The Export by J.K. Kelly (read along books txt) 📕

“Tilton’s surrounded by his own band of men behaving badly, and they’re impenetrable. Just do the best you can with the cards we’ve been dealt,” she suggested.

“Security won’t be an issue,” the Canadian responded. “We hosted the G8, and it went perfectly.” He paused. “Plus, the planners believe staging it now will help deliver the message to so many more people who will be in the city and the region.”

“I know your city well, as I said,” Matt pushed back. “But you put Bush at the Loew’s up high on the hill at the top of the Grand Allee. The Chateau is down in the heart of the old city, and the biggest chokepoint, the spot where things can get weird, is right in front of the damn Chateau. Always take the higher ground.”

The Canadians looked impressed with just how much this Matt Christopher knew about their city and its history.

“You clearly have assigned the right man for the job, Linda,” Leclerc stated. “But he’s made a mistake. The Loew’s is now the Le Concorde. And, of course, there is the lower city beneath the Chateau.”

“Touché – but so have you. Right person, my friend,” she responded with a tone not lost on her guests or Matt. “The right person.”

“Excusez-moi,” Leclerc stated, placing his right hand to his chest and bowing for forgiveness.

“Okay. Just give me all-access credentials, a schedule, a nice hotel room, and one of your cellphones. I’ll be there, on-call, to jump in if anything gets weird.”

Capri let out a breath, smiled, and nodded her head in gratitude to Matt while the two Canadians spoke quietly about the proposal. “Why one of our phones?” the quieter of the two asked.

“Because I’ll be there as a Canadian, entering on a Canadian passport, working for you, equipped with your government phone. Everything will point to a Canadian intervention if anything goes ape shit up there.”

As if they had practiced the move, both guests from the embassy stood up and extended their hands across the table to Matt and then shook hands with Capri and excused themselves. Before they were both out the door, the leader turned and offered his thanks once more.

“I will have everything arranged for you on arrival. Safe travels,” he stated.

“Thank you, and see you in Quebec!”

After the door closed, Matt looked at Capri for a moment. “What is it you aren’t telling me, Linda?”

“Oh, just that there’s been a trail of unsolved assaults and even one murder in the wake of the Banff conference and the two before it,” she said with a smile. “Your job is not only to keep us – the US – out of trouble, but to catch this guy if he is indeed the bad actor in this.” Capri stepped close to Matt. Her beautiful brown eyes caught his attention and he stayed his ground, unsure of what was coming next.

“Off the record?” she whispered. He nodded. “If you catch this guy in a crime, do whatever you must to get concrete evidence we can use to keep the White House in check. Budgets are being reviewed and I’ve been told we may need some leverage.”

Matt took a slight step closer and told her in a whisper, “I hate this shit but I hate pricks like this even more. I’ll do what I can but it’s not for the leverage. It’s to protect the prey.”

Matt smiled and stepped back. “Sounds easy. But it might be tough to cut through his security team and handlers,” he responded. “I’m game.”

Capri picked up her black desktop phone and asked her assistant to have her car ready in the underground garage. It was getting late, and, he imagined, she wanted to beat the traffic across the bridge to Virginia. She then picked up a folder from her desk and handed it to Matt to take with him.

“He has one assistant, one media person, and one armed escort when he travels,” she stated. “I think once you get a look at them and the lay of the land, you should be alright.” She smiled as she shook Matt’s hand. “Claire told me about London. Nice work, very nice work,”

“Thanks,” he responded. “I just wonder how long it will be before I have to start looking over my shoulder.” He thought about his friend for a moment. Actually, Charlie’s the one who should be really worried.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The sun was just setting as Matt left the FBI building. All he wanted to do was get on the water. He was exhausted and needed a few days to rest and recharge. But the phone vibrating in his pocket told him something else was up, something that would in all likelihood ruin his plans once again. He picked up the pace, hoping to get the blood flowing after so many hours in the air. Trying to ignore his phone, he kept going, picturing the cold beer and hot pizza he planned on having aboard Bella, his baby, a 60-foot pearl white motor yacht, but the incessant vibration and delaying the inevitable might only make things worse.

He slowed to pull his phone from his jeans pocket and smiled when he read the caller’s name. “HC, how are you, sweetie?” Matt spoke into the phone.

Years before this, Helene Coleman had been elected to the U.S. Senate to represent the people of a mostly rural Wyoming, a mere 600,000 people in a country of nearly 330,000,000. She had proven herself worthy and fast-tracked to powerful committees that earned her respect, power, and as is always the case in politics, powerful enemies. She had never married, focusing solely on becoming a lawyer and then pursuing a career where she hoped to make a difference in the federal government. Matt, her late brother’s son, was her only living relative, and she adored him.

An attractive woman with an infectious smile, short brown hair, and a fit