Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
W arrick slid through the crowd. He listened and pretended not to know people when he met them. However, he froze when he saw Senator Epps. Epps had been friends with his parents. Senator Epps was the head of the foreign affairs committee and leader of the Senate. He was older now, in his mid-sixties. While time had taken its toll, he was still the powerful D.C. player Warrick remembered from his youth. He was also the senator who led the charge to declare Mollia Domini a terrorist organization.
“Warren,” Senator Epps’s hair had gone gray and he looked as serious as ever, but he still had that kind smile Warrick remembered. “I am so happy to see you, my boy.” Epps hugged him and Warrick saw numerous sets of eyes on them. He didn’t want to crush Epps’s heart, but he had to for now.
“I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
Epps’s smiled faded. “You don’t remember me? I was good friends with your parents.”
Warren smiled and held out his hand. “Then it’s very nice to meet you, sir.” Warrick saw the sadness on the senator’s face, but he also saw the people around them begin to whisper. “I look forward to talking tonight and hearing about your friendship with my family.”
Warrick stepped away, trying not to focus on any one person. That is, until he caught a glimpse of a perfectly rounded ass, boobs that were larger than watermelons, and those lashes! He watched the lashes flutter and his vision began to fade as his mind grew fuzzy. “Wow, that is not someone you normally see at political conferences.”
Warrick shook his head to look at the woman standing next to him. “I wouldn’t know. Warren Hawkins,” he said, holding out his hand to the middle-aged woman who was primly put together with a kind smile.
“Stephanie Keys. I’m the United States’ UN ambassador.”
“Nice to meet you,” Warren said, shaking her hand but keeping his eye on the people talking around him.
“So, you want to get into politics?” Stephanie asked.
“Yes. I’m not a flashy guy, so I don’t think I can do something like you or the president, but I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and work on the ground, so to speak. I’ve been told he’d been working very closely with the leaders in Crusina to make things better. That’s what I want to do.”
Stephanie nodded. “I must admit, I liked doing that too. Now I’m in the public eye, and while I know I’m doing good, it’s also hard. You become an easy target for threats. I once had an idea to run for president, but I think staying behind the scenes suits me better.”
Warrick’s mind was already racing. “Threats?”
Stephanie nodded. “I get them all the time. Let me know if you need someplace to land, Warren. I have a couple openings in New York City if you feel like working with me. You’d be behind the scenes, so don’t worry about the threats. Excuse me, I see someone I know I should say hello to. Princess,” Stephanie said, stepping away from Warrick and over to Ariana and Jameson.
Warrick saw Sydney making her way to Heather and decided to start making his rounds. He felt Father Ben moving behind him and Kori, who had been assigned to get close to Sutton Ramsey, stopped in front of him. “Nikki says Tim is a wild flirt. He will cheat on his wife at the drop of a hat, but didn’t come close to revealing any secrets, even when she dangled information about you for him to take. He only thinks with one head and it’s not the one that can lead a secret group.”
Warrick nodded as Sutton Ramsey walked up to him. “Warren, I’m Sutton Ramsey, the Secretary of State. I am so upset about what’s happened to you. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you,” Warrick said, shaking her hand as if they hadn’t met before. “This is Kori. He’s been showing me around town.”
Sutton smiled at Kori, but glanced around her. They had fifteen minutes of mingling before the first panel began. “Let’s move this along. I feel as if there’s a huge target on my back. I’d rather cut to the chase then wait to be hunted down,” she whispered before her eye caught someone and motioned them over. She continued to look around the room and waved two more people over.
Warrick saw Faith flirting with Jacob as she took his empty glass back before he moved toward them. Warrick watched Faith move next to Heather, and then Tim, taking both of their glasses. She was wearing white gloves as she disappeared with the three glasses. Smart. They were going to fingerprint them.
“Warren Hawkins, this is my team. Deputy Director Jacob Alexander. Tim Kelsey is the head of diplomatic security, and Heather Ring is the undersecretary for arms control and international security.” Sutton turned to her group. “I was telling Mr. Hawkins how horrible I feel for what happened to his family under the watch of the State Department and if there’s anything we can do to help him, to please let us know.”
“How very presidential sounding, ma’am,” Warrick said. Two could play at this game. He wasn’t the only target in the room and he’d happily move it along, even if it meant moving the target off him.
Sutton smiled and gave him a wink. “See, you’re already picking up on politics. That’s right, I’m seriously thinking of running for president. As you know, the secretary of state is appointed by the president, so I hope I’m lucky enough to get our president’s endorsement.”
Damn, she was good.
“And I hope when you become president, you’ll appoint me secretary of state,” Jacob said with a laugh.
“I’d make a wonderful press secretary,” Heather said, joining in with a grin.
Tim was too busy eyeing Nikki to care about the conversation around him, which was a little concerning for his position.
“How are you finding being back in the United States?” Heather asked as they continued to speak.
Warrick answered questions about what he remembered and what he wanted to accomplish. It was the standard talking points as Kori stuck by his side, nodding as if he were part of the conversation too.
There was the sound of a bell and then Mo stepped up behind the podium. “Our first sessions will begin in five minutes. Please see the program for the options to choose from and make your way to those designated areas. Thank you.”
