Read The Fallen: A Derek Stillwater Thriller for Free Online Page A

moved slowly to her right as well.
    “I’m part of the security detail. And you?”
    “We picked up a shred of chatter that suggested Coffee might be interested in the summit.”
    Irina blinked. “He’s back in the States?”
    “We lost track of him in Colombia.”
    “He went to Colombia from Mexico,” Khournikova said. “I lost him in Colombia as well. He disappeared into the jungle. There are a lot of drug dealers there as well as a lot of terrorist training camps. I’m sure Coffee would have found eager converts. There are plenty of unhappy, angry people with guns in Colombia looking for someone like Richard Coffee to come along and show them the light.”
    Derek cocked his head. “Do you think he’s going to show up here?” He moved a little bit to his left this time. The Russian aped his movements.
    “I’m intrigued that you think he might.” With a shake of her head she put her gun back inside her jacket and raised her hands. “Enough. I don’t believe you’re— how did you say it— a bad guy. As you know, I have personal business with Coffee. So, tell me.”
    Derek lowered the gun, hesitated, and handed it back to her. He didn’t think she was on Coffee’s side, although figuring out exactly whose side she was on could sometimes be a problem. “What’s your government’s take on The Fallen Angels now?”
    “We still want him for crimes committed in Russia, but we’ve seen no activity since his attacks here in the U.S. As you might say, he’s on the back burner.”
    “And with you?”
    “If I see him, I will kill him. I won’t talk to him or try to arrest him. I will kill him dead.”
    Derek frowned. “Coffee was pretty deep into your intelligence agencies. Can you trust the people you have here?”
    Her green eyes seemed to glow. “You are asking me that? Coffee’s collaborators were your government. Listen to yourself! One of your own FBI agents tried to murder me at his order. Who of your people should I trust, Derek Stillwater?”
    He shook his head. “Only one. Me.”
    She nodded. “And you can trust me— if you’re willing.”
    Derek sighed. “I guess I’ll have to, won’t I?”
    She studied him for a moment. “How do I contact you?”
    He tapped the Iridium cell phone on his belt and recited the number. She repeated it, committing it to memory.
    “I will be patched into the security network,” she said thoughtfully.
    “Where will you be?”
    “I’m not inside with the meetings, but on the immediate advance team. I stay ahead of the main group. The summit begins at Cheyenne Hall. Your president is hosting and will be introduced by his chief of staff. Then President Langston will welcome everybody and set the agenda. There will be additional talks by President Vakhach, EU President Waldenstrom, and Prime Minister Hollenbeck before they break into groups. I will be at the International Center during this time period. You?”
    Derek shrugged. “I don’t know. It’ll depend on where I’m needed. I won’t be in the main banquet hall during the activities, but I may be in the basement or the perimeter. If possible, I’ll watch on the security cameras in the security center.”
    She nodded. “Then I can contact you if I need to.”
    Derek nodded. “And you?”
    She recited her number. He quickly memorized it. “All right. But don’t tell any of your people who I am.”
    “I understand. Now you can go back to your toilet.” With a bitter, crooked grin, she turned and walked out of the restroom.

Chapter 13
    Lt. General William Akron, deputy director of the Office of the National Intelligence Directorate, paced around his large office in Liberty Crossing. Because of the sensitive nature of the NID, there were no windows in the offices, but it was a large office. It had also been furnished with some first-class furniture— cherry in his case. The building was nearly brand-new— it still smelled ever so faintly of fresh paint.
    Akron was thinking about