to do but you do need to see family while you're there."
"I understand Gramps," Paul replied barely able to keep from laughing. "I'll make sure we visit both of them. Here's Janet."
"Okay we'll see you soon. Grandpa, I miss you," Janet told Lee lovingly and whispered, "I love you."
"I'm looking forward to having you back...miss and love you too," Lee replied nervously. He heard Janet disconnect the call.
Chip looked at Lee and could tell he was worried. "They'll be leaving for the reception in an hour. I have feeling something isn't going to go as planned."
"Lee, you're going to have to trust Paul's judgment and Janet's instincts to complete this mission. Before you say it, I know easier said than done. Let's get back to work. It'll take your mind off of them."
Rubbing his forehead, a sure sign he was worried, Lee replied, "You're right nothing we can do but wait. I hope you don't mind me tapping my pencil since I can't pace," he teased. Chip just shook his head and gave him another proposal to look at.
((()))
Janet stood by the bed with the phone in her hand. Paul could see she was a little nervous. "Don't worry we'll be back home shortly. 'Grandpa' will be okay until then."
"You're right," Janet replied. "Are you done...so I can get ready?"
"Yes, all finished but I'll have to stay in the room as it's started to rain. Sorry I promise not to look," Paul kidded.
"I know," she answered as she went into the dressing area and took her dress out of the garment bag. It was a short off the shoulder black dress. She quickly took a shower, dried her hair and put on her makeup. She stepped into her dress but was having trouble zipping it up. Lee always had to help her when she wore this dress. She put on her pumps and went into the room where Paul was watching the local news. "Looks like storms are coming in later tonight so that might slow things down," he commented.
"Just great," Janet responded unhappily realizing the helicopter might not arrive on time. "Could you please help me zip up my dress?"
"Sure, no problem," Paul answered as Janet walked up to him and turned around. He zipped up her dress and didn't try anything.
"Thanks. Just let me put the rest of my things in the suitcase. I know we aren't going to be able to take this with us so is there anything you want me to put in my purse besides your papers?"
"No as long as you don't mind holding on to those, I'm good."
Janet put everything in her suitcase except her lipstick and comb which she put in her purse. Paul put the garment bag in his suitcase. He left one of the key cards on the desk. He took the other with him to give to Anton so he could get into the room and remove their luggage. Paul took one last look around.
"Ready to go?" he asked Janet looking at his watch noticing it was almost 6:00
Taking a deep breath, "All ready," she replied as Paul opened the door. She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as they walked to the elevators.
((()))
By the time they got downstairs it had stopped raining and there was a cab waiting for them as Paul had called ahead and arranged for one to pick them up. The cab driver had to wait in line before he could drop them off. He finally pulled up the entrance of the hotel and the doorman opened the door of the cab, Paul got out and helped Janet out of the cab. Paul paid the driver and they walked into the lobby. The prime minister and his wife were greeting their guests outside the entrance to the ballroom. The guard asked Paul for their invitation before he would introduce them to the Prime Minister. Paul took the invitation out of his pocket and presented it to the guard who led them over to Prime Minster.
"Sir, Commander and Mrs. Lee Crane," he told him as the prime minister looked at Lee.
"Good evening Commander, Mrs. Crane. Thank you for coming. I was sorry to hear that Admiral Nelson was unable to make it but he sent a very capable replacement. It a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Crane."
"The pleasure is all mine," Janet replied as she shook his hand as he introduced his wife to Janet and Paul.
"I hope you enjoy your visit here and this evening's festivities," the prime minister's wife said to them as she looked Paul over from head to toe.
"I'm sure we will," Paul responded slightly embarrassed as they walked away so they could greet their next guests.
As they walked away, Janet looked back and watched as the prime minister's wife checked Paul out from behind. She turned around, chuckled softly and linked her arm into Paul's. "I guess she liked what she saw," she told Paul.
They walked into the ballroom which was decorated with white drapes interspersed with black ones. The tables had black tablecloths with white napkins and chair covers. The only other color in the room were the centerpieces of white roses with purple iris' and ferns. The band was setting up their equipment in the front of the room which had groupings of trees with white and purple flowers.
"Would you care for a drink?" Paul asked when they entered the ballroom.
"Yes, a gin and tonic would be good," Janet replied as they walked over to the bar and Paul ordered drinks for both of them.
As he handed Janet her drink he asked, "Do you see Kelly?"
"No, I haven't seen him. I wonder where he is." Janet replied with a frown.
They continued to walk around the room greeting people they had met yesterday at the aquarium and looking for Kelly. Everyone was asked to be seated so dinner could be served. Paul and Janet found their table and were happy to be seated with some of the people they met yesterday. A few of the men brought their wives to this dinner whom they introduced to Janet and Paul.
After everyone was seated, Anton, the operative that would help them leave was their server, poured them all a glass of wine from the prime minister's winery. As they were eating, the women talked about food while the men talked about world politics. After dinner Janet decided to use the restroom while Paul went to get them something to drink. Paul was standing by the table waiting for her when she returned to the ballroom. She spotted Kelly by the bar.
"He's over by the bar," Janet whispered to Paul as they sat down. "He's the gentleman with the blond hair and purple flower in his lapel. Paul turned around and saw who Janet described. "I don't want to go over there as that would be too obvious, so let's wait and see if he makes contact with me," Janet suggested.
"Good plan," Paul responded as the band started to play. "Do you dance?"
"Yes, I love to dance," Janet replied as Paul took her hand and led her out to the dance floor.
As they danced Janet remarked, "You sure are a great dancer."
"Thank you," Paul answered. "It was my mother's idea. She said every man should know how to dance so she made my brothers and I take dancing lessons. Lee doesn't dance?"
"Let's just say dancing is not one of Lee's favorite things to do. He'll dance only if I ask him but I don't care how he dances, I just like being in his arms," Janet sighed.
"Well, dancer or no dancer, Lee Crane is one lucky guy to be married to you," Paul said softly.
Blushing slightly, Janet replied, "Thank you and I'm very lucky to be married to him."
They stayed on the dance floor for another song and as they danced Kelly tapped Paul on the shoulder. "May I cut in?" he asked.
"Sure, but just one dance," Paul teased turning Janet over to Kelly.
