page57 (1/2)
would leave for the rendezvous She answered my post promptly, which tells me she checks it often There was no need for hi for her That is inefficient and stupid And potentially lethal”
“But if not her, who? And did he meet with anyone?”
“Not that I saw, no”
“What does that tell you?”
“That the ht have been off-schedule” He added, “Not so his superiors knew about”
“If that’s the case, why cover for him?”
“If Turkekul is a valuable asset he would be protected after the fact And even if thewas off-schedule that doesn’t mean it was off-mission and thus could have been important to his superiors”
“Could he have been set up, then?”
“They didn’t kill hi a few et”
Chap with possibilities and none of them unfortunately make any sense”
They returned to the park Stone walked it from north to south and east to hile Chap alternatively curious and bored
She finally said, “Are you thinking if you walk the scene of the crime, inspiration will strike?”
“I’azed back at the building where the shots had presumably come from “Shots fired Everyone runs Padilla jumps into the tree hole The bomb detonates”
“The bomb was detonated preet was It keeps coo off when this park was filled with VIPs If we can deterineer it back to the people behind the plot At least hopefully we can”
Stone shook his head “We’re stillThe picture is still off Way off” He paused “Okay, let’s change direction for a minute and do a simple process of elimination”
“How?” she asked
“If Turkekul wasn’tto meet with?” Stone looked around the park “Not your security man Not Alfredo Padilla obviously Not me”
Chapasped “Wait a minute You mean the woman?”
Stone nodded “Marisa Friedman”
CHAPTER 63
“WHY FRIEDMAN?” ASKED CHAPMAN as they walked along H Street
“She was at the park As I said, simple process of elimination”
“But she explained what she was doing here She voluntarily came forward, in fact”
“I would too, if I were guilty of soht on the video feed If she didn’t come forward it would look very suspicious This way she defused that suspicion and appeared to be an upright, law-abiding citizen”
“An adulterous upright citizen But she has an office right over there” Chapman pointed to the line of town houses on Jackson Place “It would make perfect sense for her to be in the park”
“Please put your hand down just in case she’s watching They’ve allowed the business owners back in now”
Chaprined at her indiscreet action “Sorry”
“She said she’s a lobbyist, and maybe she is But maybe she’s more than that”
“So she could have been Turkekul’s unscheduled ?”
Stone said, “If he had such aplanned, she was the only one in the park he would bewith”
“But if so, he ht have told Sir James and the others about it”
“Then perhaps they’re covering for her too”
“Because she’s part of his mission, whatever that is?”
Stone nodded