Gambit, David Hagberg [most life changing books .TXT] 📗

motioning to Mac and Patterson, who sat opposite.

“I assume that you’ve been brought up to date,” McGarvey started.

“Yes. Any idea who’s after you this time?”

“According to what we’ve figured out so far, no government I’ve clashed with in the past is behind it.”

“We’ve come to the same conclusion,” Waksberg said. “But your assumption that it’s someone in the White House or Pentagon is an impossible leap.”

“It’s just a starting point. I’ve gone head-to-head with staffers in both places in the past year or two. You’ve read the after-action reports.”

“Doesn’t mean anyone left behind is holding a grudge,” Taft said.

“Someone is.”

“Whoever it is tried twice and failed twice. Don’t you think they’ve had enough?”

“No,” McGarvey said. “In any event, I’m striking back.”

“How, exactly?” Waksberg asked. “Give me the operational details.”

“To start with, I’m going to step on some toes and see what shakes out.”

“By throwing out blanket accusations?”

“Yes, and I’d like your help.”

“I don’t think that you need anyone but Mr. Rencke’s help,” Taft said. “But in fact, I’ve ordered him and Mary Sullivan to step down.”

“That may not be the best idea,” Mac said.

“And I want you to peacefully surrender yourself to protective custody.”

“No.”

“It’s not to protect you; it’s to help protect innocent civilians who might get hit in the cross fire,” Taft explained. “Van agrees.” P. Van Gessel was head of security.

“That wouldn’t work.”

“Why?” Patterson asked.

“Whoever is after me would simply wait it out. Sooner or later, Pete and I would return to the real world, and it would start all over again.”

Taft sat back, his lips pursed for a moment. “I’ve had two calls about this situation. The first was from General Leon in Pretoria. You came down hard on him.”

“I meant to, and he did exactly what I’d thought he would do.”

“And that was?”

“Protect one of his own.”

“And what did that tell you?”

“That he wasn’t involved in the attacks on me.”

Taft nodded. “Good.”

“The second call was from someone in the White House?” McGarvey said. “Who?”

“President Weaver, who has it out for you.”

McGarvey shrugged. “That’s too bad, because I have a lot of respect for anyone sitting in the Oval Office.”

“But not Weaver.”

“For anyone there,” McGarvey said. “What did the president say?”

“He asked me to order you to back off,” Taft said.

“And do what, exactly?”

“Voluntarily go into protective custody.”

“Which I won’t do,” McGarvey said.

“I could have the FBI arrest you,” Taft said.

“Yes, you could.”

There was an awkward silence.

“What’s next?” Patterson asked.

“I’ve pushed a little,” McGarvey said. “General Leon responded, and so did the president. So now I’m going home.”

“With a target on your back.”

“Exactly.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

Hammond left Susan with Ned Beetle, one of her ex-husbands who’d been the first to arrive with his wife, a Manhattan society girl, the ex-wife of a player in banking, and waited at the rail with his chief steward, Kathy Bliss, as one of the fishing charter boats he’d hired came out to where they were anchored.

At seventy-five with a light breeze, the weather for Skagway was almost balmy. Across the bay, two gigantic cruise ships were docked, and flash cameras had been popping off since the first helicopter had landed on Glory’s foredeck a couple of hours ago.

He and Susan had put out the word that they were hosting a long weekend wilderness party aboard the yacht. But they didn’t give the name of the place—only it’s latitude and longitude: 59.27.30N 135.18.50W. It was to be a treasure hunt.

The charter boat pulled alongside with three couples, two of whom had flown a private jet to Juneau and then a twin-engine prop job up to Skagway, whose small airport was notoriously difficult, especially for small jets flown by pilots with no local knowledge.

First up the boarding ladder was Vitali Novikov, who owned a majority position in the Russian telecom giant MobileTele Systems with his twenty-three-year-old Italian movie-star wife, who was less than half his age.

“Vitali, surprised to see you and Gina here,” Hammond said. He was certain that Tarasov had sent him to spy.

“When Tommy throws a party, one can’t miss it,” Novikov said.

Gina Bragga did not seem pleased. “You said it, wilderness. More like primitive.”

“But here is like home. Russia used to own Alaska. Big mistake selling it.”

“Where’s Susan?”

“Inside,” Hammond said, and Gina and Novikov left.

Next up were Toni Lama and her wife, Lisa, Broadway producers whose last seven plays were sold-out massive hits, four of which were still playing. Toni stood six foot three and was slender, almost the twin of Tommy Tune, while Lisa was just five feet and chubby. But she wrote the music and was a genius at it.

They air-kissed with Hammond.

“Glad we could get away,” Lisa said, grinning. “If there could possibly be an opposite to New York City, this place is it,” she said. “You and Susie always have the best parties.”

“We try. Did anyone else come out with you?”

“The Taiwanese movie couple,” Toni said. “First time we met them. Absolutely exotic.”

“You guys have good taste,” Lisa said.

For a brief moment, Hammond had no idea who they were talking about, but all of a sudden, it dawned on him who the Taiwanese couple were, and he managed a weak smile to hide his discomfiture.

“That’s why we always want you and Toni with us,” he said. “The others are inside. Drinks now and a surprise for late lunch.”

The last up the boarding ladder were Taio and Li, beautiful people, both of them, dressed casually expensive in designer leather jeans, white shirts, and matching leather jackets, bright red silk scarves around their necks, and jaunty narrow-brimmed hats.

“Mr. Hammond, it was so nice of you to invite us,” Taio said, offering his hand. “I’m Kuang Wei, and this is my wife, Kuang Fan.”

They shook hands around, Hammond at a loss for words. If these were the Scorpions Tarasov had sent, then their appearance and personas were perfect disguises. They looked more like poets or perhaps small-school teachers than movie people or assassins.

“I’m very pleased to meet you. I’m sure my companion will have a million questions about the film