Betrayal (53 page)

“Uh huh,” Alex choked slightly.

“Did you see Jane?” Cassidy asked, her back turned again in an attempt to regain control.

Alex came up behind her and nuzzled her neck. “Cass?”

“Yes?”

“Do you know how beautiful you are?”

Cassidy moaned softly, “Alex….”

“I know,” Alex sighed. “But this is to be continued.”

The teacher turned and smiled. “You like this better than that denim shirt, huh?” she raised her eyebrow playfully, knowing that a shift in their mood was needed. Cassidy had no real desire for anything but Alex at the moment and she suspected her fiancé felt the same way.

Alex shook her head. “No.”

“Really?”

“But, I would love to see you in that little apron you have that…”

“Alex Toles!” Cassidy scolded with a beaming smile. “What has gotten into you?”

“Nothing,” Alex said innocently. “But, I was thinking…”

Cassidy burst out laughing. “You are impossible.”

“Yeah, well. I would really rather just stay here.” It was true. Alex had to admit, nothing in her world could ever fill her the way the woman who now stepped into her arms could.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should,” Alex said offering her lover another kiss. “You just remember when those drunken diplomats start trying to woo you away….”

“
Woo
me away?” Cassidy bit back a laugh, realizing that there was actually a tinge of apprehension in the agent’s voice.

“What’s so funny?”

“Alex, you are so silly sometimes. Only one person has ever
wooed
me at all.”

“Yeah, who is he so I can set him straight?”

“Just some crusty old butler.”

“Hmmm….can he cook?” Cassidy shook her head. “Is he a rich butler?” Cassidy shook her head again. “So my competition is a….”

The agent was hushed immediately with a kiss. “I love you, Alfred.”

Alex smiled. “You ready?” Cassidy nodded.

“Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember, to be continued.”

Alex shut the door behind them and tried unsuccessfully to hide her grin. She had several missions to complete and she was suddenly extremely eager to move the evening along so she could get to the most important one of all. The one that she expected would take much longer and offer far greater reward than any file retrieval or diplomatic ball ever had.

mbassador,” Alex greeted her old friend.

        
Ambassador Paul Daniels stood a solid 6’3. He possessed a charming smile and piercing blue eyes that immediately engaged even his greatest critics. Alex often likened him to a storybook knight in shining armor. He was as charismatic as he was good-looking. She pondered the notion that she might be standing in front of a real life James Bond. He narrowed his gaze playfully at the agent before quickly relaxing his expression and taking her into a hug. “Captain Alexis Toles, quit the formalities,” he laughed.

“It’s good to see you Paul,” she smiled. Inside her stomach was in knots. She had always regarded Paul Daniels as a friend. He was a man she had known for years, but now she found herself wondering; had she really known anyone? She clasped Cassidy’s hand a bit tighter as reality passed through her thoughts. “Paul, this is…”

“Cassidy. So nice to meet you,” he took her hand and kissed it.

“They certainly have taught you manners here,” Alex chided.

The ambassador laughed. “You’d better keep an eye on this one, Cassidy. She is quite the handful.”

“Yes, she is,” Cassidy smiled.

Alex shook her head. “Alright, I see where this is going. Has Jane arrived yet?”

“Just before you actually,” he responded. “I was surprised to see her escort.”

“Well, they have known each other for years, Paul.”

“Yes, so I have heard. You don’t…”

“No business tonight, Ambassador,” Alex winked.

“I can’t say I blame you,” he answered, gazing a little too long at Cassidy for Alex’s liking. Just as Alex was about to reassert her presence Jane turned the corner beside Krause.

“Alex,” Jane hugged the agent and then followed the same action with Cassidy. “I am so happy you decided to make the trip.”

“How could I turn
this
down?” Alex raised an eyebrow, soliciting a hearty laugh from both the ambassador and the former first lady.

“Paul,” an attractive brunette grasped the ambassador’s arm.

“Ahh…Alex you remember Karen?”

“Certainly,” Alex accepted the woman’s hand.

“Lovely to see you again, Captain. I almost didn’t recognize you out of your uniform.”

“Karen Daniels, this is my,” Alex paused and looked at Cassidy for a moment who tugged at her bottom lip to suppress her growing smile. “This is my fiancé, Cassidy O’Brien.”

The ambassador tipped his head as his wife took Cassidy’s hand. “Well, I guess we have plenty to celebrate then. Nice to meet you, Cassidy,” she winked.

“Well, what do you say we get these ladies something to drink to celebrate?” Daniels suggested. Krause nodded and began to follow. The ambassador turned when he noticed Alex was not accompanying them. “Captain Toles?”

“What?” Alex shrugged. “I heard you say you were going to get the ladies drinks.” Alex looked at herself as if giving an inspection. “Are you saying I don’t qualify?” Cassidy shook her head slightly. Alex most certainly did qualify, more than qualify in Cassidy’s mind.

“I plead the fifth,” the ambassador joked.

Alex gave Cassidy a light peck on the cheek and turned to follow the ambassador and Krause. “Russ here yet?” Alex inquired.

“No, I expect him soon though,” Daniels responded.

“So, how are the boys, Paul?” Alex asked as they made their way to the bar.

