Detective Danny Cavanaugh 01 - The Brink

drinks while I gave him such valuable information for free, right?”
    Sydney playfully nodded. “Absolument . ”
    Chip shook his head back and forth. “God I have already fallen in love with you, Ms. Dumas.” Sydney giggled again. This time she blushed, and it made her even more beautiful, something Danny thought couldn’t happen. “Anyway, we sat at the downstairs bar for a couple hours, as I explained everything I knew about cyberstalking. For the next few hours after that, Danny boy and I took turns entertaining the nubile, young beauties who come to Washington, D.C., seeking fortune and fame.”
    Danny continued the story. “Chip always said that he wanted to buy this place. He promised me that if he ever did, he would install a Shiner Bock beer tap and have it flowing.”
    “As long as there is blood flowing through my veins, there will be Shiner Bock flowing in this bar. Besides our young crusader here, it’s the only good thing to ever come out of Texas.”
    “So you’ve been watching the news?” Danny asked.
    “I have. Your adventures are a big story. But there’s a new story giving you some competition, I’m afraid.” Chip grabbed the TV remote from his desk and pointed it at the twenty-inch LCD TV hanging on the wall behind his office door. The first thing Danny noticed was the familiar CNN logo at the bottom of the screen. An image of dark water consumed the rest of it, with only small patches lit up from helicopter spotlights.
    Danny recognized the boat in the center of the shot. He had been swimming near it a short time ago. As he read each word in large block print at the bottom of the screen, anguish pulsed in his soul.

    Prime Minister Fantroy’s Plane Destroyed

Chapter 69
    As Lars Karlsson stared out the window of his usual suite at the Marriott County Hall Hotel, he didn’t see one car move on Westminster Bridge. No one was walking up and down the sidewalk beneath him. It was as if the entire city had slipped into a coma.
    It was an awkwardly clear morning. The rising sun illuminated Big Ben and Parliament, attempting to warm their stoic façades with a pink sky. This sight would have normally warmed Lars as well, but not this morning. He felt like the rest of London did, for both similar and different reasons.
    Lars skulked away from the window and returned to the bathroom. He was half dressed in his Chester Barrie suit when the announcement on the television yanked him from his routine.
    “We will hear from King Edward shortly.”
    He glanced at the TV. The newscast broke to a commercial. Lars returned to his perch at the window, as he contemplated The Group’s options. Fantroy’s position as England’s prime minister certainly allowed The Group to massage certain geopolitical events in their favor, but it was Fantroy’s mind that would be the greatest loss. He was a brilliant strategist, and as a wave of sadness crashed into Lars Karlsson’s heart, he was also reminded of the fact that Anthony Fantroy was a good friend.
    “Fellow countrymen, I address you today with a sad heart …”
    The beginning of King Edward’s address snapped Lars from his daze. He sat down on the bed and turned up the volume on the remote control.
    “We have confirmation from President Butcher that Prime Minister Fantroy’s airplane was indeed attacked. The source of this attack was a shoulder-fired missile launched from a small craft in the Potomac River. I have dispatched a team of top MI-6 specialists to Washington to assist with the investigation.”
    King Edward paused from reading his prepared statement and looked directly into the camera. Lars couldn’t believe it. The normally reserved monarch was on the verge of tears. “Let me say this to those responsible for this tragedy. As commander in chief of Great Britain’s military forces, I can assure you that I am putting the full weight of the Crown behind our mission to bring you to justice. Whether you are part of a cowardly terrorist cell or are carrying out orders from even the most powerful government on the planet, it does not matter. Know this: Anthony Fantroy was a good man, a man of honor and courage. I will stop at nothing to avenge his death by destroying you and all that you stand for.”
    With that, King Edward collected his papers and stepped down from the podium. The House of Parliament had been the setting for strong sentiments over the years, but Lars Karlsson was sure that no man had ever declared his thoughts more