"Jeanie London - Retrieval" - читать интересную книгу автора (London Jeanie)

"Not to my face," Roman informed them. "My operations were covert, but occasionally a threat arose requiring more resources than 1 had available. I'd be forced to involve more conventional channels while maintaining the secrecy of my organization.
"Shortly before 1 died, I'd learned of such a threat. A possible connection between a deep-seated terrorist cell and a person of profound international significance. If my intel was correct, and 1 believed it was, the association demanded an explanation. Further investigation required a level of delicacy 1 could provide, but would place my people inside the most visible political circles with no margin for error. Should something go wrong--and in my line of work, gentlemen, something always goes wrong--the exposure to my agency and the United States would be unacceptable.
"I decided the way to proceed was to gather intel through the existing diplomatic network 1 was returning to D.C. to lay my cover with the president when 1 stopped in a town on the Eastern shore, a quiet place where I could clear my thoughts. While I was there, I happened across an antique store. You'll be interested to know what 1 found there."

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"My guess would be antiques." Damian delivered that in an ironic tone characteristic of the exact sort of smart ass Roman had never had any use for in life.
And in death it would seem.
"Obviously, Mr. Hart, but there was a gallery, too. Art, as it happens. Does that interest you?"
Damian's deepening scowl assured Roman it did, but he didn't allow time for a response.
"There was a portrait inside this gallery of a young woman. It was unfinished and unsigned, so I questioned the owner. There was speculation that you had painted her. Then the owner invited me to look at another painting, one she claimed was unusual--"
"Unusual or . . . magic?" Gray spat out the word.
Good, he had the men's attention. "She did claim the painting was magic, Lord Westbury."
"Did you look? What did you see?"
Damian eyed Roman closely, the gaze of aman who noticed details. "He saw us."
Roman nodded, impressed. 'With the woman from the unfinished portrait."
He could still see those paintings in memory and was glad he'd seen images of Nina in life, when he'd been able to appreciate her golden glory and creamy skin, the gold-flecked eyes and lashes.
By any standards, she was a beauty, the type of woman who managed to look both alluring and pure at the same time. There'd been an eagerness about her, an impatience that Roman hadn't understood at the time, but learning the circumstances of her life placed his impressions in a new light.
Her likeness had intrigued him on the canvas. Natural. Earthy. Enticing, although she looked nothing like the sophisticated beauties he'd found himself attracted

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to in life. Her honeyed hair framed a heart-shaped face that was graceful of feature and marvelously expressive.
She'd been a yearning young girl in the unfinished portrait, a slightly more mature woman in the painting with her protective companions. Gray Talbot and Damian Hart had flanked her like bodyguards in that allegedly magic painting, as forbidding and unfriendly as they were now. They appeared to have protected her as fiercely in life as they did in death.
So why did she need so much protection?
"I was intrigued," Roman admitted. "I promised myself to make time to find out more about your art and your subject."
"A promise kept unto death," Gray said. "You must have been very intrigued."
"I was, but given a choice, I wouldn't have died to meet you. But I never made it to the White House that day. I was assassinated on Pennsylvania Avenue with two of my operatives."
"Tragic."
"Indeed. At the time, I thought I'd simply chanced across that gallery. Now I know there is no chance."
"What do you call it?" Gray asked.
"I was meant to find that gallery as 1 was meant to see your portraits."
"Why?"
"Identification," Roman said. "If I hadn't seen your likenesses while 1 was alive, 1 might not have been convinced of our connection in death. Nor would I have been able to convince you of our connection."
Damian scowled. "You haven't convinced us yet."
"What's your interest in Nina?" Gray asked.
Roman wasn't sure why the question irked him.




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JEANIE LONDON