Page 53 of A Moment Never Forgotten
What had started as a truly terrible day, was improving by the minute. He’d been able to utilize personal resources and put his plan back on track. Matthew Saint Clare was lying on a gurney in one of his secret warehouses, attended by Dr. Sydney Petersen. Someone had accepted the contract to kill Elizabeth. He would personally take care of Berit Barker within the next hour.
“Director Lambert, I’d like you to meet my…” The line was always the same. Several of his next level employees had come by for their dutiful holiday wishes and plus-one introductions. He didn’t give a flying fuck who they brought. After tomorrow, they were all history.
He’d known the moment Berit entered the party. The woman was a looker and men looked. Her dress was professionally demure, but she didn’t hide her breasts, long legs, or trim waist. Nothing but an abaya could hide her body. Soon, he promised himself, men would not be tempted by such salacious women.
Many of the women in the room exposed their assets even more than she did, but she carried herself with authority that could not be denied by men or women. He’d heard the rumors that she was being groomed for the top job, but all those hopes would be killed within the next twenty-four hours as Ms. Barker became sicker and eventually died.
She smiled, greeted, chatted as she worked her way through the crowd like a politician. The only thing more revolting to Lambert was the way that every person in the room had made it a point to speak with the director himself. He was appointed. He hadn’t earned that position, yet everyone at Langley paid him respect.
When Lambert took over the United States, representing his uncle, everyone in the nation would respect him. He would rule with a velvet-covered iron fist. He had studied the Quran for years at his father’s feet, his uncle’s knee. He knew Sharia law backward and forward and would make sure it was enforced to the fullest extent.
When he lifted his gaze from the latest introduction, Lambert saw Berit chatting away with Dwayne Johnson. The man was all but falling over his own feet, while she was animated, making them both laugh. Rage surged from deep within him. How dare he flirt with her? Dwayne knew that she was going to be dead, soon. It reminded him of his end goal.
He furtively glanced at his watch. He wasn’t required to be there much longer. Taking advantage of the lack of a line, he made his way over to his deputy director and computer geek.
“Berit, I’m so glad you could make it,” he said in an overly friendly manner.
She gave him a cursory smile. “I didn’t believe I had a choice.”
“We all have choices in life.” He was sure she didn’t miss the true intention of his statement.
“Yes, we do.” When she lifted her chin, he wanted to smack the smug look off her face.
“Dwayne, I believe Ms. Barker needs a refill.” He lifted the half-empty glass from her hand and gave it to his computer specialist. “Would you get her a fresh glass of the holiday punch?” He added the word please when the man didn’t move.
“Oh, yeah.” The stupefied smile he gave her was ridiculous. “I’ll be right back, Ms. Barker.”
Lambert knew she wouldn’t accept a glass of anything from him.
“I understand from Molly after you left my office you went straight to Director Hennel’s. Will I be receiving an investigation or a reprimand?” He knew he wouldn’t be receiving either. He wouldn’t be there.
Her smile was cocky. “I wouldn’t know. That’s above my pay grade.”
Dwayne thrust the red concoction toward her. “I got another one for myself while I was there.” He grinned like a lovestruck schoolboy.
“So, what are your plans for the holiday, Berit?” It was a benign enough question, one he’d been asked two dozen times already that night.
This time, her grin was genuine. “My son, and new granddaughter, are waiting for me at home. Mak also brought a few friends to enjoy the holiday with us.” He noticed that her gaze continually swept the room.
Reaching into his pocket, he popped the cork on the vile and held his finger over top. “Well, I have others I need to greet.” As he turned, he bumped her and attempted to empty the vile into her drink. She stepped back so quickly, he wasn’t sure if more than a few drops made it into the cup.
Fuck. That was the only poison he had with him. He had to change his plans.
“I’m so sorry.” He took the punch from her, purposely sloshing some onto her hands. “I’ll take this while you go wash your hands.”
“Thank you, I think I’ll do that. If I don’t see either of you before, Merry Christmas.” Berit made a beeline for the ladies’ restroom.
Lambert set the glass on the closest table and followed her at a distance. Allah was with him. The hallway was empty. He slipped up behind her and dragged her out the door at the end of the hall, holding her tightly around the neck, cutting off her air supply. Before he could get her into his car, she passed out.
Once he had her buckled in, he injected her with a small dose of sedative he carried for unwilling prostitutes. She’d be out for at least an hour. Long enough for him to get to the warehouse. Certainly, Dr. Petersen would have something he could inject into her that would kill her.
Chapter Twenty
Micah pulled Teagan and Logan aside as soon as everything had been brought into the house. All four children were in the family room playing and Micah had forced Elizabeth to bed to rest.
“It’s been one hell of a day. Matthew has been missing since noon,” he announced. “The CIA is trying to track his phone right now. I’m just waiting for a text with the location. The local police found his car in a mall parking lot. A few of his SOG men picked it up and brought it here. It’d been wiped clean.”
“Is that why there are armed men all the way around the house?” Teagan asked.
