Contingencies, page 20
She was sitting on the bed lacing her boots when Reilly returned. “I’m ready. I’m sorry I overslept.”
“You didn’t,” he said then smiled. “Just a bad habit. When you’ve been responsible for the lives of the men you’re giving orders to for as long as I was, you tend not to sleep. I’m always up first making sure everything is the way I left it the night before.”
“And is it?” she asked. Reilly hesitated, as if he were considering something, and she offered a silent prayer that he wouldn’t ask about her nightmare.
“Well, it stopped raining and I found a road marker down the way a bit. We’re at the German border but we need to change tactics. If we use the autobahn mainline routes, we’ll make better time. It’ll put us out there, but at this point, I think we can safely fly under the radar of anyone who might still be watching.”
Dani’s nerves jumped into high gear. A change could either cause the vision to come true or be enough to alter the outcome. She was now second guessing everything but either way, they had to get there today. She had no choice except to agree but asked him the most pressing question. “What are we going to do about the French border?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet. We’ll have to put our heads together and think about it on the way.”
Dani gave Reilly a weak smile in return to his strangely blissful grin. Part of her rejoiced that he was including her in the decision process. It was something Viktor had never understood. Reilly stood there confident – not arrogant or authoritative – but unafraid, and Dani finally understood. With each operation, every consideration had to be weighed, every scenario played out; some very quickly. Each choice, no matter how big or small, had the potential to affect the outcome. This was a highly critical mission but her emotions were getting in the way. She had to be more like him so they were not a distraction.
Chapter 27
Michél Charon sat at the same small table at the tiny outdoor café just as he had done yesterday and the day before, two hours before to one hour after sunset as secretly agreed. His third cup of tea had gone cold while he studied the week’s reports from around the city on his Blackberry. An unusual uptick in murders in several districts known for illegal gambling, drugs, and prostitution had him most disturbed. A known kingpin was dead as were some of his soldiers, all who happened to be named in O’Donnell’s papers. He didn’t believe in coincidences. He needed Reilly’s input.
He anxiously checked his watch for the hundredth time. The gnawing in his stomach grew stronger with each minute that passed until a familiar voice doused the fire.
“Pardon, monsieur. Quelle heure est-il?”
Michél turned and breathed. He grabbed Dani and lifted her up in a hug. Drops of happiness hung on her lashes while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Michél held her for longer than he intended just to make sure she was real and released her only when Reilly cleared his throat.
“Hey, what about me?” Reilly asked.
Michél gripped Reilly’s shoulders then hugged him fiercely. “I was beginning to think I would never see you again.”
“Almost,” Reilly admitted quietly as Michél released his hold.
“Come, let’s get you settled. There is a lot to discuss but first, I think, showers are in order, ouí? I love you both but you really are offensive.” Michél handed Dani a small white bag. Inside were four chocolate macaron cookies.
“You remembered,” she said and pulled one out for Reilly.
He toasted his to hers before popping the confection in his mouth and savoring the flavor of her favorite cookie. “Ah, chocolate. Now I get it.” Dani gave him a delighted smile.
“Of course,” Michél said studying their exchange. “Though the girls will be very disappointed there are no pastries tonight.” He gave her another kiss on her head.
On the Avenue Montaigne, the Hotel Plaza Athénée boasted a multitude of red and white flowers in full bloom that spilled from embellished cement planters and iron trellises at each window. Exquisitely endowed with the finest materials, the hotel catered to the most discriminating patrons. The finest crystal shone brightly against brass fixtures and richly woven carpets and draperies.
Guests in the lobby scoffed at the downtrodden strangers checking in with a professionally-dressed man. They turned up their noses and unapologetically spoke loud enough to be heard. The doorman looked twice at the unkempt woman. “Daniella!” he called and followed them to the front desk.
Reilly protectively stepped closer to her. Short in stature, the young man’s small grey eyes sat close to a long, narrow nose. His thin face was pale and sickly making him appear older than he probably was but Dani greeted him with a warm smile and extended hands.
“Bonjour, James, comment allez-vous?” She kissed both his cheeks.
The man judged Reilly up and down with disgust. “Bien, but what happened to you?”
“Working, that’s all,” Dani said. “Let me introduce you.”
James ignored Reilly’s offered hand and continued holding Dani’s. “How long are you staying?” he asked.
Reilly’s unease blared at Dani and she pulled back. “I don’t know, but we’ll catch up later, I promise.”
James straightened his shoulders. “Certainement.” He eyed Reilly again and jealously watched her board the elevator with him and the police commander.
“Who was that?” Reilly asked Dani as Michél swiped the card for the penthouse and handed them their passports.
“Just an old friend,” she said. “I gave him some help when he needed it that’s all. Let’s just say he’s still very grateful.”
Reilly wondered just how grateful and looked to Michél who, without comment, remained engrossed by the knuckles on his hands.
