A Suspense Thriller by Richard Ebert
“What a thrill ride!” – William Kent Krueger, NY Times bestselling author
KILL OR BE KILLED WHILE US SENATORS DIE.
Siblings Chris Davis and Michelle Barton are atypical silent assassins. They are smart, introspective and caring. Their desperate goal is to escape decades of oppression from Irene Shaw. She is refined yet ruthless … the essence of evil.
The thrilling sequel starts with explosive gunfire at Chris and Anna Monteiro, a woman he was hired to kill yet now protects. Together with Michelle and their former foster brother, the underdogs outrun bullets in Canada and the US while seeking vengeance against their tyrannical archenemy. Their teamwork is crippled by fear and mistrust.
Meanwhile, US senators are poisoned one by one. Irene’s plot threatens to ignite a national crisis prior to a presidential election. Action sizzles as the four struggle to save senators in Denver and Washington, DC. The final showdown against Irene’s brutality is do or die.
The twisting, character-driven thriller includes heroism, deceit, betrayal, romance and compassion, plus battles of wits and bullets.
QR codes link to 145 online photos of action scenes in 22 cities and 4 countries.
Each live video showed the view of a killer’s bodycam or rifle-mounted camera. Two assassins had been stationed for over an hour at the north end of Terrasse Dufferin, a quarter-mile promenade overlooking the Saint Lawrence River. The 19th-century wooden boardwalk is a magnet for tourists. In the background is Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Since opening in 1893, the grandiose, Châteauesque-style façade set the standard for grand railway hotels built across Canada until the early 20th century.
Terrasse Dufferin, Rue des Carrières, Québec, QC G1R 5J5, Canada
The third assassin had been conducting surveillance of Old Québec City from a high-rise until recently ordered to reposition in the south. Old Québec City (Vieux-Québec) is a charming destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area along the Saint Lawrence River was first explored by Frenchman Jacques Cartier in 1535. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain created a settlement here along the Saint Lawrence River.
Boulevard Honoré-Mercier & Rue Dauphine, Québec, QC G1R 4X5, Canada
The fourth video showed a ham sandwich being eaten at Tourny Fountain while the targets toured the adjacent Parliament Building. In 1877, the British hired architect Eugène-Étienne Taché to design the Parliament Building. He chose a style that was popular in France for grand and lavish edifices: Second Empire, also called Napoleon III. The ornate central tower stands 171 feet.
1045 Rue des Parlementaires, Québec, QC G1A 1A3, Canada
“The targets have left the Parliament Building and are heading toward the promontory.” A glance at the wall monitors confirmed the news. Camera four – from the man discreetly tracking the couple – showed them strolling on the lawn at Plains of Abraham Park. Cap Diamant is the city’s highest point at 330 feet. The hill is named Cape Diamond because French explorer Jacques Cartier mistook quartz as diamonds here in 1542. The Plains of Abraham is the site of the Battle of Québec. During a short skirmish in 1759, British troops overran the French and took control of the city.
Ave du Cap-Diamant, Québec, QC G1K 4J2, Canada
Camera three was a shaky view of Porte Saint-Louis along the old city wall as a sniper hurried toward his newly assigned position. The noose was tightening. The French and later the British constructed the walls encircling the city from 1608 until 1871. Porte Saint-Louis is one of the oldest gates, built in 1693. The current version was reconstructed in 1880.
116-118 Rue Saint Louis, Québec, QC G1R 3Z7, Canada
Chris and Anna appeared to be admiring the western wall of La Citadelle de Québec – a British fort built after the War of 1812 – until they abruptly stopped walking. Anna handed Chris a cell phone, stared for a moment, then curiously hustled away. The star-shaped fortress was finished in 1850 and is a National Historic Site of Canada. Many of the buildings are open to the public.
1 Côte de la Citadelle, Québec, QC G1R 3R2, Canada
The top two monitors switched to views of the half-mile boardwalk suspended between the massive citadel walls and a 330-foot drop-off. The narrow walkway was filled with meandering tourists. Anna was nowhere to be seen. There are three citadel bastions (Prince of Wales, Mann, and King’s) and one redoubt (Cap Diamant) along Governors’ Promenade. Each were equipped with cannons facing the Saint Lawrence River.
Promenade des Gouverneurs, Québec, QC G1K 4J2, Canada
Camera two was from a man on the ground at the Samuel de Champlain Monument. He was pretending to watch a street performer while awaiting orders to advance to the flash point. The 52-foot bronze statue honors Samuel de Champlain. The French navigator – often called the Father of New France – founded the city in 1608. The dome crowns the Louis S. St. Laurent Building. The namesake for the former post office was a Canadian prime minister from 1948 to 1957.
Monument Samuel-De Champlain, Escalier Frontenac, Québec, QC G1R 4S7, Canada
Chaos ensued. The crowd scattered. Screams of terror. Most people ran up a small hill lined with historic cannons. A few crouched or lay flat on the boardwalk. Some hid under benches. Anna plus two others took cover beneath a decorative cast-iron gazebo overlooking the river. There are six kiosks along Dufferin Terrace. The gazebos are the perfect place for watching people as they stroll along the boardwalk and for an elevated view of Lower Town along the Saint Lawrence River.
Terrasse Dufferin, Rue des Carrières, Québec, QC G1R 5J5, Canada
Monitor one showed Chris climbing up the wooden slats of the toboggan slide as chunks of debris exploded around him. He leaped into the foliage and disappeared. Immediately, the video feed of the sniper on the ground began gyrating. From atop a 270-foot-high wooden platform, residents love reaching speeds up to 45 miles an hour during a 630-foot toboggan ride. The annual attraction is the centerpiece of Terrasse Dufferin during winter.
Les Glissades de la Terrasse, Terrasse Dufferin, Rue des Carrières, Québec, QC G1R 5J5, Canada
They dashed along a footpath in Governors’ Garden and hustled down Rue Haldimand until reaching Rue Saint-Louis, one of the city’s oldest streets. Instead of entering the intersection, he led them through the door of an underground parking lot. Rue Saint-Louis dates to the 17th century and is filled with charming buildings reflecting the city’s history, including the oldest built in 1676 (Aux Anciens Canadiens with the red roof).
42 Rue Saint-Louis, Québec, QC G1R 3Z1, Canada
She bolted. He pursued. The chase ended in seconds when her wobbly legs betrayed her. Anna tumbled onto the lawn of a tree-covered park in front of Gare du Palais. The historic, Château-style train station seemed almost deserted. Canadian Pacific built the first transcontinental railway across Canada in the late 19th century. They also constructed the famous Château Frontenac in 1893 and, about 20 years later, this train station with a similar design to the famous hotel.
450 Rue de la Gare du Palais, Québec, QC G1K 3X2, Canada
The couple typically dismissed Irene around ten thirty so they could retreat to another night of passion in his sixteen-hundred-square-foot suite at d’Angleterre, a five-star hotel dating back to the eighteenth century. Since the elegant doors opened in 1775, the name Hôtel d’Angleterre has been synonymous with luxury. Their current building was constructed around 1800 in the heart of the city at Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square).
