Elite Operatives: Demons Are Forever Part 30

"Let me know what you'd like at any time, or if I can be of service in any other way. When you're ready to retire," he told Heather, "I'll show you to your cabin."

"My cabin?"

"We have two sleeping compartments in the back. I'm sure you'll be most comfortable."

Heather glanced at the menu. The impressive selection included filet mignon, chicken cordon bleu, lobster Newburg, veal scaloppini, and oysters Rockefeller. But the lone vegetarian option, a ratatouille, really meant she had no choice at all. Only one option for lunch as well-a Greek salad-and the breakfast choices weren't much better.

"I'm vegetarian," she told the steward, so I'll have the omelet later, if you can leave out the bacon."

"Of course, Miss Snyder. Let me know when you'd like it. And I'm certain I can come up with different meal alternatives for you from our available ingredients on board." The man glanced toward Dario with a look of apology, and in her peripheral vision she saw Dario give him a slight nod.

She took small comfort in the fact that Dario apparently hadn't known that about her.

"You look beautiful, as always, Heather," Dario said once the steward had disappeared into the galley. "Forgive me for not saying so earlier."

"I'm happy you approve." She'd been briefly angry with herself for taking so long this morning choosing her outfit. If it were * 229 *

entirely up to Dario, she'd be wearing something s.e.xy-a c.o.c.ktail dress or something similar, and high heels. So her first inclination had been to go entirely in the opposite direction-faded jeans, T-s.h.i.+rt, and sneakers-both to spite him and because they'd be the most comfortable for the long flight. In the end, she'd compromised, selecting new designer jeans, a white silk blouse, navy blazer, and navy pumps. The ensemble was more businesslike than provocative, which was the impression she wanted to make as they set off on this venture to h.e.l.l.

Dario made further attempts at forced pleasantries, but she answered in polite, one-word replies. And as soon as she could do so without being rude, she plugged her MP3 headphones into her ears and closed her eyes. She wanted not only to discourage him from further attempts at conversation, she also wanted, at least for a moment, to postpone facing the reality of what she'd gotten herself into.

Near Fort Dix, New Jersey As Heather departed her Greenwich Village apartment, Chase and Jack arrived at McGuire Air Force Base, ninety minutes away.

They parked the surveillance van in the public visitors' lot as Reno instructed and boarded the modified USAF C-37A jet Pierce had arranged for them. Since they could take a military plane only as far as j.a.pan, Pierce had arranged a private jet for the last leg of the journey. Their departure was timed so they would arrive in Beijing ahead of Heather, regardless of whether Dario arranged for a commercial flight or private charter.

As they strapped themselves in, the single crewmember in their compartment, a young crew-cut airman, handed them a duffel.

When she'd called headquarters the night before with an update, Chase had read off a list of the gear they might need, and everything she'd asked for was in the bag.

* 230 *

As though by mutual consent, Chase and Jack spoke very little during the long flight. Thoughts of Heather and the uncertainties ahead preoccupied Chase, and she knew Jack was thinking about Ca.s.sady. In less than twenty-four hours, they'd both need to put aside their personal worries and focus entirely on Operation Phoenix.

* 231 *

* 232 *

ChaPter twenty-Five.

Beijing, China Next day, November 25 After they showered and changed clothes, Chase and Jack left their room and took the elevator to the hotel lobby and reception area on the 63rd floor. The five-star Park Hyatt, in the center of Beijing's Central Business District, was housed within one of the highest skysc.r.a.pers in the city, offering guests impressive views of the bustling metropolis. And Dario had obviously chosen the Hyatt for other reasons: its luxury accommodations and contemporary furnis.h.i.+ngs were more Western than Asian, and many of the staff spoke English.

They ordered espressos as they waited in comfy chairs near the check-in desk and studied the pa.s.sport photo that Reno e-mailed them upon their arrival. He had searched the hotel's reservations list for a three-night stay for a "Dario" to no avail, but a D. Imperi had booked a luxury suite and two doubles for that period. When he'd cross-checked the name through the US State Department's database of current pa.s.sports, he'd found a match: a Dario Imperi who resided at the Long Island mansion address registered to Dragons Unlimited. So they finally had a full name and photo of their target, not that it got them closer to Rozsa. They still needed Heather for that. But at least the information enabled Reno to book * 233 *

them a room away from Dario and his men, so Heather wouldn't be seen coming and going if they needed to meet with her.

Chase looked at her watch.

"It's ten minutes later than the last time you checked," Jack said."Eleven thirty, to be exact."

"What's your obsession with time, anyway? You've been like that for as long as I can remember. I don't think I've seen you without a watch."

Chase took a sip and turned to face Jack for the first time since they'd sat down. She'd been keeping her gaze fixed on the bank of elevators, so she'd see the moment Heather arrived. "Very small portions of my life are my own. What I do and what is demanded of me are unpredictable and the outcome...uncertain." Jack sighed. "Yeah. I know the feeling."

"We have no guarantees of there being a tomorrow to get things right."Jack frowned. "No, we don't."

"I've always felt time is like a shadow that follows me everywhere, reminding me it's running out. I check my watch to make sure it's still running and that I'm moving forward with it, that I'm still alive."

"Sounds like you're so grateful for the time you've been given you focus only on that, instead of what to do with it."

"True, but it is what it is."

"And the novels?"

"They're a distraction from that deafening ticking and an excuse to look forward. I'd go crazy without them." Chase glanced toward the elevators. "What's worst, the older I get, the more time I have to fill, and I simply don't know what to do with it."

