Parallelogram : Day Two : Chapter 21

At the same time

Matthew sat behind the wheel of the rental – a black 2003 Dodge Stratus – with his cellular phone opened. He scanned the screen for the information he anticipated, and he hoped that – through sheer will – he would make the necessary data appear. Unfortunately, he wasn't powerful enough to command every stream of info in the universe, and he was forced to wait.

He hated waiting. Although he had learned many years ago that it was a necessary component to every mission he had worked, planned, or completed, he refused to grow used to it. Patience was a trait he wished on his enemies because he could use their patience as a tactical advantage. Right now, however, he knew that he had no advantage. His next move – any combination of strategic responses – was predicated on waiting. Waiting for Lisa. Waiting for an explanation. Waiting for information.

Nervously, he tapped his foot on the floorboard.

"Relax," DeMarco offered from the passenger seat. His window rolled down, the man sat staring out into the dark houses.

"You know me all too well, Richard," the driver replied. "I can't relax."

"Matthew," the man replied. "Don't trouble yourself."

"I can't help it."

"There is no need to worry so ..."

Suddenly, the back door opened. With some effort, Lisa slipped inside and dropped to the seat. She released several sounds – fatigue, frustration – and looked to her companions.

Menacingly, Matthew glared into the backseat at her. "Where have you been?"

She knew she had it coming. She trusted she would hear about her 'failure' for the rest of the mission. Her brother was not as understanding as Richard, she realized, and she would have to answer for her own actions.

"I was disposing of the rifle," Lisa explained, stressing each syllable, trying to hold her own in their complex relationship.

"Where?" he demanded.

"Where do you think?"

"That is not a wise answer, Lisa."

She bit her lip before telling him, "Exactly where you told me to dispose of it, Matthew."

"At least you did that right."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Disgustedly, he turned away from her and back to his wireless phone. "It means what you think it means, little sister. It's a shame you couldn't show the same dedication when it came to other matters."

"Look," she tried, fighting the impulse to reach into the front and slap her brother alongside his head, "it isn't my fault. Farris had left the hotel room."

With a look of surprise, DeMarco glanced into the back. "When I left her, she was sleeping like a baby."

"I don't doubt it," Lisa said. "However, when I found her, she was in the elevator."

"Why didn't you do something then?" Matthew asked.

Incredulous, she replied, "What was I supposed to do? You know – as well as I do – that the elevator had a security sound system! Besides, the security camera on the seventh floor would have already recorded her stepping into the car! If she didn't exit at the bottom, then the Heston's crack security team would've investigated immediately, and we'd quite possibly be in a far worse situation." She took a deep breath, reaching up and ruffling her own hair. "I took the only possible course of action available to me, Matthew. Yes, I let her go! But I followed her outside. I watched her get into her limousine. I tailed the car to its location." Cocking her eye in the direction of DeMarco – she wanted to know how he'd respond when she said it, she'd wanted to know since she realized it would affect him – she added, "She went to a gentleman's club, and she came out with a woman."

DeMarco showed no response. He only kept staring at her.

"When the opportunity presented itself," Lisa insisted, "I took the shot."

"But you missed the target," Matthew explained, his attention locked to the small screen on his phone.

"Her date stepped in my way."

"Lisa, in our business, you don't miss."

"Matthew, I did everything ..."

"Lisa," DeMarco interrupted, his voice firm. "Do not argue with your brother." He kept his eyes on her. "Matthew is right." He softened his tone, explaining, "If you want to continue in this line of work, then you have to understand that learning from your mistakes – and this was a very dangerous mistake despite everything you've said or however you may feel about the circumstances – that learning from your mistakes is critical." To her surprise, he winked. "It is simple. Next time you take a shot, you simply cannot miss. That is all you need to learn from this."

She locked eyes with the terrorist. He wasn't glaring at her, not the way her brother looked. He was admiring her. She knew that glint in his eye was far more intimate than anger, disappointment, or frustration. He liked her. He was attracted to her. Unlike her brother, DeMarco was willing to share his philosophy, his secrets, his advice in a fashion that she was willing to accept, that she wanted to understand. Also, by the look in his eyes, she knew he would share his body with her. He genuinely wanted her, she felt, to not only be a better operative in this dangerous line of work but also he wanted her ... as a woman ... as an equal ... as a confidante ... as a lover.

Sexily, she smiled back at him, and he nodded.

"I understand," Lisa said. "I'm sorry for failing."

"Nonsense," DeMarco replied. "Don't apologize. Never apologize. What you do is you make it right. That is what your brother is attempting to do right now."

As if it had heard him, the phone in Matthew's hand beeped.

"Finally."

The screen lit up, and Matthew read the text response.

"They've taken her to the George Washington University Hospital," he announced.

"Who?" Lisa asked.

"Ulrika Von Sendon," he replied. "The woman – Farris's date – you shot in the head. She was pronounced dead upon arrival, but police have been dispatched to interview the witnesses at the scene."

DeMarco moaned. "Not the police," he muttered.

Glancing over at the terrorist, Matthew said, with some delight, "It only means we'll need more ammunition, my friend."

Quietly, the car slipped away from the curve and drove off into the cover of night.

END of Chapter 21