“Did the Secret Service think I was a security risk?” Tatiana asked.
“They think everybody is a security risk including my mother-in-law and they might have something there.” Everyone laughed at that.
“I have to say, you’re more down to Earth than I expected,” Andy said.
“Like I said, Xavier Corners only has 417 people.” Andy chuckled and nodded. “Now, Ms. Peabody, you have been doing some admirable charitable work with your money and I applaud you for that.”
“Thank you, it gives me satisfaction to help the less fortunate,” Ariel said.
“She sure helped us,” Belinda said.
“Lind,” Justin said as he touched her wrist.
“Well, she did and I don’t care who knows it. She bought me a car when mine was junk and she paid off our loan to Jozette and she paid for Gabby’s surgery and therapy so she can walk right. We could have never afforded that.” Belinda’s voice cracked then she started crying and lowered her face into her hands. Ellen looked at everyone then at Belinda.
“Well, that is a testimonial if I ever heard one.”
“I’m sorry, Madam President, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Why not, candor is a rarity these days, especially in my business. Don’t stop being yourself. I think everyone likes you for who you are.”
“We sure do,” Tatiana said.
“And, the elusive Mr. Warren Peabody.”
“That’s me,” Warren said and Ariel shook her head.
“You were the one person that the Secret Service was concerned about when they did their vetting.”
“I was?”
“Yes, it seems you’re not even here.”
“But here I am, Madam President.”
“They couldn’t find any record of your existence such as a birthdate, family, addresses, schools attended etc.” There was a brief period of tension, slight but tension as no one knew how to bail Warren out. The truth was the least desirable.
“My situation is unusual but I assure you I have no sinister background nor do I associate with scurrilous characters.”
“You seemed to have surfaced a few years ago and began college at IU where you received a Ph.D. in physics.”
“Yes.”
“And, you married Ariel.”
“Yes.”
“Good choice.”
“I know.”
“What are you working on now?”
“I’m in the New Mexico desert for Westinghouse doing research into long distance electrical transfer.”
“You mean sending electricity over distances without wires?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Tesla.”
“Yes, Ma’am and let me say I’m impressed.
“Don’t be, I did a book report in college on Tesla. Interesting man, a real futurist. Are you a futurist, Mr. Peabody?”
“I’m not sure,” Warren said as he looked at Dave.
“I’d say that Warren and I are both futurists like most physicists,” Dave posed. Ellen nodded her head.
“I see well, I’d like to continue this discussion in the future, Mr. Peabody.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“And now the best for last, Little Wolf Kline and his lovely wife Julieta. Mr. Kline, you were adopted from a reservation in New York. Their records were obscure so we never really got to the answer we were looking for but I’m satisfied that you are of good character.”
“Thank you, Madam President, I’m glad I passed muster.”
“Was law your passion as a young child?”
“I guess so, I saw many people as I grew up who could’ve fared better with good legal representation.”
“And you were the answer to that?”
“One answer.”
“Well said, I think you’re ready to run for congress.”
“No thank you, Ma’am, I don’t want to be away from home that much.”
“A wise choice. Now, Julieta, daughter of immigrant parents who came here for a better life. Two sisters, two brothers and a mom who is now remarried after your father died prematurely. No doubt from working multiple jobs to support a family living in the projects.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“That’s lousy, Julieta and I’m sorry that it happened to your family.”
“It really happened to my father, Madam President.”
“Indeed, and you should know that I have introduced legislation to provide meaningful employment for the parents of immigrant families as they pursue citizenship. These hard-working people should not be stuck in minimum wage jobs.”
“Thank you for that, Madam President, there are thousands of Hispanics who just want an even chance.”
“Exactly and hopefully we can do that for them.”
“Are you running for election because if you are, I’m voting for you,” Julieta said.
“I haven’t decided.”
“I hope you do,” and there was general agreement from everyone.”
“Thank you, and I may hit you up for a donation.” There was laughter. “Now, back to Julieta. Dentistry, when did this happen?”
