Black Rose

CHAPTER 56

Johannes Gutenberg listened to the report of Krivi's death and resisted the urge to hurl his phone across the room. Instead, he forced himself to place it gently on his desk.

Someone was killing the leadership of AEON. First Kamarov had disappeared. Then de Guillame had been strangled and Thorvaldson had a convenient heart attack. Now, Krivi. It was down to Mitchell, Halifax and himself and it didn't take a genius to see the pattern. He needed to create a problem bigger than himself for whoever was behind the attacks.

Gutenberg depressed a button on his intercom.

"Yes, sir." The voice of his personal assistant came through the speaker.

"Get hold of Schmidt. I want to see him now."

"Yes sir. I think he's in the billiards room."

"Just get him in here." Gutenberg turned off the intercom.

Some minutes later Schmidt came into the study, his face flushed from hurrying.

"I was outside," he said. "Your secretary said it was urgent."

"We have a problem," Gutenberg said. "Krivi's dead."

"How?"

"He was ambushed on the highway as he was going to his office. They also torched his factory. Our stockpiles of vaccine were inside."

"Do you have any idea who's behind these attacks?"

"No. It could be the Americans. Maybe the Russians. At the moment, I don't really care. It's time to initiate the next phase."

"China?"

"No. I want to release the plague on the East Coast of America. We'll start with local exposure. New York should get things rolling nicely."

"Is that wise? With Krivi gone, it will take time to build up our supplies of vaccine again. It could get over here before we're ready."

"How long will it take to replenish our stockpiles?"

"Two months. Perhaps three."

"Have all of our essential personnel been vaccinated?"

"Of course."

"Then I'm not going to worry about it."

"Have you told Mitchell what you plan?"

"He can find out like everybody else, by watching the news."

At that moment, Senator Randolph Mitchell wasn't watching the news. He was watching a seductive young woman sitting down at the bar in one of his favorite restaurants. It was possible she was one of the high-end hookers who trolled the power spots of Washington but there was something about her that made him think otherwise. He signaled the waiter over.

"Senator."

"Have you noticed that young lady at the bar?"

"It would be hard not to, sir."

"Have you seen her before?"

"No, Senator."

"Please ask her if she would like to join me for a cocktail."

As the waiter crossed the room toward the bar, Mitchell contemplated what she was going to be like when he got her into bed. That she would be there before midnight, he had no doubt. The combination of power, immense wealth and good looks that Mitchell possessed made him nearly irresistible. He had long ago cultivated an easy charm that smoothed the way for his conquests. He was adept at telling women what they wanted to hear and handsome enough to make it easy to listen.

She looked over at him as the waiter indicated Mitchell's table. She had intense, blue eyes and full, red lips. Mitchell smiled at her.

Valentina came over to his table. Mitchell stood.

"Thank you for joining me," he said. "Please, sit down." He indicated the chair next to his.

"Are you really a senator?" she said as she sat. Her voice was deep, soft. She had a faint accent he couldn't quite place, something European.

Wonderful, he thought. She really doesn't know who I am.

"Guilty," he said. "Randolph Mitchell."

"Jacqueline DuMons," Valentina said.

Mitchell sat and signaled the waiter. "Where are you from, Jacqueline?"

"It is that obvious? That I am not from here?"

"Not at all, but I thought I heard a trace of an accent. Are you French, perhaps?"

"Now it is my turn to say guilty," she said. "Yes, I live in Paris. I have a flat in Montmarte."

The waiter arrived at the table.

"What are you having?" Mitchell said.

"Whatever you are."

"Two martinis, Joseph, very dry."

"Very good, Senator."

"This is a very nice restaurant," Valentina/Jacqueline said, looking around.

"The food is excellent. Would you care to join me for dinner? I think food is always better when it's shared, don't you? Like many things."

Valentina looked at him and smiled. "Are you making a proposition at me, Senator?"

Mitchell laughed. "In America, we would say making a pass, not a proposition. Why don't we see how the evening progresses?"

You didn't answer my question, you lecher, Valentina thought. But then, I already know the answer.

The waiter brought their drinks.

Mitchell raised his glass toward her. "To new acquaintances."

He drank. She sipped and set her glass down next to his.

A man in his 40s in an expensive suit approached the table.

"Senator, I need a word."

Mitchell turned to look at him.

Valentina wore a ring in the shape of a rose. When Mitchell turned she reached for her purse and passed her hand over his glass, touching the top of the ring. A clear drop of liquid fell from the ring into his drink. The poison was one of the products of SVR's laboratories. It caused total paralysis of the vocal cords and respiratory system. The victim could neither speak nor breathe. The poison would take effect almost instantly.

It was an extremely unpleasant way to die.

"Not now, Maury," Mitchell said to the man in the suit. "Call my secretary tomorrow and make an appointment. Tell her I said ten minutes."

"Senator…"

"Tomorrow, Maury." There was an edge in Mitchell's voice. He turned back toward Valentina. "I apologize for the interruption."

"No need to apologize," Valentina said. "A powerful man has many distractions."

Mitchell picked up his martini and drained half the glass.

"Shall we order?"

Mitchell started to raise his arm to signal the waiter. His face contorted in agony. He clutched his chest, eyes bulging. His mouth gaped open and closed as his body spasmed. Mitchell struggled to his feet and fell sideways, grabbing the tablecloth and pulling glasses and silverware down on top of him.

Valentina let out a scream and stood, backing away from the table with her hands to her mouth. In the rush to Mitchell's side, all eyes were on the stricken man. Valentina melted away into the crowd. By the time anyone thought to look for the beautiful young woman who had been having a drink with the senator, she was blocks away.