The Thin Black Line: A Mike Walton Thriller by Gervais Simon

Author:Gervais, Simon [Gervais, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Fiction Studio Books
Published: 2015-03-31T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 34

Cannes, France

The French authorities still had not reopened the Nice airport, so the Gulfstream landed at Cannes-Mandelieu Airport, located just west of Cannes. A member of the Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, or DGCIT, quickly boarded the private jet and stamped Jonathan Sanchez’s passport. The DGCIT was the French version of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the US Customs and Border Protection, combined with the US Coast Guard. It was charged with preventing smuggling, surveying borders, and investigating counterfeit money, among other things.

Nice-Mandelieu was the second largest airport on the French Riviera, mostly used by chartered private jet companies and celebrities visiting the area. The hills surrounding Cannes made it next to impossible for larger carriers to land, and that had allowed the airport to remain attractive for a certain clientele that wanted more privacy. Its customer service was renowned for its excellence, so it was no surprise when the Gulfstream was rapidly refueled and rolled into a discreet hangar not far from the main terminal.

A silver Mercedes sedan transported Sanchez to the main terminal. He made his way to the VIP lounge, where Jasmine Carson was waiting for him.

Holy cow! A tall brunette with a ponytail. Why can’t IMSI hire ugly women so I can focus on my job?

Carson was seated in a modern green armchair sipping a cup of coffee she had bought on her way to the airport. She got up when she saw her colleague.

“Dr. Jonathan Reznik, I presume?” asked Carson, using Sanchez’s cover name, even though she knew the answer.

Beautiful voice, too.

“Yes, that’s correct. I’m from the American Medical Life Insurance Company. I was told I would be met by a State Department official,” answered Sanchez, for the benefit of anyone who might be listening.

“Glad to meet you, Dr. Reznik,” said IMSI’s Support Five team leader. “I’m Jasmine Carson from the American embassy. I’ll help you get access to your patient, but we’ll have to hurry. I assume you have no luggage?”

“No luggage, and the plane is ready to take off at ten minutes’ notice,” explained Sanchez.

“Great. In that case, please follow me.”

With an ass like yours, it will be my pleasure.

Once outside the busy VIP lounge, Jasmine Carson took one last gulp of her coffee, then threw the extra-large plastic cup into a white garbage can. Sanchez followed her outside the terminal, where a black late-model BMW 7 series was waiting for them. Jasmine opened the back door for Sanchez and said, “Sandwiches and coffee are in the basket behind the driver’s seat.”

Sanchez nodded his thanks as he cautiously climbed into the luxurious backseat of the BMW. The long flight hadn’t been kind to his left leg. He stretched it methodically and felt the benefits right away.

“What’s wrong with your leg?” Carson asked as she sat at the back of the BMW with him.

“A 7.62 in the left knee,” he replied positioning his cane in between him and Carson.

“Ouch! You’re lucky to walk.”

“Yeah, that’s what I tell myself every morning when I wake up.

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