The Crimson Shamrock by Michael Hughes

Author:Michael Hughes [Hughes, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2016-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

11

When I reached my room, I was startled to realize that the door was ajar. I shoved it open and rushed inside. The bedsheet was on the floor, and all the drawers had been opened. My backpack had been unzipped, and the closet had been opened. None of my clothes appeared to have been stolen, and the safe was still locked. I opened it and was relieved to find that the RedClove and flash drive were in there, apparently unmolested. I assessed the damages. Nothing in the room was irreparably harmed; I would have to check out, so I needed to know if there was anything for which I would be held liable. The maid would have some extra work to do, but that was about it.

Nonetheless, I was pretty shaken up. It was only my dumb luck to have been ensnared by the lures of the wayward stewardess that prevented the burglars from walking in on me. Who knew if they were armed, and what were they after? I had locked the doors and the window, so they must have either hacked the key card system or pried the lock. Were they after the RedClove? Did this have anything to do with the bomb threat made against my flight? Just what the fuck was going on exactly?

I went back to the safe to retrieve the RedClove and the flash drive. I packed them in my backpack, along with the rest of my belongings. I eagerly awaited Axel’s next communication, so at least I would have some certainty. I killed the time by picking up the room so that I wouldn’t piss off the maid too badly. Finally, my phone rang. It was Axel.

“Chuck, my apologies for the excessive delay. How is it that you are doing?”

I didn’t want to mention the room break-in to Axel. “Just fine, still a little shaken up by the flight, but other than that, just fine.”

“That is so good to hear. Again, I am so sorry about my lagging response. I have made arrangements for your flight. The new meeting will be tomorrow in Bethesda, Maryland.”

“Bethesda? Where are you flying me into, DC?”

“Well, more precisely, Dulles International, but yes, it is all rather in the vicinity of the capital of my beloved adopted nation. I do apologize that I was unable to reserve for you a driver from the airport to your hotel. However, the hotel arrangements have already been taken care of, and I will comp you for the cab fare.”

“Oh, I figured. How are our contacts doing?” I asked. “Are they still down with everything?”

“Most certainly. They are more eager than ever before yet completely understanding of the situation at hand, in all of its bizarre twists and turns.”

“So, when is my flight?”

“I will email you your boarding pass as soon as we finish this call. Your flight leaves early this afternoon, and you are so close to the airport, so you should have plenty of time in case there are any delays on your part.

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