Kongens Nytorv 34, 1050 København K, Denmark
For a Saturday morning, a surprising number of people and cars bustled around King’s New Square. Flanking the city’s largest square was Det Kongelige Teater where Father had purchased tickets for the Royal Danish Ballet in the evening. This is the upper level of the Royal Danish Theater, now referred to as the Old Stage. You will marvel at the delicate reliefs of theater masks and angels, the elaborate balcony with column-supported archways, the mosaic ceiling, and the intricate statues above the dentil molding.
Kongens Nytorv 9 1050 København K, Denmark
Irene was purposely twelve minutes late to arrive at Nyhavn. The New Port was established in 1670 as the main canal into the inner city. Recently, the old quay was transforming into restaurants, bars and clubs, and a lively haven for tourists and locals. These ships are moored at the quay on Nyhavn. After this inner harbor was dug out by prisoners in the 17th century, Nyhavn was a major shipping port for about 400 years.
Nyhavn 2, 1051 København, Denmark
Lionel relished his self-appointed role as tour guide while describing Amalienborg Palace, the four winter residences of Danish Royalty. In 1448, King Frederick V celebrated the 300th anniversary of Danish rule by the House of Oldenburg by commissioning four identical mansions for noble families. Amalienborg was acquired by the king and queen in 1794 when their Christiansborg Palace was destroyed by fire.
Amalienborg Slotsplads 7, 1257 København K, Denmark
Lionel was equally knowledgeable about Frederiks Kirke, especially the church’s grand copper dome and interior Baroque artwork. The impressive entrance to Frederiks Kirke rises 102 feet. Flanking the pediment are statues of religious figures including Moses and Martin Luther. The church is named after King Frederick V. Construction of Frederiks Kirke required 145 years (1749–1894).
Frederiksgade 4, 1265 København, Denmark
Her enjoyment soured when they reached the Little Mermaid sitting naked on a boulder along the waterfront. The famous bronze statue reminded Irene of her adversary, Charlotte. In 1837, Hans Christian Anderson wrote a fairy tale about a mermaid who longed for the love of a prince. This work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen became iconic almost immediately after being unveiled in 1913. The statue is located along the Langelinie promenade at the water’s edge.
Langelinie 19 2100 København Ø, Denmark
At an isolated bench along the tree-lined waterway of Churchill Park, Irene began a tirade. “All my life, my father has groomed me to run his law firm. It was his dream and my nondebatable career path.” The almost five-acre public park was named after Sir Winston Churchill, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom. The grounds used to encircle a 17th-century fort named Kastellet.
Churchillparken 7, Frihedsmuseet, 1263 København K, Denmark
“Magnificent,” Michelle Barton murmured while savoring the intricate details inside Basilique Notre-Dame, the architectural pinnacle of Old Montreal, Canada. There was no question this interior – with a kaleidoscope of ribbed canopies, Gothic arches, carved balconies, sculptures and columns, plus a spiral pulpit and ornate altar with pinnacles – was among the world’s grandest churches. Over 11 million people annually visit Notre-Dame Basilica. You can always expect a long line of tourists eager to go in. Is it worth the wait? Absolutely!
110 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 2V5, Canada
At the top of the basilica steps, Michelle scanned Place d’Armes for potential threats. The main square was jammed with people, street entertainers and food carts, but no one seemed ominous. Louis-Philippe Hébert created these bronze sculptures. Holding the flag is Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve. In 1642, Maisonneuve established Fort Ville-Marie (City of Mary). The French fortress, settlement and missionary evolved into today’s Montreal.
512 Place d'Armes, Montreal, QC H2Y 2W2, Canada
Her sweep ended when she spotted Chris standing a hundred feet away in front of the seventeenth-century Saint-Sulpice Seminary, the city’s second-oldest building. The austere, stone structure was constructed in 1687 by the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice. The French Catholic order was invited to New France in 1657 with the mission to convert indigenous people. Saint-Sulpice Seminary remains an active school for priesthood to this day.
116 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, QC H2Y 1T2, Canada
Walking down Notre-Dame Street East through the center of Old Montreal was tense. Typically, Chris carried his Nikon D850 when visiting a foreign city. He would have preferred to be photographing historic landmarks they passed such as Montreal City Hall. Instead, the camera had been replaced with a SIG P229 behind his belt. The Napoleon III–style (also called French Second Empire) of Hôtel de Ville de Montréal is splendid. In 1878, this was the first city hall in Canada built only for municipal purposes.
275 Notre-Dame St. East, Montreal, QC H2Y 1C6, Canada
A driver took her less than a mile to Adler Planetarium, put the Lincoln Town Car in park, and handed her a pager. “Take this,” he said, “and wait for instructions.” Adler Planetarium offers three theaters plus countless science and space exhibitions. The Doane Observatory’s enormous telescope allows the public to see planets and stars that are light-years away.
1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Irene stepped out of the car and into a puddle of icy slush. “Shit,” she cursed, knowing her red-soled leather pumps would be ruined. Standing at the tip of Northerly Island along the shore of Lake Michigan, she was assaulted by a frigid mist and raw wind. This panoramic view is often called the prettiest cityscape in the U.S. The pleasure boats are moored at Monroe Harbor in Lake Michigan. South Lake Shore Drive runs parallel to the green space called Grant Park. The downtown horizon is defined by countless towers.
E 14th St, Chicago, IL 60605
Hairs from her French bun flapped wildly. Makeup began running. The stylish yet thin designer coat might as well have been a sieve. “Screw this,” she mumbled and was about to call it quits when the pager dinged. It simply read: Shedd Aquarium. Two million people a year visit Shedd Aquarium on the Museum Campus. Among the sea creatures exhibited are 25,000 fish, plus otters, sea lions, turtles, sharks, dolphins and even beluga whales.
1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Again, she endured the bitter windchill for about five minutes. The insufferable delay was repeated outside of the Field Museum of Natural History. Her fingers and toes were stiffening. Her polished, professional appearance resembled a drowned rat. Since 1921, the Field Museum of Natural History has been part of the Museum Campus along the shores of Lake Michigan. Dinosaur lovers enjoy seeing Sue. She is the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in the world, dating back about 67 million years.
1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
They rode in awkward silence across the Michigan Avenue Bridge. As she stepped out in front of the Tribune Tower, Mr. Z surprisingly spoke. “Nice meeting you, Irene.” The Chicago River is a 156-mile waterway flowing here along Wacker Drive before emptying into Lake Michigan. On the right is DuSable Bridge, also called the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The center clock tower is the Wrigley Building. Immediately right of it is Tribune Tower, built for the Chicago Tribune newspaper in 1925.
229 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601
With head down and slumped shoulders, she acted exhausted and aloof. To try lightening the mood, Chris pointed out the Clock Tower lighthouse at the end of a harbor. On Victoria Pier is this elegant beauty designed by Paul Leclaire. Since 1922, Tour de l’Horloge has been a lighthouse marking the Old Port entrance. Atop the 148-foot Montreal Clock Tower is a wonderful observation platform.
1 Clock Tower Quay St, Montreal, QC H2L 5C1, Canada
Chris then explained the history of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. She barely acknowledged him. Soon after the French nun Marguerite Bourgeoys arrived at Fort Ville-Marie (today’s Montreal) in 1653, she established a convent for educating girls and indigenous people. The current Our Lady of Good Help was finished in 1771. On top of the chapel are two angels flanking the Star of the Sea. The center Virgin Mary statue protected sailors as they left the port.
