“You can talk to me about you.”
“Pardon me?”
Simone walked over and poured two cups of coffee, handing one to Vance. “We’re going to use the rest of this time for me to interview you. Starting with the personal. Who hates you the most?”
The question took Vance off guard and he started. “Now that’s a tough one. Hates me? Resents me? Feels threatened by me? Which?”
“All of the above.”
“That’s a pretty complex question.”
“It’s an imperative one for you to answer.”
“I understand.” Vance’s brow furrowed. “I’ll need this cup of coffee—and the hour we’ve got.”
“Fifty minutes,” Simone corrected. “So drink your coffee. And voice your thought process aloud.”
9
Reno-Tahoe Airport, Reno, Nevada
26 February
Monday, 9:35 p.m. local time
Aidan hopped into the town car that was waiting for him at the airport and leaned back in his seat, resting his eyes. He’d be videoconferencing with the team in twenty-five minutes. They wouldn’t have a lot of time. He’d be at the Ritz-Carlton in an hour.
Not that he had a hell of a lot to report.
His last few hours in Munich had been a complete bust, other than ascertaining that Abby, Emma, and Joyce had safely arrived in Disneyland. Danijel had been unavailable all day and had yet to return Aidan’s call. And his visit to Hofbräuhaus had yielded nothing. He’d hoped that by showing up there around the same time of day as Lauren had, he’d find some of the same employees and customers who worked and frequented the restaurant then. He’d managed that part just fine. After showing Lauren’s photo around—casually saying she was his niece and he was here to surprise her—two male waiters and a table of college kids remembered seeing her. Unfortunately, that’s all they remembered. Two of the kids had noticed a dark-haired guy talking to her, but they’d never seen him before and had no idea who he was. There’d been some curiosity expressed, which Aidan had immediately squelched by saying the guy was her boyfriend and they were vacationing in Europe.
That had been enough to satisfy the kids and the waiters, who were too self-involved to give him a second thought.
But he’d come away with zilch.
Given that, keeping Vance calm wasn’t going to be easy. According to Simone’s earlier phone call, she’d set the stage well, but there was only so much she could do. In addition, Aidan was now going to have to meet and size up the emotional state of Susan Pennington, who was doubtless experiencing the maternal hysteria she had every right to. He’d have to find a way to channel that energy into something positive. The filaments of an idea had occurred to him on his flight. He planned on implementing it ASAP—depending on the Penningtons’ emotional and performance capabilities. That had to be assessed, and if all things checked out, it would be full speed ahead.
Aidan rubbed his forehead, fighting the effects of an overwork headache. It was going to be a long night.
His secure cell phone rang and he answered on the first ring. “Yes.”
“You sound exhausted,” Simone greeted him. “I can almost hear you massaging your temples.”
A grin tugged at Aidan’s lips. “Are you clairvoyant now?”
“No. I just know you. You’re pondering how to deal with the Penningtons, which is going to be emotionally draining. And that’s after putting in three days’ work with little to no sleep, plus a full team videoconference in twenty-five minutes.”
“Hey, I’m a tough guy. I’ll be fine.”
“I plan to make sure of that.”
“Really? And how do you intend to do that?”
“Simple.” Simone’s tone was pure seduction. “I just had a bath and a long nap. I’m wide-awake. I plan to remain that way so I can greet you properly when you arrive at my hotel room—whatever time of night that might be.”
“An invitation like that is like offering food to a starving man.” Aidan felt his blood start to pump despite the impossibility of the situation. “But as much as it kills me, we’ll have to wait for that heated reunion. I’ll probably be with the Penningtons for a couple of hours. Car service will be standing by. But the drive from Tahoe to Palo Alto is four-plus hours. You’ll be getting dressed to go to NanoUSA by the time I show up.”
“Au contraire, mon chéri,” Simone replied. “I took the liberty of contacting our pilot and instructing him to set a flight plan for Lake Tahoe. The Gulfstream will be waiting at the airport whenever you finish up with the Penningtons. You’ll be with me a short time later.”