Annie had heard only once heard from Eyal by the way of a phone call, he was in South Africa getting ready to leave for Tel Aviv. She had been steady feeding intel about Josette Lavalette to the website Eyal had set up for her but nothing in return. Now she was heading home, Orleans home that is and next on her to do list - contact CIA asset, Estelle Bruce Hathaway.
Once reaching her apartment, she wanted nothing more than a hot shower and glass of wine. Drinking wine had become a habit with her since being with Eyal. Giving Lochem a kiss on top of his tiny cold head, the closes she could get to giving Eyal a kiss and off to her shower and some downtime.
Downtime was short-lived; she couldn't get her next assignment off her mind and decided to send an encrypted e-mail to Estelle Bruce Hathaway. There, she finished typing the note and hoping it would not be answered any time soon. Pouring her second glass of wine, she picked up a book she had found by the Hathaway woman and read the author's bio.
Estelle Bruce Hathaway is the New York Times, The London Times and Daily Telegraph as well as #1 internationally bestselling author of Dark Heat, Broken Heart, Beyond the Edge, Beyond Reach, Risk Faithless and New Beginning. To date, her books have been translated into over thirty languages and continue to thrill her readers with magnificent love stories yet mystifying works. She is a native of Charlbury, Oxfordshire England where she lives and working on her next bestseller.
Annie settled in her uncomfortable chair to read one of the novels her contact had written - Scarlet Rose. The next thing she knew - the early morning rays awaken her, still in the same chair, an empty wine glass on the table and the novel resting on her lap. Damn, she didn't even make it to her bed the night before. Annie wasn't much on romance novels but this one held her interest, not wanting to put it down. The plot took place during World War I and Rose, the main character was a British spy falling in love with a German soldier - a forbidden love affair with intrigue, action and conflict. Strange but Annie could relate to the fictional Rose with ease, conceivably because she was too a spy in a forbidden affair. Maybe her love affair wasn't with an enemy soldier but still forbidden by the CIA. Hell, just about everything was forbidden by the CIA - what did she care now. Calder had just about told her she was a ghoul in the night not supported by her own agency.
Cup of hot coffee and some stretching to get her sore back in shape again; she checking her e-mail and there was her answer from Hathaway. 'Will be in Cornwall on the third and we should set a time to meet at The Olive Grove Bistro in Truro. EBH'
Oh great, her downtime gone up in a puff. She would travel to England the next day and on to her next assignment. Wanting to know more about her contact she turns to Google search and found a short synopsis. The woman attended Oxford University and College de France in Paris. She has a group of lectures each year at St. Mary's University, Twickenham in London and the University of Westminster, also in London. Little else was printed about her making Annie believe the woman is a recluse, living alone with her writing and literature.
Meeting was set for three in the afternoon and Annie was early, taking the opportunity to look at some nearby shops before her appointment with Estelle Bruce Hathaway. She getting very accustom to the European life style enjoyed browsing the shops and found a trendy cardigan and pair of tiny silver earrings. Having finish reading the Scarlet Rose and now hooked on reading another novel by Estelle. Annie browse a small book store and there purchased the latest novel, Tortola Secret.
Nearing three, Annie found the bistro and a table near the front window just as Hathaway had instructed - not spy craft at all.
"Nicole?" Asked a tall, rather slender modish woman with snow white hair and immaculate makeup standing next to Annie's table. She was dress in very British county style, a lightweight khaki jacket, white oxford cloth v-neck shell and silk scarf, dark blue jeans and wedge espadrilles. Causal chic and classic. Not at all what Annie had expected having only seen head shot pictures of the author. She had imagined a short English woman whose face had been airbrushed but Estelle was even prettier than her book picture, a woman of regal elegance and grace.
"Yes."
"I'm Estelle Hathaway and delighted to make your acquaintance." She taking a seat across for Annie, "I was thinking you would have been in touch with me before now."
"I was on another project but now free." Annie liking to bluntness of his woman. "Have you been given much background information and would you like to have some tea."
