The Bin Laden Plot

Mixell had a vengeful streak and wouldn’t stop until he paid Jake back for betraying him. She ought to know — she had dated Mixell for a year. That’s how she’d met Jake. The two men were still best friends back then. But her relationship with Mixell didn’t last; he had anger management issues.

“Also,” Christine said, “John McNeil is dead.”

“I heard,” Harrison replied. “I’m planning to attend his funeral. But what does that have to do with Mixell?”

“Lonnie was the sniper who tried to assassinate the secretary of the Navy. He missed and killed McNeil instead.”

Harrison’s face hardened at the news. “That bastard. But I’m surprised he missed — he’s an excellent marksman. How far away was he?”

“I don’t know the details, other than he was in a hotel across the street. You can look into things if you’d like, once you return to Langley.”

“Is that a job offer?”

“It is.”

Angie exchanged looks with Jake. Now that they had learned Mixell was still alive, she already knew what the answer would be. But Jake said, “I’ll have to think about it.”

The front door opened, then slammed shut, followed by the sound of someone running through the house.

“I’m home!” a young girl called out. “I’ll be upstairs getting ready for gymnastics!”

“That must be Madeline,” Christine said. “How old is she now? Twelve?”

Angie nodded. Christine had been keeping tabs. But when had she learned Maddy’s age? After Angie and Jake married, he supposedly hadn’t kept in touch with Christine. Then Angie recalled that Jake had run into Christine several times over the last few years while on various missions, saving her life twice.

However, things hadn’t gone quite the same during his last SEAL mission, even though he’d run into Christine again. Jake’s SEAL team had been escorting the Russian president from his Crimean summer home during a military coup, with Christine accompanying them. She’d been visiting the Russian president at the time, no doubt taking international relations to a new level. During their escape, Christine and the Russian president had slid toward a cliff overhanging a raging river a hundred feet below. Jake had managed to grab ahold of them, one in each hand. His grip on both began to slip, and he’d been forced to make a decision — he could save only one of them. He had let go of Christine.

She had survived the fall but had been none too pleased about Jake’s decision. The next time she saw him, she punched him in the face. They seemed to have worked things out, but the scenario atop the cliff brought Angie comfort. Not because Christine had almost met her demise but because Jake had been forced to choose and he had let Christine go.

There was the sound of feet pounding on the wood floor again, and Maddy burst into the kitchen as she asked, “Have you seen my purple leo?”

She stopped suddenly and examined the stranger at the kitchen table. When she realized who she was, her eyes grew big. But not because Christine was the CIA director — Madeline had no idea — it was because Christine had been a collegiate national champion on the beam.

Harrison made the introduction. “Maddy, I’d like you to meet Miss O’Connor.”

Madeline shook Christine’s hand as words tumbled from her mouth. About how much she’d heard about her, that she was a gymnast too, what level she had attained, and which skills were the most difficult for her.

“The beam is my weakest event,” Madeline said. “I have trouble with the back handsprings. But Dad says if I work hard, I might become a national champion, like you.”

“There’s no substitute for hard work,” Christine said. “It all starts there.”

Angie checked the clock on the wall. “Your leo is hanging in the laundry room. Better finish getting ready for practice. Miss Young will be here in a few minutes.”

Madeline collected her leotard, then either because she was excited to meet Christine or wanted to impress her, she exited the kitchen via a back walkover, keeping her legs straight and feet pointed as they passed overhead.

After Madeline disappeared from sight, Christine smiled. “She’s adorable.”

Jake and Angie talked with Christine for a few minutes more until they heard a car pull up and honk. Madeline yelled goodbye as she bounded down the stairs, the front door slamming shut a few seconds later.

“Well,” Christine said as she stood, “I should be going now too.”

Harrison and Angie walked Christine to the front door, where she shook Angie’s hand. Then she turned to Jake.

“This time, we’re going to put Mixell away for good, one way or another.” She extended a hand. “Let me know what your decision is.”

Jake took Christine’s hand. “It was a pleasure seeing you again, Miss O’Connor.”

Christine offered a wry smile at Jake’s formal goodbye, then departed.

When he closed the door, Angie leaned against the foyer wall, tears in her eyes.