could just confiscate your photographs and the camera and let it go at that. But considering what’s going to happen here next week, you’re in some pretty deep shit.”
Jason remembered that the ship was scheduled for a milestone ceremony. “You mean the christening?” asked Jason.
“You must be a pretty good pharmacist, Jason. You catch on quick. I bet you graduated magna cum laude,” Broadhurst said sarcastically.
“What’s going to happen now? Don’t I get a phone call?”
“You’re not under arrest—yet.”
The men exchanged glances, left the room, and returned a few minutes later.
“We’re confiscating the pictures, Jason. Stay away from the shipyard. If you’re caught down here again, you will be arrested and charged.” Broadhurst picked up the camera, removed the memory chip, and held it up. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t come back here again. Your name and face have been logged into the Secret Service and FBI databases.” Jason remembered an agent taking his head shot with a small point-and-shoot camera. “If you do, we’ll do more than take your camera away. Understood?”
Jason nodded. His bladder suddenly needed to be emptied.
“I’ll have someone drive you back to your car.” Broadhurst nodded to one of the men standing along the wall. “Make sure he leaves the area immediately.”
In twenty minutes, Jason was driving back to the Colonial. In his rearview mirror, Jason watched the government sedan follow him for several miles before making a U-turn.
Nice job, hot shot!
C HAPTER 16
“Mr. Jason! Ms. Christine! How wonderful to see you again,” Lily Zanns called from across the sprawling patio in the backyard of her enormous riverside estate. Jason marveled at its enormity and elegance.
Zanns spread her arms wide in an exaggerated display Jason hadn’t expected from the normally reserved woman. “I’m so glad you could join our little gathering.”
“Thanks for having us,” said Jason.
Zanns wore a silk, royal-blue sari-type dress, shimmering in the flickering tiki lamps. Slanting across the perfect skin of her chest and exposing a bare shoulder, the gown was the antithesis of her business attire. On her, it was almost pornographic. A choker dotted with large diamonds circled her neck, under which dangled the ancient amulet. The ever-present cigarette, perched in a long holder, pointed to the night sky. She placed a hand on each of Jason’s shoulders and planted an air-kiss on both cheeks with a familiarity that made Jason uncomfortable.
“Ms. Christine,” she said. “I’m so glad you changed your mind about attending.” Lily looked her up and down quickly. “Spending time with Jason, I see. Are you two an item again?” Lily smiled slightly.
Christine blushed. “Just old friends. It’s good to see you again, Ms. Lily. Thank you again for everything you’ve done.”
“It was my pleasure, child. Come, tonight, we celebrate
un bon homme
who dedicated his life to easing patients suffering, the profession of pharmacy and the Peninsula. Let me introduce you to some of my guests.”
Lily escorted them to each gaggle of guests, introducing them to pharmacists, board members of the Peninsula Retail Pharmacists Association, civic leaders, and physicians. They met the mayor of Newport News, several prominent attorneys, and city councilmen. Each offered Christine their condolences. Finally, Zanns stopped at Jasmine Kader and Sam Fairing.
“Ms. Christine, nice to see you again. Your father was a good man. And I see that you have good taste in men as well,” Kader said, eyeing Jason.
Christine nodded, narrowing her eyes.
“Jasmine, Jason Rodgers has accepted the position as my new vice-president of pharmacy operations.”
Jason took the extended hand. “I remember you from the funeral,” he said, glimpsing her skimpy outfit.
Kader responded with a single nod and a lascivious smile. Her black dress clung to her body like a second skin,
Jason remembered that the ship was scheduled for a milestone ceremony. “You mean the christening?” asked Jason.
“You must be a pretty good pharmacist, Jason. You catch on quick. I bet you graduated magna cum laude,” Broadhurst said sarcastically.
“What’s going to happen now? Don’t I get a phone call?”
“You’re not under arrest—yet.”
The men exchanged glances, left the room, and returned a few minutes later.
“We’re confiscating the pictures, Jason. Stay away from the shipyard. If you’re caught down here again, you will be arrested and charged.” Broadhurst picked up the camera, removed the memory chip, and held it up. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t come back here again. Your name and face have been logged into the Secret Service and FBI databases.” Jason remembered an agent taking his head shot with a small point-and-shoot camera. “If you do, we’ll do more than take your camera away. Understood?”
Jason nodded. His bladder suddenly needed to be emptied.
“I’ll have someone drive you back to your car.” Broadhurst nodded to one of the men standing along the wall. “Make sure he leaves the area immediately.”
In twenty minutes, Jason was driving back to the Colonial. In his rearview mirror, Jason watched the government sedan follow him for several miles before making a U-turn.
Nice job, hot shot!
C HAPTER 16
“Mr. Jason! Ms. Christine! How wonderful to see you again,” Lily Zanns called from across the sprawling patio in the backyard of her enormous riverside estate. Jason marveled at its enormity and elegance.
Zanns spread her arms wide in an exaggerated display Jason hadn’t expected from the normally reserved woman. “I’m so glad you could join our little gathering.”
“Thanks for having us,” said Jason.
Zanns wore a silk, royal-blue sari-type dress, shimmering in the flickering tiki lamps. Slanting across the perfect skin of her chest and exposing a bare shoulder, the gown was the antithesis of her business attire. On her, it was almost pornographic. A choker dotted with large diamonds circled her neck, under which dangled the ancient amulet. The ever-present cigarette, perched in a long holder, pointed to the night sky. She placed a hand on each of Jason’s shoulders and planted an air-kiss on both cheeks with a familiarity that made Jason uncomfortable.
“Ms. Christine,” she said. “I’m so glad you changed your mind about attending.” Lily looked her up and down quickly. “Spending time with Jason, I see. Are you two an item again?” Lily smiled slightly.
Christine blushed. “Just old friends. It’s good to see you again, Ms. Lily. Thank you again for everything you’ve done.”
“It was my pleasure, child. Come, tonight, we celebrate
un bon homme
who dedicated his life to easing patients suffering, the profession of pharmacy and the Peninsula. Let me introduce you to some of my guests.”
Lily escorted them to each gaggle of guests, introducing them to pharmacists, board members of the Peninsula Retail Pharmacists Association, civic leaders, and physicians. They met the mayor of Newport News, several prominent attorneys, and city councilmen. Each offered Christine their condolences. Finally, Zanns stopped at Jasmine Kader and Sam Fairing.
“Ms. Christine, nice to see you again. Your father was a good man. And I see that you have good taste in men as well,” Kader said, eyeing Jason.
Christine nodded, narrowing her eyes.
“Jasmine, Jason Rodgers has accepted the position as my new vice-president of pharmacy operations.”
Jason took the extended hand. “I remember you from the funeral,” he said, glimpsing her skimpy outfit.
Kader responded with a single nod and a lascivious smile. Her black dress clung to her body like a second skin,
Similar Books
