Outside Forces

CHAPTER 44

  Tuesday 15:55 Near Okotoks, Alberta, Canada

  Richard reread the message for what seemed like the hundredth time. It had taken Michelle and him well over an hour to make the list, edit it, and write the note in the shortest possible terms. It had to be very short, yet cut right to the facts so there could be no doubt what the message was about.

  “It’s good enough, Richard. Give it to me and I’ll call his office in Ottawa.” She reached over to snatch the paper.

  Richard pulled it back out of her reach. “We have to be sure they’ll pass it through to him. If they don’t, then what?”

  She flicked her fingers at him in a curling motion. “Just give it to me, Richard. When I call them, I’ll make it very clear that this message not be sent by email or text. Either they send it or to the hotel where he is, or they don’t send it at all. I’ll make sure they tell me if it’ll get to him at the hotel.”

  He reread the note for the one-hundred-and-last time. “We only get one shot at this.”

  “It’s good, Richard. When he sees what’s written, he’ll call.”

  He lifted his eyes up at her. “If you received a note like this, would you call?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I would call. Even if I had nothing to do with what went on, I would call.”

  He grunted and slowly handed her the paper.

  “Thank you,” Michelle replied sarcastically. She reached for the phone and dialled the number of Senator Diamond’s office in Ottawa.