Diplomacy

chest, the wounded man stirred and opened his dark eyes. The agent looked disoriented and 144 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    frightened and his breathing, now clearly audible, was still very fast and shallow.
    Jack knew if he stayed calm it would be easier to settle Mark. He had, after all, been trained how to react in situations like this. “Easy, Mark.
    You’re hurt, but you’re going to be fine. Try to calm down and breathe easy.”
    Mark swallowed and his face contorted in pain. “Can’t…”
    “Okay, look into my eyes and breathe with me. You can do this.”
    “What?” Mark was trying his best to slow down his breathing, but he was shivering violently.
    Jack tried to keep his voice level, but it wasn’t an easy feat. “We were cornered at a stoplight; two guys jumped into the car and held us at gunpoint. They shot into the air a few times, and then made the driver speed away. They got rid of him when he didn’t want to do what they wanted.” He paused, wondering how much he should tell his bodyguard.
    “I think you were shot, Mark. They tied my hands so I can’t check. Can you move at all?”
    Mark shook his head, his breathing a little less desperate, but still shallow. “No…”

    LUCAS and Sean watched the BBC World News, which was not very forthcoming with information.
    Sean had been put on hold at the American Embassy after he had blown his lid and pulled rank on the young receptionist. Finally, Someone else came on the line.
    “Stacey Tanner, Junior Protocol Officer. Can I help you, sir?” Sean smiled nervously. “Stacey love, what’s going on?”
    “Mr. Gallagher, hello. I’m afraid we don’t know much more than they are saying on the news, sir. Two armed men got into Mr.
    Christensen’s car. Mark Jones was with him. The driver was thrown out of the car and left by the side of the road. He’s in hospital, but he’s fine. No statements have been made, no responsibility claimed, and no ransom demands either. We are in lock-down and trying to bring as many Embassy personnel as we can to the Embassy.” Her voice sounded nervous, but Sean could tell she was trained for this.

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    “Maria?”
    “We’re keeping her inside the home and have dispatched extra security personnel over there.”
    Sean sighed. “She knows what’s happened?”
    “She has been fully briefed, sir.”
    “Fine,” Sean answered in as professional a manner as he could muster. “Can I have your direct line, please?”
    “Reception now has my orders to redirect you to me immediately, sir.”
    “Thanks, Stacey.”
    Sean put down the phone and turned to Lucas. “Now tell me exactly just how close you and Jack are.”

    “I know I’ve been hit, sir. I’m sorry.” Jack sighed. He was afraid of this. He was going to have to keep Mark calm, but alert. “I think in these circumstances you’d better call me Jack. And stop apologizing. You saved my life.”
    “All part of the job, sir…” Mark gritted his teeth, clearly biting away the pain. ”Jack.”
    Jack tried to remember his terrorism training. “We should look at our assets here. Your hands are untied.”
    “I can’t move, Jack,” Mark cut in. “I can’t move anything.”

    “THE Belgian driver of the Ambassador was found by the side of the road and taken to a hospital. He was well enough to be questioned by the police, but they are keeping a tight lid on any and all information in light of the investigation.
    Jack Christensen is an experienced U.S. Ambassador with earlier postings in Europe and South America as well as the Middle East. He was accompanied by a Secret Service man who remains unnamed, but is said to be a well trained, experienced member of the service.”
    “They’re not saying anything!” Lucas burst out.
    “Calm down, Carlton.” Sean had never seen the young man this frightened. Lucas was always confident and in control, but the way Lucas 146 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    behaved now suggested very personal investment in the well-being of a certain American Ambassador. Sean was starting to realize why Jack hadn’t been able to tell him who the man was that was making him think about leaving his wife.
    “Lucas. I know about you and Jack,” Sean started tentatively.
    The young man turned his eyes from the TV screen towards his superior. For an instant, Lucas looked trapped and then regained his composure. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. Jack and I have been working together closely, so