400 St Paul St E, Montreal, QC H2Y 1H4, Canada
With unabated enthusiasm, he suggested they ride the Ferris wheel at Bonsecours Basin. “No,” was her flat response. Bonsecours Basin offers plenty of fun during the summer. You can rent paddle boats or remote-controlled sailboats for exploring the Natrel Basin. Ziplining is also popular. The favorite attraction is La Grande Roue de Montréal. The 200-foot-high Ferris wheel is Canada’s tallest.
362 Rue de la Commune E, Montreal, QC H2Y 0B4, Canada
Nor did any of the quaint shops inside Bonsecours Market – a former custom house and farmers’ market – spark any interest. Architect William Footner was inspired by the Palladian style of the Custom House in Dublin when he designed Bonsecours Market. Beneath the silver dome was Old Montreal’s main farmers’ market from 1847 until 1963. The National Historic Site of Canada is now a charming mall with cafes, restaurants and specialty shops.
350 St Paul St E, Montreal, QC H2Y 1H2, Canada
When they reached Place Jacques-Cartier – a popular public square that was the private garden of the governor-general of New France during the eighteenth century – they found Michelle and Ansel seated at an outside table. Flanking the four blocks of Jacques Cartier Square are quaint restaurants like Jardin Nelson on the right. The summer-only, English eatery operates in the former Maison Cartier. The historic house was built in 1813.
407 Place Jacques-Cartier, Montreal, QC H2Y 3B1, Canada
As they approached Château Ramezay – the former residence of an early eighteenth-century governor – Chris shouted ahead to Ansel, “Turn right. Turn right.” That’s when another peril was spotted. Soon after Claude de Ramezay became Montreal’s governor (a position he held from 1704 until 1724), he commissioned this grand residence on Notre-Dame Street. Several notable occupants have included a fur-trading company, headquarters for Canada’s Continental Army, the residence of British governors, a medical school and now a museum with over 30,000 items.
280 Notre-Dame St. East, Montreal, QC H2Y 1C5, Canada
Irene Shaw dreaded early Monday mornings, the start of another endless workweek. She stared out of her law office window located at the peak of an architectural chevron at One Liberty Place. One Liberty Place became the city’s first skyscraper at 945 feet when finished in 1987. The high-rise’s smaller sibling, Two Liberty Place, topped off at 848 feet in 1990. Both defied the rule to not build anything taller than the 548-foot Philadelphia City Hall.
1650 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
The foursome had spent over nine hours driving a circuitous route from Montreal to Niagara-on-the-Lake. After arriving in the small tourist town before sunrise, they were lucky to snare two hotel rooms. This historic hotel was built in 1864. It was renamed the Prince of Wales after a stay in 1901 by George Albert. He would later become George V, King of the United Kingdom. The property also welcomed Queen Elizabeth in 1973.
6 Picton St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
Chris stared absently at the Memorial Clock Tower in the center median of Queen Street. On the cenotaph’s plaque were the names of local soldiers who fell during World War I and II. Their ultimate sacrifice was honorable. The Memorial Clock Tower was designed by Charles M. Wilmott and unveiled in 1922.
26 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
Before Chris could answer, a horse-drawn carriage approached, carrying a young couple on a sightseeing tour of Old Town. Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Michelle asked, “Does that sound remind you of the horse and buggy Lionel used to drive on the Amish farm?” “Yup,” Chris said. “But that Clydesdale is magnificent compared to the old workhorses we cared for as kids.” A relaxing way to see the best sights in town and the shores of Lake Ontario is aboard a horse-drawn carriage for a thirty- or sixty-minute narrated tour.
6 Picton St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
About midway through the drive, they made a pit stop beneath a canopy of trees at Brock’s Monument – a tall limestone tribute to a British officer who died defending an American attack during the War of 1812. The 184-foot monument to Major General Isaac Brock is in Queenston Heights Park. Also located here are the remnants of Fort Drummond, built by the British in 1814.
14184 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
As Chris drove the SUV across Rainbow Bridge toward the United States, Ansel spontaneously began singing, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Michelle unexpectedly quipped from the backseat, “Hey, Ansel. Stop already. Your singing sucks.” To the right of the 1,450-foot Rainbow Bridge are American Falls, measuring 830 feet across with a descent of 188 feet, and Bridal Veil Falls, with a two-stage drop of 181 feet.
360 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Michelle felt her brother’s watchful eye as she walked toward the inviting carousel music. Parents with children and grandparents with grandkids all seemed delighted as the dazzling wooden horses flashed by on the antique merry-go-round. The 68 carved horses were manufactured by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1914. The carousel swirled around the Minnesota State Fair for nearly 75 years before delighting visitors to Como Park thanks to the donation by Gerard L. Cafesjian.
1245 Midway Pkwy, St Paul, MN 55103
Pointing toward the large domed greenhouse, he asked, “Would you like to walk around the conservatory as we talk? The sunken garden has always been my happy place for tranquility.” Under this Victorian-style glass dome in Como Park are 60,000 square feet of horticultural pleasure including orchids, bonsai trees, ferns and fountains. The wonderful fragrance is available all year for free.
1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN 55103
Michelle watched as Chris and Ansel disappeared into the woods. She slithered to the edge of the trees, wedged beneath a dense thicket and cleared the groundcover. From her position, she saw the backside of the barn and stables. The Pennsylvania Amish community was established in Lancaster County in the 1720s based on the promise of religious freedom. Since then, the population of the Plain People has grown to over 38,000. There are 25 different Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren church groups in the area.
Manor Township, Lancaster County, PA 17603
Rachel Phillips burst through the door, grabbed the basket and hurried down the rickety steps. Together they hung wet garments and towels on a pulley clothesline. Electricity is taboo among the Amish, which means no household appliances like washers and dryers. So, a common sight on an Amish farm is clothes flapping in the wind attached to a pulley-operated clothesline.
Manor Township, Lancaster County, PA 17603
Anna’s face was lit up as she stared at the GPS map on her phone, watching as the green arrow approached the Amish farm. Chris slowed down. He pointed to the driveway, barn and house. Anna studied the scene. Amish farmers typically specialize in livestock and growing hay, corn and tobacco, plus seasonal vegetables. Often the barns have louvered slats that can be opened to dry their harvest and a silo to store their crop.
Manor Township, Lancaster County, PA 17603
Michelle’s nose triggered flashbacks at the smells of the hay, manure, and animal musk. Rustic farm implements hung from the walls. The workbench was cluttered with tools. Animal stalls badly needed paint. Rachel was squatting on a stool, pulling the udders of a cow.
Manor Township, Lancaster County, PA 17603
Rachel was athletic. Her long legs sprinted toward the SUV. Michelle was close behind. The screen door burst open. Mamm emerged, holding a double-barreled shotgun. She screamed, “Stop! Now!” The teenager froze. The Amish may be Plain People, but the size of their homes often rivals those of the English living around them. A large house is typically needed to accommodate a large family. Often the most rustic homes are Swartzentruber Amish, a subgroup of the Old Order Amish. The easiest way to pick out an Amish house in Lancaster County is by the lack of electrical wires.
