Page 13 of Edge of Honor

As an exceptional spy, Sølvi was comfortable with silence and let the Ambassador’s observation hang in the air without a response.

Keeping the smile on her face, she continued the tour and walked Hansen into the kitchen, where Scot was placing the coffee and a few other things on a tray to take out to them.

“Perfect timing,” he said. “How about we sit in the living room? Or, if you’re up for it, we can walk down to the dock. There’s a great breeze on the Potomac this morning.”

“How about we just sit in here?” the Ambassador responded, pointing at the kitchen table.

“Are you hungry?” Sølvi asked.

“No, thank you. Coffee is all I need.”

Harvath carried the tray over to the table and they all took a seat.

Centering her mug in front of her, Hansen said to him, “On behalf of the Norwegian government and especially me and Chef Markus, I want to thank you for what you did. For what you both did.”

“We’re very sorry for what happened,” Harvath replied. “For all of it.”

“It would have been much worse had you not been there.”

“Is there anything we can do for you? Your staff?”

“Actually,” said the Ambassador, “that’s one of my questions for you. I not only wanted to thank you, but I also wanted to make sure that you’re doing okay. Is there anything that either of you need? Anything that we can do for you?”

Scot looked at Sølvi and they both shook their heads in unison.

“I think we’re good,” he stated.

Hansen held up her index finger and said, “Wait,” as she bent down and removed a small manila envelope from her briefcase. Sliding it across the table, she continued, “I think these belong to you.”

Opening it, he looked inside and pulled out his Ray-Bans.

“The FBI found them outside, by the fence.”

“TheFBI,” he repeated, glancing at Sølvi. “They’re amazing.”

“Indeed,” Hansen agreed. “Although we still don’t know much more this morning than we did last night. They’re still trying to identify the attackers and come up with a motive.”

“Well, if anyone can do it, they can. They’re the absolute best when it comes to this kind of thing. I’m sure they’ll have something soon.”

The Ambassador nodded, took a sip of her coffee, and then said, “That brings me to my other question.”

“What’s that?” Harvath asked.

“Technically, it’s a question for Sølvi.”

“Okay,” he responded, leaning back in his chair.

Hansen looked uncomfortably at her and then at him before saying, “Would it be okay if Sølvi and I spoke in private?”

Leaning forward, he picked up his mug and stood up from his chair. “Of course.”

“Thank you. I just have a couple of things I have been asked to speak with her about.”

“I totally understand.”

Topping off his coffee, he poured one in a to-go cup for the driver, just in case the man had changed his mind, and headed outside.

He had no idea what business the Ambassador might have with Sølvi. Technically, she was still a deputy director with the NIS, even if she was on an open-ended leave of absence. And while her position had been primarily focused on Russia, there was no end to what topics the Ambassador might want to discuss with her.