“But does it make sense for what we know?” Christopher asked.
Camilla nodded slowly. “Cliff’s men—and I agree with Kitty that it was most likely Kellogg and Kozlow—think they’re coming to get you. They kill a bunch of guards, then get into the rooms and they’re empty. It’s not hard or time-consuming to carefully remove a bag’s contents, leave moronic joke threats, and then take off.”
“Cliff’s way of telling me he knows where I am.”
“A dozen dead men outside your door isn’t easy to explain, either,” White added.
“So, how do we determine which of the many options we have for Francine and John is the one that’s really happening? Colette texted and called Francine. There was no answer.”
“Huh.” Camilla put her head outside of the room. “Colette, how many rings before your call to Francine went to voicemail?”
Colette joined us. “One. Oh. You think she turned her phone off? Why? She’s always available.” Colette’s eyes didn’t quite meet everyone else’s.
A-Cs trying to lie were always interesting. Other than the rare natural liars like Camilla, troubadours as a class had the least issues with it. And yet Colette was betraying signs of lying. Then again, it was her big sister in danger.
Considered options. We didn’t have a lot of time to waste. Either the others would be back soon with, please God, news that all the religious leaders and those with them were alive and well, or we’d be pulled into action.
Camilla was a vault unless she felt it was necessary to share intel. White might have made the same assumptions I had. So that left Christopher. Who’d been the number two man in Centaurion Division for over a decade and who had, along with Jeff, kept the worst secrets in the world to himself.
“Colette, you know as well as I do that there’s plenty of times a troubadour will go into a form of silent running. I want you to search the rooms to see what fiddly little clue Francine left to tell you, and Manfred, what’s really going on.”
“What do you mean, Kitty?” She’d recovered from the lapse that worry had given her. Colette looked completely confused, and I could tell she was trying to use her talent to make me think I was wrong. However, I’d realized that once you knew, really knew, what the troubadours were doing, it lessened their effect.
Heaved a sigh. “Colette, I know. I’ve known for a long time. Camilla either knows or she’s guessed. And Richard and Christopher are both trustworthy. They can keep the secret, especially because it’s in all our best interests. We’re going to have to tell Jeff soon, anyway. Might as well be sooner as opposed to later.”
“Tell him what?” Christopher asked.
“That Serene’s running the A-C’s version of the CIA, very competently, I might add, and she’s doing it with every troubadour you guys have.”
CHAPTER 62
CHRISTOPHER’S JAW DROPPED. “You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. All those people you shoved aside? Yeah, they’re all awesome and finally getting to serve their people and country in the ways they’ve been longing to.”
“Son, really, you didn’t realize?” White sounded surprised and a little amused.
“How long have you known, Mister White?”
“Oh, not as long as you, I’m sure, but it dawned on me that we had a tremendous number of troubadours who were not only available at the drop of a hat, but were well versed in everything every standard Field agent knew without ever going through training. I took the logical leap. I’d assume Charles has taken that leap as well, and probably your mother. Whether they’ve shared the fact that they know with Serene, however, is anybody’s guess.”
“I figured it out the moment I realized that Serene wasn’t a ditz,” Camilla said. “Pretty much when Raj came on board and was accepted as an important member of your team, I figured it wouldn’t be long before he and Serene were running this. Jeff doesn’t know?”
“No, he’s been a little busy. So has Christopher.” Hey, might as well throw him that bone. “Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Colette, we know you’re in the A-C CIA. So, what sign did Francine leave?”
Colette shook her head. “Serene and Raj never told me that you knew.”
“Secrets are best kept silently,” White said.
“True dat. But whatever. Again, your sister, clues, what have we got?”
“Hang on. I didn’t look. And before anyone yells at me for that, I’m your press secretary because I’m not that great at fieldwork.”
“Christopher won’t be yelling at anyone, and you know the rest of us aren’t going to bawl you out.”
She managed a laugh. “Fine. Be right back.” She zipped off.
“If there is no sign from Francine, does that mean that we have to discard Camilla’s more positive option?” White asked.
“Probably. I mean, they have to have ways of letting each other know that they’re doing a mission or kidnapped or whatever. Right?” I asked Camilla.
“It would make sense, and I’m sure Raj would think of it even if Serene didn’t. And yes, I know he’s her number two. And he’s now Jeff’s number two. Be happy he’s loyal.”
“Always am.”
Camilla cocked her head at me. “You didn’t ask me for confirmation of his loyalty. Why?”
“Aside from the fact that you’d just said it? Because Raj has had plenty of opportunities to screw us over and has never taken them. It’s why I’m not worried that Wruck’s gone to the dark side for real. Or Siler. Too many opportunities not taken.”
Colette returned. “I think I found it. There was a blank piece of paper under the lamp in our room.”
We all stared at her. “And?” Camilla asked finally.
“Sorry.” Colette handed the notepad-sized piece of paper to me. The seal of the President of the United States was on it, but that was it.
“Not following you. Does this indicate that Francine is on a mission for His Majesty’s Secret Service?”
“Well, yes. I mean, why are you asking if you already know?”
“Wow, I’m good. Okay, are we sure there’s no invisible writing on it?”
Camilla took the paper from me and sniffed it. “No smell of lemon, so doubtful unless they’re all equipped with vials of invisible ink.”
“We’re not,” Colette said. “If you find a piece of Embassy or White House letterhead sitting on the desk or nightstand, it means the operative is on their assigned mission. If you find it somewhere it shouldn’t be, it means the operative is on an impromptu and likely unsanctioned mission. We have other items if paper would be suspicious, but they all work like this.”
“Okay, then, thank God, it’s Camilla’s scenario that’s the most likely.”
“That makes the snake and bomb make more sense, too,” Christopher said.