“I had a scholarship for IU and Miss Ariel paid for dental school plus she bankrolled me when I started my practice.”
“I’m not surprised and a sound investment if I had to guess.”
“Yes, a very sound one indeed,” Ariel said and Julieta grinned and nodded to her friend.
“And, a free clinic twice a month and twice a month for your partner in practice. So, anyone can get free dental work on Saturday in Bloomington, Indiana,” Ellen posed.
“If they are indigent.”
“Good, I like the sound of that.”
“Thank you, Madam President.”
“Well, this is an interesting group indeed,” Ellen remarked. Forgive me if it seemed like I was grilling you but I like to get to know the people I’m with and you are all more interesting than the usual lot I get.”
“We consider it an honor,” Andy said and Jozette rolled her eyes.
“Maybe you should go into politics, Mr. Kline, you seem to speak the lingo.” Dave laughed out loud at that.
“Why the disparity in our occupations?” Justin asked.
“I wanted reporters, business people, scientists, lawyers, medical professionals. I like to be familiar with all types and kinds of people.”
“When will we land?” Andy asked.
“In a few hours, I really don’t know. They come and tell me when we’re an hour out so I can clean up and look presentable,” Ellen said and they all laughed. There was some more small talk then thanks by everyone to the host and the group left.
“That was nice,” Belinda said. “I like her.”
“Yes, she is a gracious host and a complex person. Don’t let that Xavier Corners talk fool you, she is a sharp individual,” Justin said.
“I picked that up too,” Dave added.
“She’s so normal,” Belinda said.
“I agree, it was like Thanksgiving at my aunt’s house without the screaming kids,” Dave said.
“I felt so comfortable around her. I was nervous about having lunch with the President. I mean, who wouldn’t be but she was so laid back,” Andy said.
“Her views surprised me but I guess there are all kinds in any party” Jozette said.
“I think I’m on the hot seat,” Warren posed.
“How?” Andy asked.
“She’s not going to let my lack of a history go without doing some digging,” Warren answered.
“What if she presses you for an answer?” Tatiana asked.
“I may have to tell her the truth.” They looked at one another and let out collective gulps and sighs. Maybe the secret will have to come out. The repercussions of the President knowing was what worried them.
CHAPTER SIX
The Crimean Star would house Ellen Lexington, Sergei Deniken and their entourages. It wasn’t the largest or even the best hotel in Kerch but it presented the fewest security problems and both sides agreed to its use over a year ago. The meeting was in the works as soon as negotiating began on the American/Russian treaty. In Russia it was referred to as the Russian/American treaty as petty formalities are always a part of any negotiation. The staff at the Star had undergone a house cleaning four months previous. New owners took over and the old-timers were released. New stock was brought in to modernize things. Yefim Galkin was the new manager and he was a hard-nosed character who was there every minute of every day. He lived on the top floor in a luxury suite so there was no time to dawdle when the boss was away. The desk manager was a smallish bespectacled little twit named Yuri Bulganesky. He had a thin-lipped evil smile and a wet, limp-fish hand shake. The female employees were not immune to his advances as he was a lecherous and aggressive fiend with a record of arrests for sexual advances towards women and young girls. He and Galkin were close friends and were frequently in corners whispering and looking around the lobby, the dining room, outside or wherever they were in the hotel at the time. Nikita Smolenevitch was head of security for the hotel and he was a dark figure who rarely if ever spoke to anyone but he could be seen lurking in corners spying on guests and employees. He would stand behind the main desk watching the clerks for a half an hour at a time, though he never said why and then when they turned around, he’d be gone. He was hated by all in the hotel and that seemed to be what he wanted. There were two baggage attendees, Viktor Manatov and Peter Lanewsky, who were seen talking to Smolenevitch on occasion and when they weren’t carrying suitcases, they were moving around the hotel checking doors and windows. In all a peculiar and rather slimy crew… and they all worked for Andrei Kulagin.