Page 66 of Operation: Silent Angel
“Yes, just setting parameters for the next DEA Partner Mission.”
She knew it was a constant balancing act, assigning the correct resources to each mission. “I’m going to the buffet to get more. Can I get you anything?”
He glanced at his plate. He’d barely eaten half. “No, thank you. I’m sure I’ll go back up after I eat this.” He watched her cross the room to where the gleaming silver trays sat atop a row of tables.
As Diana helped herself to fruit, a man approached her. He wasn’t dressed in the waitstaff uniform, which was what drew Diana’s attention to him as he didn’t grab a plate.
“Good morning, Mrs. Shepherd,” he said with a heavy Russian accent. “My best to you and your husband.” That was all he said before turning and leaving the restaurant through the door to the stairwell.
But it was enough to rattle Diana. He was delivering a message, and it wasn’t to give his best. She immediately returned to their table.
With one look at the expression on her face, Shepherd knew something was not right. “What’s wrong?” he asked as she set her plate on the table with jerky movements.
“That man. His Russian accent was heavy. He greeted me by name and wished us his best.”
Shepherd shot to his feet. “Stay here.” He rushed out of the restaurant through the same door the man had used to exit. He ran up the stairs, catching sight of the man as he pushed through the door into the parking garage. Shepherd drew his weapon, a SIG Sauer P226 9mm, and held it at his side before he followed him into the parking garage.
The man he’d seen approach Diana stood beside a vehicle that was double parked within the garage about twenty-five feet away. Other than that man, the garage was vacant of life. “If you have a message for me, deliver it to me personally. Don’t everapproach my wife again. You got it, comrade? Make sure you convey that to your superiors,” he called.
The man smiled a knowing grin. “I’d say the message was delivered as intended, Colonel.”
“Stay away from my wife!”
The man’s smile grew wider. “I have no ill intent towards your wife.” He gazed at Shepherd with expectation, motionless.
Shepherd closed the distance between them. He didn’t know this man, but he assumed him to be FSB. “Do you have ill intent towards me?”
“Nyet.”
“Does Moscow have ill intent towards me?”
“Not at this time, but the assistance you gave Anatoly and Kira Koslov is known. Take it as a warning if you wish. At some point, interference will no longer be tolerated.”
“You’re in my country. The same warning could be given to you and the others.”
“We are not so different, you and I, Colonel Shepherd. We are both loyal to our countries and would die to protect the secrets of our nations. Perhaps one day, when we both retire, we can tip a glass together and lie to each other about our past antics.”
“Perhaps,” Shepherd said.
“Or perhaps one day I shall approach you as Anatoly Koslov did, and you shall help me as you did him,” the man added as he opened the car door, surprising Shepherd.
“Is that day today?”
“Nyet, not today.” He got into the car and turned it over.
Shepherd watched him drive away and out of the parking garage. He took his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture of the car’s license plates. Then he dialed Garcia, who was the number three in charge of the Shepherd Security Agency and also the head of the Digital Team. “Garcia, I’m sending you a plate. It’s probably a rental, but I need a picture of who rented it to compare to a face, and if you can get me a name to go with it, that would be even better. I’m expecting the driver’s license to be Russian.”
“I’m on it,” Garcia replied in his gravelly voice. “Are you heading back today?”
“No, I promised Diana the weekend away.”
“I’ll send you what I find ASAP.”
Shepherd disconnected and holstered his weapon. He returned to the restaurant where Diana waited. “Everything is fine,” he told her as he retook his seat. “You’re in no danger. He wasmerely delivering a message to me from Moscow,” he added with his voice dropped to a whisper.
“Are you in danger?” she whispered.
“No, Moscow just wanted to let me know they knew I helped the Koslovs. I got a tick mark on their naughty list.” His lips pulled into a grin.
