Cross Roads by Fern Michaels

Myra dithered. “What should we do now?”
    â€œLet’s go to a hotel. At least we’ll know it’s not bugged. I’m going to call a…friend and see about getting my house swept for bugs. The paper and the phones, too. The only problem with that is, with all the high tech that is out there these days, the bugs will be back within hours. And it lets them know, whomever they are, that we are onto them,” Maggie said.
    â€œBut it’s been almost a year and a half since everyone split up. Why wait all that time to do…or implement whatever it is they plan on doing?” Myra said stubbornly.
    â€œI don’t know, Myra, but I do know this. I am going to e-mail Ted and Espinosa and tell them to hand in their resignations. We need them, and we need them now. ”
    â€œWill they have to forfeit the monies Global paid them?” Myra asked.
    â€œProbably. At this point I don’t think either one of them will care. That’s how much they both hate the job,” Maggie said. “I don’t know why I say this, but I think Ted is key to all of this. I also think he’ll be on the next plane out of Rome if I tell him it’s okay and that the paper needs them both.”
    â€œIf he or Joseph needs any added incentives, tell them both I will make up the difference in money. I mean that, Maggie, and won’t take no for an answer. You’re right, we need Ted and Joseph. Can you text him now?” Annie asked.
    â€œI’m doing it as we speak,” Maggie shot back.
    â€œWhich hotel do you want me to head for, Maggie? For obvious reasons, I don’t know much about Washington hotels. Now Vegas, that’s a different story.”
    â€œDo you want a five-star hotel?” Maggie asked, her fingers busily texting Ted.
    â€œAbsolutely.” Annie sniffed, as if she had been insulted by the question.
    â€œTake your pick. There is the Mandarin Oriental, the Hay-Adams, the Ritz-Carlton, or the St. Regis. None of them made five stars this year. All were in the four point five range. We could go to the Park Hyatt. It came in at a full five stars. It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from Embassy Row and is in the West End of Georgetown, Twenty-fourth and M, Northwest. We can hang out in the Blue Duck Tavern. Good place to see who comes in who looks like they don’t belong. And they have excellent security. Ted did an article on it last year, and Espinosa got some great pictures.”
    â€œThen the Park Hyatt it is,” Annie said, leaning on the horn to get out from behind a PT Cruiser.
    â€œTell me, dear, how can you talk and text at the same time?” Myra asked. “What is Ted saying?”
    â€œHe’s blessing you both up one side and down the other, and packing and texting at the same time. He’s so good at multitasking. But to answer your question, Myra, it takes practice. He’s telling me Espinosa is telling him the only available seats out of Rome on the next flight are first-class. He wants to know if he should take them, as they are pretty pricey.”
    â€œTell him yes,” Annie said as she was forced to slow down to make a right-hand turn. “Tell him to take a car service from the airport when he gets in. The Post can afford it.”
    â€œAnnie, Ted doesn’t work for the paper anymore. He and Espinosa resigned. Did you forget that little fact?”
    â€œThere is that, but I never accepted his or Joseph’s resignation. The two of them are still on the Post ’s payroll. Their checks are automatically deposited. I thought you knew that, Maggie.”
    Maggie stopped her furious texting long enough to lean forward. “Annie, that is too kind of you. No, I didn’t know, and I’m sure Ted and Espinosa don’t know, either.”
    â€œI opened separate accounts for them. I guess I forgot to mention it. I appreciate loyalty above all else, and Ted and Joseph have come through for us