dislike of him, the man didn't have one black mark against his record. When the second-in-command position came open at the unexpected death of the former VP from a heart attack, the other agents had immediately recommended Robbins. When the vote was counted, Robbins had been elected to the position by a landslide. If there was one thing Robbins did almost as well as he did his job, it was kiss ass.
"So, even if things are over with Caroline, I can still keep close enough to her to be apprised of everything going on in her life. Now that I'm bonking Roz Turner, she'll keep me updated on what's happening."
"And using Ms. Turner as an unknowing informant was your sole reason for instigating an affair with her?" Ellison lifted the china cup to his lips and sipped the imported tea that was blended in a small London shop specifically for him.
Gavin chuckled. "Hey, a man does what a man has to do. Right? Besides, it's not exactly a hardship. Roz is one talented lady, if you know what I mean."
Ellison heaved a deep sigh, signifying his displeasure, but the subtle gesture escaped Gavin's attention. Robbins was like many men of Ellison's acquaintance. Self-absorbed. Overly confident. And a bit of a braggart. He dreaded the day when he would be forced by old age to relinquish the reins of Peacekeepers International to a man more suited to the military than diplomacy. His personal choice would have been Aidan Colbert. But the man known as Aidan Colbert was dead.
"So, have you found out everything we need to know about Caroline's bodyguard?" Gavin asked as he plopped down in the chair directly across from Ellison's desk. "Is he somebody we can trust?"
"My sources tell me that Mr. Wolfe is as trustworthy as they come." Ellison took another sip of the delicious tea, then placed his cup on the saucer atop his desk. "Caroline McGuire is in good hands."
"Yeah, well, I'll bet Aidan Colbert is taming over in his grave at the thought of some young stud sharing a house with Caroline. If you ask me, Colbert had a sick obsession with our Ms. McGuire."
"There was nothing sick about Aidan's concern for Caroline. He was a man of principle, a man with a conscience. He deeply regretted that she'd practically been a witness to her stepfather's execution."
"Colbert let his conscience get in the way sometimes," Gavin said. "In my opinion, he'd be alive now if he hadn't tried to get that group of grade-school kids out of the way before that bomb went off. The guy's own actions screwed him."
"I didn't ask you."
"Yeah, yeah. Okay. I know the guy was a favorite of yours and you were priming him to take over your job one day, but face it, Ellison, Colbert never really had what it took for our line of work."
"Until I tell you otherwise, you will now and in the future refer to me as Mr. Penn." Ellison eased back his chair and stood. "Only my family and friends call me Ellison and you, Gavin, are neither."
"You've made your point, Mr. Penn. So, how about a look at whatever information you have on Mr. Wolfe?"
"The information I have on him is right up here." Ellison tapped his right temple. "All you need to know is that if Caroline finds this so-called evidence Preston Shaw supposedly hid away somewhere, we can count on Mr. Wolfe to see that only the proper authorities will have access to the information."
"I'd like to know how you can be so sure of Mr. Wolfe."
"Suffice it to say that I am sure." Ellison skewered Gavin with a deadly glare that issued a silent warning for his subordinate to back off immediately. He realized that he risked piquing Robbins's curiosity with his evasiveness, but he wanted to postpone sharing any vital information about Wolfe with a man he didn't completely trust.
Photography by Caroline was located in a renovated building in downtown St. Michaels. The waiting area resembled an old-fashioned parlor, with turn-of-the-century reproduction furniture. Two college-aged gofers acted as receptionists and hostesses, booking
"So, even if things are over with Caroline, I can still keep close enough to her to be apprised of everything going on in her life. Now that I'm bonking Roz Turner, she'll keep me updated on what's happening."
"And using Ms. Turner as an unknowing informant was your sole reason for instigating an affair with her?" Ellison lifted the china cup to his lips and sipped the imported tea that was blended in a small London shop specifically for him.
Gavin chuckled. "Hey, a man does what a man has to do. Right? Besides, it's not exactly a hardship. Roz is one talented lady, if you know what I mean."
Ellison heaved a deep sigh, signifying his displeasure, but the subtle gesture escaped Gavin's attention. Robbins was like many men of Ellison's acquaintance. Self-absorbed. Overly confident. And a bit of a braggart. He dreaded the day when he would be forced by old age to relinquish the reins of Peacekeepers International to a man more suited to the military than diplomacy. His personal choice would have been Aidan Colbert. But the man known as Aidan Colbert was dead.
"So, have you found out everything we need to know about Caroline's bodyguard?" Gavin asked as he plopped down in the chair directly across from Ellison's desk. "Is he somebody we can trust?"
"My sources tell me that Mr. Wolfe is as trustworthy as they come." Ellison took another sip of the delicious tea, then placed his cup on the saucer atop his desk. "Caroline McGuire is in good hands."
"Yeah, well, I'll bet Aidan Colbert is taming over in his grave at the thought of some young stud sharing a house with Caroline. If you ask me, Colbert had a sick obsession with our Ms. McGuire."
"There was nothing sick about Aidan's concern for Caroline. He was a man of principle, a man with a conscience. He deeply regretted that she'd practically been a witness to her stepfather's execution."
"Colbert let his conscience get in the way sometimes," Gavin said. "In my opinion, he'd be alive now if he hadn't tried to get that group of grade-school kids out of the way before that bomb went off. The guy's own actions screwed him."
"I didn't ask you."
"Yeah, yeah. Okay. I know the guy was a favorite of yours and you were priming him to take over your job one day, but face it, Ellison, Colbert never really had what it took for our line of work."
"Until I tell you otherwise, you will now and in the future refer to me as Mr. Penn." Ellison eased back his chair and stood. "Only my family and friends call me Ellison and you, Gavin, are neither."
"You've made your point, Mr. Penn. So, how about a look at whatever information you have on Mr. Wolfe?"
"The information I have on him is right up here." Ellison tapped his right temple. "All you need to know is that if Caroline finds this so-called evidence Preston Shaw supposedly hid away somewhere, we can count on Mr. Wolfe to see that only the proper authorities will have access to the information."
"I'd like to know how you can be so sure of Mr. Wolfe."
"Suffice it to say that I am sure." Ellison skewered Gavin with a deadly glare that issued a silent warning for his subordinate to back off immediately. He realized that he risked piquing Robbins's curiosity with his evasiveness, but he wanted to postpone sharing any vital information about Wolfe with a man he didn't completely trust.
Photography by Caroline was located in a renovated building in downtown St. Michaels. The waiting area resembled an old-fashioned parlor, with turn-of-the-century reproduction furniture. Two college-aged gofers acted as receptionists and hostesses, booking
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