Within moments, the door opened on the hall of the Presidential suite and they stepped inside to a living area beautifully decorated in a Louis XIV style. Evoking all the romance of historical Paris, overstuffed sofas and chairs blended smartly with furniture of the period while expertly draped silk, in soft, soothing colors of creams and blues hung elegantly at each window. A period table was set for dining at one end and business at the other. To the left, a masculine bedroom had been prepared and beyond that was a small galley kitchen. The bedroom on the right was designed with traditional baroque furnishings and lace accompaniments to satisfy any fussy female. Before Dani and Reilly could get comfortable, Michél immediately ordered them to their respective rooms.
Reilly finished quickly and found Michél sitting at the dining table, deep in thought. The Commander stood and stepped forward to again embrace him.
“Much better,” Michél said.
“Much. Thanks for everything.”
Michél frowned as he rested against the table. “I was really starting to worry.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
“First, how did you manage our border? Alert levels have been raised.”
Reilly’s mouth curled. Slipping through Germany had been uneventful. Closer to the French border, they changed tactics, got on local roads, and headed toward a lesser-used crossing Reilly had found on the map. The idea came to him as Dani cradled the backpack while searching for a snack. Another perfect performance, as a pregnant woman about to pop, was exceptionally wicked. She wore his leather jacket to hide the outline of the pack beneath her unbelted, oversized dress. Her screams and curses at him for touching her in the first place rattled both guards who had no intention on delivering any babies especially with a hospital only one kilometer inside the border. They had laughed for miles.
“Creatively,” Reilly said. “Have you contacted Dmitri yet?”
“No, I wanted to talk to you first. What the hell happened?”
“Good, don’t, not yet anyway. Irina set us up. We were ambushed not five hours out. Dani took out the first guy but we almost crashed with the second. It had nothing to do with this mission, only with Dani.”
“He will lose his mind,” Michél said. “Dmitri can contain neither his men nor his daughter and both have made my job harder than it needs to be. His team is here now working on phase two. You know this, yes?”
Reilly didn’t hide his irritation. “I really don’t need to be reminded.”
“Problems with Kovalenko?”
“Always.”
“He is most, unconventional.”
“You don’t need to play nice around me,” Reilly said. “The man’s a menace. I can only imagine the problems he’s caused you with his unconventional ways. I have even less use for him now after what Dani has told me. What he did to her, how he treated her, is inexcusable. I don’t know what Dmitri was thinking.”
“So, what do you think of our girl?” Michél chuckled.
Reilly stiffened. “I’m trying not to.”
He raised an eyebrow and slapped Reilly on the back. “So, she got to you? Did you work the old Reilly charm?”
Reilly became even more irritated as his reputation reared its ugly head once again. “No. I’m not saying I didn’t want to. I just couldn’t.”
Michél leaned against the table’s edge. “Well look at that.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Then stop looking at me like that,” Reilly said and sat beside his friend. Michél’s silent smirk made him feel like a teenager being teased. “I’ve never met anyone like her. The odds were stacked against us but she was amazing. Except for freaking me out last night, I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”
“A partner?” Michél teased but Reilly’s tone said he was deeply troubled by something else entirely. “What happened last night?”
“I don’t know exactly. She woke up screaming from a nightmare but somehow it seemed more than that. She wouldn’t talk about it and didn’t come back to bed until after I’d fallen asleep.”
“Bed? I thought you didn’t sleep with her.”
“Who are you, my father? I told you nothing happened. We slept that’s all. It just happened to be in the same bed.”
Michél raised an eyebrow. “And nothing happened? I am truly amazed.” Michél chuckled and slapped Reilly’s leg. Neither had a chance to comment further.
Dressed in dark washed jeans and a white cashmere sweater, Dani entered the room looking refreshed and relaxed. Bright pink polish covered her toenails and whether it was from the bath or the fact that they finally made it to Paris, she appeared to glow like the gold medallion resting on her chest.
“Such serious faces,” she said. “I’m sorry I made you wait.”
“With the way you smell my dear, you could have taken another hour and we would not have minded,” Michél said ramping up his accent. He reached for and kissed her hand.
Dani laughed and kissed his cheek. “Handsome and charming. This is why Lisette has tolerated you for so long. You will thank her for my favorites, won’t you?”
“Of course,” he replied. “I ordered room service, a little of everything, just as you like. If you are ready, I would like to get started.”
“I just need a cup of tea,” she said.
“I’ll get it for you,” Reilly offered. “Black right?”
Michél nodded a silent thank you and watched Dani’s expression change as Reilly disappeared into the kitchen. He grabbed her hands and pulled her close.
“How are the girls?” Dani asked. She needed some sort of normalcy, something good and innocent to focus on.
“They are well. Giselle is six and half and Sofia is three.”
“Can’t forget that half, right?”
“Ouí, I am reminded daily how important it is,” Michél said.
A tear started but was quickly blinked away. “Give them a kiss for me?” she asked.
“I will,” Michél said, “but how are you? Truly.”
