Private Rogue

Chapter 93

I didn’t think I’d ever had a highball that tasted this good. I took another sip and relished the peaty undertones of the single malt.

“What time is he coming?” Mo-bot asked.

It didn’t matter whether you were grand or low-born: if Mo wasn’t in the mood for something, she wouldn’t hide it. And right now, all she wanted was to be on a plane to Los Angeles.

“Eight,” Jessie replied. “He said he’d be here at eight. Right, Jack?”

I nodded. Jessie had been at my side for much of the past two weeks, helping coordinate our response with federal law enforcement. The implications of what we’d discovered on Roslov’s Bull were profound.

The technology alone was priceless, and so, it seemed, were the secrets it contained. Sci had only been able to decipher a tiny fraction of the data stored on the bronze, but it was enough. His refrain for weeks had been, “Heck of a thing.”

He said it now. “Heck of a thing. I wish I could have had it a little longer.”

I’d insisted on handing it to the one man I believed I could trust — the man we were about to meet — Secretary of State Eli Carver.

Justine squeezed my hand and I smiled at her. She responded with a sweet grin. We’d hit some turbulence following the car chase with Andreyev. She felt it was an unnecessary risk — Floyd, Beth and the children were all safe, and we had the original Bull — why risk my life capturing Andreyev? But I couldn’t let him get away, not after all the pain he’d caused. For Roni Alvarez, for Jim Taft, I had to get justice. I think she accepted that I’d never be one of those guys who could sit back and let others deal with problems. I had to get involved, and when I did, I would give it my all.

“He’s here,” Justine said, and I looked at the door to the Library Bar. A squad of Secret Service agents entered and fanned out as they scoped the place out. Conversation hushed and the patrons of the split-level bar watched to see what would happen next. Moments later, Eli Carver strode in. If he was aware every eye in the place was on him, he seemed unfazed by the attention.

He slid onto the bench seat opposite me.

“Jack Morgan. I just want to shake your hand,” he said, leaning across the table.

I took his hand and he wrapped both of his around mine for a warm, clasped shake.

“Where do I begin? This country owes you and your team a great debt. Rick Ferguson led us to two double agents he’d recruited within the Pentagon. You were right to be paranoid, Jack. There were more moles. Victor Andreyev has offered to turn on his former employers. He’s probably the highest-value asset we’ve flipped since Maxim Yenen.”

He looked at my team and held their gazes one by one. This guy was a master politician. He knew how to make people feel important.

“And the bull, the Charging Bull. The technology... I mean, wow! But the data — Roslov was running a huge network. Political interference, financing radical groups, bribing officials, buying influence around the world. We found three senators on his list and the details of every single payment he’s ever made to them. No wonder the Russians were prepared to go to such lengths to get it back. We’re in the process of dismantling or monitoring what we believe to be somewhere in the region of half their foreign intelligence activity.”

Sci whistled.

Carver looked at me squarely.

“So, like I said before, if you ever need anything...”

“I could use a name,” I said. “Andreyev told me he’d been instructed to hire me by someone in the Kremlin, that I’ve made powerful enemies over there.”

I sensed Justine shift uncomfortably. Carver was smart enough to pick up on her concern.

“He was probably trying to get inside your head,” he replied. “But I’ll check it out for you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Secretary,” I said, and he frowned.

“I’ve told you, it’s Eli.”

“And I said I might feel more comfortable with that once we’ve had a beer together,” I countered. “What can I get you?”

He stood. “I’m afraid I can’t. Dinner date with some defense contractors. They tell me it’s essential for national security, but I’d much rather hang out with you guys.”

“Another time then, Mr. Secretary,” I said.

He gave a wry smile. “You folks enjoy your evening.”

We said our goodbyes and within a few moments, he and his Secret Service detail were gone.

“Heck of a thing,” Sci remarked.

“When are you going to stop saying that?” Mo-bot exclaimed. We all chuckled.

“Well, it is,” Sci objected.

Mo-bot elbowed him playfully.

“Come on,” she said. “I need to grab my stuff. Meet down here in an hour?” she asked me.

I nodded. We’d booked a jet to leave for Los Angeles.

“We’ll catch up soon,” she said to Jessie.

When she and Sci were gone, Jessie got to her feet.

“I’m going too,” she said. “Unless you need anything?”

I shook my head. “You’ve done more than enough. I’ll call you for our regular briefing on Wednesday.”

“Thank you,” Justine said to Jessie. “For everything.”

“Yes,” I added. “Thank you. You’ve been outstanding.”

Jessie blushed. “Look after him. He needs watching.” She gave a warm smile, then turned and walked away.

Justine lifted my arm and put it over her shoulder. I pulled her toward me, and she settled against my chest.

For a while we didn’t say anything, simply watched the other patrons spending a normal evening in the busy hotel bar. True to its name, the place was fitted out like a library in an old English country home and had a comforting atmosphere. It was where Justine and I had flirted with giving our relationship another try, before my trip to Moscow. The place had special significance, at least for me, so I’d chosen it for our last night in New York.

“She’s right, you know,” Justine said at last. “You do need watching.”

“And you think you’re the right person to take on the responsibility?” I asked.

“I do,” she replied, before leaning in to kiss me.