The Prague Plot: The Cold War Meets the Jihad (Jeannine Ryan Series Book 3) by James E. Mosimann Page A
Authors: James E. Mosimann
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grinned.
“Jan, better go easy on the ladies.”
But his real concern was the bottle on the floor. Johan’s vodka could be a real problem.
***
Gustav went to his own room. The door was labeled “non smoking.” Stupid Americans . He improvised an ashtray using a plastic cup from the bathroom. Then he shut off the lights and sat motionless in the dark. After a minute, the tip of his cigarette shone orange, the only bright spot in the shadows.
Vodka made Johan weak and Karel Moravec was formidable. To face him, Gustav needed strong allies. He inhaled. The tip of his cigarette crinkled brighter orange. Then he made his decision. His enemies, the money-grubbing Americans, would bring Moravec down!
In the days of the Iron Curtain, Gustav had worked diligently against the corrupt capitalists, but he knew which Americans could defeat Karel. And he knew where to find them, at that Cold War CIA stronghold, the American Embassy in Vienna.
Gustav would made them an offer they could not refuse.
He sat and texted a message to Vienna.
Done!
***
******
Chapter 13
Monday, November 22
Jeannine Ryan stood in the office of Ryan Associates. Her face was as red as her hair.
“Damn it, Aileen, Larry Hodges won’t return my messages. That’s my third call to the FDA.”
“It’s Monday morning, he’s probably in meetings.”
“Sure, that must be the reason, right? The fact that he’s a wimp doesn’t enter the equation? Look, it’s simple. He’s afraid of his boss at FDA. He wanted proof about Xolak, and now that we have it, he’s afraid to see it. He might have to act.”
Aileen nodded.
“Unfortunately, you’re one hundred per cent correct.”
The phone rang. Jeannine’s eyes lit with hope. She picked up.
“Ryan Associates.”
Jeannine listened a moment and hung up.”
“It wasn’t Larry, only a salesman.”
“Jeannine, you can’t count on Larry to return your call. You just have to keep calling. The FDA has to know about Xolak.”
***
Mila pulled her SUV up to the Currituck County Medical Examiner’s office. She sat in silence. She did not want to look at any dead body, especially one that had been in the water, but she would perform her duty. Is it Vaclav?
At that thought, guilt overwhelmed her. Why did I arrange the meeting with Anne? Her shoulders slumped and her eyes filled with tears. A tap on the car window brought her to the present.
It was Jim Harrigan.
“Aren’t you coming in? The attendant is waiting.”
Mila swallowed and clicked the lock open. Jim opened the door.
“It won’t take long. We’re grateful to you for doing this.”
Mila choked. She did not risk speaking. Jim took her arm.
Inside, the morgue attendant led them into a restricted area. The room was cold and bare. Mila shivered.
Next to the wall was a metal table. On it was a dark bag, whose contours matched the form of a human body. Jim took Mila’s arm and guided her to it.
She stood rigid, eyes fixed on the silent plastic.
The attendant unzipped the top to reveal a gray, disfigured face. Something, perhaps crabs, had plucked the eyes. She knew those features, bloated as they were.
Mila gagged. She covered her mouth with her hands and backed away.
Her eyes turned to Jim. Her voice was a whisper.
“Jim, it’s Vaclav. That’s Vaclav Pokorny.”
She broke into tears.
***
After Mila recovered her composure, Jim led her outside the Medical Examiner’s Office. He pointed to the F250.
“You’re in no shape to drive. Ride in my truck. We can pick up your SUV later.”
“No Jim, I’m fine now, really. Besides, it’s too far to come back here. Don’t you have to work?”
“Not until tonight. If you must drive your car, let me follow you to Nags Head. We can grab some coffee together, and maybe a doughnut.”
At that, Mila paused. A doughnut?
“Not this time, Jim. I have to get back to the realty office, and I still haven’t talked to Anne. She left a message to call. I did, but she hasn’t called
“Jan, better go easy on the ladies.”
But his real concern was the bottle on the floor. Johan’s vodka could be a real problem.
***
Gustav went to his own room. The door was labeled “non smoking.” Stupid Americans . He improvised an ashtray using a plastic cup from the bathroom. Then he shut off the lights and sat motionless in the dark. After a minute, the tip of his cigarette shone orange, the only bright spot in the shadows.
Vodka made Johan weak and Karel Moravec was formidable. To face him, Gustav needed strong allies. He inhaled. The tip of his cigarette crinkled brighter orange. Then he made his decision. His enemies, the money-grubbing Americans, would bring Moravec down!
In the days of the Iron Curtain, Gustav had worked diligently against the corrupt capitalists, but he knew which Americans could defeat Karel. And he knew where to find them, at that Cold War CIA stronghold, the American Embassy in Vienna.
Gustav would made them an offer they could not refuse.
He sat and texted a message to Vienna.
Done!
***
******
Chapter 13
Monday, November 22
Jeannine Ryan stood in the office of Ryan Associates. Her face was as red as her hair.
“Damn it, Aileen, Larry Hodges won’t return my messages. That’s my third call to the FDA.”
“It’s Monday morning, he’s probably in meetings.”
“Sure, that must be the reason, right? The fact that he’s a wimp doesn’t enter the equation? Look, it’s simple. He’s afraid of his boss at FDA. He wanted proof about Xolak, and now that we have it, he’s afraid to see it. He might have to act.”
Aileen nodded.
“Unfortunately, you’re one hundred per cent correct.”
The phone rang. Jeannine’s eyes lit with hope. She picked up.
“Ryan Associates.”
Jeannine listened a moment and hung up.”
“It wasn’t Larry, only a salesman.”
“Jeannine, you can’t count on Larry to return your call. You just have to keep calling. The FDA has to know about Xolak.”
***
Mila pulled her SUV up to the Currituck County Medical Examiner’s office. She sat in silence. She did not want to look at any dead body, especially one that had been in the water, but she would perform her duty. Is it Vaclav?
At that thought, guilt overwhelmed her. Why did I arrange the meeting with Anne? Her shoulders slumped and her eyes filled with tears. A tap on the car window brought her to the present.
It was Jim Harrigan.
“Aren’t you coming in? The attendant is waiting.”
Mila swallowed and clicked the lock open. Jim opened the door.
“It won’t take long. We’re grateful to you for doing this.”
Mila choked. She did not risk speaking. Jim took her arm.
Inside, the morgue attendant led them into a restricted area. The room was cold and bare. Mila shivered.
Next to the wall was a metal table. On it was a dark bag, whose contours matched the form of a human body. Jim took Mila’s arm and guided her to it.
She stood rigid, eyes fixed on the silent plastic.
The attendant unzipped the top to reveal a gray, disfigured face. Something, perhaps crabs, had plucked the eyes. She knew those features, bloated as they were.
Mila gagged. She covered her mouth with her hands and backed away.
Her eyes turned to Jim. Her voice was a whisper.
“Jim, it’s Vaclav. That’s Vaclav Pokorny.”
She broke into tears.
***
After Mila recovered her composure, Jim led her outside the Medical Examiner’s Office. He pointed to the F250.
“You’re in no shape to drive. Ride in my truck. We can pick up your SUV later.”
“No Jim, I’m fine now, really. Besides, it’s too far to come back here. Don’t you have to work?”
“Not until tonight. If you must drive your car, let me follow you to Nags Head. We can grab some coffee together, and maybe a doughnut.”
At that, Mila paused. A doughnut?
“Not this time, Jim. I have to get back to the realty office, and I still haven’t talked to Anne. She left a message to call. I did, but she hasn’t called
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