Claire Gulliver #02 - Washington Weirdos Read Free Page B

face.
    “Still no clues. It’s like she walked off the edge of the earth. But don’t worry, we’re looking for her. She almost got away with her little plan. But thanks to you, she’ll think twice about trying anything as bold as that again.
    “And we had her, that’s what’s so frustrating. We had her and she still got away!”
    Claire paused between spoonfuls of the delicious soup. “But surely, you can’t believe you’re at fault for that. They stopped at nothing.” She paled, remembering the horror she felt when she heard about the ambush in Miami, which facilitated Rosa’s escape. “They killed all those people just to rescue her.”
    Then, she made a determined effort to think of more pleasant things. “Look, let’s not talk about it. Tell me more about your daughter. Where does she live? What does she do? How often do you see her?”
    So they finished their meal talking of personal things and gradually Claire relaxed again.
    Finally Claire remembered her ten o’clock appointment in the morning would seem like seven to her because of the time difference. She pulled her windbreaker off the back of the chair. “I need to get back, Jack. Tomorrow is the meeting at Vantage Airlines and I need to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
    ”It was so nice of the Lickmans to invite me. I just can’t believe a Fortune 500 corporation would do something like this. It’s so thoughtful. I wasn’t interested in traveling again so soon, but I just couldn’t turn them down.”
    When they were in the cab she continued as if there had been no interruption. “I’ve never been to a Board Meeting before. I don’t even know the protocol. Do you?”
    “Not really, but by this time tomorrow we will. Doug will be there. You remember him, don’t you?”
    “Doug Levine? Of course, but I thought he lived in London.”
    “Oh, he does from time to time, but he spends a lot of time here and he’s been acting as the liaison with Vantage for the State Department. So of course he was included.”
    “Now I’m getting a little nervous, it sounds like this is a big deal.”
    “Are you kidding? Of course it’s a big deal! If it hadn’t been for you, Vantage would be in dire straits right now, say nothing of the 335 people who were on that plane. The Board of a big corporation usually meets only certain times of the year and apparently they intend to show their gratitude to you, albeit, quietly. And as well they should.”
    They finished the ride in silence; each thinking back to that time in London when Claire, convinced that Rosa had planted a bomb on their plane, insisted the flight, already on the runway in line for takeoff, be aborted.
    She had been horrified at the seriousness of what she had done and was terrified she had acted foolishly, afraid it was all her imagination. When she was informed the bomb had indeed been found she didn’t know whether to be hysterical or relieved. Then there was the danger to herself for being the main witness but she had been assured, when her deposition was captured on video, it would no longer be of benefit for anyone to eliminate her to prevent her being a witness.
    But, of course, Claire had to assume Rosa and her friends knew of that videotape. Otherwise they might mistakenly rid themselves of her anyway. Hence a strange man with a knife might approach her out in the Mall.
    Jack got out of the cab with Claire at the door of the hotel. “Look Claire, get some sleep and don’t worry about this incident. I’m sure it was just a coincidence. Washington, D.C. has a very high crime rate, they are in a crisis. And you know I’ve warned you about walking alone on dark deserted streets.”
    She nodded. She knew. She knew, but she was probably still going to be worried for this whole trip. She wished she hadn’t come. In California she had managed to put the whole London incident behind her. Now it was all back, including the worry about where Rosa was.
    “And while you’re here, I hope