Betrayals by Richard Paolinelli

Author:Richard Paolinelli
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tuscany Bay Books
Published: 2021-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

CAVANAUGH WOULD HAVE been surprised to discover that his quarry not only shared the same concerns about his own chances to succeed, but just at that particular moment was rating them far lower than Cavanaugh was rating his own.

Jack had slipped out of the Secret Service’s headquarters and kept to the alleys and shadows mindful of the myriad security cameras in the area that could be used to track him down. He maintained the pattern for a full thirty minutes, constantly checking behind him to see if he was being followed.

Only when he was completely certain that he had actually slipped away cleanly did he stop moving, setting up shop in a small coffee bar. He slipped a hundred dollars to an attractive twenty-something lobbyist’s aide to borrow her laptop just long enough to send out a brief e-mail and receive a reply.

The account he accessed had been set up by Karpov for Cashman to use in case more information was needed, or another clandestine meeting was required, and prying eyes would not be aware of the communication. Out of options, Jack had decided to use the e-mail account to reach out to Karpov in the hopes that the man might have something else, something he hadn’t yet shared, that might prove useful.

He’d been surprised at the speed of the reply to his original e-mail, and even more surprised at how quickly Karpov could meet him in person. Jack had been under the impression that Karpov had been heading back to his homeland to deal with the conspiracy on that end after meeting Cashman in Nassau.

Yet here Jack was, standing among a crowd of tourists in front of the Reflecting Pool and looking at the Lincoln Memorial, fighting off the chilly air of the late afternoon when Karpov strolled up from behind. Without actually appearing to be looking for possible watchers, Karpov expertly scanned the area and determined that no unwanted eyes or ears were upon them at this time.

“You should take better care when you are contacting someone for the first time that you've never met before my young friend,” Karpov said in English, with an amazing lack of a Russian accent. “I’ve know many agents, young and old, who have paid dearly for that kind of nonchalance.”

“I don't have time for spy games, Karpov,” Jack snapped impatiently. “Especially with people who are supposed to be on the same side as I am.”

“So I gathered from your message,” Karpov replied without rancor, understanding all too well where Jack was coming from. “You were very wise to find another computer to send it on. They surely know now that it was you that was looking into their files and they'll be keeping an eye out for you now. They might even have decided you are too much of a threat to them to remain a free agent. It would not surprise me at all to discover that your death has been ordered.”

“The thought has occurred,” Jack admitted. “I'm just glad you set up the e-mail accounts for Cashman if he needed to contact you.

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