“Why?”
“When you see a rich spy king leave his usual haunts of upscale Manhattan to enter a ragged six-story walk-up with a pizza parlor in the lobby, you know something is off.”
“Who did he meet with there?”
“His name is James Harkes. A man that even I would find intimidating. And while I know you don’t really know me, that’s saying a lot.”
“You actually know this Harkes guy?”
“By reputation only. But it’s an impressive one.”
“Is he Bunting’s fail-safe?”
“More his guardian angel. For now. But he plays to more than one master. That’s the reason I gave you the gun. It must have occurred to you that because Bunting knows you’re on to him, Harkes may be unleashed against you and Michelle.”
Sean said, “I understand.”
“And that doesn’t take into account other assets that Foster and her allies could deploy.”
“Pretty overwhelming assets, I would imagine.”
Paul leaned forward and moved the olive oil bottle out of the way so she could hold Sean’s hand.
“What’s that for?” he said in a puzzled tone.
“I am not an overly affectionate person. I wanted to see if your skin was clammy and whether your hand was trembling.”
“And?”
“And I’m impressed because neither physiological reaction is occurring. I know you guarded the president, had an outstanding career until you made one mistake that destroyed it all for you. I know about Maxwell, too. She’s a bulldozer who can shoot the pants off most of the premier snipers in the military.”
“And I haven’t met the man she can’t put down.”
Paul let his hand go and sat back. “Well, that might change. Soon.”
“Are we on the same team now? Because everything you just said about us could just as well apply to you.”
“I don’t think they know I’m on to them yet, but I can’t guarantee that.”
“So, a team?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“We don’t have a lot of time.”
“I never said we did.”
“Why did you want me to come up to New York? All of this could be said over the phone.”
“This couldn’t.” She slid a package over to him. “The Glock, as promised.”
“Is that all?”
“No. One more thing. Would you like to see where Peter Bunting lives?”
Sean looked at her in surprise. “Why?”
“Why not?”