Manor Township, Lancaster County, PA 17603
The fourteen-thousand-square-foot mansion was designed for a railroad magnate in 1896 by Horace Trumbauer, a famous architect of extravagant Gilded Age manors. The ornate, white marble façade featured a sweeping double-staircase, Corinthian columns and a grand crescent-shaped balcony.
1750 State Rte 2025, Elkins Park, PA 19027
At sunrise, they arrived at a dog park. The grassy area was already filling up with a mix of purebreds and mutts at play. People were distracted by their dogs or chitchatting with neighbors. Few probably stayed at the park for more than fifteen minutes, a half hour tops.
1950 Ashbourne Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027
Nearby was an open field surrounded by trees. These were perfect conditions for anonymity. Best of all, the location was about ten blocks from Irene’s mansion with no houses in between.
State Rte 2025, Elkins Park, PA 19027
Chris throttled Walela into a nosedive as the dog lifted his leg on a marble fountain suspended by white lion sculptures. Irene was prepared to throw a tennis ball as Chris fixated on her tight French bun. His finger slid over the nerve agent trigger. He calculated the optimal height for the spray. His heart raced.
7649 Penrose Ave, Elkins Park, PA 19027
A water tower appeared on the screen. Walela was on a collision course. Within seconds, the hummingbird would smash into pieces. The drone abruptly stopped. A giant black eye encircled with a yellow ring appeared as a gray hooked beak shattered the camera.
1505 W Cheltenham Ave, Elkins Park, PA 19027
Ansel extended the rifle stock, removed the thread protector, and screwed on a suppressor to reduce the muzzle blast and flash. Then they advanced into position before bracing the sniper rifle and spotting scope into crooks of trees for stability. Ansel pulled back the bolt, placed a 7.62x51mm cartridge into the chamber, and locked it in.
Penrose Ave, Elkins Park, PA 19027
The Mudéjar style, a blend of Muslim and Christian architecture, was showcased throughout Real Alcázar. Europe’s oldest palace still used by monarchs was located four hundred feet from her penthouse apartment in Seville, Spain. The Grotto Gallery (Galería de los Grutesco) is defined by a 525-foot-long ornate wall that compartmentalizes part of the Royal Gardens at Real Alcázar.
Real Alcázar de Sevilla, Jardín de las Damas, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
In New York Harbor is an iconic image of the 238 BC Roman goddess named Libertas. Everyone calls her the Statue of Liberty. The gift from France in 1886 was sculpted by Frédéric Bartholdi. The crowned and robed figure stands 351 feet on Liberty Island. She welcomed more than 12 million immigrants as they were processed at Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954.
Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004
The 1,454-foot Empire State Building is easy to find in a city filled with more than 7,000 high-rises. This Art Deco structure was the world’s tallest when it opened in 1931. On the 102nd floor is an observation deck with outstanding views of New York City.
350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118
A whopping 37 million people annually visit the 843 acres known as Central Park. Created in 1857, it has evolved into a mecca for fun and relaxation. Among the attractions are horse-drawn carriages, jogging paths, a carousel, a playground, a zoo, restaurants, outdoor sculptures, and plenty of green space.
830 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065
The bright neon signs, flashing ads, street performers, careening cabs, musical productions, and guarding police at Times Square in Midtown are only a part of the menagerie. About 40 million people annually make the pilgrimage to the “Center of the Universe.” The most famous event every year since 1907 is the New Year’s Eve ball drop.
Times Square, Manhattan, NY 10036
After turning onto Memorial Drive running parallel to the Charles River and approaching MIT campus, Chris said, “We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” Memorial Drive is an almost four-mile parkway along the north bank of the Charles River. The stretch between the Harvard Bridge and the Longfellow Bridge offers some spectacular views of Boston’s Back Bay skyline.
182 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02139
They parked near Longfellow BioSciences. Anna had been the vice president of marketing at the start-up biotech firm for five years. Six weeks ago, sixty percent of the employees were laid off when disappointing clinical trials and a wrongful death lawsuit forced the company toward bankruptcy.
9 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142
A few minutes later, when he pulled the SUV up to her brownstone, she hopped out, grabbed her suitcase and said without emotion, “Thanks for the ride. This is where it ends. I hope you have the life you want.” “That’s it?” “Yeah, Chris, that’s it,” she said coldly.
Commonwealth Ave & Fairfield St, Boston, MA 02116
After walking through the elegant lobby of the historic Saint Paul Hotel, they were greeted by a distinguished doorman wearing a tux and top hat. The parking valet took the claim ticket and dashed off for the rental car. An English cottage garden outside the door of this Italian Renaissance façade sets the stage for unsurpassed accommodations, fine dining and exemplary service at the Saint Paul Hotel.
350 Market St, St Paul, MN 55102
The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts was added to Rice Park in 1980. The Music Theater and Concert Hall stages musicals, plays, concerts and dance. The venue is also home to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Opera.
345 Washington St, St Paul, MN 55102
James J. Hill was one of the most prominent and wealthy businessmen in St. Paul during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His dream to build a public library came true in 1921 inside of this Italian Renaissance landmark faced with pink marble and sandstone columns. In 2013, the James J. Hill Reference Library was renamed James J. Hill Center.
80 W 4th St, St Paul, MN 55102
Since 1902, the jewel of Rice Park in downtown St. Paul has been the Landmark Center. This was originally the Federal Court House and Post Office. The magnificent façade of pink granite ashlar accented with green conical turrets, a red tile roof and center clock tower was designed by Willoughby J. Edbrooke.
75 W 5th St, St Paul, MN 55102
Michelle left the car in a huff, walked a few yards to an observation platform and savored the puffy white clouds hovering over the Mississippi as the river flowed between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. According to oral tradition, the Dakota people considered this Bdote bluff to be the center of the earth. The same Native Americans gave the state its name. Minisota means “clear blue water.”
200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
With an inquisitive stare through oversized trifocals, he asked, “Will your traveling companion mind if we walk through Fort Snelling?” Fort Snelling was established in 1819 on a cliff overlooking the conflux of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. The citadel’s namesake was the first commanding officer, Colonel Josiah Snelling. This fort served various military roles until decommissioned in 1994. It is now a park managed by the Minnesota Historical Society.
200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
She stabilized him as they passed the visitor center and headed toward the Round Tower of the citadel built in 1820. The Round Tower at Fort Snelling is considered the state’s oldest remaining building. The fortification has earned two prestigious designations: U.S. National Historic Landmark and U.S. National Register of Historic Parks.
200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
She grabbed his hand before he retrieved the pistol. “Stop! We’re not under attack. Those are muskets inside the fort. They reenact a military drill every half hour.” Volunteers also wear period costumes at Fort Snelling while providing cannon demonstrations, fife and drum performances, infantry marches, flag ceremonies, and everyday chores from the early 19th century inside period buildings.
200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
The flagman flashed the finger and stood firm until Chris lurched forward. Then the SUV bolted onto Saint James Avenue at Trinity Church and crossed three lanes before straddling a narrow bike path. Trinity Church’s architectural style is Richardsonian Romanesque, named after the architect who designed it: Henry Hobson Richardson. The 1877 church was voted one of the ten most significant buildings in the United States by the American Institute of Architects.
