Page 67 of Edge of Honor

“Now let’s try the Tahoe,” she said.

They put it through the same test and then she walked around the vehicle with the penny, checking out all the treads.

“What are you thinking?” Sorola asked as she took a step back and gazed at both SUVs.

“Culturally, I think Americans believe bigger is always better. We don’t see things that way in Norway.”

“You don’t want the Suburban?”

“I thinkeverybodywants the Suburban. That’s the problem.”

He looked at her. “What’s wrong with it?”

“At a glance, nothing. But judging by the difference in the treads and the stiffness of the suspensions, the Suburban has seen more use.”

“We can totally switch you over to the Tahoe. That’s not a problem. They’re both the same model year, same engine, and have the same level of armor.”

Sølvi smiled. “Thank you. Yes. Let’s take the Tahoe. And there’s one other thing I need.”

“What’s that?”

“I want you to drive it,” she replied.

CHAPTER 34

As the Secret Service agent in charge, Miller wasn’t crazy about Sølvi changing up his roster, but he had been given specific instructions to cooperate with her and the Norwegians. As long as they didn’t present any unreasonable requests, his job was to comply.

The armored vehicles came with dedicated drivers, but if Sølvi wanted to take the Tahoe over the Suburban and swap Sorola in as the driver, he wasn’t going to lose any sleep over it. Sorola had been fully certified at the Rowley Training Center on both SUVs. What’s more, the M1117 Guardian he had piloted in Iraq weighed in at 30,000 pounds. An armored Tahoe would be a walk in the park for him.

An hour before the PM’s flight was due to land, Ambassador Hansen and a handful of key embassy staff arrived at the FBO. Sølvi introduced them to the Secret Service detail and then led them into the private suite that had been set up for Stang and the Norwegian delegation.

In addition to coffee, tea, bottled water, and soft drinks, there was a full bar and catered food. A protocol officer from the State Department had definitely been hovering somewhere over the Secret Service’s shoulder.

“This all looks very good,” said Hansen. “So take me through what will happen when the Prime Minister arrives.”

“I will be on the jet bridge,” said Sølvi, “along with Special Agent Miller when the door to the aircraft opens. Prime Minister Stang and her PST detail will deplane first, followed by the rest of her team.

“We will then take the exterior jet-bridge stairs down to the tarmac,where three Secret Service vehicles will be waiting. Once we have everyone loaded, we will head back here where you can officially greet the Prime Minister. The FBO has a red carpet they will be putting outside the main entrance. That’s where you and your staff will receive Prime Minister Stang.”

“And you will text me to let me know when you have the Prime Minister and are on your way back here?”

Sølvi nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Absolutely.”

“Okay then,” Hansen replied, eyeing the catering. “I think I may grab a cookie, a cup of tea, and return some emails while we wait for the Prime Minister’s plane to land.”

With the Ambassador and her staff taken care of, Sølvi exited the suite and found Agent Miller standing in the FBO’s lobby with the rest of his team.

“Everything good?” he asked.

She nodded. “How’s traffic going to be on the way back?”

“We’re going to have a police escort, plus we’ll be traveling in the opposite direction of all the rush-hour commuters, so it shouldn’t be too bad. But you never know. It could still take a while.”

“I’ll make sure the Ambassador encourages them to eat something. Just in case.”

“Good thinking,” said Miller. “By the way, you still want to do a walk-through of the convention center tomorrow, right?”

“Yes,” Sølvi replied. “Ideally, while the Prime Minister is in her meetings at the embassy.”