"Tea time in England is a thing for the romantic past history of country gentleman and their ladies. I may be English but loathe tea. Wine if you would care to join me." Estelle looking over her menu.
"Wine it shall be." Annie also picking up her menu but wasn't hungry.
"You have an American accent."
"I went to school in Boston but I'm French."
"I see." Estelle order white wine and looking at Annie, which Annie in turn nodded yes, the same. "To answer your question, I have been told you need my connection to Landric Von Fredric-Kristiansen."
"Yes, that is true. Can you help me?"
"I think so. What is your cover my dear?"
"Nicole Cohen, an art dealer and my husband is a diamond broker."
"Oh my, you come complete with a husband." Estelle smiling, "What I have in mind doesn't require a husband but being a diamond broker could be helpful. I'm doing some research on Polo and its worldwide players, background for my next book. Landric is hosting a major Polo match this coming Friday through Sunday and if we wanted to go. It is in America, near Ocala Florida. I can get a special invitation and we can stay on his estate."
"That would great, what is the event schedule?"
"The weekend is dedicated to charity - the American Heart Association with a black tie dinner Saturday evening. You'll need a red grown, all the women will be wearing red to support heart health in women." Estelle handing a slip of paper to Annie, "Here is the schedule and we'll leave from London on Thursday stay the night in New York and fly to Florida the next day." The plan was set, Annie is heading across the pond.
Joan looking at her watch, she was fifteen minutes late and still stuck in traffic - how she hated Washington's traffic. She picked up her cell and dials a number, "I'm so sorry. Stuck in this damn traffic and maybe five or ten minutes more."
"That's alright I have nothing else better to do but sit here and indulge in my ham and cheese sandwich with the best Kosher dill in the world." The male voice answered. "Sitting in the back trying to act like a good spy."
"Very funny. Will see you shortly." Joan disconnected, honking the horn at some idiot pulling into her lane. Her mind quickly back to the disorderly havoc at hand. This was not the normal Joan Campbell, she was a strict believer in being on time but today had started off on the wrong foot and gone downhill from there. Finally reaching the Blue Bird Diner there again she knew her luck was fast running out, no parking places close, and a hike of two blocks back to the little restaurant on the corner.
There in the back as he had said, set Vincent Rossabi with a cup of coffee and pie. Joan trying to put her most friendly smile on, she swiftly walked to his table.
"So sorry to be late." Joan taking a seat across from Vincent.
"Maybe I should be the one to say I'm sorry for picking such an out of the way place but can't be too careful these days. Not since Wilcox's remaining cohorts are everywhere, especially Langley."
"Understand. So what brings you out of J. Edgar's backyard?" Joan taking a quick look at the single sheet menu and spotting the waitress coming toward them. She turns her attention to the young woman, "Decaf coffee and a piece of coconut cream pie."
"Good choice, it is very good." Vincent holding his folk with a bite of pie on the end, smiled and munched down the last piece of his pie. "I asked you join me because I have information you may be interested in. It deals with Lexington Global and a very dead operative."
"You say that 'very dead operative' with a snicker. What do you know?"
"Interpol is also working the Lexington case and it is too damn bad agencies can pull together but here is some pictures I just received of a charity gala held in Paris, France a few weeks back. This is of the side entrance to gala, the one used by those wishing not to be seen walking the red carpet and photograph... however."
"The more interesting people would be using the side entrance." Joan taking the folder from Vincent and started looking through it.
"The first one is one of our main targets for supplying arms to hate groups here in the states as well as drug trafficking. Diego Fajardo operates out of Neiva, Colombia through Mexico. In this next picture he is chatting with our dear friend Joseph Nielson."
"Connection to Lexington."
"Yeah, but not all. Here he is inside the gala talking with two other men, Kyril Davy and Dolph Branstrom a Swedish diamond broker or was. He was arrested in London shortly after the gala on drug possession and later found dead in his jail cell."
"Murdered?"
