“We can do that tomorrow.”
He looked at her sharply. “I thought you’d want to go back to Edilean or at least to the nearest airport. Rural Virginia isn’t exactly exciting, certainly not like a polo field.”
“Cut it out!” she said. “He’s turning down that road.”
Eli held back as the black car went down a narrow road.
“He’ll see us,” Chelsea said. “He’ll recognize—” She broke off when Eli backed up and returned to the main road. When she glanced at the GPS screen, she knew what he was doing. The map showed a big lake that had fingers of water. There were several carefully planned lanes following the lake, with wider roads leading to them. They were heading into a planned community, all of it laid out for easy access.
“Take a right,” Chelsea said.
Eli glanced at the map, then looked at her in question.
“Trust me, I know what I’m doing. Go right. There are always service roads in these places, but they won’t show up on the GPS.”
He followed her directions and within minutes they were on a gravel road that led them beside a huge house. It was a perfect McMansion, with great windows that looked out at the pretty lake.
Chelsea got out of the car before Eli turned off the engine.
“Wait a minute!” He caught her arm. “We’re trespassing.”
“We’re a young married couple looking to buy. Besides, it’s too early for anyone to open their lake house.” She was looking across the water. “Is that Orin’s car? I wish I had binoculars.”
Eli went to his car, got a pair, and handed them to her.
“Part of your spy kit?” When he didn’t answer, she looked at him and Eli shrugged. “You don’t carry a firearm, do you?”
“Of course not,” Eli said, but he was grinning.
“I think you and I should have a talk about your life since you began working for the government.”
“Nothing to tell. You know us nerds, we just sit at a desk all day and look at computer screens.”
She put the binoculars up to her eyes. “Last time you went out of the country, where did you go?”
“Antwerp.”
“Ever been shot?”
“Just twice.”
She could hear the amusement in his voice. “That all?” Chelsea said. “How often do you see the president?”
“Whenever he calls me to come.”
“Like his kids?”
Eli laughed. “I’ve helped a bit with homework. Isn’t that ol’ Orin?”
Across the wide finger of the lake was a big house, mostly made of stone, with tall windows looking out over the water. There was a sprawling patio with furniture, a big barbeque pit at one end. A man in a white shirt and black trousers came out and stood there looking at the water.
“Is that a drink in his hand?” Eli asked.
“Yes.” Chelsea lowered the binoculars. “Good eyesight. Open the trunk, would you? I think I’ll get some of that camera equipment you got for me.”
“I wanted it used for sunsets but you’re going to use it for spy work.”
She ignored his comment. As she pulled a camera and a 400 mm lens out of the back, she said, “What happened to your glasses?”