Looking up at his lean, six-foot frame, Dani studied her friend’s handsome face. Michél Charon never seemed to age. Earthen skin that reminded her of cream-laden coffee held almond shaped eyes behind wireless glasses. The black hair on his beautifully shaped head was trimmed almost to his scalp. It was a kind face with a sincere smile that she had known all her life. He shared her happiness and consoled her misery but his smile today was replaced by concern through deep, dark eyes that squinted beneath thick, black brows.
“I’m okay, I guess,” she sighed.
Michél examined her face. “You do not look okay.”
“These last few weeks have been rough.”
“Reilly said you were amazing. That he would not be here if it were not for you. I am very proud of you.” He lightly kissed her forehead.
Dani’s eyes moistened. “It’s really the other way around. I’d be dead if it weren’t for him. I’ve messed his mission up so badly, I don’t even know how to begin to thank him for tolerating me. I tried, but I’m not made like he is.”
“Reilly has many years invested in this operation and whether you know it or not, it is one that you are both responsible for now. Do not underestimate him or yourself and as far as a thank you, you are half French so I am sure you will think of something proper. Now, tell me about last night.”
Dani grew cold at the thought and pulled away. “He told you?”
“As he so eloquently put it in his American slang, you freaked him out.”
Dani swallowed hard. Because that’s what I am, and now he knows. Michél knew all about her nightmares and how fierce and paralyzing they could be until time or the event had passed. “His death is going to be my fault,” she said. “Someone or something will get to him because of me. Michél, I cannot allow that to happen, not after all he has given up.”
“You care about him then?”
“He’s in danger if I stay. Please tell me that you found what you need and you both can finish this without me.”
Michél held her hand firmly but shook his head. “I am sorry, Daniella. We need your help. Reilly risked everything to get you here for good reason. Leaving now would be a slap in his face.”
Friend or not, Dani forgot how blunt and direct Michél could be when working but she dug in. “I still don’t understand what more I can add. I’m second guessing everything now. We’re late because of me. Your secondary plans are in place because of me. What will any of this matter if he winds up dead because of me?”
“There are always costs in this business, you know that and so does Reilly but you do not give us enough credit. We will get Mariner here, in Paris. Then, you can go on with your life.”
Dani shuttered at his words.
“Where that is and who it includes depends upon you,” he said. “Now, pull yourself together and dig down for that Tyler courage. We have a lot to do.” Michél released her when the doorbell chimed.
The momentary comfort from the hot bath instantly disappeared. Dani desperately needed something to make her warm again and got her answer twofold when Reilly returned.
Dressed in black slacks and a grey dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, she finally noticed his shaved face and the brightness in his deep blue eyes. It was selfish, but part of her wanted only to crawl inside the safety of his arms and forget about everything. The louder, stronger part, told her to run to keep to him safe. She could do neither.
She wrapped her hands around his when he offered the mug and held onto them for a moment. She pushed away her doubt and pulled down on the mug so he would lower his head. The smell of his cologne seeped into her veins and added the warmth she was looking for. She closed her eyes, moved closer to him and softly kissed his cheek. It would have to be enough.
“Thank you, for everything,” she whispered in his ear.
Reilly put his head to hers and breathed her in. “I should be thanking you,” he said then let her step back as Michél called them over to eat.
James had placed himself in charge of overseeing the setup. In dramatic flair, he explained the items on the cart and gracefully handed Dani a plate intent on serving her everything she wanted.
Reilly and Michél filled their own plates then sat down at the dining table where Reilly watched James position himself beside Dani and commandeer the conversation with the events of his life since she had last visited. Dani was confined to standing and eating.
“She’s being very gracious to the staff,” Reilly said without hiding his suspicion. “So, fill me in.”
“You will find her always gracious but James is a special pet project,” Michél whispered.
Reilly immediately thought of Manny’s comment about strays.
“A year ago, Daniella was here working when she was mugged,” Michél said.
Reilly grunted. “Let me guess.”
“She chased him for two blocks and caught him.”
The mental image made Reilly grin.
“Then instead of pressing charges and sending him to jail, she got him help.”
“I’m sure you helped with that,” Reilly said.
“Only a little. The rest was Daniella. She got James into a drug treatment program, helped him stay clean, and got him this job. She always stays here when she is in Paris.” Michél patted Reilly’s hand. “They are just friends. Nothing to worry about.”
Reilly quickly pulled his hand away. “You’re not funny.”
Michél quietly gloated as he finished his meal.
“He seems a bit full of himself,” Reilly commented.
“Around Daniella, ouí. Like most men will do when a beautiful woman pays them any attention, he has confused her kindness with interest.”
Reilly snorted. “What does he do here besides monopolize her time?”
Michél chuckled at the not-so-subtle interrogation. “General duties. Doorman, porter, room service. Tasks where he can do the least damage. They give him a lot of leeway because of Daniella’s loyalty to the hotel and her friendship with the owners. What he will not tell her is that he is on probation again.”
