Betrayal (7 page)

“Ask me when we get home,” Alex winked.

“Alex?” The agent just smiled more broadly and turned to leave.

“I promise I will tell you then,” she whispered as she crossed the hallway.

“I can’t wait to find out,” Cassidy called out.

“I knew you’d hear that,” Alex called back.

Cassidy laughed. “I love you, Alex Toles,” she said quietly as she closed her bag. “More than I can even believe.”

es, Mr. President. I understand.”

        
“Congressman,” President Strickland continued. “Sympathy is our ally, do you really understand?”

“Of course,” Christopher O’Brien answered.

“There is great sympathy for
all
that President Merrow dedicated himself to and all that he loved.”

“The measures will not be a problem,” the congressman said.

“No. I don’t expect they will be. Nevertheless I need you in place.”

O’Brien was confused. “I’m sorry; I am not following you.”

“Your ex-wife; she has the public’s affection.”

“I’m not certain what that….”

President Strickland sighed. “Chris, it will become apparent; the relationship…”

“I did my best to compel her not to continue…”

“Congressman, I meant the longtime relationship that Agent Toles had with the president. Jane Merrow has requested Agent Toles and her family be with the Merrow family at the funeral. You really don’t know much about this; do you?”

“Cassidy and I don’t talk about…”

“I’m sure,” Strickland chuckled. “Agent Toles saved the president’s life, or that is how he told it. Be cautious. That is likely to be in the press soon and it will only increase the affection for your ex-wife.”

“And who would put that in the press?” the congressman asked in frustration. The president remained silent. “I see. What do you gain by making her a hero?”

“Just take my advice. I want you to make a trip Monday.”

“A trip? You do realize I am still not….”

“France. Be ready. It’s time,” Strickland commanded.

“France?”

“That’s right. You’ll get the details Saturday at Senator Levy’s.” The president smiled as he caressed the top of his desk, surveying the office he had coveted for so long. “This is my ship now, Congressman. Make nice at the funeral.” Congressman O’Brien swallowed hard as he heard the phone click. Whatever this trip was for, the only thing he could be certain of was that it would put him at greater risk. Strickland benefited from spending so many years quietly in the background. It allowed him to leverage relationships and he had many people who owed him. Christopher O’Brien was at the top of that list and his debt was just called in as due.

Cassidy looked beside her at the tall, attractive woman in the next seat. Alex was contentedly watching Dylan as he gazed out of the airplane window. Cassidy could not remove her sight from the two people that she loved the most. She wondered what was going through her lover’s mind. “Alex?” Cassidy called gently. She could see Alex’s lip curling into the hint of a smile but Alex remained silent. She reached over and touched the agent’s arm. “Honey?” The endearment sparked the agent to turn and the smile she offered Cassidy, while solemn, was broad. “What?” Cassidy asked softly.

“You.”

“Me?” Cassidy asked. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Yes; you did.” Alex kissed her lover on the cheek.

“Alex, what were you thinking about just now?”

“I was thinking…how much Dylan is like you.”

“Like me? Really?”

“Um hum.” Alex looked back at the boy who was oblivious to everything around him and was leaning his small face as close to the window as possible. “He is. I’m glad you are both with me,” Alex confessed, prompting Cassidy to take her hand and squeeze it gently. Alex returned the warm gesture and moved to look out the window with the small boy again.

“Alex?” Dylan asked when he felt her head take up residence over his own.

“Yeah, Speed?”

“How can you fly through a cloud when you can’t see?”

Alex smiled. “Well, that’s a good question. I’m not a pilot.”

“Do you think I could fly an airplane?” he asked.

“I think you could do just about anything you wanted, Dylan.” Cassidy listened and took a deep breath, laying her head against the seat and tenderly rubbing Alex’s hand with her thumb.

“But planes are really big, Alex. How can they stay up here?”

“You know, Speed. I have a feeling there are a couple of people you might like to talk to while we are in Washington.”

“How come?” Dylan asked.

