Steven looked at them nervously, knowing they were awaiting his story. Jennifer pressed some tea into his hand. He patted his daughter's hand. "Jennifer, you know I love you more than anything and that I'd never do anything to hurt you."
"Of course Dad!" Jennifer exchanged curious glances with Jonathan.
"Uhhh..." Steven Edwards shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Do you remember when you were a little girl, when your mother was still alive? Remember how Uncle Conny used to come over a lot and we would both go into my office?"
Jennifer Hart nodded. "Yes, you both used to lock yourself in the office for hours."
Jonathan was growing impatient, but was reluctant to hurry his father-in-law along. Anything could be important if it involved Jennifer's life. Steven was speaking again.
"Well, Conny was pretty high up with the CIA at the time and he used to tell me what he could. One night-" he stopped. Looking at his daughter and son-in-law in deadly earnest. "What I'm about to tell you stays right here, between us. It never leaves this room."
They nodded. He continued. "Anyway, Conny came over one night and asked if I was acquiring any new collections for the gallery. I said no. He asked if I would be interested in making an art deal, but I had known him long enough to know something else was up. So I told him to cut to the chase. He told me he needed my help to secure a sculpture and transport it to Washington D.C."
Steven Edwards could see they were growing impatient, so he decided to just cut right to the heart of the matter. "Any, I thought that was rather odd and asked why didn't he have a gallery in D.C. do it, and that's when he swore me to secrecy and said they needed someone with undercover and military training, but someone no one could ever connect with the government. The sculpture was to be a hollowed-out copy with plans inside."
Jonathan halted his father-in-law for a second. "Plans for what? And what does this have to do with Jennifer's life?"
His wife's eyes widened at that statement, but she managed to keep quiet, preferring to return to the matter at hand. "Keep going Dad."
Steven Edwards stood up, running his hand through his hair, pacing like a caged animal. "I'm getting to that. You see, around that time, Conny told me he thought there were a few leaks in the CIA. Apparently a few of the boys had decided to go red, if you get my drift, selling weapon plans and points of observation to the highest bidder."
Jennifer shook her head. "Dad, I still don't understand. What does this have to do with you? And me? Why do you think I'm in danger?"
Her father simply looked at her with haunted eyes.
He stood by the window, unseen in the darkness. Watching carefully, he chuckled. She was absolutely lovely and loved. Unfortunately, this was business and it needed to be taken care of. Maybe then they'd get what they were looking for. Also, the pay was more than enough to support his lifestyle. He aimed his gun, marking her through the glass. His finger pulled back on the trigger...