206 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02116
Chris maneuvered among people in the crosswalk, turned sharply onto Dartmouth Street and sped past Copley Square and Boston Library. “Can you find some kind of a weapon?” Inside of the McKim Building’s ornate façade is the second largest public library collection in the United States. In the foreground is Copley Square, the epicenter of Boston’s Back Bay since the late 19th century.
700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116
Chris ran an amber light at Boylston Street. As he approached Newbury Street, he laid on the horn, winced, and flew through the intersection. Cars were stopped at Commonwealth Avenue. After tapping the brakes, Chris yanked the steering wheel and struck a parked Acura. As rows of brownstones flashed by on his right and tourists gawked along a parklike median on the left, he mentally pictured the front of Anna’s house. She’d make an easy target.
Dartmouth & Boylston Streets, Boston, MA 02116
Chris slammed on the brakes alongside parked cars in front of Anna’s house and was unlocking the passenger doors when a bullet ricocheted off the window next to his left ear. “Shit!” He ducked. The one-and-half-inch, bullet-resistant glass was designed to stop a 9mm, not a supersonic sniper bullet. The second round created another spiderweb of external cracks, yet the window didn’t break. If it did, he’d die instantly.
Commonwealth Ave & Fairfield St, Boston, MA 02116
A block later, they reached the end of Fairfield Street and the start of a pedestrian bridge over Storrow Drive. The six-lane crosstown parkway was a fast route out of the city. “How do I get down there?” he asked in frustration while watching the speeding traffic. “Make a right here on Back Street.”
Fairfield & Back St, Boston, MA 02116
“Where are you?” Chris asked. Michelle answered, “We’re on the Jonathan Padelford.” “How romantic,” he said sarcastically. “You’re floating down the Mississippi having cocktails while we’re running for our lives?” By 1853, 235 riverboats moored at the Lower and Upper Landings in Saint Paul. Since 2003, several tourist steamboats are docked across the river on Harriet Island. The most famous is the Jonathan Padelford, a 125-foot, 300-capacity sidewheeler.
205 Dr Justus Ohage Blvd, St Paul, MN 55107
Her brother described everything from when he received Anna’s distress call until he stole the second car and drove to Maine. “Now we’re standing along the waterfront in Portland, and I promised Anna a lobster dinner when we’re done talking.” If you are a lobster aficionado, then Portland is the place to don a plastic bib and grab a set of claw crackers. There are over 75 restaurants in the city with lobster on the menu. The state’s fishermen catch over 100 million pounds of lobster a year.
180 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
Anna reached the end of the two-mile Eastern Promenade in Portland, did an abrupt U-turn, then reversed her midmorning run along the shoreline of Casco Bay. Pounding feet. Pumping arms. Rhythmic breathing. Fluid stride. Surging endorphins soothing the stress. Portland is located on a rectangular peninsula with the East End protruding into Casco Bay. Hugging the shoreline is a 78-acre park. Dogwalkers along the Midslope Trail are easily distracted by the scenery.
Eastern Promenade Midslope Trail, Portland, ME 04101
Anna slowly walked toward East End Beach, sat on the sand, pulled up her legs, lowered her head, and wanted to cry but couldn’t. She was emotionally bankrupt. Portland is almost surrounded by water, yet the East End Beach is the only stretch of sand. This is the perfect place to spend a summer day with your family. Or cherish this picturesque scenery of Casco Bay in solitude.
East End Beach, Eastern Promenade Trail, Portland, ME 04101
Chris was standing at a balcony railing on the second floor of the Colorado State Capitol Building when Ansel spoke in his earbud. “Phillips is entering through the Grand Street door. Tag, you’re it.” The impressive ribbed dome of the Colorado State Capitol is plated with 200 ounces of gold in honor of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush from 1858 to 1861.
200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
An hour later, the governor, Rosa Phillips and the other Colorado US senator assembled in the rotunda for a press conference. They represented the trifecta of the state’s Democratic party. Two types of marble grace the walls and floors of the impressive Colorado State Capitol. They are a rare rose onyx and Yule marble. The rotunda resembles a courtyard with the column-supported balconies and plenty of brass and stained glass.
200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Then Chris discreetly followed them to the Denver World Trade Center where he monitored a packed room of businesspeople during her speech and a reception. After securing over 250 global businesses and country consulates, Trade Center I was built in 1979 and its glass-façade sibling three years later. They stand 325 and 359 feet respectively. In 2022, the complex was renamed Denver Energy Center.
1625 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Protecting Rosa Phillips was a potential disaster the moment she was greeted by the vice chancellor of Student Affairs in front of Norlin Library. The senator’s morning itinerary began with a walking tour of the old campus of University of Colorado Boulder. Norlin Library was named in honor of Dr. George Norlin, CU’s president from 1917 to 1939. CU is the state’s largest university with over 32,000 students.
1720 Pleasant St, Boulder, CO 80302
Near the steps of Old Main, CU Boulder’s oldest building, the unexpected happened. Senator Phillips approached Chris, stared at his press credentials, and said, “Impressive, young man.” University of Colorado Boulder was founded in 1876 for 15 college students plus high schoolers. The following year, the first campus building was finished on a former cattle pasture. Old Main is the historic core of the Norlin Quadrangle Historic District.
1600 Pleasant St, Boulder, CO 80302
The senator was the keynote speaker at the Celebrating Life Choices event inside the Macky Auditorium Concert Hall. He knew she was safe while standing in front of the podium but worried a lethal inhaler was now in her purse. Andrew J. Macky was a main benefactor for this performing arts venue. He was a prospector during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in the mid-1800s and the founder of the First National Bank of Boulder.
285 University Ave, Boulder, CO 80309
Chris and Michelle strolled arm-in-arm into the cancer research charity event at the Convention Center. The ballroom was packed with tables for eight of Denver’s social elite. The cost per plate was two thousand dollars. I See What You Mean is the name of this 40-foot blue bear peeking through the window into the lobby of the Denver Convention Center. The steel-and-fiberglass structure was created by Lawrence Argent in 2005.
700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202
At 8:10 Sunday morning, Rosa Phillips and her husband walked up the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. They were greeted at Denver’s oldest church by the archbishop of Denver’s Archdiocese. Architect Leon Coquard is responsible for the cathedral’s French Gothic design and twin bell towers that rise 210 feet. The cathedral was consecrated in 1921.
1530 Logan St, Denver, CO 80203
The dogs continued to frolic at the base of a tall monument in Plaza Nueva, a two-acre public square. Ferdinand III looked regal perched on top as an equestrian statue. She resented the thirteenth-century king of Castile and León. His military prowess over the Muslims created a massive Christian empire and earned him sainthood. Ferdinand III is buried in nearby Cathedral of Our Lady of Seville.
Plaza Nueva, Calle Barcelona, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
The Afghan hound galloped with enthusiasm as they walked past the Plateresque reliefs on the façade of City Hall, an architectural jewel dating back to the sixteenth century. Consistorial Palace was designed by Diego de Riaño in 1527. The best view is from Plaza de San Francisco, named after a Franciscan monastery located here from 1268 until it was gutted by flames in 1810. The City Hall of Seville is the headquarters for the Municipal Council.
Plaza de San Francisco, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
Chris lobbied for a photography detour to visit Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. He was overruled. Arches is one of the Mighty Five, a collection of outstanding national parks in southern Utah. There are over 2,000 sandstone arches within these 76,679 acres of red-rock country. The dimensions of the North Window Arch are 48 feet high and 90 feet wide.
