The Camel Club (Camel Club 1)

She eyed Alex. “Solzhenitsyn. No lightweight stuff.”

“I think I read the Cliffs Notes on him in college,” Alex said.

She held out the book. “Yeah, but in Russian?”

Stone came out of the kitchen carrying two cups of coffee.

“I like your home, Oliver,” she said. “It’s how I’d envision a college professor’s place to look.”

“Yes, untidy, dusty, rumpled and full of old books.” Stone glanced at Alex. “I understand you’re on the advance team to Brennan, Pennsylvania?”

Alex gaped. “How the hell did you know that?”

“White House detail can often be very tedious, and people pass the time by talking shop. And voices carry amazingly there, if one is actually listening, which I’m afraid that few people really do anymore.”

Kate smiled at Stone as they all sat down in chairs around the fireplace. “Alex said you were quite extraordinary, Oliver, and I’ve found I can thoroughly rely on his opinion of people.”

“Well, Ms. Adams, I can assure you that Alex is truly special.”

“Please call me Kate.”

“Yeah, and if I get any more special,” Alex said, “I’ll be pumping gas for a living.” He glanced at Stone. “Your face looks like it’s healing.”

“It was nothing to begin with. A little ice. I’ve suffered worse.”

“Really? Care to talk about it?” Alex said.

“You would find such a discussion terribly boring, I’m afraid.”

“Try me,” Alex said pointedly.

A voice reached them from the street. They all got up and went to the door. There was Adelphia standing outside the locked gates calling to Stone.

“Adelphia?” Stone quickly went and let her in.

After they had settled back around the fireplace, Stone introduced Adelphia to Kate Adams.

Kate put out her hand but Adelphia simply nodded at her. The woman had obviously not planned on Stone having any company.

“I didn’t know you knew where I lived, Adelphia,” Stone said.

“You know where I live, it work both way,” she snapped.

Suitably rebuked, Stone sat back in his chair and stared at his hands.

“Oliver was just telling us that his face is much better,” Alex said quickly, giving the woman what he hoped would be a clear segue into her concerns.

However, Adelphia said nothing, and there was another awkward silence until Kate remarked, “I actually knew one of the attorneys from the ACLU who worked on your relocation case in Lafayette Park. He said it was a tough battle.”

“I believe the Secret Service were very aggressive in not wanting us back for security purposes,” Stone agreed.

Adelphia suddenly broke in. “But then the rights of people, they win out. People here have good rights. That is why this country is great country.”

Stone nodded in agreement.

“Yes,” Adelphia continued. “My friend Oliver, he has sign. It say ‘I want truth.’”

“Don’t we all,” Kate said with a smile.

“But sometime truth, it must come from inside a person,” Adelphia said forcefully as she touched her chest. “One who asks for truth, they too must be truthful, is this not so?” She looked around the group as she said this.

Stone was clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. He responded slowly, “The truth comes in many different shapes. But sometimes even when the truth is staring someone in the face, he fails to see it.” He abruptly stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I actually have someplace I have to be.”

“It’s pretty late, Oliver,” Alex said.

“Yes, it is late, and I hadn’t anticipated visitors tonight.”

His meaning was clear. They all stood and hurriedly walked out with mumbled good-byes.

Alex and Kate gave Adelphia a lift back to her apartment.

From the backseat she said, “He is in trouble. I know that this is true.”

“What makes you so sure?” Alex asked.

“He come by the park today with his friend, the giant one. He on a motorcycle. Riding in a sidecar.” She added this last in a tone implying that doing such was a criminal act.

“A giant man? Oh, you mean Reuben,” Alex clarified.

“Yes, Reuben. I no like him much. He has, how you say, the shifty pants.”

“You mean shifty eyes,” Alex corrected.

“No, I mean the shifty pants!”

“It’s okay, Adelphia,” Kate said, “I know exactly what you mean.”

Adelphia shot her an appreciative look.

“But you still haven’t told us why you think he’s in trouble,” Alex said.

“It is everything. He is not same. Something troubles him much. I try to talk to him, but he will not speak. He will not!”

Alex looked at her, puzzled by the intensity of her response, and his suspicions were suddenly engaged. “Adelphia, is there something else you want to tell us?”

She looked terrified for an instant and then assumed an expression of deep offense. “What do you say? That I lie!”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“I am no liar. I try to do good, that is all.”

“I’m not—”

She cut him off. “I no talk any more. I no tell you more lies!”

They were stopped at a light. She jerked open the door, got out and stalked off.

“Adelphia,” Alex called after her.

Kate said, “Better let her cool off awhile. She’ll come around soon enough.”

“I don’t have time for that. I leave tomorrow morning.”

“And tomorrow is when I start my vacation.”

“What? When did that happen?”

“After last night I needed some time off, so I’m taking a week. Maybe I’ll come up to see you in Brennan. I hear it’s a real happening place.”

“It’s probably a cow pasture where a president happened to be born.”

“And maybe I’ll have some time to check out your Mr. Stone and his friends.”

He looked at her in alarm. “Kate, I don’t think that’s a great idea.”

“Or I can start trying to find the people who wanted us dead. It’s your call.”

He put up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. Go after Oliver Stone and company. Damn, talk about the lesser of two evils.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” she said, giving him a salute.