Chapter 10

David leaned over Rita, giving his sleeping beauty a final kiss, and crept from his room and the rental shop. His cock still buzzed from the fantastic blow job she gave him partway through the night. He thought it was best to leave her this way; he hated sad goodbyes.

He took a taxi to the Catania airport, bought a one-way ticket to Paris, and boarded the plane for the six-hour flight. He made a mental note of those seated around him with a lonely, distant expression.

While clearing customs, he called Pam Landy, saying he was in Paris.

“I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

“How do I know this isn’t a set-up?”

“You trusted me to do the right thing with the classified documents. David, you have to trust me again. I’m not trying to bring you back into the fold. You’re more valuable to me doing what you do best. I’ll pick you up at the shuttle bus sign at arrivals. Gray Mercedes.”

David walked back and forth on the busy sidewalk, eating a sandwich and mindful of the roving CCTV cameras.

He was looking for a gray Mercedes, and every car seemed to be that make and color. He noticed a slow-moving car that stopped by him and recognized Pam. He opened the back door, tossing his bag onto the rear seat.

“You should keep your doors locked; you never know what crazy person might carjack you.”

“Excuse me, I think you’re in the wrong car. I’m picking up my friend.”

“It’s me, Pam, David,” he said, taking off his hat.

“I would never have recognized you wearing the hat with long hair and a beard.”

“I prefer not to be recognized; I may live longer. You’re looking good, Pam.”

“What’s so funny?” He asked of her light chuckle.

“That’s the first time you’ve said I look good in person. Usually, you say I look tired on the phone as you watch me. I’ll drive you to the safe house and brief you.”

He looked at the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower as she drove past them towards their destination. She parked in front of a nondescript building on Rue Singer.

David chose to walk the stairs to the third-floor flat that was the U.S. government safe house. She let him in, and he quickly checked the main and adjacent rooms. He peered out the window, noting the fire escape and alleyway.

“There is a computer for your use under anonymous. There are several restaurants near by where you can buy food when you’re hungry. Here are five hundred euros for food and other expenses for now. I tried to think of what you might need based on your previous experiences. You have your choice of weapons from a selection we have: listening devices, lockpicks, and a few diversionary weapons.”

“I’m going to need a set of wheels, or should I steal my own?” He smiled.