North Windows, Windows Road, Arches Scenic Dr, Moab, UT 84532
Their compromise was a side tour of the towering sandstone monoliths in Colorado National Monument during their drive on Interstate 70. Grand View Overlook is one of 19 along the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive through Colorado National Monument. Only golden eagles and red-tail hawks have a better view of Independent Monument shown here. Some of the geologic formations you’ll see date back 1.5 billion years.
Grand View, Rim Rock Dr, Grand Junction, CO 81507
They had just made a pit stop in Vail. Serious snow skiers eventually make a run to Vail, now the largest ski area in North America. The stony bed of Gore Creek drains part of the Rocky Mountains and joins the Eagle River just after flowing through Vail.
S Frontage Rd E & Vail Valley Dr, Vail, CO 81657
They were traveling through a scenic valley flanked by snow-capped mountains in White River National Forest when Michelle’s cell phone rang. Heading west out of Vail on Interstate 70 is a delightful drive. Travelers marvel at the tree-lined valleys, majestic mountains and adjacent creeks and rivers.
River Edge, US-24 & US-6, Avon, CO 81620
“I’m sitting in front of the Beetle Lighthouse in Portland.” Chris instantly said, “I think it’s called Bug Light.” From the backseat, Ansel whispered with a giggle, “That sounds like a beer name.” The main attraction of the nine-acre Bug Light Park is the Portland Breakwater Light. Locals call the squat, 26-foot lighthouse the Bug Light. The beacon of this cone-shaped, cast-iron lighthouse has protected Portland Harbor since 1875.
Bug Light Park, S Portland Greenbelt Pathway, South Portland, ME 04106
Salt Lake Temple is the gorgeous masterpiece of the ten-acre Temple Square and is the largest LDS temple at 253,000 square feet. The quartz monzonite façade is filled with symbols. For example, the tower spires represent the Twelve Apostles. Two all-seeing eyes of God are in the center windows. There are also stones symbolizing the earth, moon, sun, clouds, and stars, plus the Big Dipper. On top is a 14-foot gilded statue of Moroni, the angel who inspired church founder Joseph Smith.
Salt Lake Temple, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
“Here we will build a temple to our God.” Brigham Young spoke these words on July 24, 1847, after leading 3,000 Mormon pioneers from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake Valley. The historic 1,300-mile exodus earned Young the nickname American Moses. The founder of Salt Lake City was also the first governor of the Utah Territory (1851–1858). Below is Temple Square, a five-block area surrounding Salt Lake Temple (lower left).
50 E North Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
There are 52 Corinthian columns surrounding three sides of the Utah State Capitol Building. Each one measures 32 feet tall. They create a dramatic display across the 404-foot southern façade. The capitol exterior was covered with Utah granite before construction was finished in 1916. The appearance has been compared to the Parthenon in Athens.
350 State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
“The answer is La Giralda.” “What’s that?” Ansel asked. “It was a grand minaret built in the late twelfth century alongside the former Aljama Mosque in Seville, Spain. Since the Christians converted it into a cathedral in the mid-thirteenth century, it has eighteen bells and six clappers, among the most in Europe.” At the 343-foot peak of the Spanish Renaissance bell tower is a statue of El Giraldillo representing the triumph of Christian faith. You must climb 35 ramps in order to reach the observation platform on top.
Calle Virgen de los Reyes, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
“I also found an image on the Encircle Photos website showing a horse and buggy out front. There’s no question about it. Irene made the call to Yasin within earshot of La Giralda next to the Seville Cathedral.” This is a small section of Plaza del Triunfo in the historic center of Casco Antiguo, the Ancient District of Seville.
Plaza del Triunfo, S/N 41004 Seville, Spain
Anna was exhausted while walking on a redbrick sidewalk through the charming Old Port District of Portland, Maine. None of the boutique stores or bustling plazas had appeal. She was oblivious to the historic surroundings while deep in thought. You will notice most of the Old Port buildings are brick and from the Victorian Era. The reason for this consistency is the Great Fire of Portland on July 4, 1866. After 1,500 buildings were devastated, Portland reconstructed over 600 buildings in six months.
11 Moulton St, Portland, ME 04101
“Move! Move! Move!” Ansel screamed at the windshield while stuck in rush hour traffic along Cal Ripken Way into downtown Baltimore. Originally the home of the Paleo-Indians in the 10th century BC, Europeans first arrived in 1634. The city was the nation’s capital for two months during the American Revolutionary War, and the inspiration for the Star-Spangled Banner during the British attack of Fort McHenry in 1814.
300 Warren Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230
At Camden Yards ballpark and the Convention Center, Ansel took a right, wove among cars, blew through an amber light, then braked hard. Traffic was hopelessly stalled. The home baseball stadium of the Baltimore Orioles was built in 1992. The architects incorporated into their design the Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse, a late 19th-century railroad landmark. The eight-floor, 1,116-foot brick building is the longest in the East Coast.
333 W Camden St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Yanking the steering wheel, he careened down a side road, turned right onto East Pratt Street, and was making progress until stymied again at the National Aquarium. Baltimore was a major seaport during the 18th century. By the 1950s, however, freight and passenger shipping ended in the Inner Harbor. A three-decade redevelopment effort was launched, converting 240 acres of the waterfront and old piers into a haven for tourists. Attractions include museums, historic ships, restaurants, the Maryland Science Center and the National Aquarium of Baltimore.
501 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202
The rental car raced into The Neighborhood, a haven for generations of Italian Catholic immigrants since the late nineteenth century. Ansel zigzagged through a labyrinth of small Italian restaurants. Little Italy in southeastern Baltimore has over 20 Italian restaurants. Most serve delicious meals like mom used to make generations ago in the old country.
410 S High St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Ansel slammed on the brakes in front of a brick rowhouse. They were too late. The body of an elderly rotund man was slumped in the open front door of his house. His eyes had a lifeless stare. Blood trickled down the stairs. Ansel bolted out of the car, gun in hand. In the late 19th to early 20th century, huge urban development projects built narrow, brick, energy-efficient and affordable rowhouses for an influx of immigrants. Within 100 years, Baltimore had more rowhouses than any other US city, housing 70% of the population.
Fawn St & Exeter St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Within a couple of blocks, Ansel made an abrupt stop at an old Catholic parish church. “I’m going inside Saint Leo’s,” he said without explanation before bolting up the steps. Chris and Michelle followed. The nation’s first Roman Catholic church built for Italian immigrants opened in 1881. The parish church remains the religious cornerstone of “The Neighborhood,” also known as Little Italy.
227 S Exeter St, Baltimore, MD 21202
“But that’s a bad idea. He’d be caught immediately. The same holds true for a side shot from the Constitution Gardens, the Ash Woods or the Tidal Basin.” The white marble Ionic columns and dome of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial sparkle in the sunshine along the southeast edge of the Tidal Basin. On the opposite side of the 107-acre reservoir is the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
16 E Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242
Michelle asked, “I see you circled a small marina in the Pentagon Lagoon. Do you think he’d use a boat?” “Unlikely,” Chris said. “The Metro Police Harbor Patrol would apprehend him in a heartbeat. The Columbia Island Marina is a boat harbor in the Pentagon Lagoon Yacht Basin. In the background is the eastern wall of the Pentagon.