"Then maybe you can see why I need Ca.s.s in my life. And why, without her...there's no point."

"That I understand. But your self-destruction puzzles me. I can see how much Ca.s.s means to you, but you can't let how you treat yourself depend on another. That is your responsibility."

"But I love her so much I can't-"

* 234 *

"Do you value yourself so little?"

"Maybe I do." Jack paused and seemed to consider the idea.

"Maybe I need Ca.s.s to feel good about myself."

"You need her because you need someone to forgive you."

"h.e.l.l knows I can't do it."

"Then find a way to cope with your past."

"Gee, Landis, thanks. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Maybe therapy isn't a bad idea."

Jack laughed without humor. "Why would you suggest therapy when the only thing you got out of it was carpet burns? Besides, I'd rather place my head in a blender than in some shrink's hands."

"Have you tried it?"

"For a month. He asked me to leave when I threatened to shoot him.""You what?"

"I don't deal well with criticism."

"I can see that about you." Chase laughed. "So what free prize, aside from memory impairment, do you seek at the bottom of every whisky bottle?"

Jack raised one eyebrow. "What's your aloofness a disguise for?" "You go first."

"Redemption," Jack answered.

"Fear," Chase said.

"Of?"

"Caring for someone."

Jack didn't react. Both sat back in silence with their espressos and thoughts.

Chase returned her attention to the elevators and almost jumped when she saw Heather emerge from one. "She's-"

"I know," Jack said.

Heather looked calm, but the tightness around her eyes gave away her apprehension. Beside her, Dario was being wheeled by the same guy who'd accompanied him at the brownstone, and another three men walked behind them.

* 235 *

The guy pus.h.i.+ng Dario wheeled him up to the desk and then waited with the other goons, off to one side. Heather stood a few feet away at the counter with her hands in her coat pockets.

"Let's go," Chase said.

Both of them approached the reception area. Jack paused a couple of feet from the desk-strategically blocking Dario's men from seeing what they were about to do-while Chase slid up to the counter beside Heather and blocked Dario's view.

Out of the corner of her eye, Chase saw Heather look at her briefly. With Jack hovering behind them, Chase slipped a tracker and cell phone into Heather's coat pocket. Before she pulled her hand away, Chase touched Heather's hand rea.s.suringly, and Heather squeezed hers in return.

Chase then motioned to one of the two receptionists. "Room 506, please," she said, and waited for the keycard. She glanced at Heather briefly as she turned to go, and then she and Jack remained within earshot, chatting, until the receptionist handed Dario four keycards.

"This one is for the Presidential Suite," the woman told him.

"It's on the 48th floor."

Dario took his and left the other cards on the counter for his men to figure out.

"Let's go, Heather," he said. He wheeled himself toward the elevator, with Heather following, and they disappeared inside.

Chase discreetly watched them go. For a reason she couldn't understand, all she wanted to do right then was take Heather away from everything.

Heather walked silently behind Dario as they entered the Presidential Suite. Though the opulence of the accommodations shocked her, she kept her face impa.s.sive to prevent Dario from gaining any satisfaction from her reaction. In addition to the magnificent views, the suite was twice as large as her apartment and offered such amenities as a fully equipped kitchen, living room, * 236 *

work area, flat-screen TV, and marble bathroom. She'd never seen- let alone stayed in-any place nearly this luxurious. It was a shame the situation wouldn't allow her to really enjoy it. The major selling points for her at this moment weren't the built-in espresso machine or plush Turkish cotton robes, but the two bedrooms, one on each end of the suite, so she'd have at least some privacy.

"You're very quiet, Heather. Aren't you pleased with the arrangements?" Dario asked.

"The hotel is nice, I guess."

"Maybe some rest will do you good. I have a two o'clock business lunch, and I'd like you to join me." She knew she'd have to be seen with him sooner or later, but she hadn't counted on it being within a few hours of their arrival.

She would have to inform Landis and Jack as soon as possible.

"Great. I'm starved. Where are we eating?"

"At the China Grill on the 66th floor. You will find the menu most satisfying, and it has 360-degree views of the city."

"I'm going to take a walk around. I'm too restless to stay in."

"As you wish, as long as you're ready on time for me to pick you up."

"I'll be ready." She couldn't help but cringe now every time he asked her for anything. As soon as she was alone in her bedroom, she pulled out the cell Landis had left in her coat pocket. She typed Lunch at 2 in the China Grill and sent it. A minute later she got a reply: Come see me ASAP.

Heather showered first, because once Landis wired her she wouldn't be able to, then pulled on a pair of jeans, a sweater, and sneakers, and left for room 506. She didn't know where Dario's men were staying, so she took the stairs and kept looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was around.

Landis opened the door as soon as she knocked.

"How are you coping?" she asked as Heather entered.

"I'm scared."

"Just a couple more days and all this will be a bad memory."

"He has a business lunch at two on the 66th floor. But he didn't say who he's meeting."

* 237 *

"We'll be there watching. You have nothing to worry about.

Trust me."

"Why does everyone think I should trust them? Dario keeps repeating that like a mantra. I don't trust anyone."

"Good," Jack said, as she came out of the bedroom and joined them in the sitting area. "All you need to do is trust in yourself."

"I'm not sure I do."

"I do," Landis said. "I know you can do this." Heather sighed. "Up high or down low?" She spread her arms and legs to expose her body.