Page 11 of The Phoenix (Spy Girl 6)
“One hundred and twenty-seven at last count. And, before you ask, I’ve watched or read every single one of them.”
“That’s really kind of pathetic, Daniel.”
“On that note, let’s go get some dinner.”
He leads me around the block to a Neapolitan restaurant with brick walls and a funky bar. He doesn’t waste any time, ordering a feast consisting of bruschetta, chicken marsala, rib eye steak, lasagna, and two different types of pizza.
“I hope that’s feeding the Secret Service men, too,” I say.
“Don’t give me crap, Huntley. I lifted hard before doing my morning laps. I’m starved.”
“I’m just teasing you,” I say with a grin as the waiter sets down the bruschetta. “I actually really like it, because I get to taste a little bit of everything.”
We’re just ready to dig in when a group of people we know is being seated near us.
“Huntley, Daniel,” Senator Bill Callan says. “Congratulations.”
“Let me see the ring!” his wife, Sissy, says, taking my hand and holding it up to the light.
“Have you met Speaker of the House Royston Bessemer and his wife, Renee?” Bill asks us.
“We met Huntley at our granddaughter’s engagement party,” Renee replies. “But we haven’t had the pleasure,” she says to Daniel. “It’s so wonderful to see young people in love.”
“Would you like to join us?” Sissy, ever the hostess, asks us.
“Of course,” I say before Daniel has a chance to disagree. I’d like to bring up the Olympics and see if I can get any inside information.
“We have a few more joining us,” Royston says to the waiter.
We’re moved to a large table in the center of the room.
“We’ve already ordered,” Daniel tells them.
“Perfect,” Sissy says, ordering a spread of food for everyone else along with two expensive bottles of wine.
“I hear you were wedding shopping with our granddaughter, Blair,” Renee Bessemer says to me.
“Yes. Your husband was kind enough to help me understand my father’s trust in regard to his company shares. I was delighted that Blair had joined him.”
“She said you both found dresses,” she replies, causing Daniel to turn and smile at me.
“You didn’t tell me that,” he says.
“It’s the dream dress,” I say. “Completely over the top. I’m not sure it’s appropriate for the Rose Garden. I’ll probably go with something different.”
“Oh, you mustn’t!” Sissy says with Renee echoing her. “When you find a dream dress, you must buy it even if you don’t have an occasion to wear it yet.”
I laugh. “Are you telling me that the two of you have an extra wedding dress waiting in the wings for a special occasion?”
Bill and Royston laugh heartily, joking with their wives about leaving them. It’s cute to see old people in love.
I’m about to ask who will be filling the still-empty chairs at our table when we’re joined by Senator Martin Vanderbilt, who I met at Bill and Sissy’s parties. He’s the man the director of the CIA had me talk to as a test to see what I could discover about his family.
Martin knows both Daniel and me, and he introduces us to his wife, Nancy.
“How are the kids enjoying summer camp?” I ask. “Beatrice and Austin, right?”
“You have a very good memory, Miss Von Allister,” Martin says. “Since we’ve barely heard from them, we know they are having a good time.”
“Beatrice especially,” Nancy adds. “Her brother was teasing her about having a boyfriend at camp.”
“Speaking of boyfriends,” Martin says to his wife, “Huntley is who I was telling you I wanted to introduce to our Nathaniel.”
“Guess you weren’t quick enough,” Daniel teases.
“Oh, yes. Congratulations,” Nancy says.
“So exciting for our country,” Sissy says and then leans in closer. “I heard they are giving you a hard time about a White House wedding.”
“Considering I just inherited, like, a billion dollars, you wouldn’t think that would even come up. Besides, it’s going to be a very simple wedding. Just family and a few friends. We’re not even sending out invitations.”
“Oh, what a shame!” the women agree.
“See?” Daniel says, kissing my hand and grinning at me.
“Fine. You want a big wedding? I can do a big wedding. But it will take time to plan. Let’s set a new date. Next spring work for you?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You know I don’t want to wait that long.”
Renee leans over and whispers to me, “Honey, with enough money, you can make anything happen in a few weeks.”
It makes me wonder if owning a treasure like the one under the TerraSphere is enough money to allow you to kill off most of the world’s population in a few weeks.
“I heard you are getting married after the Olympics,” Senator Vanderbilt says. “We’re taking the children to Montrovia. We’ve never been to the Olympics before, but with the combination of having them in such a luxurious place and our Austin being quite the swimmer, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
I notice Royston Bessemer flinch slightly. As Speaker of the House, he would have inside information regarding international security issues.
What does he know?
“Daniel and I are heading there tomorrow night. And I’m super excited. Did you all know that the structure that will hold the Olympic athletes was designed by my father, Ares Von Allister? Of course, Royston, I know you know. Anyway, Lorenzo is going to let me tour it early.”
Everyone makes appropriate noises about my announcement, but Royston just nods his head, deep in thought.
“We’re going to be at the Olympics as well,” Royston says, causing his wife to look surp
rised.
“When did you decide that?” Renee asks. “How will we get a hotel room at this late stage? I imagine they have been booked up for ages.”
“We booked ours three years ago,” Nancy Vanderbilt confirms.
“I’m sure I can get you tickets to whatever events you’d like,” Daniel says to Royston.
“And, of course, you’re welcome to stay with us,” I add, upping the ante. “I have a lovely villa there with a full staff and plenty of extra rooms.”
“Sold!” Renee says. “How exciting! I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics. Daniel, I heard you set a new world record at the Trials. Any chance we’ll all get to see you best it?”
“I sure hope so,” Daniel says, but Royston is still staring at me with something on his mind. And it makes me nervous.
What if Royston didn’t just fill Hillford’s vacated seat on the Von Allister board? What if he was also given an Echelon ring to go with it?
Was Ares right? Could they have asked someone new and not filled them in on their ultimate plan? Or would they have told him everything?
What if that’s why he offered to read my father’s trust? What if it had nothing to do with how I should vote? What if he needed to know if Ares had mentioned the group or the ring?
The rest of our dinner is filled with good food, great wine, and lively conversations, none of which have anything to do with my mission.
We’re driving back to my place to pick up my luggage when Dr. Kate texts me a link to a tabloid site, featuring many photos of Daniel and me enjoying our evening. I hand him my phone, so he can look at them while I go in to grab my bags.
A short time later, we’re on our flight to New York.
MISSION:DAY THREE
Lorenzo joins his mother and Lizzie in the breakfast room.
“I think we should ban Huntley Von Allister from coming into our country,” his mother says.