“Well,” Sutton said with a kind smile. “It was good to meet you, Warren. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything. Now, I better get going. I want a good seat to hear Prince Mohtadi talk on mentoring young leaders.”
Warrick, Kori, and Father Ben followed the flow out of the room. Veronica waved them over, and they stepped from the flow of the traffic into a small room.
“They got the fingerprints back. It’s a match for the alley in Crusina.”
Warrick’s heart stopped. His revenge. It was almost complete. “Who is it?”
Cassidy followed the people walking from the ballroom. She’d looked over her shoulder, but Warrick was gone. She would stick with the mission and continue to talk to people and eavesdrop. They had to be stirring up the pot. She was sure some action would be taken against Warrick soon.
The hallway began to clear until she heard footsteps behind her. Cassidy turned and the man smiled at her. “I lost her,” Agent Bade said with a flashy smile. “Ms. Ramsey is going to Prince Mo’s panel. Can you show me where it’s being held?”
Cassidy looked down at the program and felt something pressed to her neck. A second later her body went limp as the taser shot electricity through her.
“Which side are you really on? Will you join us or will you die? Personally, I vote for death,” Bade whispered, pulling her into the bathroom they were standing next to. A moment later, Cassidy felt herself being lifted up and then another pair of hands grabbed her as she was shoved out of the window.
Cassidy fell for a moment before the person caught her bodyweight. His lips were on hers, her back pressed up against the brick, and her muscles slowly beginning to regain control. The man was blocking her from view as she heard people walk by. Probably Rahmi soldiers. The man groaned and kissed her deeper even though she had no say in it. Her mouth just wouldn’t work.
Her finger twitched and then she was zapped again. “Can’t have you causing a scene. It’s nice to see you again. We’ll have more time to talk than we did in Crusina. I have to say, you’re remarkable when you fight.” Cassidy felt her hands being pulled back and then zip-tied behind her a moment before Bade jumped from the bathroom window. Together, the men mostly carried her as if she were drunk to the nearest building. It was a gardening shed built to look like a small barn. It was full of soil, decorative pots, gardening tools, and potted plants that were growing bigger before being transplanted.
She was shoved onto a metal stool before her legs were zip-tied to the metal legs and her back leaned against the wall. “Go get your boss.”
Bade slipped from the building that Cassidy really hoped was wired with audio and video. The taser didn’t knock her down for long. She’d be able to fight, once she managed to get free.
“Now, let’s see what you’re hiding under your shirt.”
Cassidy tried to pull away, but the wall behind her kept her pinned in place. Her fingers began to move again, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from ripping open her shirt and pulling all her weapons from her body.
“This is truly impressive,” he said, looking down at all the weapons now laid out on the wooden gardening table. “I really hope you decide to join us. Now, as we were talking about in Crusina, you had Naylor arrested. You cut off our inside information to the CIA. You have two choices. One, you become our new inside source. Or two, you die here in the garden shed.”
Cassidy tried to talk, but it came out a strangled whisper. “Tell. Me. More.”
“Oh good. I finally have your attention.” He pulled out another stool and sat down across from her so that their knees were almost touching. “We’ve learned from past mistakes. We’re new. We’re improved. We’re ready to make a difference.”
“Who?” Cassidy asked, her voice tight, as she tried to regain control of her muscles.
“The New Renaissance. We’re a rebirth after the darkness of the current state of affairs.”
“You are the darkness,” Cassidy said, slowly.
“That’s where you’re wrong. We’re enlightened. And it’s beginning to sound as if you don’t see the light.”
The door opened and Sutton Ramsey walked inside. “What is this all about—?”
Sutton froze when she saw Cassidy. Bade grabbed her, shoving her forward and locking the door behind them.
“What is going on?” Sutton asked, looking behind her at her diplomatic security agent and then at the man sitting across from Cassidy. “Would you care to explain this, Jacob?” she asked her deputy secretary.
“It’s very simple, Sutton,” Jacob said, standing up from the stool and picking it up before placing it near Cassidy. With a nod of his head, Agent Bade shoved Sutton forward and then pressed her to sit down on the stool. “You were offered the chance to join us and you refused, as did Cassidy. However, it actually works in my favor for you to have refused. I know the council preferred you to be on board since your chances are greater at becoming president, but personally, this is a win for me.”
“What council? What win?” Sutton asked as Cassidy began to wiggle her toes.
“The New Renaissance. No different countries with different interests. Instead, the council governs all. We’re recruiting now. We need leaders to join us. Think of us as one big EU or NATO. You, as the next probable president, would be a huge win. However, with you out of the way, I can step up.”
“Sutton dies and you’re mostly likely appointed the new interim Secretary of State,” Cassidy said, realizing what was happening. She tensed her thighs, feeling the strength of her muscles returning.
“That’s right. And I have enough time to make a splash and become popular in the U.S. before the election. An election where I dedicate my presidential run in honor of my mentor, the tragically murdered Sutton Ramsey.”
“How are you going to explain my murder?” Sutton asked, her voice strong, but shaking slightly.
“That all depends on Cassidy.” Jacob turned to Cassidy and she knew she was out of time. “If you’re not with us, you are against us. So, Cassidy, which will it be?”