George Washington Mem Pkwy, Arlington, VA 22202
When they arrived in DC, they dropped Michelle off at one of Ansel’s sanctioned resources, then parked on Capitol Hill near the US Capitol Building. George Washington selected the site for the US Capitol in 1791 and laid its cornerstone in 1793. In 1814, British troops set the Capitol ablaze. In 1863, the 19-foot Statue of Freedom was placed atop the 288-foot Corinthian dome.
45 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20515
Chris paused to savor the view. He wished he had his Nikon camera. The pink-and-purple hues encircling the distant Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and US Capitol, plus the rays shimmering across the Potomac River, were gorgeous. Maybe this was a good omen. He hoped so. The sunrise was seen from a footbridge on the Mount Vernon Trail at the border between Virginia and the District of Columbia.
George Washington Memoria Parkway, Washington, DC 20566
By eight thirty, Michelle was in position at the Washington Monument. Her job was to stroll down the National Mall while looking for suspects with a backpack. The Washington Monument is a 555-foot marble obelisk. The world’s tallest stone structure was built in 1888 to honor the country’s first president and his contribution to winning the American Revolutionary War.
2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024
Ansel sat on a bench at the western base of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. He pretended to read a book, play with his phone and stare at the river. He was actually guarding the most likely place to launch the drone while also monitoring the microcameras. The 2,163-foot stone arch bridge spans the Potomac River, connecting the Lincoln Memorial in DC with Arlington Cemetery in Virginia.
Mt Vernon Trail, Washington, DC 20037
“You’re in the blast zone,” Ansel yelled. “Get the hell back, at least as far as the Korean War Memorial.” These stainless-steel sculptures wearing ponchos portray a platoon on patrol. The 19 seven-foot statues were created by Frank Gaylord as part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in West Potomac Park.
665 Daniel French Dr SW, Washington, DC 20245
A man jumped out of the passenger door with a backpack and sprinted beneath a weeping willow tree. The car drove off. “I’ve got him!” Chris exclaimed. “The asset’s near the Navy and Marine Memorial at Kendall Point.” On Columbia Island along the Potomac River west bank in Lady Bird Johnson Park is a sculpture portraying seven seagulls struggling to fly over crashing waves. The image by sculptor Ernesto Begni del Piatto represents the dangers faced by Navy and Marine servicemembers on the Seven Seas.
George Washington Mem Pkwy, Washington, DC 20037
The sleek missile sailed over the Potomac. The drone gained altitude to clear the rear of the Lincoln Memorial. Chris assumed it was programed to explode over the speaker platform, sending a rain of death down on the senator and surrounding crowd. And to kill his sister. Surrounding the Neoclassical marble tribute to the country’s 16th president are 36 Doric columns standing 44 feet tall. Etched into the frieze above the colonnade are the names of the 36 states in the Union when Lincoln died.
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20002
Irene was nervous, a rare and undisciplined emotion. She contemplated her destiny while standing on an Islamic balcony at the former Monastery of San Francisco in Granada, Spain. This elaborate balcony from the 15th century overlooks Jardines del Paraiso (Botanical Gardens). The honeycomb motif is a form of Islamic architecture named muqarnas or ahoopāy. The term for the repeated pattern etched above the arch is ataurique.
Parador de San Francisco, Calle Real de la Alhambra, 18009 Granada, Spain
Encircling her were the thirty-five acres of Alhambra. The network of grand palaces was built over one hundred years by Moorish rulers before becoming the royal residence of the Spanish Crown in 1492. The Patio of the Gilded Room is an example of the lavish architecture at Alhambra. The palace was built for Muhammed V to celebrate his major victory over the Kingdom of Castile during the Siege of Algeciras in 1369.
Patio del Cuarto Dorado, Calle Real de la Alhambra, 18009 Granada, Spain
Irene trudged back to her suite in the monastery’s bell tower, hesitated to open the door, took a breath, then another, assumed her omnipotent demeanor, and walked in. In the mid-14th century, during the reign of Yusuf I, an elegant Nasrid palace was built at the east end of the Alhambra. In 1492, Queen Isabella I of Castile decided to repurpose it into the Monastery of San Francisco. She was initially buried in the chapel when she died in 1504.
Parador de San Francisco, Calle Real de la Alhambra, 18009 Granada, Spain
The hotel room was in a magnificent setting. From the window was a spectacular view of a thirteenth-century summer palace of a Nasrid sultan. Generalife is perched on a hill called Monte Mauror. This is Villa de los Martires, meaning Martyrs’ Estate. The name recognizes the Christians enslaved to build the Alhambra while imprisoned in the complex.
Generalife, 18009 Granada, Spain
Irene watched as the pompous Senator Vickie McLoren strolled up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial wearing a vibrant red blazer and an insipid smile, waving to throngs of roaring fans below her feet. The 2,030-foot-long and 167-foot-wide Reflecting Pool was designed by Henry Bacon, the same architect as the Lincoln Memorial. It is the visual link between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall.
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20024
Behind the rows of Doric columns was the imposing marble statue of Abraham Lincoln. The most iconic statue of the 16th US president was sculpted from 1916 to 1920 by Daniel French. The sculpture is 19-by-19 feet. Surrounding the imposing figure are inscriptions from the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s second inaugural speech.
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20037
“I just passed the former home of your favorite American poet.” “Really? Oh my gosh. You mean the Wadsworth-Longfellow House?” Liz asked with unbridled enthusiasm. This brick home was built in 1786 by Peleg Wadsworth, a general in the American Revolution. One of his eight grandchildren to live here for 35 years was the famed 19th-century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
489 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
An avalanche of denial and grief crashed into Anna. She staggered toward a war memorial in a triangular square, held on to a granite base, then lowered herself onto a concrete curb and curled up her legs. Monument Square is a triangular downtown plaza. Since 1891, the focal point has been the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a tribute to Portland Union servicemen who died in the Civil War. The 14-foot bronze figure personifies Minerva, the Roman goddess of war and wisdom.
456 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
There were no lines outside of the Renwick Gallery. This was the city’s first museum when it opened in 1873. Since being acquired by the Smithsonian in 1965, the Renwick Gallery has exhibited decorative arts and crafts. The museum’s namesake is the architect James Renwick Jr. His Second Empire design was inspired by the Louvre in Paris.
1661 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006
Only a few tourists were snapping selfies in front of the heavily guarded White House. The world’s most famous address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Construction of the White House started in 1792. In November of 1800, John Adams, the second US president, became the first resident. When Thomas Jefferson moved in the following year, he described the White House as “big enough for two emperors, one pope, and the grand lama in the bargain.”
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500
“Okay,” Ansel said while pocketing his phone. He sighed with a blank stare at the Marquis de Lafayette Sculpture. His expression was tormented. This marble-and-bronze tribute to Major General Marquis de Lafayette was created in 1890. He was a Frenchman who helped Washington, Hamilton and Jefferson fight during the American Revolution. The sculpture is one of 14 in Washington, DC, collectively called the American Revolution Statuary.
