Mercy Killing (Affairs of State Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

like. Said, if they had decent mobility facilities, maybe we could go back there together on another trip. But that was the last I heard from her.”
    And that, she thought, was now three days ago. Mark was right. This was so unlike her mother. “What’s the name of the hotel?”
    “I don’t know, which is strange. She always gives me contact names and phone numbers. I guess she just forgot.”
    Mercy thought for a moment. “Is there anything else you remember her saying that might help us locate her?”
    “Not really. I talked to Harold, her editor at Geo-World— you’ve met him, I think — but he was no help. 'Ukraine,' he said. 'Just a bus tour.'“ Mark made an annoyed sound in his throat. “Maybe it’s my imagination but he sounded defensive.”
    “As if he was holding something back?”
    “Could be, although I can’t see why.”
    Mercy shook her head, puzzled. Why would the man not volunteer information about an employee’s whereabouts when her partner voiced concern? “I’ll call him and see what else I can find out.”
    “Keep in touch, okay?”
    “Will do.” Mercy found the number she needed. Although Talia was a freelance photo-journalist, she kept an office at the magazine’s Manhattan address and had given her daughter the editor’s number in case of an emergency.
    Harold Gilmer, she was told by an editorial assistant—male and young, she guessed by the voice—was in the building but very, very, very busy. He absolutely was not taking any calls. He’d get back to her if she wished to leave her name, number, and a brief message. No, probably not today. Yes, he understood it was important. Mr. Gilmer would most likely return her call later in the week. Next week at the latest.
    What the fuck?
    “I’ll talk to him now .” Mercy put force behind her words. “This is Talia O’Brien’s daughter. And I expect he’ll know why I’m calling.”
    “Of course, I just…” the young man stammered. “I’m sorry I was so abrupt. We’ve been extremely…never mind. I’ll put you through.”
    After another minute, a deeper, oddly chipper voice replaced the jittery young man’s. “Mercy, how are you, dear?”
    “I’ll be a lot better as soon as you tell me how to reach my mother, Harold.”
    “Is anything wrong? You’re well, I hope.”
    “No, nothing’s wrong here. Mark and I are just concerned that we haven’t heard from Talia in days. Have you?”
    “No-o-o.” Did she imagine a wavering in his voice? “I expect to hear back from the American embassy in Kiev soon. When I do I’ll give you a call.”
    Mercy frowned for a beat before asking the obvious: “Why did you contact the embassy?”
    “Only precautionary, I assure you.”
    “Why?” she asked again. “This was a routine assignment, wasn’t it?”
    “There were,” Gilmer said slowly, “a few special circumstances. It wasn’t actually an assignment,” he explained. “The story was your mother’s idea. I agreed to put up travel expenses since she was so keen on it.”
    What a sweetheart , she thought, rolling her eyes. “This story was about a tour in Kiev?”
    “Near Kiev. At least, that would form part of the article, yes.” He seemed to be picking his words very carefully. “You see, your mother was interested in a new rage in travel. Extreme tourism. People pay guides to take them to out-of-the-way places, usually involving a theme of some kind. Camping out at the South Pole. Sleeping in tree houses in Colombian rainforests. Circumnavigating the world in a sailboat.”
    Mercy couldn’t help laughing. “Sounds right up Mother’s alley.” And it did!
    “Exactly. Always up for an adventure, that’s Talia.” But her boss didn’t sound particularly happy about it. “Well, this particular tour starts out by bus from Kiev. Apparently the Ukrainian government has decided it’s now safe enough for people to view--briefly of course, and with due precautions—the site of the nuclear accident at