Chapter Eight

A black Mercedes 4matic pulled up just in front of President Jeffery Robinson’s summer house in Lansing, Michigan. The woman that stepped out of the car wore a red clean cut gown that revealed a modest part of her legs and added more to her figure than necessary. She was beautiful, and she walked with such grace that made her look forty years younger than her fifty-nine.

She walked into the over large summer house which was guarded heavily with agents in black suits. It made them look like spies in action movies. They were all too formal for her. To her, she was the classy girlfriend of the President of the United States, and he just couldn’t get tired of her. She had him wrapped around her finger, and they had managed to keep their relationship hidden from the press and the eyes of the people. It was safer that way.

The inner walls of the house was decked with flowers, spanning from the top of the ceiling to the bottom of the floor, and expanding across the entire house. Obviously, someone liked flowers, but it wasn’t Jeff. The man had no single decorative hair on his head. The summer house had been her idea, to keep their love secrete. Jeff had spent $68million on the house. No one knew about it.

The hall was a fifteen by fifty feet hallway, which led straight into the extravagantly decorated living room.

It looked more like a castle than a summer house.

She walked on, classy as ever, ignoring the fact that she still had sunshades on. Sitting on one of the many cushions in the living room was the first and most important person in America. President Jeffery Robinson. He wasn’t the least bit of handsome, but he wasn’t ugly either. He was okay. But boy, it didn’t matter, at least not to the woman now standing by the entrance. She ignored his flaws, not because she liked him, but he had power, and she  loved men with power.

“Come in miss Campbell, come in.” Jeff said, gesturing with his hands for her to have a sit.

“Well,” she started. “I just thought you’d be more of a gentleman.” She raised her chin up in the air, and with a small purse held between both hands, she walked into the living room and sat.

“Pardon my manners miss, but I’ve got a lot going on here.” He tapped his head for emphasis.

“Man of power.” Her lips parted, revealing a set of perfect white teeth in a two second smile. “Let’s not waste much of our time.” She crossed her legs and reached for the glass of tequila that sat on the solid oak table padded in three inch gold plates.

“Very expensive.” She tapped the table.

“Just a few hundred.” He said reaching for a glass for himself.

She stared at him.

“Thousands. A few hundred thousands.” He completed.

“Why did you call me here?” She poured herself the alcohol.

The man smiled. He pulled closer so that he sat at the edge of the seat as if he was about to reveal a top secrete. “He is not around.” He said.

Blank stare.

He pushed back, resting his back on the soft leather cushion. He kept his voice low. “William is in Brazil.” He took a sip. “I just didn’t want to let this opportunity slip.”

She watched the man drain his glass and return the cup to the table. Major General William Robinson was her ex-husband. They were married for twenty years until she decided that it was time for her to explore. Though William had been the one who filed for divorce. She did nothing to rekindle the ‘flame’ they once shared. She signed and left, happy that she was ‘free’ as she had put it years back.

She smiled at the man sitting in front of her.

“How did you know this?” she asked.

“Come on,” He moved to where she sat. “I am the President of U.S. I know everything.”

“Why is he in Brazil?”

“For a mission.” He moved closer to where she was.

She could smell the tequila somewhere in his breath. She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t resist it either. She kissed him.

Just outside the summer house, a blue coupe was parked fifty feet behind the black Mercedes. The man behind the wheels, Lyons Wood, had followed the Mercedes to the summer house. He was General William’s right hand man, and the man who got him more information from anywhere than the C.I.A could get. He picked the phone that sat in the passenger’s seat and dialed a number. The phone rang for a few seconds before the call was answered.

“General,” He said. “I got all these good stuff for you, and I know you wouldn’t want to miss it.”

“Speak Lyons.” The General said from the other side.

“You were right sir.” He propped the gum in his mouth against his tongue and let it swell. He watched it pop. Sucking it back in, he continued. “she’s in a meeting at his summer house.”

“Any security?”

Lyons took a quick glance around the entrance of the summer house. “Eight sir, no doubt there’s more inside.”

He heard the General sigh and then cough.

“Stay with them. Report in two hours.”

The line went dead.

Lyons sat in the car, chewing gum and blasting music, waiting for Rose’s next move. He would follow her till she went to bed. He called himself the hawk.

Rose was stealing around the room, picking and returning various objects. The light that filtered in rested on the fish bowl that sat on a heavy mahogany table. She watched the fish swim in circles. It would complete two revolutions, turn and then go back in the opposite direction. She drew closer to the fish, sitting on the window sill to get a better view of the fish.

She looked out the window and noticed the blue coupe out on the street. It was the same car she’d seen parked opposite the apartment when she was leaving that morning. She grabbed a robe from the wardrobe and ran for the stairs, taking it two at a time. She flew out the front door and onto the streets, with two heavy men walking beside her.

Rose peeped into the car and saw the man sitting in the drivers seat, chewing gum and banging his head to the loud music that played. She could hear the muffled sound of the music seeping out.

She banged the window, drawing the man’s attention. He looked at her and then the two men behind her, a look of surprise clearly displayed on his face.

He turned the music off and lowered the glass. He straightened. “Hello beautiful.” He said popping the gum.

“Get him out.” she said to the man by her right.

Lyons watched her step behind both men as they gestured for him to step out of the car.

“Sir,” The first man spoke. We’re gonna need you to step out of the car please.”

“May I know why?” He blew and popped.

“Step out of the vehicle sir.”

“I’m sorry but I can’t do that sir’s.” He propped his head on the head rest and smiled.

The first man brought out a Springfield XD and pointed it at Lyons.

“Woah man,” Lyons said, raising his hands while he stepped out of the car. “I’m unarmed okay? I’m harmless. You don’t have to be rude.”

The second man grabbed him by the collar and pushed him forward, forcing his head into the hood of the car.

“Search him.” Rose said.

The men ran their hands along Lyons clothes, dipping their hands into his pockets. There was nothing but gum.

“Why did you follow me here?” Rose inquired after the search was over.

Lyons straightened him self, dusting his clothes. He shrugged. “What do you mean by I followed you here?”

“You very well know what I mean. This was the same car I saw a few kilometers back.” She walked around the car, still keeping her gaze on Lyons.

“You must be mistaken ma’am. It had to be another person, and not me. Besides, there are a lot of people in this country with this same model, and probably the same colour.”

“Ma’am, “  The first man said from behind the vehicle. “We found this in his car.” He said, holding up a bottle of scotch that had been drained to the last drop.

“A drunk.” She eyed Lyons, hissed and turned to leave. “Get out of here before I do something to you.”

The first man shoved the empty bottle at Lyons and pushed him.

Lyons didn’t hesitate. He hopped into the car and drove off. One more second there could spell disaster for him.