720 Madison Pl NW, Washington, DC 20005
She, Chris and Ansel were dropped off at the spectacular centerpiece of Maria Luisa Park. Plaza de España was stunning. The sweeping, crescent-like pavilion was, according to Chris, built for the Expo Sevilla in 1929, was a masterful blend of three design styles and measured almost a half million square feet. The stunning building combines Renaissance, Mudéjar and Art Nouveau styles. The square in front is reached by crossing the 1,640-foot canal on one of four bridges representing Spain’s ancient kingdoms.
Av de Isabel la Católica, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
The men barely noticed the grandeur in their rush to get to the rendezvous point beneath the south tower. Plaza de España is anchored by two glorious towers. This is Torre Sur. Decorating the red brick are ceramic tiles that have been glazed and intricately painted. They are called azulejos, derived from an Arabic word meaning polished stone.
Av de Isabel la Católica, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
They moved in sync for an awkward five minutes until Chris abruptly stopped in Plaza de América facing the former Mudéjar Pavilion, now the Museum of Popular Arts. Mudéjar Pavilion was designed to showcase art during the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. Today, displays include costumes, clothing, furniture, musical instruments, crafts and reflections of Spain’s history. The exhibits are as interesting inside as the outside is beautiful.
Plaza América, 3, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
It took 105 years to build Catedral de Santa María de la Sede. When Seville Cathedral was finished in 1506, its measurements of 443-by-330 feet made it the world’s largest cathedral, a distinction it still holds. The Roman Catholic cathedral has 15 elaborately crafted doors and 80 side chapels inside.
Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Christopher Columbus’s voyage in 1492 redefined the globe, then launched European explorations, conquests, and colonization of the New World. After his death in 1506, the remains of Cristóbal Colón were moved to several places during the next 400 years until returning to Seville in 1898. The pallbearers sculpted by Arturo Melida represent the kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Leon and Navara.
Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Raimundo de Losana, the bishop of Segovia, became the first archbishop of Sevilla since 860 AD. His earliest palace was expanded during the 16th century. The red, Spanish Baroque façade was created in the 17th century. Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop’s Palace) is located in Plaza Virgen de los Reyes adjacent to the Giralda.
Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
While savoring the seventeen-acre royal garden, Michelle got a call from Ansel. She ignored it. All of the Al-Andalus palaces preserved in Spain are surrounded by elaborate gardens. Real Alcázar is a beautiful example. Imagine strolling along a labyrinth of paths through 17 acres of sculpted bushes, fruit orchards, flower beds, Mediterranean trees and palms accented by reflection ponds, fountains and columns.
Patio de Banderas, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Several people had agreed to meet on Tuesday after work outside of the Marine Terminal at Pier 41 to take the ferry across San Francisco Bay. A delightful way to experience the bay is on a cruise for dinner, a brunch, an hour or for several hours. You can also buy a ticket at the Marine Terminal at Pier 41 for a ferry to several nearby locations like Sausalito.
41 Vallejo - Pier 41, San Francisco, CA 94133
Most people know Alcatraz as the federal penitentiary that operated from 1934 until 1963. The island was initially a U.S. Army fort starting in 1853. The lighthouse was the first one located along the Pacific coast when it became functional in 1854. “The Rock” is now a major tourist attraction.
San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, CA
The Pacific Ocean meets the San Francisco Bay beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. This is also where the ocean’s marine layer of water vapor collides with the different air temperatures of the bay and the land. The result is almost a daily pattern of rolling fog or clouds that often swallows the bridge with an eerie yet beautiful result.
San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, CA
As people disembarked from the ferry, Anna’s friends scattered to explore nearby Viña del Mar Plaza, stroll the harbor sidewalk, or browse in the quaint boutique shops. After riding rented bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge and exploring Sausalito, these cyclists are catching the last ferry back to San Francisco. The end of their perfect daytrip.
2 Tracy Way, Sausalito, CA 94965
Anna and Liz sat along the rocky edge with a view of Richardson Bay. Another perfect spot to enjoy the view is at Gabrielson Park.
Humboldt Ave & Anchor Street, Sausalito, CA 94965
After fifteen minutes of Liz’s monologue, Anna suggested they walk toward the restaurant. A sizable group of people was clustered at the pier entrance. Downtown Sausalito is small but lined with locally-owned stores that are fun to explore. When you are hungry, grab a table at one of several restaurants on piers like Scoma’s. Enjoy your seafood while overlooking San Francisco Bay.
588 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
He was about ready to return to the hotel when a commotion in front of the Central Post Office diagonal from Seville Cathedral caught his eye. Correos y Telegrafos above the door means mail and telegraphs. This Art Deco edifice became the city’s main post office when it opened in 1930. The coat of arms relief was the country’s heraldic symbol as it appeared from 1875 until 1931 during a period called the House of Bourbon Second Restoration.
Av. de la Constitución, 32, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
Chris discreetly followed the teenager and dog as they walked behind the General Archive of the Indies. In 1503, 11 years after Queen Isabella I of Castile financed Columbus’s first voyage, she created a board of trade. Casa de Contratación regulated all shipping to the Americas (then called the Indies). This Spanish Renaissance building designed by Juan de Herrera was finished the same year.
Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
“Do you remember seeing the Courtyard of the Maidens during our tour yesterday of Real Alcázar?” “Kind of,” Michelle said, meaning she was clueless. Patio de las Doncellas is a superb example of an Islamic inner-courtyard centered with a reflection pool and fountain plus encircled with arcades called a peristyle. The exquisite first level was built in the 14th century. The upper level – created with an Italian Renaissance design – was added during the 16th century by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.
Calle Dean Miranda, 1A, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
“I took a frame from the hummingbird video of Irene’s courtyard, downloaded it into Google Images and found a match. It’s called the Court of Lions at Alhambra in Granada, Spain.” Palace of Lions was finished for Muhammed V in 1391. The interior open space is Patio de Los Leones featuring a fountain with a dozen lions sculptured from Macael marble. Surrounding them is an arcade defined by 124 marble columns. Above them are delicate filigree tracery plus calligraphy.
Patio de los Leones, Calle Real de la Alhambra, 18009 Granada, Spain
Chris and Michelle were pretending to wait in the long ticket line for Real Alcázar when a bell inside La Giralda began striking twelve. Each peal sounded like a death knell. Real Alcázar is the epicenter of 2,000 years of Sevilla’s history. The earliest building on this site dates from the 1st century. It continued to evolve until Spanish kings transformed the Islamic palace into the Reales Alcázares de Sevilla during the mid-13th century. Your entrance into this UNESCO World Heritage Site is through this 12th-century gate named Puerta del León.
Patio de Banderas, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Chris and Michelle drifted toward the Monument of the Immaculate Conception. The final staging area was about seventy-five feet from the entry point. Since 1918, the Monument of the Immaculate Conception has stood in Plaza del Triunfo. In Seville, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 is a public holiday and holy day of obligation. During the event, this monument is encircled by costumed celebrations, processions and bands.
Pl. del Triunfo, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Chris and Michelle were in FBI custody back in Washington, DC. They were imprisoned without bail facing several life sentences. The death penalty was a distinct possibility if convicted in federal court of espionage, terrorism and multiple capital murders, including the death of a US senator and the attempted murder of another. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been headquartered in the J. Edgar Hoover Building since 1975. The namesake was the first director of the FBI from 1935 until 1972.
935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530