it.”
The second team leader looked on.
“Easy! That’s evidence.”
His head slumped to his chin. “Somehow, I doubt it.”
James drove fifteen miles to a hotel surplus parking lot where he ditched the car. Now an orphan, the Chevy was sanitized, the plates and VIN numbers removed. The gear was burned, bagged and tossed into a dumpster. Afterward, he hailed a taxi and rode with Kate to an all-night diner in New York City. Settling into a booth in a back corner, they were approached by a waitress who brought coffee. James set about inspecting the gems, pulling one from the bag and glancing around to be sure no one was paying attention. He rolled the gem between a finger and his thumb and held a magnifying glass in his other hand.
Kate eventually spoke. “Well?”
He scrutinized the gem.
“Flawless.”
She fidgeted in her seat as he inspected a few more stones.
“We’re good,” James told her.
Kate took a sip of coffee and glanced at the bag of diamonds.
“We have to convert these into cash. After Kowalski’s death last night, it’s obvious this isn’t over.”
“I’m not exactly overjoyed about the things we’re doing, but it beats winding up in the morgue.”
“What now?” Kate asked.
“Do you recall the concept of asymmetrical warfare? We’ve discussed it in the past.”
“Sure, The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. The Chinese military strategist.”
“Right.”
“In the book, he describes his strategy. If you’re the weaker opponent, seize the resources of your stronger opponent, then use them against him.”
“Like with Alec Specter. Get at his ill-gotten money and use it against him.”
“Exactly.”
James eyed the diamonds. “It’s Europe or bust.”
“Europe?”
“Antwerp, Belgium. It’s where the exchange is located, the largest diamond center in the world.”
Kate raised an eyebrow.
It was time to get going and catch the Amtrak train back to Washington. But one more thing needed to be done. Send a delivery confirmation to Specter.
James removed a cell phone from his pocket.
Kate looked at him. “But he tried to double cross us.”
James sighed. “I cannot argue with that.”
A long silence.
James held the secure phone in his hand.
“Oh hell, do it,” Kate finally said.
He grinned and typed a text message into the phone, then he pressed the Send key.
DELIVERY APPROVED. HAVE A PLEASANT NIGHT. JACKASS.
CHAPTER 15
S enator Henry Ward stared out a window in his office as early glimmers of sunlight bathed the National Mall in a yellowish glow. He had come into the office early, and an hour would pass before his two assistants arrived, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Having scrapped his way up through the ranks, he was now a five-term U.S. Senator and his sixty-fifth birthday was not far off.
But he had a problem.
He was burned out.
Somewhere off in the distance, a phone was ringing, and the noise jolted him back into the present.
Let the service pick it up .
Ward reminisced about seeing freshmen legislators coming into Congress, brimming with optimism and plans for change, only to see their aspirations dashed. Senator Ward had once been such a man.
He then decided to make a phone call, and as the phone rang at the other end of the line, he waited.
Three rings … four … five …
Finally, a female voice.
“Hi there. It’s a little early for business, isn’t it?”
“I need to see you.” His tone was urgent.
“When? I’m not even dressed.”
“Now!”
“Why the rush? Can’t it wait until …”
“No. It can’t,” he told her. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
He exhaled a sigh of relief.
The drive over to her place was a blur, and his car literally steered its way there. He found a parking spot near a condo building—a low-rise in downtown D.C. Entering the outer lobby, he stepped to a directory mounted on the wall. Scrolling down, he pushed the button opposite a name. The door buzzed, and he entered an
The second team leader looked on.
“Easy! That’s evidence.”
His head slumped to his chin. “Somehow, I doubt it.”
James drove fifteen miles to a hotel surplus parking lot where he ditched the car. Now an orphan, the Chevy was sanitized, the plates and VIN numbers removed. The gear was burned, bagged and tossed into a dumpster. Afterward, he hailed a taxi and rode with Kate to an all-night diner in New York City. Settling into a booth in a back corner, they were approached by a waitress who brought coffee. James set about inspecting the gems, pulling one from the bag and glancing around to be sure no one was paying attention. He rolled the gem between a finger and his thumb and held a magnifying glass in his other hand.
Kate eventually spoke. “Well?”
He scrutinized the gem.
“Flawless.”
She fidgeted in her seat as he inspected a few more stones.
“We’re good,” James told her.
Kate took a sip of coffee and glanced at the bag of diamonds.
“We have to convert these into cash. After Kowalski’s death last night, it’s obvious this isn’t over.”
“I’m not exactly overjoyed about the things we’re doing, but it beats winding up in the morgue.”
“What now?” Kate asked.
“Do you recall the concept of asymmetrical warfare? We’ve discussed it in the past.”
“Sure, The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. The Chinese military strategist.”
“Right.”
“In the book, he describes his strategy. If you’re the weaker opponent, seize the resources of your stronger opponent, then use them against him.”
“Like with Alec Specter. Get at his ill-gotten money and use it against him.”
“Exactly.”
James eyed the diamonds. “It’s Europe or bust.”
“Europe?”
“Antwerp, Belgium. It’s where the exchange is located, the largest diamond center in the world.”
Kate raised an eyebrow.
It was time to get going and catch the Amtrak train back to Washington. But one more thing needed to be done. Send a delivery confirmation to Specter.
James removed a cell phone from his pocket.
Kate looked at him. “But he tried to double cross us.”
James sighed. “I cannot argue with that.”
A long silence.
James held the secure phone in his hand.
“Oh hell, do it,” Kate finally said.
He grinned and typed a text message into the phone, then he pressed the Send key.
DELIVERY APPROVED. HAVE A PLEASANT NIGHT. JACKASS.
CHAPTER 15
S enator Henry Ward stared out a window in his office as early glimmers of sunlight bathed the National Mall in a yellowish glow. He had come into the office early, and an hour would pass before his two assistants arrived, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Having scrapped his way up through the ranks, he was now a five-term U.S. Senator and his sixty-fifth birthday was not far off.
But he had a problem.
He was burned out.
Somewhere off in the distance, a phone was ringing, and the noise jolted him back into the present.
Let the service pick it up .
Ward reminisced about seeing freshmen legislators coming into Congress, brimming with optimism and plans for change, only to see their aspirations dashed. Senator Ward had once been such a man.
He then decided to make a phone call, and as the phone rang at the other end of the line, he waited.
Three rings … four … five …
Finally, a female voice.
“Hi there. It’s a little early for business, isn’t it?”
“I need to see you.” His tone was urgent.
“When? I’m not even dressed.”
“Now!”
“Why the rush? Can’t it wait until …”
“No. It can’t,” he told her. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
He exhaled a sigh of relief.
The drive over to her place was a blur, and his car literally steered its way there. He found a parking spot near a condo building—a low-rise in downtown D.C. Entering the outer lobby, he stepped to a directory mounted on the wall. Scrolling down, he pushed the button opposite a name. The door buzzed, and he entered an
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