The Prague Plot: The Cold War Meets the Jihad (Jeannine Ryan Series Book 3) by James E. Mosimann Page B

again.”
    Jim’s brow furrowed.
    “You know the police will be looking for Anne now. They need to question her about Vaclav’s shooting.”
    “She’s not a suspect, is she?”
    “At the moment she is a person of interest. Beyond that, I can’t say.”
    “But Jim, Gustav shot Vaclav, Anne tried to save him.”
    “I believe you, but they need proof. Gustav isn’t available. You should get Anne to come in. They want answers.”
    “She doesn’t return my calls. Don’t you trust me?”
    “I do, but the police don’t. She should call them.”
    “Jim, you’re a cop. Anne is my cousin. I know her. I know she did not shoot Vaclav. And I know Gustav was not lying. I know he shot him.”
    Jim Harrigan looked at his feet.
    “Mila, I don’t know about Anne and Vaclav, but I do know you. And I saw the men who wrecked your rooms. They’re professionals. I’m afraid for you.”
    “For me? How about Anne. The next body I identify may be hers.”
***
    Before meeting with his father and Gustav, Peter Zeleny took a room at a Rockville hotel. Once settled, he went straight to the lounge where he ordered a Scotch on the Rocks, and sipped slowly. He needed to think.
    Two gulps later, he took out his phone and called Ryan Associates.
    There was no answer. He left no message.
    For a moment, he studied the ice cubes that remained in his glass. Then he ordered another Scotch.
    He downed it immediately. His decision made, he punched the number of Anne Simek’s cell phone.
    “Peter, why are you calling? I thought you went back to Maryland?”
    “I’m in Maryland now, but something has come up. I need to meet you. It’s about Vaclav.”
    “They found his body in Currituck Sound.”
    “Anne, I saw the TV. They haven’t identified the body. You don’t know it was Vaclav.”
    “It was him. I know it. Those killers finished him, or they would have called me at the Junction. Anyway, what do you want? You know I don’t want your help.”
    “Anne, I have to see you. Where are you?”
    “I’m in North Carolina. That’s all you need to know.”
    “Fine, but how can we meet?”
    “Why?”
    “Anne, you’re in danger. I want to help.”
    “Oh come on Peter. Why would a Zeleny help a Simek? What would your father say?”
    Peter winced.
    “Wait Anne, I mean it, those killers think Vaclav passed his secrets to you.”
    “Then why didn’t they call me at Whalebone Junction. They didn’t! But you know that. You were my backup. They don’t care about me.”
    She added.
    “Besides, I told you before, Vaclav gave me nothing. The only thing I know about those so-called ‘secret documents,’ is that I don’t have them,”
    “Look Anne, you’re in danger. We have to meet. I’ll come anywhere.”
    Anne was silent for several seconds.
    “I’ll think about it, Peter.”
    “But Anne?”
    “Goodbye, Peter.”
    She broke the call.
    Peter stared numbly at the bar. He lifted two fingers at the bartender.
    He needed another Scotch, a double.
***
    At Bordens’ bed and breakfast in Wanchese, Anne put her phone in her traveling bag. She took a last look around the room. Satisfied, she tiptoed down the stairs, and out the door.
    Anne twinged at deceiving Mrs. Borden, but she had never intended to stay longer, even though she had paid in advance. In spite of the bravado she had shown Peter, she knew that Vaclav’s killers were at large. She was not safe here. She must disappear.
    Anne’s confidence, ill-placed or not, lay in her ignorance of Vaclav’s purpose. He had not given her anything. Once the killers confirmed that truth, they would leave her alone.
    At her car, she put her traveling bag on the back seat, next to her computer.
    She gasped.
    An inconspicuous green rectangle protruded from the USB port on the side of her laptop.
    It was a small drive, a TUFF-‘N’-TINY™ with 4 Gigabytes of memory, barely noticeable.
    It was not Anne’s. She had never seen it before.
    Then she understood. Evidently, Vaclav had been inside