Free Razor Sharp by Fern Michaels Page A

Martine Connor wants the FBI, me in particular, to find the woman who enticed her people—that’s how she put it to me, ‘the woman who enticed my people’—and arrest her. She wants this all done quietly. The only problem is that the other side of the aisle has already gotten wind of it. If that is the case, I have no idea why they aren’t exploiting it. The president gave me a list half a mile long of the men in her administration who participated in, as she put it, ‘nefarious doings.’ She really thinks we can keep it quiet and cover it up. I told her it was impossible but that I would do my best. Personally, I couldn’t believe how naïve she is.
    “When I was leaving, I stopped for a moment to speak with her secretary, and she jokingly said it would be nice if the Vigilantes showed up to pull some magic rabbits out of a few hats. The chief of staff, who was on the list, turned a little green but pretended to agree. It’s not good. I’m on my way to Vegas and will check in with you sometime this evening after I get briefed by the Vegas office.”
    “Lizzie is in Las Vegas. Her trip is purely personal,” Annie said. “But I’m sure if you need her for anything, she’ll be glad to help out. She volunteered to meet with us via webcam, but we postponed that because of your late arrival.”
    “So what is this meeting all about?” Nikki asked.
    The women seated around the table looked at one another. As one, they shrugged.
    “I think we’re waiting to hear from Maggie,” Myra said. “She’s going to be faxing us a list of names. Until we get that, there’s nothing any of us can do. Exxxccceeppt,” she said, drawing out the word as long as she could, “figuring out what and how we’re going to deal with those names. And, I do not think we should concern ourselves with Martine’s promise of a pardon or allow that to influence whatever decisions we make. We can always deal with Martine Connor on our own terms when the time is right.”
    “Myra’s right,” Jack said as he repeated everything Maggie and Lizzie had said at their early-morning meeting the previous day.
    “Yah, Myra!” Kathryn said. “That means I agree.”
    The others nodded to show they, too, agreed.
    Annie’s eyes sparkled. “I look forward to this…adventure. Until we have more information, you’re all dismissed. I do believe the shovels are on the porch, and the snowblower is gassed and ready to be put to use. The dogs need a good run. Myra and I will prepare lunch, and we’ll all meet again and work on our plan after lunch, providing Maggie or Lizzie gets us the information we need.”
    The women clustered around Bert, who was putting on his jacket. It was Kathryn who walked him out to the cable car that would take him to the bottom of the mountain and out of their lives for a little while. The others dispersed to do Annie’s bidding. They talked in low tones that didn’t carry back to where the two older women were standing.
    “I don’t think any of them noticed that we aren’t…up to par,” Annie said.
    “If you think that, then you’re a fool, Annie. They’re all sharp as tacks, and they noticed our…attire and whatever else they noticed. Only good manners prevented them from mentioning that they know. ”
    “You always manage to rain on my parade, Myra,” Annie said cheerfully. “I am now going to take a shower, change my clothes, and I might even put on some makeup and perfume. You can do what you want, or you can sit in the corner and play with your pearls. After which I am going to check with Avery Snowden to see if he’s answered any of the e-mails I sent him. Then, and only then, am I going to call Maggie and Lizzie. Do you have anything to say, dear?”
    There were a hundred things Myra thought she could say at that particular moment, but she opted just to smile sweetly, and say, “I’ll be along in a minute.”
    Alone, Myra walked over to the fireplace to poke at the log she’d tossed in