message on her phone from SJ: “Call me when you’re ready - I have the data.”
She replied adding Tommy on it: “Good. Get everyone together. Meet in my suite in fifteen.” As she pressed, “send” she felt the sense of excitement that she was about to get into action.
Within fifteen minutes, everyone showed up in her suite.
SJ started off with his data. “Okay, there was a flight that arrived around midnight last night. In fact it was the last private flight to arrive yesterday - flew in from Moscow via Amsterdam and Miami. Registered passengers were an Oleg Sokurev, Alex Kresnikin and Anna Minerova. They were on board and in fact are the flight crew. The passengers were really Dmitry Sidorov, Max Liebermann and uh…” SJ was stalling as he did not want to sound incompetent.
“Go on, who‘s the third?”
“Well, the third was unnamed - only listed as third passenger,” replied SJ.
“It makes no sense. Did you get any visuals of them?”
“Unfortunately no, I did not. The airport security does not allow visuals of the private jets as it is usually celebrities and they don’t want that going around everywhere.
“What the fuck? And you didn’t set it up? We are the CIA, SJ!” exclaimed Elizabeth.
“Now, I do have good news too. This Dmitry man is staying in this hotel and he is in a suite one floor beneath us!” said SJ.
“Shit son! How is that good for us?” replied Tommy.
“Ugh! Security guys always have to think of perimeters. Duarte, do I need to explain the tactic this allows us or will you do the honors?” said SJ.
“Well, let’s see…” said Elizabeth as she turned to look out the window, followed by a moment of silence. Elizabeth had worked with everyone on this team so they all knew she was a mastermind at plans and when she was thinking, they needed to just let her be in order to come up with the plan. “Okay, guys, this is where it comes in handy that I am a woman,” said Elizabeth in a moment of enlightenment.
“Oh boy! Let’s hear it - you have that ‘I have a wild idea in mind’ look that you get when you have a wild idea!” said SJ.
“Yeah, girl, you got that ‘I’m all over this shit’ look goin’ on over there!” exclaimed Forrester in agreement with SJ.
“You guys are too much!” Elizabeth said in laughter. “Okay, here is my idea: Dmitry clearly portrays himself as a wealthy businessman. He is here to do whatever criminal activities he has in mind, but no man with a lot of money stays in a suite in the Grand Hyatt unless he’s also planning to have a little bit of fun with some lady friends. I am unknown to him but we’re in the same hotel. I will get close to him - okay, I’ll put it straight, no sugar coating - I will get in bed with him, not actually having sex with the guy but get in his bed and so in his head. Get microphones in the room and any other data I can get and this will lead us right where we need to be,” Elizabeth said with satisfaction at what she considered a brilliant idea.
“Well, Duarte, I have a concern about this plan; he’s a guy, probably strong since he probably has to defend himself and when a guy wants it, he usually will get it. How do we make sure that he doesn’t abuse you or something?” said Tommy with the concerned attitude of a well-trained agent and good friend.
“Well, Tommy, you bring up a good point. I can’t confirm that won’t happen. The only thing I can say is that I have played that card successfully before and nothing bad happened. I got the guy where we needed him and nothing happened to me. Sure, I had to kiss the guy, which wasn’t fun. But, when it is for the greater good, I put up with it. Worst case scenario is that, in order to not blow my cover, I have to go all the way with him and I do so protected. I don’t know