Exit Strategy by L. V. Lewis Page B

refusal. Our relationship right now is... tenuous at best, and I don’t have the luxury of time to convince her she needs what amounts to the Secret Service following her around all the damn time.”
“Got it, sir.”
“I want elite personnel on this. Not that fucking rent-a-cop who let McCaskill shake his tail so easily. Spare no expense.”
The only indication that Velasquez was embarrassed by the slip McCaskill had given his man was a slight reddening around the tips of his ears. “I know just the team for the job, sir.”
“Good. Have the team you put on Nathan coordinate with security at all the USABA venues. Any Internet-savvy halfwit is privy to his schedule. Borrow some personnel from the club in the meantime. Can you have everything else in place in eight hours or less?”
“With the budget you’ve just approved, I’ll have them in place in four.” Carlos gestures toward the letter. “I’m going to run this for prints and possible trace evidence.” He reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a pair of latex gloves, dons them, and retrieves a folded plastic evidence envelope, in which he slips the letter. Then he rises and says, “I’ll fast-track this through a friend at Quantico and collaborate with the Chicago PD if we get a hit. Should your assistant receive anything further while you’re gone, or if any member of your family’s or Ms. Beale’s safety is compromised, we’ll adjust security needs accordingly.”
“Notify the detail on Ms. Gabriel that she may be making a permanent move as early as today, and in that case, you’ll be needed to design a complete security overhaul for her new location.  Thanks, Carlos.”
He walks Velasquez out and says, “Darryl, my office.”
His thoughts race a million miles a minute. Someone is plotting against him and the people closest to him, but what that fucker doesn’t know is that he protects what’s his at all costs.
“Yes, Mr. White?” Darryl says.
“I’d like you to call Kincaid in the real estate division and find out if the condo immediately below mine is still vacant. I have a new tenant I’ll be moving in today. I want it made completely handicap accessible. If Kincaid needs direction, he’s to contact Dr. Enid Daschle for specifics.” He rifles through a business card file and holds two of them out to Darryl. “Kincaid and his staff should work with Janet Hathaway on the furnishings and so forth. I want everything to be state-of-the-art, with every bell and whistle imaginable. This is a need-to-know project, so if Kincaid or anyone else asks any questions, direct them to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Also, call Landau’s office and have them alert the folks at the Buffaloes training center that I have an urgent matter to relay to my brother. If you can’t convince them, get Velasquez to call.”
“Consider it done, Mr. White.”
     
~*~
 
Tristan has never been to the Buffaloes Range Center training facility in Deerfield in the ten years Nate’s been in the league, but this is a matter of some urgency, and he won’t be deterred by the security personnel who seem hell-bent on denying him access.
“What’s the nature of your business again, sir?”
Tristan bristles but answers him in an even, clipped tone. “Nathan White is my twin brother. Look at my face. I’m sure you’ve seen him every day for however many years you’ve been working here. I have news of a grave personal security matter I need to speak with him about. If he hasn’t already, my security chief will be in contact with yours. I have Terry Landau on speed dial. If I call him, I won’t be particularly complimentary.”
The security officer leans down and looks closely at Tristan. “Well, you do look a lot like him.” Then the walkie talkie crackles. “ Commence red cape security protocol. Tristan White is cleared to enter the facility undetained when he arrives. ”
“Sorry, Mr. White,” the guard says and snaps to attention. “Your driver may proceed