Cloud Dust: RD-1 (R-D #1)(31)

The PM could sort all that out; I wanted a shower. Crawling through a vent in an evening dress, followed by a lengthy run through abandoned tunnels hadn't done much for me or my clothing. I was covered in dust, grime and had at least three long rips in my dress. The others didn't look much better.

August also reported on the assassins waiting at the Waterloo exit for the PM—of the four of those, one was dead and three managed to escape. A manhunt was ongoing, but I didn't hold much hope that they'd be caught.

When Mary Evans' name was mentioned, however, I did perk up. "She's missing. We had someone following her, and she just disappeared," August shrugged.

That was a problem. A really big problem.

"We'll have a meeting in the morning, before we fly back to the States," August said. "The PM is providing guards at the hotel. Try to get as much rest as possible. Everybody should be up by oh-eight-hundred. Cori, I want to talk to you tonight."

"No, Auggie," I moaned. I wanted a shower and bed. August wanted to talk.

"You, too, Rafe."

*

"The Secretary of State will see to it that none of you will be mentioned in the rescue operation," August paced in front of us. He'd hauled us inside his suite for the talk while the others were herded to their bedrooms by their handlers.

August sent Dalton to his room, too. I wondered how he felt about the exclusion. "While Dave really is a hero for saving my ass in those tunnels, he'll get the bulk of the credit. Neither of you can mention this incident outside the Mansion."

"You don't let me outside the Mansion anymore—who am I gonna talk to?" I muttered. I was exhausted and shaking.

"I know the drill, Colonel," Rafe said. "We need sleep, not a lecture."

"Then you can go. Corinne has to stay."

Rafe mumbled something in his native language. I got the idea he was telling Auggie to go f*ck himself. He stalked out of the suite, leaving me alone with Colonel August Hunter.

"Corinne, I want to talk to you about your transfer. I heard you as plain as day in my head. Now, I'm not talented, so there's no way I can send a message back, but that talent alone could make you invaluable to the Program. There are no bugs in this room, so you can speak freely about what happened tonight."

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, wrapping arms about myself tightly. The shaking was getting worse.

"Look, I have to put this in my report to the President."

"Then do what you have to do. It could get us both killed."

"What the f*ck are you talking about?" August exploded.

"Cutter," I whispered, my voice trembling. "He'll be first in line for the VP's job. That would be a major mistake."

"What the hell does that have to do with this?" August was angry and on the verge of violence.

"Do you have Dalton's phone conversations tapped?" I lifted my eyes to watch August as he went still.

"Corinne, that's classified," he began.

"Then listen to them for the next two days. I think you'll get an answer, Auggie, and you may not like it when you hear it."

*

I was barely out of the shower when Rafe walked into my room. "Are you all right?" he asked. I was wrapped in the robe supplied by the hotel and my hair was hanging in wet strings down my back. Not my most attractive moment.

"I'm fine," I lied. "How about you?"

"Look, I've done this all my life," he said, raking fingers through his hair and looking away for a moment. "It really doesn't bother me. I know it bothers you."

"There's nothing we can do about it," I said. "I'm sure Dr. Shaw will be waiting the moment I get back to the Mansion."

"Someday, cabbage, we should have a talk," Rafe said.

"Fine, as long as it isn't tonight."

"Agreed. Go to bed and try to sleep." He walked out of my room, closing the door softly behind him.

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

I was resolved to listen to Corinne's warnings from now on. I was prepared to act on them, too—to the best of my ability. I left a message for James, in code. He'd pay attention to Dalton's phone conversations until I asked him to stop.

Sleep hadn't come for a while, so a third cup of coffee was in my hand while I waited for the others to gather in the hotel lobby. We had vans coming to transport us to the airport, and I had notes to write during the flight back to the States.

Corinne—I needed to see the President about her. Rafe performed to expectations, but Corinne continued to puzzle me. Why had she chosen to reveal talents now, instead of after she'd received the drug?

I'd have to consider that later—after I was rested and better focused. Rafe arrived first, closely followed by Dalton. The others, Corinne included, arrived less than five minutes later. I caught Maye and the others staring at Cori from time to time, but they quickly looked away when she turned in their direction.

They were speculating, just as I was. The President's hand could be forced on this—there wasn't any way Corinne's performance the night before could be erased from all their minds. Our two wild cards—Corinne and Rafe—had saved our lives last night.

The vans arrived, forcing my thoughts away from them and onto the task at hand. We rode to Heathrow, too tired to have anything other than necessary conversation.