Kaz strode quickly along the Tel Aviv seaside boardwalk, deep in thought. He’d decided to cover the mile from the embassy to the Hilton on foot, needing time to think after another briefing with General Phillips in Washington, and drafting a summary letter with the ambassador for President Nixon. As he walked, he dodged the casually strolling couples and teenagers who were heading to spend Yom Kippur Eve at the beach.
He exited the tenth-floor elevator in the Hilton, walked down the blue-carpeted hallway and knocked on the matching blue door. He heard Laura’s muffled “Just a minute,” watched as the peephole briefly darkened, and then came the rattling of chains and clunking as she pulled the door open. She had changed into jeans and a T-shirt, her backlit hair an unruly cloud in the humidity.
“You were gone a long time,” she said.
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m really sorry, Laura, it got way more complicated than I expected.” He stepped inside and hugged and kissed her, kicking the door closed behind him. “Did you eat lunch?”
“I ordered us some room service, but when it hit two, I ate.” She disentangled herself and pointed at the balcony. “It’s still out there.”
“Great, thanks,” Kaz said, walking across the room and out into the afternoon sun. He sat and poured himself a cold coffee from the pot on the small table.
“Should I order some fresh?”
Laura shook her head, taking the seat facing him. “Tell me what happened!”
Kaz filled her in between sips of coffee and bites of dried-out club sandwich.
“You met Golda Meir? Holy cow! What’s she like?”
“She looks like any other Jewish grandmother, right down to the housedress and cardigan sweater, but she’s as whip smart as you’d expect, and is clearly accustomed to wielding power.” He took a bite and spoke around the mouthful. “And keeping secrets.”
He met Laura’s warm, wide-set brown eyes. She was a civilian geologist with NASA, an expert in the samples the Apollo crews had brought back from the Moon. “I can’t tell you everything that was discussed, because of the military security clearance levels.”
Laura nodded. “Of course. But can you tell me what’s going to happen next, with us at least?”
Kaz frowned, took a cold sip and set the coffee cup down. “Not something I want to happen, but I don’t see any way around it. I’ve been asked by Washington to stay here to help clear this up. It’s likely going to take several days.” He shrugged regretfully. “Sorry, Laura, but you’re going to have to fly home tomorrow night without me.”
“Yeah, I was figuring that might happen.” She smiled at him. “The price I pay for dating the Six Million Dollar Man.” When they’d watched the TV movie together in Texas, she’d teased him about being another ex-astronaut who’d also lost an eye in a flying accident. She looked out at the sun across the water. “Still have time for the pool, or the beach?”
Ambassador Keating had promised to contact him as soon as there were any developments, but otherwise he was free. He could leave word with the front desk as to where they could find him.
He looked at her and smiled. “Sure! And how about I help you back into your bikini first?”