Bart was just getting out of the car as I left the house, bag in hand. I sat in the back wondering as we headed to the airport, 'Does he know; do they...all know?' When we got to the airport Bart dropped me off near the plane. Dave was standing next to the plane and I could see Bill in the cockpit running through his preflight checklist. Dave smiled at me and took my bag, stowed it away and said:"Everything is all set. Joe left very specific instructions for the flight. You won't be. In fact, it was President Richards direct order, supported by the Secretary of State and implemented by the CIA; a deliberate plan to alter the political landscape in the Middle East.”Callie’s mouth fell open in shock. “But, isn’t that illegal?”“I’m not finished. He had documents showing President Richards is involved in an unsanctioned, ongoing covert effort to bring about the fall of the socialist government in Venezuela in favor of a more moderate, American-friendly government. They’re. I left without another word, heading upstairs to catch a nap before I went to ‘work’ the next morning. It didn’t improve my mood much. Christyne asked me what was wrong but I didn’t want to go into it. To avoid the question, I offered to take the dog out for a few minutes before she went to run her morning errands. I felt better after a good run with the dog, and was heading back up the hill when I heard something. Whisper soft like rustling through the grass. I couldn’t help but think Children. The pages crisp without age discoloration. A handwritten note, in flowing script, to ‘V,’ on the inside cover, was dated 1850. On the wall was a painting of a beautiful voluptuous woman. Gordon was captivated by the raw sexuality depicted in the painting. The middle aged woman depicted was stunning. Even more stunning was the framed letter under the painting. Addressed to ‘Vondra’ and dated 1630, the signature was exciting in itself. Pieter Pauwel Rubens. Gordon took a deep breath. A heretofore.