"That is what Scotland Yard thinks. The man knew way too much to keep breathing." Vincent taking a refill for his coffee. "This short little guy is Kyril Davy, a big player in the diamond and gold smuggler market out of South Africa and the chatter is Joseph Nielson is courting him to join forces with Lexington Global in arms trade to terrorist groups."
"Oh shit... sorry." Joan's remark went seeing the next picture. A talk dark hair man with a nice looking woman on his arm, she was partly obscured by the couple in front of them but Joan recognized her.
"Well I'll be damn, my guess was right." Vincent watching Joan, "Did you know she was alive?"
"I do but not until much later and only found out by accident. You recognize the man she is with?"
"Looks like the Mossad jerk I had put on a plane out of here. Now I take it he is no jerk."
"One of the best Mossad has. You know Vincent this is top hush-hush. I don't know what they are up to but I can bet they are going after the rest of Henry Wilcox's group."
"That's why I pulled all records of this picture and one other of them at the same table with Dolph Branstrom."
"Thank you." Joan handing the picture to Vincent. "Now what?"
"There is a man living in Florida we strongly believe is the master-mind behind Lexington Global. Landric Von Friedric-Kristiansen very wealthy Danish Count with a history involving Henry Wilcox. We don't know much about him, a recluse of sort but he uses different charity organizations and alliances to laundry money. This week-end is such an event with the American Heart Association and a polo match with several international teams. We will have a few people there trying to uncover who are the main players within Lexington."
"You have a reason for telling me the FBI's operation - why?"
"Get word to our missing gal to keep her head down. I don't want her mixed up in any of our operations on US soil."
"I wish I could Vincent. I truly wish I could but she is in total black out. You think she will be in Florida?"
"Have no clue but Mossad is actively working this as well as MI6. If she has been cut off from CIA network my guess is she has found another source of intel."
"Mossad is the best pick. You are right and if you know about this gala in Florida so does Annie." Joan looked away, "Damn I feel so helpless."
"It must be bad not to trust anyone in your own agency." Vincent with a caring softness to his voice.
"Only Auggie Anderson and he is under a microscope. The two of us can't move without prying eyes. Will you please do me a big one and keep me in the loop about Florida. I have a hunch things are going to start popping like fireworks on the 4th of July - both inside Langley and out."
"The FBI also isn't that squeaky clean, I speak from firsthand knowledge. Sure Joan, I'll keep you in the loop but under cloak and dagger conditions. No telling what we'll find in Florida."
Leaving Vincent Rossabi, Joan quickly buys a throwaway phone and dials Auggie. After several rings Auggie answers with caution from an unknown number. "Yes."
"It is me and we need to meet now, ring me back when you are clear." Joan disconnect, looking about to see if she had been followed, she smashes the burn phone, pitches it and quickly made her way to the secret meeting place she and Auggie had started using. Exceedingly cloak and dagger conditions.
Opening the door to his apartment, Auggie handing his friend a bag of chips and cold can of beer. "Eric we are in 'Under the Dome' mode on this one. I have some information about Henry Wilcox's covert club we need to track without anyone's knowledge."
"Sure boss but how does Wilcox being a dead rat still has so much power?"
"He built a global network and somehow has stopped the CIA from following up on good leads. We have to watch our backs at every move. CIA has been compromised in many ways. I need your eyes and proficiency but if you don't feel..."
"Just put that little thought out of your mind. They have me working on some real crap in South America."
"Good, because that's one connection we will be looking at, a guy by the name of Diego Fajardo in Neiva, Colombia. Drug and arms trade and we need to find his money source."
Eric Barber taking a swig of his beer, "You have more, right?"
"Yeah and need for you to work at home, away from Langley. Can't use my stuff here, I being monitored but you should check your equipment before browsing our list of names."
"So you have a list?" Eric eager to get started, anything to help out his boss even if it was under the table.
"Here you go." Auggie handing Eric the list Joan had gotten from Vincent. "Need to find as much as you can and follow up on all leads. We are dealing with only a few of the Lexington Global members and we need to find all of them."