“We’re still trying to get a picture of what we’re up against, so I came here to sit with you. This should slow them down. They won’t be able to identify me, not unless they start moving around to get an angle on my face, and that should buy us the time we need.”
“Well…I’m actually planning on meeting someone here in a—”
Six interrupted. “Would you mind if we held hands a moment? I’m trying to make this look as casual as possible, and I have something I need to tell you.”
“You want people to think I’m your mom, or that we’re a couple?”
“I don’t care what people think. I want to hold your hand because I am going to squeeze it very hard if you react to what I’m about to tell you.” He shrugged. “So…don’t.”
Slowly, she extended her arm across the little table. “You are quite the charmer.” She said it nervously; she knew bad news was coming.
Six clasped his hand over hers, holding her in place. The champagne came, no words were exchanged, and the female server went to check on a group of three at another outdoor table.
Six said, “Cathy. I’m sorry, but David Rudder was killed this morning. He was staying at a hotel in Alexandria; the enemy found him somehow. Cause of death hasn’t been announced.”
Her eyes began to mist; her chest heaved in her coat a little. “My God,” she said softly.
Six said, “You’re doing good. No big reaction.”
“I didn’t see it in the news.”
“I don’t think next of kin has been notified, so the police haven’t released details.” He added, “Here’s the thing, though. That killing? It was originally supposed to take place right here.”
“Here? Who…who is behind all this? Russia?”
“I was hoping you could help us out with that. Everyone who’s died has been in the IC, but they’ve had all sorts of jobs. Different specialties. I’m with a group trying to figure this out, but we always seem to be one step behind.”
“If…” Her voice cracked a little. “If the people who are here know that David Rudder is already dead…then why are they here?”
Six sighed. “You’re an extremely smart lady. You can figure that out on your own.”
Her eyes widened. “Me? They’re after me?”
“That’s my guess. The Belarusian who died the other night had a list of five names. Rudder was number two, after Irene Ortega. He had this location and time next to the name. We think he was going to kill Rudder here. When Deep Space died…Alexi Kravchuk, I mean. When that happened, it appears that another hit man got the job to kill Rudder. We assumed he would come here today, and it was our plan to stop him before he got anywhere near you. Unfortunately, the bad guys found Rudder before we did, and his body was fished out of the Potomac a half hour ago. We were here already, and that’s when we ID’d a surveillance package on you.”
“And they came to kill me?”
Court sipped his cappuccino as soon as it was brought to him. “You weren’t on Kravchuk’s list, but they certainly aren’t here to kill David Rudder. You must have been added.”
“And I should…I should stay calm? That’sreallyyour advice?”
Court squeezed her hand a little. “I’m asking you to trust me. Look…I have some people working with me. We have control of the situation.” His eyes flitted left and right. “I mean…sort of. We think the people watching you are an interdiction and isolation team. They are in place tosupport the hitter, to keep you where you are. He, or she, I guess, will likely come at the last moment.”
“Why do they want me dead? I’m not in the government like all the others.”
“My best guess would be this. Whatever story you’ve been working on…youaren’twrong.”
With a shaky hand, she brought her champagne to her lips. “That’s validating.” She sipped, thought a moment. “Are you still working outside the CIA?”
“Yes.”
“But…you’re not with the Gauntlet Group, are you?”
“I’m not.” Six chuckled. “I’m one of the few people on the outsidenotworking for them these days.”
“Right.”
Court cocked his head. “Why did you ask about them?”
