Chapter 16 

There was a reason why Michael left the private security service and returned to the intelligence agency . It was boring. 

When he was an agent posted to exotic destinations he could see a car bomb one day and then stop an assassination of an important diplomat the next. To an extent you could say that the people in his line of work were next-level adrenaline junkies. 

However the private sector never gave him the same high. His clients were always billionaires that over stretched their own importance and thought he was a highly paid butler. He left after a month and returned to MI5 where he could get the right fix. 

Not today however. Parked on the road adjacent to Royal Green Park, not too far from Buckingham Palace, Michael sat behind blacked out windows watching the front entrance to The Ritz hotel in London. 

Readjusting his ear piece, Michael called to Sam, "How are you holding up?"

Her short reply came a second later, "Fine." 

Michael could almost see her give a small sigh of exasperation in his head.

"This isn't my first rodeo," Sam continued. 

Michael quirked an eyebrow, "I remember." It wasn't too long ago they were in a hotel room for an entirely different rodeo. 

Sam rolled her eyes as she pulled at the bottom of her suit jacket although she couldn't stop the memory that it conjured in her mind, "Try and be professional, will you?" 

Michael laughed as he looked in his mirrors and saw a convoy and black jeeps drive up the road in a column. 

"We're up," Michael sat up in the seat and watched the cars drive past him, "'Eagle' has arrived."

Finally, Sam thought as she stood straight outside the suite door, her hands clasped in front of her. She could feel her service weapon on her hip.

"He's getting out of the vehicle," Michael gave her a play by play as he watched the American General disembark from the back seat of the second car. 

He was followed closely by a tall man with dark hair and a long face dressed in a black suit. He turned and regarded Michael's vehicle, knowing that he rested inside. He gave a small nod. 

Michael returned it although the bodyguard couldn't see him. 

Turning back to the General Michael saw that his hair was covered by a cap but there was no mistaking the arrogance in his shoulders as he sauntered up the front steps of the hotel. 

An older couple on their way out were guided away from the main staircase and escorted to the street away from the group. 

"He's in the lobby. He's not going to give you any information willingly," Michael informed Sam, "You're going to have to trip him into a confession."

"I know," Sam sighed again, resisting the urge to return a sarcastic remark. 

"Leave the mic open so I can hear," Michael told her as he looked around the surroundings for anything out of place but it was just another ordinary day in London. 

"Anything else?" Sam muttered as she looked to the elevator at the end of the corridor and saw that it was being called down to the lobby.

"Yeah, be careful," Michael's voice was deep with seriousness and his concern struck her in the chest, "We don't know what this man's involved in, remember." 

Sam heard the elevator's soft hum as it was pulled up the shaft before stopping at her floor. 

"He's here," Sam told Michael. 

"Good luck," Michael bit his lower lip as he remained in the vehicle. 

"Thanks," Sam whispered as the elevator doors opened and Sam turned to face him, her shoulder resting by the door. 

It was a five meter walk from the elevator to the General's room and in that short space of time she could tell that Ridgeway had already clocked the gun at her waist and the governmental stance of her feet despite her being trained to hide both those things. 

By the time he reached her the pair had already made their mind's up about the other.

"Who are you?" Ridgeway asked. 

"Sir, my name is Samantha McAndrew and I need your help." Samantha knew that a man of Ridgeway's standing would not budge under interrogation but if he thought he could be the man of the hour then his ego would get the better of him. 

That was her 'play' anyway. 

"I have had a long flight, Samantha," Ridgeway sighed, "What is it you need help with and can it wait until tomorrow?"

"No sir, I do not believe it can." 

Ridgeway looked around him, playing for time as he weighed the situation, "Then you must come in." 

The door to Ridgeway's suite was opened to reveal an expensive suite that would most probably  cost Samantha a year's salary to stay in for a single night. She wondered how Ridgeway had paid for it. 

The security team swept through the suite quickly and efficiently although it had been checked numerous times already before they slowly left the room. 

Within five minutes Samantha and Ridgeway were alone except for his personal bodyguard and Samantha's friend, Daniel, who had put her in his team for the day. 

Sam and Daniel shared a look. 

"How can I help you Samantha?" Ridgeway unbuttoned his khaki suit jacket and released the top off a decanter of brandy.

"I wanted to ask you about two men I believed to have been in your service; Jackson and Evans." Sam's words struck a nerve and she saw the reaction instantly. Other's might have missed it but there was a slight pause in the General's actions that pointed to shock.

He had not expected Sam to ask about them and paused for a moment mid-way through pouring himself a drink. 

Slowly lowering the decanter back onto the silver tray he lifted the glass to his lips which now had a healthy serving of brandy inside it, "I'm afraid your facts are mistaken, Miss McAndrew. I have never heard of these two men." 

"Really?" Sam pressed on Ridgeway's shock, "I have documents that prove otherwise."

Ridgeway's eyes creased at the corners, "That is impossible."

Michael was on the edge of his seat in the car as he heard the General's words almost admitting his involvement. 

But a moment later Ridgeway continued.

"That is impossible because, as I said, I have never met these men. You are being led on a merry goose chase, Miss McAndrew." 

Samantha narrowed her eyes slightly at the General as he removed his jacket and laid it casually on the back of a chair. 

"If that is all, I would ask you to leave," Ridgeway turned and the look in his eyes had sharpened to a degree that made her halt for a second. The threat in those depths was true when he spoke, "I will be seeing your superiors tomorrow and I do not wish to have to convey any unpleasant remark to them about your conduct which would most likely result in your dismissal." 

Samantha stared at Ridgeway but it was not because she was worried. She's been in numerous situations where she'd almost been fired, no, it wasn't that which made her pause. 

It was the fact that she had just gotten General Ridgeway to admit that he was involved. Why else threaten her job if he wasn't?

The silence in the room grew and grew until Samantha broke it.

"Julia Reynolds. Carlos Ramirez." 

Sam looked Ridgeway in the eyes as she said their names and she could see that it was a bullet to the heart for the General. His cheeks grew a shade darker and his thick brows furrowed slightly in the center. 

Those names were a sore spot for Ridgeway. 

"Thank you for your time," Samantha smiled before she turned and left the room. 

Ridgeway's face told her everything she needed to know and there was nothing Ridgeway could do to stop it.