“Hel-lo?”
“How’s the house? Everything all right?” the Deputy Director asked.
“Yes, thank you. It’s lovely,” she said. “We just got in yesterday morning.”
“Have you gotten to the beach yet?”
“Yes, we’re here now.”
“Wonderful. Did you find the towels?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“The white towels are for the house. The big blue ones are for the beach.”
She glanced up just in time to watch Noah drop a bucket of wet sand on one of the white towels. “Yes, got it. Thanks again. I really needed this break.”
“You’re very welcome. I’m glad you could use the house. It’s been in my family for years, but I rarely have time to get down to Florida.”
“Okay . . .” she said. “Is there anything else?”
He didn’t reply.
“Sir?” she said.
“I know you need a break, Jessica.”
“Yes, I do. You were right.”
“And . . .” He paused. “I need you to run a small errand for me.”
“Sir?” She gritted her teeth.
“I know you’re on vacation. I want you to relax. But, I need your help, too. It’s a small thing. Very small, I promise.”
“What kind of help?”
“Is this your secure phone?”
“Yes, sir,” she sighed.
“Good girl. I’m going to need you to clean up a mess. A sensitive mess.”
“You’re reactivating me already? Right now? While I’m at the beach with my children?”
“I didn’t want to ask you, but it’s time-sensitive. And delicate. You’re the only one I can trust with this.”
“The only one?”
“This is why we created Purple Cell. To go anywhere. To do what’s needed. When it’s needed. No bureaucracy. No bullshit.”
She didn’t say anything. She was steaming inside. Mad at herself for not seeing this coming.
“Don’t worry about your kids,” he continued. “I’ve got someone on the way already. Her name is Aunt Lulu. I’ve now got your location, so she’ll be there in thirteen, maybe fourteen, minutes.”
“Where am I going?”
“Lulu will tell you the rest of the details. It’s a quick one. You’ll be back on the beach before you know it.”
“What am I really doing in Florida, sir?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why did you really send me down here? What kind of urgent cleanup could I have in South Florida?”
“Lulu will explain. If you need me, you know how to reach me on the pizza line.”
“You didn’t lend me your beach house as a favor, did you? You sent me to Florida for a mission.”
“Jessica, you needed a break. That was obvious.”
“But?”
“But good case officers always think ahead. You know that. I taught you that. The best case officers always pre-position assets.”
18.
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON, D.C.
THURSDAY, 8:42 A.M.
Judd was checking the cost of last-minute flights to Fort Lauderdale when Serena burst into his office.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Ryker. I know you asked not to be disturbed, but I have to interrupt.”
“It’s fine, Serena. I was about to call you. Can you clear my schedule for the rest of the week? I’m going to join my family in Florida since I’m done. I’ve just sent my memo to Landon Parker.”
“That’s why I’m here, Dr. Ryker,” she said, out of breath, “Mr. Parker is on his way down.”
“He’s coming here? What for?”
“I don’t know, but his assistant just called to give me a heads-up that he’s on his way right now.”
“Now?”
She nodded and left to stand guard in the outer lobby. Judd tidied his desk and groaned to himself. So much for Florida.
“Ryker!” Parker barked from the next room.
“Hello, Mr. Parker,” Serena said as she escorted him in.
“Love your ideas on Cuba, Ryker. Adam Smith didn’t go over too well with Melanie Eisenberg.” Parker smirked. “But I like how you think. That’s why we have S/CRU in the first place. To throw out new ideas. To shake things up.”
“Thank you, sir,” Judd said, offering the chief of staff a seat, which Parker declined with a wave. “I’ve just sent you the memo on potential problems in Cuba and a menu of responses. The first—”
“Oh, right,” Parker interrupted. “That’s OBE now. Overtaken by events, I’m afraid. I need you on a special project that’s just come up. I need creative thinking and fast. You’ll need to drop everything and help me on this. Now.”
“On . . . what, sir?”
“We don’t negotiate with hostage takers. That’s a redline, of course. But I need someone who understands the subtleties. Someone not stuck in the bureaucracy. Someone not worried about the media. Or covering his ass. I like how you don’t care about sticking your neck out. No matter how crazy your idea, you don’t care what people think.”
“Okay . . .” Judd furrowed his brow.
“That’s what I need, Ryker.”