Intercepted Risk (Aegis Group Task Force #5) - Sidney Bristol Page 0,34
He glanced at the others and found Butters grinning back at Dixon like an idiot. And he wasn’t alone. Even Kelsey had a slight smile on her face and her focus on Dixon.
She was likely playing a role. Logan couldn’t imagine her being taken in by this charmer.
“Morning, everyone.” Dixon smiled and leaned back against his desk. He wore navy slacks and a pale blue button down with his sleeves rolled him. His tie and suit jacket were hanging from the back of his desk chair.
The room replied back in a chorus of, “Morning.”
“It seems like we’ve had a bit of a bumpy start so far. I wanted to take a few moments with Robert here and get on the same page.” Dixon slapped Robert Brown’s shoulder.
The stoic man didn’t so much as batt and eyelash. He could have been a statue.
Kelsey’s hand darted up, and she smiled warmly at the beaming asshole. “I’m sorry, sir?”
Dixon leaned toward her and smiled wider. “Yes, Kelsey?”
Yeah, Logan wanted to punch the guy.
Kelsey gestured with her hands as she spoke. “I fear the hiccups are all my fault. You see, I don’t have an agenda or any sort of list. Robert said to bring people up when they arrived, but it seems like things are overlapping this way. Is there a better way to do this?”
Logan hadn’t been aware of any issues, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to keep his mouth shut. “If I may as well, senator?”
Dixon’s gaze leapt to Logan, and he spread his hands. “Of course. We’re a team, aren’t we?”
“From a security stand-point, it would be better if we had a list of who you’re expecting. We can’t protect you to the best of our ability if we’re just letting anyone who walks up to the door into the house.”
“Oh.” Dixon blinked, then turned to look at Brown.
The chief of staff’s eyes were bulging.
“We can do that, can’t we, Robert?” Dixon slapped Brown on the shoulder again.
He lurched from the contact and turned to face the senator. “Sir?”
“Don’t worry.” Dixon waved his hand.
It felt like the guy was responding to a question Brown hadn’t fully asked.
There was more going on here.
“We’re a team.” Dixon gripped Brown’s shoulder and glanced at the rest of them. “Robert here is aware that I have several very sensitive meetings scheduled today. He’s a little over-cautious.”
Brown opened his mouth, then snapped it shut again.
The senator had made up his mind.
About fucking time.
Dixon launched into a little spiel about teamwork that sounded good, but had zero substance. Logan wasn’t sure what this little meeting was supposed to achieve, but the only meaningful thing that had happened was getting the promise of an agenda out of Dixon.
Now, the question was, would he carry through? Or would they be left with empty promises?
FRIDAY. SENATOR DIXON’S Home. Annapolis, Maryland.
After lunch, Kelsey gave up trying to hide her device usage. She’d set up her tablet and keyboard the moment Robert disappeared back upstairs.
The agenda for the rest of the day was telling.
There were a few event services between the lobbyist meetings that all proved to be as above board as she could tell. It was the lobbyist meetings that were truly telling.
She found a marked difference between those meetings and the ones from yesterday. The people who’d visited the office had been well-respected, save for Oliver. His presence was still a puzzle they hadn’t figured out yet.
Today it was like a who’s who of questionable practices.
Was this why Dixon had moved them from the office to his home? Fewer eyes to document who he spoke with?
There was a theme to the meetings. A few pharma lobbyists. One group representing a collection of Indian companies and their interest. A group of pro-cannabis lobbyists, who were possibly the most above-board on the entire agenda. The ones that really worried her were due to arrive at any moment.
At a glance, they represented an odd assortment of interests. A few weren’t even lobbyists. There was a tourist lobbyist for South American companies. Someone connected to something in the aviation industry. One was a gun lobbyist in hot water. The other two were next to impossible to even identify.
That was the problem with only having a list of names to go off. They could be anyone in reality. She was hoping their faces matched with the pictures she’d familiarized herself with.
Logan stepped into view, framed by the wooden doors she’d partially closed.