Читать книгу Natalia’s Game - - Страница 16

Presenting to the board of the SRI might be fun. Then again, it could drift in a very difef rent direction. I’m not sure how this crowd will take having an American CIA operative amongst them.

Hidden behind the ofifce of the school’s Operations Director is a conference room with seating for eight. I wonder about Natalia. Is she invited? The SRI delivered a detailed meeting agenda to my cottage. In charge will be Eduard Raul Helsing, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of the SRI. Three other board members will be present: Brigadier General George-Viorel Voiculescu, Major General Ion Grecu, and Lieutenant General Dumitru Ponoru. Helsing is a Ph.D. political scientist, not a warrior. But, he oversees 12,000 agents, making the SRI one of the world’s largest intelligence organizations. That makes Helsing a player.

Florin Oltean will be in attendance. He is the operations director who runs the place with an iron fist. Oltean is openminded, especially on topics of science. He has to be. He oversees active experiments with DNA manipulation, genetic improvement, and quantum techniques, all connected in some way with spying.

Major Alina Balan will attend as the secretary. Her bio says she runs the national cyber security program. I’m not sure why she is the secretary, but I guess I’ll soon find out.

The boardroom door opens, and a stunning blond with blue eyes and “physically gifted” walks out and greets me. I assume she is from Transylvania. Lots of slim blonds there. I like that thought. She wears a pin-stripe suit with a white silk blouse and a mid-length skirt, slit up one side, partially revealing her thigh.

“Good morning, General Thomas. I am Alina Balan. Welcome to Romania. Your participation makes this meeting different from others we have had.”

Her English accent is excellent. She looks me in the eye and extends her hand. I accept it. Unusual. She has long, delicate fingers. Her hand is relaxed and welcoming.

When shaking hands with the opposite sex, Romanian customs dictate that touch is acceptable for only a couple of seconds. Alina holds my hand twice that long. Alina Balan is just a little too perfect. Too hot. What is her role here?

We walk together into the boardroom. While I glance around, looking as casual as I can, it’s hard not to acknowledge what the room has to ofef r. It exhibits wealth not often found in Romania. The room revolves around a Harkness conference table, topped with a thick layer of glass decorated with a chiseled edge. The curved legs are painted bronze. After marveling over the table, I averted my attention to the displayed artwork. In one corner is a sculpture by Constantin Brancusi. Although abstract, the piece mimics a bird’s closed body. It rests on a piece of white marble. I hide a smile, thinking about the morning’s events and how I’d destroyed their prized falcon.

Surrounding the entering generals, the walls house Spoerri and Luchian – famous Romanian artists – artwork and an engraving by Albrecht Durer. Durer was the German artistic genius who trained under Da Vinci and later wrote Europe’s first advanced mathematics book.

I shake each general’s hand, trading formalities, and turn toward the door, wondering if a certain brunette assassin I’m crazy about would be entering anytime soon. Then for the shocker. Next to the Durer hangs a Da Vinci painting. The Da Vinci is probably worth more than the school and the entire town of Mamaia nearby. This room is unlike anything I’ve seen in Romania.

I take note of two empty seats, no windows, LED lighting – unusual for Romania – and a small camera in the darkest corner near the ceiling. Flowers in a vase on the table undoubtedly contain a microphone. Amateurish.

I recognize some of these guys in the room. I had met Helsing the day before. Very professional.

General Voiculescu was in the news as the first Romanian diplomat ever invited to the White House. He must be important.

General Ponoru is their interface with NATO on cybercrime. Major Balan works for Ponoru.

And Major General Ion Grecu. I don’t want to tangle with him. I’ve read his CIA file. He’s less sophisticated but a warrior. And smart. I will keep an eye on him.