“Well, my friend, John…you know; the president? He had some friends who are pilots.” Dylan turned wide eyed to the woman beside him. “Yeah, he did,” Alex continued. “You like cars and planes, huh?” The boy nodded. “Yeah, so did John.” Alex felt Cassidy’s grip reflexively tighten. “There will be some people there who fly
really
fast planes.”

“Can I go with them?” he asked hopefully.

Alex laughed. “I don’t know about
that
, Speed. But, I’ll bet you could ask them your questions.” Dylan smiled and returned his focus to the window.

“Alex?”

“Yeah, Speed?”

“How come the president died?”

Alex took a deep breath and felt Cassidy’s hand hold hers firmly. “Oh, Dylan; I wish I had an answer.”

“Somebody shot him,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Why? He wasn’t a bad guy, he’s the president.”

Alex nodded and looked into Dylan’s eyes as he turned to her. “Dylan, sometimes people do things that hurt other people. I don’t know why. Maybe because they are lost or sad or angry.”

“But you stop them,” Dylan said proudly.

The agent smiled at his innocence. “I try. People who do what I do, we try.”

“Alex?” Alex just looked at him. “People shouldn’t hurt other people.”

“No, Dylan; they shouldn’t.”

“He was nice to me.”

“I know he was. I’m sure he liked you,” Alex assured him.

“He gave me a plane once.” Cassidy looked at the pair beside her and felt her heart drop as she listened.

“He did?” Alex asked with genuine curiosity.

“Yeah. Just like his.” Alex chuckled at the story. It did not surprise her. John Merrow loved planes and he loved children, especially his own.

Cassidy recalled that day well. They had been at a fund-raiser. She had lost Dylan momentarily and when she captured sight of him again, she found the president on his knees talking to her son. She had watched as President Merrow handed her son the toy replica of Air Force One and noted the wide smile on both faces as he explained the different parts of the aircraft to Dylan. At four, Dylan was just thrilled to have some attention and a toy. When the president began to rise he noticed Cassidy watching and offered her a smiling acknowledgment. It was a moment she had not given much thought to in years. Now, it seemed to her it would be a moment she would never forget. The agent felt the tension in her lover’s grip and glanced across to see the tear falling down Cassidy’s cheek. “Well, Dylan,” Alex
said. “I know that the president would be so happy to know that you remember that.” Dylan smiled and looked back out the window. “Cass?” Alex turned her lover.

“I forgot about that day.”

“No, you just haven’t had a reason to recall it.”

Cassidy shook her head. “He’s like me, huh?”

The agent squeezed the teacher’s hand. “Yep. Smart, sensitive, funny, good looking, and asks a lot of questions.” Cassidy laughed. “Just like his mother,” Alex finished. The teacher let out a sigh. “It’ll be okay, Cass. I promise.”

“Alex?” Cassidy asked.

“What?”

“What didn’t you want to tell me this morning?”

“Oh no, nice try. See what I mean? Two of a kind.” Cassidy laughed and put her head on Alex’s shoulder as the agent returned her focus to the clouds rolling by outside.

Agent Brian Fallon sat across the desk from NSA Director Michael Taylor. “Agent Fallon,” Taylor began. “Do you understand the risks involved in this?” Brian Fallon nodded his understanding. “These people; this is not your run off the mill psychos. These people are connected. Connected to everything that makes the world tick. Some might say they are the reason it ticks at all.”

“I understand,” Fallon answered.

“Fallon, you have three kids. Have you considered…”

“Look,” Fallon said. “I do understand. I can’t just walk away. Alex…”

Michael Taylor nodded. “She has that effect on people, makes them do things they once thought crazy. She’s not going to like…”

“Well,” Fallon began, “whether or not she likes it, she’ll need to accept it.”

Taylor smiled. “I’ll talk to her Saturday.”

“I can tell her…”

“No.” Michael Taylor shook his head. “I’ll tell her Saturday afternoon. Just be ready.”