Light of Day by Webb Hubbell

Author:Webb Hubbell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beaufort Books
Published: 2024-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

29

I WAS LEERY OF LISA’S ABILITIES, but it felt good to know she’d have my back. We spent some time working out how we would communicate and then headed back to DC. By the time we got through traffic, I had to rush back to Kalorama to make my appointment with Clovis and Stella.

We had agreed to meet at the Lebanese Taverna, one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Angie and I had eaten there on many occasions, for both celebrations and one that would alter the course of history. The décor had changed over the years, but the quality of the food had not. Their fattoush and shawarma were irresistible. I spotted my friends at a booth near the kitchen, sat down and tried to loosen the tension with a tired joke about baba ghanoush. Stella wasn’t buying, and Clovis didn’t try to stop her.

“Cut it out, Jack. I promise you no one can listen to our conversation, but what the hell? I’ve now dismantled all the protections I just installed on your phones and computers. God knows why. What on earth is going on?” Her tone was just above a whisper.

Fortunately, a waiter I knew well appeared, and we quickly placed our orders. I spent the next half-hour telling them about my meeting with Hans at Lafayette Park, my lunch with Maggie and Walter, and my trip to Falls Church. Clovis was more confident about Lisa’s ability to remain in the background.

“I’m more impressed with her every day. You might just lose that bet,” he commented.

“I’ll be glad to pay up. But let’s talk about your roles in my theater of the absurd.”

My plan was for Clovis to travel with me to meet Thibodeaux. On the return flight to DC, the plane would drop him off in Little Rock. Stella would take a commercial flight to Arkansas tomorrow. Walter would call Stella a couple days later, asking her to return to DC for consulting work. Yes, she could bring Clovis along.

“Walter knows the consulting work must be real and that it can’t raise any red flags. Meanwhile, Stella, please try to solve the puzzle of David’s software. What exactly does it do? And forget what I said about Hans’ abilities. I know you can find a way to protect our conversations and computers from the bad guys.”

“I’ll do my best, but those are tall orders,” she answered, looking pleased as punch.

“Clovis, you and I can talk on the plane. I don’t think even Hans or his clients can listen to a conversation aboard a private plane.”

“Please put your phones on airplane mode,” Stella grinned. “Fasten your seatbelts and be sure your seats are in their upright and locked position.”

Clovis wasn’t amused. “Jack, are you sure you’re going about this the right way? You still have friends at Justice. Surely, they would believe what you know about Hans and his threats. Do you really think you can outsmart him, his thugs, and a gang of high-powered lawyers? All

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