Danger Close by James Sumner (classic novels for teens txt) 📕

to ask if he had made it in one piece.”

“He did. He’s a good man. Reminds me of a younger you.”

Jericho flicked up an eyebrow. “Respectfully, you can kiss my ass… sir.”

Buchanan smiled. “Yeah, well, he did an outstanding job of making it out of there as quickly as he did.”

There was a moment’s silence.

“What did you make of it?” asked Jericho finally.

“The bullet?” Buchanan let out a long, low whistle. “Beats the hell out of me. You?”

“Same. Never seen anything like it.”

“Fisher and Collins have taken it to Devon Green.”

He nodded. “Good call.”

“He’s looking at it now. I’ll make sure they keep you in the loop.”

“How are they doing?”

Buchanan stared at the screen. “They?”

Jericho sighed. “All right… she. How’s Julie?”

Buchanan smiled to himself. “Worried about you but not short of a distraction. She’s coping about as well as the rest of us right now.”

Jericho nodded and glanced away. “Make sure Ray looks out for her.”

“You know he will, Jericho.”

“And what about you, boss?”

“Me?” Another long, tired sigh. “I haven’t slept in almost two days, and I’m about to fly to New York.”

Jericho thought for a second. “The U.N.?”

Buchanan nodded.

“How bad is it? Honestly.”

“About as bad it can be.”

“We’ll be okay,” said Jericho, offering some reassurance. “I’ll get to the bottom of what happened. You have my word. I won’t rest until I do.”

“I know you won’t. Another reason I’m glad you’re there. But don’t forget this isn’t on you. You hear me? Just because you probably could carry the whole world on those shoulders doesn’t mean you should. No one saw this coming.”

“I should have. It was my job to protect him. President Herrera was a good man. He just wanted what was best for his people. He didn’t deserve this.”

“I know. Do you still think this General Guerrero is behind it?”

“He has to be. He controls two-thirds of the military. He repeatedly opposed Herrera in public, and he was set to lose the most, with the army having its funding and powers reduced.”

“He certainly has means and motive.”

“You think otherwise, sir?”

Buchanan shrugged. “I just think the Palugan military aren’t exactly an advanced fighting machine. Where would they get technology as advanced as that bullet?”

Jericho thought for a moment. “I don’t know. I guess they could outsource to keep their own hands clean. It’s possible they—”

He stopped abruptly, glancing away as if struck by a sudden thought or realization.

Buchanan frowned. “What is it?”

When Jericho turned back to the camera, his eyes burned with intensity. “Do you think it was… him?” he asked.

“Who?”

His jaw muscles visibility knotted with tension. “Adrian Hell.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Why not? He’s still supposedly the best there is. He’s an arrogant bastard, which means he would enjoy the challenge. Plus, it’s not like he hasn’t done this type of thing before…”

Buchanan held his hand up to the screen. “Jericho, I can assure you, Adrian had nothing to do with this.”

Jericho sat back in his seat, his eyes narrowed. “You seem sure of that.”

“Because I am. Trust me, you’re barking up the wrong tree. That man is not your enemy.”

“He ain’t my friend, either. If you’re wrong and he is involved, I swear to Christ I will…”

Buchanan smiled patiently. “I’m sure you will. But you need to stay focused on the facts here. Adrian wasn’t involved. Just… trust me.”

Jericho held his gaze for a moment, then nodded his resignation. “Fine. I’m analyzing the local surveillance footage of the area. If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

“Yes, e-mail me whatever you have by the end of the day, please. I suspect I’ll need it tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’ll make sure the team catch you up.” He checked his watch. “Now I have a flight to catch.”

“Remember, if I can help in any way, let me know.”

“I will. Stay safe, Mr. Stone.”

He clicked off the call using the remote next to him on the desk, then moved to his chair. He took the suit jacket that rested over the back of it and slipped it on. He grabbed his cell phone and his briefcase and left without looking back.

He had a long night ahead.

10

May 5, 2020

John Rutherford looked at his reflection in the men’s room mirror as he washed his hands. His shirt and suit jacket sleeves were pushed up to avoid being splashed. His gold Omega watch rested on the shelf above the basin for the same reason.

He had been president of the United Nations Security Council for five days. He was about to head into his seventh meeting in the last forty-eight hours. He had been the United Kingdom’s chief U.N. ambassador for over seven years and an advisor at Downing Street before that. He accepted the position with pride, considering it the culmination of years of hard work.

But these had been the most challenging five days of his life.

Rutherford leaned forward, squinting into the mirror. He closely examined the dark rims below his eyes.

He didn’t get nervous, but he would freely admit there was a certain level of stage fright before addressing a room filled with so many dignitaries and statesmen and politicians. Today was going to be the most important meeting of his life.

Today, he felt true nerves for the first time.

He dried his hands and re-fastened his watch. With a final look in the mirror, he adjusted his sleeves, straightened his tie and pin badge, and nodded to himself.

He left the men’s room and stepped out into the corridor, where he was greeted by two security guards. They silently escorted him to the council chamber. Without hesitation, Rutherford pushed the doors open and stepped through, leaving the guards to flank the threshold.

The meeting room of the U.N. Security Council looked akin to a cathedral. It was a large, hollow room with high ceilings. The left wall, near the entrance, was dominated by a renaissance-era mural, which loomed over a large horseshoe table in the center of the floor. Around the table were fifteen chairs. Fourteen were filled. Surrounding them were two more rows