I'd Rather Be In Paris Read Online Free

into Flynn's dark eyes and swallowed hard. Don't stutter. Dial up competent intelligence officer . “Alexandrov Dmitri was released from Moulins yesterday after a French judge reviewed his case and dismissed it on a technicality."
    Making a production of taking a pen out of his jacket pocket and writing a note, Flynn muttered, “That's what happens when you give a French terrorist back to his own government for punishment instead of taking care of him yourself."
    The gazes of everyone in the room ping-ponged between Flynn and Stone. Flynn was a firm believer that counterterrorism only worked when diplomacy took a backseat.
    Office politics here or in her father's boardroom were the same. Stick to the facts, ignore the emotions. She pretended not to notice the tension. “A few hours later, his prison buddy, Dr. Jon Vos Loo, escaped. Vos Loo's a biochemist who likes to cook up nasty stuff. Deputy Director Stone believes there's a connection."
    Flynn rocked his chair, gave Stone an I told you this would happen look and jutted his chin at her. “And what do you think?"
    She glanced around the room at the men and women gathered there. It was a powerful group but not one of them had ever done counterintelligence in Europe face-to-face with a terrorist with the exception of her boss. They believed in diplomacy, even when it failed, and squirmed at military interventions. Zara believed in taking out sponsors of terrorism, period. That's why she belonged to Flynn's lethal and efficient counterterrorism team. Some people might call her a vigiliante, but those same people might owe their lives to her ability to take out a known terrorist before he struck again.
    Stone had been a Marine in his pre-Agency days and Zara respected that, but it was to Flynn that she directed her comment. “I'd wager my father's well-diversified stock portfolio they're up to something ugly. With Vos Loo's skills and Dmitri's connections, they could have a profitable network for the production and distribution of biological agents running within a week. Two, tops."
    Flynn nodded, then put Stone on the spot. “So what are you doing about it?"
    Maureen leaned forward. “What are the French doing?"
    "We've heard the usual rhetoric from the French,” Annette answered. “They believe both men have gone to ground. Dmitri's freelance men are missing in action, as is Scalfaro. The whole operation seems to have disappeared."
    "Forget the French.” Flynn waved his pen in dismissal. “There's obviously a corrupt official inside their judicial branch if a terrorist like Dmitri gets out of prison on a technicality. And they've no doubt got a problem with their intelligence group as well if Dmitri helped Vos Loo escape. If you're worried about these two teaming up, then we need to find them."
    All attention shifted to Stone. He avoided meeting Flynn's eyes, instead studying the picture of the lab still on the screen. Stone preferred diplomacy, but would do whatever it took to protect his country. He pulled out his chair at the head of the table and sat down. “I agree."
    Maureen glanced at her notes. “I agree as well, but I'm curious about what happened at the farmhouse earlier this year. Why did Dmitri believe Agent Owens knew where his missiles were?"
    It was the same question Zara had pondered herself. When she'd asked Tim about it, he waved it off, swearing he had no idea, and she'd ignored the uncomfortable tingling inside her. “Tim and I were working on flushing out the mole in the Paris Embassy. Tim had nothing to do with the operation to confiscate Dmitri's weapons."
    Maureen frowned at her. “But according to the transcript I read, you told Dmitri you knew where the missiles were and you offered to take him to them."
    Zara shrugged. “I was bluffing."
    "Bluffing?” Maureen snorted. “Why would you bluff about such a thing under those circumstances?"
    "Under those circumstances?” Flynn glared at her, the lion ready to defend one of his pride.