Free Conspiracy by Stephen Coonts Page A

Rubens had seen. Men who were having affairs, especially with younger women, did not kill themselves.
    In his opinion. A prejudice, surely.
    Rubens dismissed Johnny Bib and placed a call to Jed Frey. The Secret Service director was not in his office, but his voice mail gave the number of his cell phone. Rubens punched the number in. Frey answered immediately.
    â€œJed, this is Bill Rubens. I have some additional information about Agent Forester I wanted to share. It’s somewhat sensitive.”
    â€œShoot.”
    â€œGerald Forester was having an affair with another member of the Service. We’ve recovered several suggestive IMs they sent.”
    â€œIMs?”
    â€œInstant messages. Her name is Amanda Rauci. I wonder if that’s come up.”
    â€œIt hasn’t,” said Frey.
    â€œI’d like to have someone talk to her,” said Rubens.
    â€œFine. We’ll tell her to be available.”
    â€œIt occurs to me that she might be a target herself,” said Rubens. “If Agent Forester’s death wasn’t a suicide.”
    Forester didn’t answer.
    â€œJed?”
    â€œYou’re right,” said Frey. His voice sounded as if he were coming from quite a distance away. He was thinking about Forester, Rubens guessed. “We’ll protect her.”
    There were two things that interested Rubens. One was his admittedly optimistic thought that someone who was having an affair wouldn’t kill himself, assuming the affair was still continuing. And the second was the fact that French was often used in Vietnam.
    Rubens called down to the Art Room and told Marie Telach that he had changed his mind about the assignment for Vietnam. He wanted Lia to talk to Amanda Rauci.
    â€œI believe she may have an easier time connecting with her than Ambassador Jackson,” said Rubens. “Though he, too, can go along.”
    â€œLia is supposed to be going to Vietnam with Charlie.”
    â€œHave Tommy Karr meet him there instead.”
    â€œHe is on vacation.”
    â€œI’m sure Mr. Karr will understand.”

 
23
    KJARTAN “TOMMY” MAGNOR-KARR reached across the table and poured the last of the wine into his girlfriend’s glass.
    â€œAre you trying to get me drunk, mister?” said Deidre Clancy.
    â€œNah. Just tipsy.”
    Deidre smiled at him. Tommy Karr realized he was the one who was tipsy, though not on the wine.
    â€œSo tomorrow, we go to Disneyland Paris?” he said, picking up his glass.
    â€œYou came all the way to Paris to go to Disneyland?”
    â€œI came all the way to Paris to see you,” said Karr. “Everything else is bonus.”
    â€œYou flatterer.”
    Deidre told him in French that he was a sweet-talking foreigner whom she knew she must be careful of; Karr’s limited French allowed him to pick out every third word—the good ones, of course.
    â€œHow about the Louvre tomorrow?” she asked in English. “With a picnic lunch in the Luxembourg Gardens?”
    â€œDisney Thursday?”
    â€œDisney Thursday.”
    â€œDeal.”
    As the word left Karr’s mouth, his sat phone began to vibrate.
    â€œUh-oh,” he said.
    Deidre heard the buzzing. “I don’t suppose you could not answer it,” she said.
    â€œI could ignore it. But then they’d send someone to chase me down. Which might be kinda fun.”
    â€œYou better answer it,” said Deidre.
    Karr took the phone from his pocket and slid up the antenna.
    â€œO’Brien’s Real Italian Delicatessen,” he said. “Mao Zedong speaking.”
    â€œTommy, it’s always fun to hear your voice,” said Marie Telach. “Can you talk freely?”
    â€œHey, Mom. Not really.”
    â€œGood. I know you’re on vacation, but Mr. Rubens needs you to cut it short.”
    â€œGee, that sucks,” said Karr. He looked over at Deidre, who already wore a disappointed frown.