"I agree with you," Elizabeth said, "but this involves religion and politics, not to mention gold. That makes it complicated."
"What else is new?" Lamont said.
"There's going to be fallout from what happened in Beirut," Elizabeth said. "Hezbollah's creatures in the Lebanese government are claiming the people you killed outside that gate were peaceful civilians. They want whoever was responsible tried for war crimes."
"Figures," Nick said. "They're good at accusing everybody else of the things they do."
"They don't know who it was," Elizabeth said. "The helicopter was unmarked. They assume it was us or the Israelis. It's not going to go anywhere, especially when the story gets out about what Al-Bayati was doing in there."
"The story will get out?"
"You can be sure of it."
"Director, I've been thinking," Lamont said. "Retirement isn't what it's cracked up to be. Besides, there's too many damn bugs down there in Florida. I'd like to get my old job back, if I could."
"What about your leg?"
"It held up pretty good this time around. Better than I thought it would, and it's getting stronger. I don't think it's going to be a problem."
Elizabeth looked at Nick.
"He's pretty beat up and he's getting old," Nick said. "I guess we could use him."
"I wouldn't talk about old if I were you," Lamont said.
Elizabeth smiled. "Welcome back."
Selena changed the subject. "How's Stephanie doing?"
"I talked to her this morning. It's going to take time to get over losing the baby. She wants to work as soon as she feels physically okay. She's tough and she knows she can have another child when she's ready. She'll be all right."
"This has been a rough one," Nick said. "Stephanie. Then Diego. He just got here and then he was gone. There was nothing we could do."
Elizabeth opened a drawer in her desk and took out a bottle of cognac and some shot glasses. They watched while she filled the glasses. They all took one, even Ronnie. She filled one more glass and set it down on Diego's file.
"There is one thing we can do, for him and all the others who have given their lives because of duty. We can honor their memory." She raised her glass. "Nick?"
They lifted their glasses.
"To Diego," Nick said. "A good man."
Epilogue
The weather was warm for October, one of those gorgeous days when summer made a brief reappearance before the approach of another brutal East Coast winter.
Nick and Selena came out of the chapel to a shower of rice from their friends. They stopped for the photographer to take shots as they left the church. Ronnie, Lamont, Lucas, Stephanie and Elizabeth came after them, followed by Clarence Hood with his security detail. The president had been unable to attend. He'd sent his regrets and a gift and wished them well.
"You're beautiful in that dress," Nick said.
Selena kissed him. "You look pretty good yourself. A tuxedo suits you. You know, it's the first time I've seen you dressed up like that."
"I haven't worn a tux since my high school prom."
Elizabeth came over to them. "The limo is waiting. Security is getting nervous standing out here like this."
Nick looked around. "Just for once I'd like to think I could have a normal day like everybody else. Especially this day."
They walked toward the car, a white Rolls-Royce with a uniformed chauffeur. He held the rear door open for Selena. On the smooth leather seat was a package wrapped in white paper with a white bow. An envelope was stuck under the bow. He could make out part of what was written on the envelope.
To my…
"Where did that come from?" Nick asked. His ear began itching.
"I don't know, sir."
"Have you been with the car all the time?"
"I did take a short break for a call of nature, sir."
"Are you English?"
"As a matter of fact, I am, sir. They like to use me as the driver when a client requests the Rolls. Is something the matter, sir?"
Lucas came over.
"Hey, you guys are supposed to be on your way to the reception. Everybody's waiting."
"Someone put a package in the back of the car," Selena said.
"There goes normal," Nick said. "Lucas, move everyone back will you? Selena, you too."
"Nick…"
"I've got a bad feeling about it."
"It's probably a toaster."
"It's too big for a toaster."
The itch was turning into a slow burn. Nick tugged on his ear and looked at the package, wondering what was inside. Even on his wedding day he had to worry about people trying to kill him. It pissed him off.
"I think it's a bomb," Nick said. His voice was quiet.
"Okay," Lucas said.
"You're pretty cool."
"I'm a fatalist. How do you want to handle it?"
"We all back off. If it is a bomb, there could be somebody watching us right now with a detonator."
"Waiting for you and Selena to get in the car," Lucas said.
"You're full of cheerful ideas, aren't you?"
"You're the one that thinks it's a bomb."
Clarence Hood and Elizabeth were on the steps of the church looking at them, wondering what the delay was about.
Nick turned to Selena. "Let's stroll over toward the photographer and tell him we want some more shots with the wedding party. If someone's watching and they see us moving away for more pictures it will look natural. Assuming it's a bomb and not a toaster, that is. And smile, will you? Laugh a little."
Nick took her arm and steered her back toward the church. He saw the chauffeur. His name tag said that his name was James.
"Lucas, get everybody back into the church. I have an idea."
He stopped by the chauffeur. "Is there a phone in the car?"
"Yes, sir, there is. It's used to contact me if the owner wishes to advise me of traffic or a change in plan."
"Good. Come with us into the church."
"Very good, sir."
If the chauffeur thought this particular wedding party was acting a little bizarre, he put it down to the increased security surrounding the Director of Central Intelligence. It was all rather exciting, something different from the normal wedding or evening hire.
They went inside the church and Nick closed the heavy oaken doors. Everyone moved up toward the altar.
"Mister Carter…"
"Don't worry, Reverend. Everyone, there may be a bomb in the car. Get behind something. James, does that Rolls have a remote start?"
James looked indignant, as if anything could be missing from a Rolls-Royce.
"Of course, sir."
"Start the car."
James took out his key and pressed a button. The car started, although it was hard to tell it was running.
"Good. Now call the phone in the car for me."
The chauffeur took out his cell phone and dialed the number.
In the street outside, the Rolls vanished in an explosion that shook the stone walls of the church and set the bells in the tower ringing. The force of the blast blew the stained glass out of the front of the church and shook the heavy doors.
Dust drifted down from the rafters of the church, settling on Nick's tuxedo. He brushed it off his shoulder.
The Reverend picked himself up from the floor. "Good God," he said.
"How did you know?" Lucas asked.
"I didn't, except when my ear starts burning like that it means trouble. I figured that since it didn't go off when the car started, it wasn't set on an ignition or movement trigger. I think someone was waiting down the road and watching. All they had to do was dial that number when it went by."
Selena took his hand. "Bastards. This is our wedding day. Our day. Who would do this?"
"I don't know," Nick said, "but I'm going to find out."