“Excellent! Jake is playing lacrosse. You wouldn’t believe him.” Alex smiled and allowed her gaze to drift slightly to their other companion.

“You have two sons, I understand?” Krause joined the conversation.

“Yes, Daniel and Jake. Jake is sixteen this year. Hard to believe. Umm Alex, wine or…”

“White, both Cassidy and I.”

Daniels turned to Krause. “Jane will take white as well.”

“And you? What is your poison Mr. Krause?” the ambassador inquired.

“Scotch.”

“I figured as much,” he replied handing each their glasses. “Shall we?”

“The boys are not into these functions I take it?” Alex asked as they rounded the corner. “No, no….you know how kids are.”

Alex laughed. “I am learning, yes. Dylan just turned seven. Seeing Alexandra and Stephanie, I can’t imagine Dylan when…”

“I understand. It goes so quickly,” the ambassador paused for a moment. “I am sorry about the president, Alex. I know you were very close.”

“We were,” she said softly. Alex scanned the room casually and caught sight of a man approaching. He was precariously juggling several drinks and she smiled inwardly at the opportunity. So far, her plan was lining up just as she had hoped. She looked to Krause briefly as they approached their awaiting group, hoping he would read her signal clearly. In
less than an instant Krause had repositioned himself behind the ambassador, pretending to notice someone in the crowd. Alex stepped forward and allowed her heel to extend slightly. With a thud the man flew into Alex, sending both their drinks flying and dousing the ambassador thoroughly in white wine. Alex winced slightly at the contact but then immediately recovered.

The commotion caught the attention of their waiting party. Within seconds Cassidy was at Alex’s side having noticed her grimace of pain in the distance. “Are you all right?” Cassidy asked.

“I’m fine, though Paul here seems to be doubling as a wine cask.”

“Funny, Captain,” he looked at her in mock annoyance. “I need to change this jacket.” Alex promptly grabbed the back of it and slipped it from his shoulders. “Thanks,” he said.

“Least I can do” she said as she folded it over her arm.

“You want to see the pictures of the boys?” he asked. Alex smiled. “Follow me.”

Krause struggled to contain his momentary pride in Alex’s flawless execution. He too was slightly wet from the gin and tonic the man had been carrying. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I need to clean this up just a bit,” he explained.

Alex followed Ambassador Daniels up a winding stair case and into his office. The ambassador made his way to the bathroom at the far left of the room and pointed to his desk. “That’s Jake there on the right,” he pointed. “I’ll be right back.”

Alex quickly retrieved the small hotel key card and laid it on the computer as Krause had instructed. “God, Paul, he has to be almost your height already,” she said, keeping the conversation normal and light. Krause appeared in the doorway just as Alex was reaching into Daniel’s jacket pocket. She nodded affirmatively in his direction and met him at the door, quickly handing him the disk in exchange for the fake.

“Yeah, he is huge, isn’t he?” the ambassador answered.

Alex quickly made her way back to the desk and lifted the picture studying it. She let her eyes momentarily drift to the computer that was rolling through a series of screen changes. Looking back at the picture she smiled wondering what Dylan might be like at that age. The last time she had seen Jake Daniels she figured he had been about eight. Just then the ambassador appeared in a clean shirt, attaching his cufflinks. Alex set down the picture as he began to move closer. She grabbed the wet jacket and made her way toward him. The last thing she needed was for him to go anywhere near the computer screen. Now, she simply needed to get him out of the office. The rest would be up to Krause. “You probably should hang that up,” she arched her eyebrow at him, handing him the jacket.

“You are learning, there, aren’t you Captain?” Alex laughed and headed back toward the desk, hoping that her task had been successful. Seeing the password populate, she retrieved the card, placed it back in her dress and picked up the picture of Jake a final time. Daniels emerged from the bathroom again, placing something in the pocket of his new jacket and regarded his friend holding the picture. “Seems everything has changed for you,” he observed.

Alex took a deep breath and set down the picture. “I guess it has. Maybe it’s changed for all of us,” she offered.

He nodded. “I knew John a long time. He was a good man.”

Alex gave her friend a cockeyed smile. “The man I knew was a good man as well.”

Daniels put his arm around Alex and led her out of the room. She followed, taking only a brief pause at the top of the stairs to signal Krause that he should proceed.

Alex looked across the large ballroom to see Cassidy engaged in a conversation with Ambassador Matthews as her friend Paul Daniels headed straight for them. For a moment she wondered how they had reached this place, this moment. Cassidy was laughing and Alex felt the gravity of her mission momentarily replaced by a warmth that traveled through her
entire body. Even in the distance she could feel Cassidy’s presence as it filled the room. “She is very beautiful, Alex,” a voice said softly.

Alex closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes, she is,” she whispered as Cassidy turned slightly to offer her a loving glance. The agent sighed. “I have to keep her safe, Jane.” Jane’s only response was a firm but loving grip of Alex’s shoulder. With an audible exhale Alex began to slowly and deliberately cross the large room. Now she would need to engage Russ Matthews. She hoped that he would somehow convince her that he was on the right side of things. She shook off the thought, asking herself if she even knew what the right side of things was anymore. Keeping her focus on Cassidy, she mused that if she ever needed a compass for what was right, it was standing just a few feet away.