by Vince Flynn
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”
“I spoke with the Anne Arundel sheriff this morning and he told me that two men showed up last night and said that you sent them out there to poke around.” Ross folded his arms across his chest. “Apparently they caused quite a stink.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Who were they?”
“Professional assassins.”
Ross’s face flushed with anger. “I don’t think this is the time for humor.”
“No humor.” Kennedy shook her head. “They were a couple of black-bag guys who specialize in killing people and making it look like an accident.”
Ross’s nostrils were flared in anger. “What were their names?”
Kennedy shook her head. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t have the security clearance.”
“I’m your boss,” he said in a voice on the verge of outright rage.
“That does not mean you have clearance,” Kennedy insisted. The mood in the room got very tense. “Mark, I’m surprised that you seem more concerned about who they were than what they had to say.”
“Who they were is a genuine concern,” stated Attorney General Stokes. “If this was in fact a crime, my people will have to build a case, and it will not look good in court to have a couple of professional assassins poking around a fresh crime scene tampering with evidence.”
“And, Irene,” said Ross, “this so-called evidence they found is incredibly thin. A few trampled blades of grass and a tire track.” Ross shook his head and frowned. “Balance that against the fire chief’s report that it was an accident, and this thing will never get off the ground.”
“So what would you propose we do? Ignore the warning we received from the Jordanians last week that a bounty had been placed on Rapp’s head? Ignore the findings of two highly trained, and highly decorated, Special Forces veterans who know more about this kind of thing than all of us combined?”
“We’re not saying that at all,” answered Ross.
“Then why are you so hell bent on trying to write this thing off as an accident?”
The room got very quiet. The three cabinet members looked to the president as if this was the moment where he should step in, but the president wasn’t biting. The vice president for his part stayed quiet.
Secretary of State Berg cleared her throat and said, “Irene, there’s a right way to handle this and a wrong way.”
Isn’t there always, Kennedy thought to herself.
“The right way is to let the FBI handle the investigation.”
“And the wrong way?”
“The wrong way,” interjected the attorney general, “is to have CIA black-ops people poking around a potential crime scene.”
Kennedy noted that Stokes had used the word potential and momentarily thought of explaining to the nation’s top lawyer that if it weren’t for Coleman and Wicker none of this evidence would have been discovered, but she knew it would be a waste of breath. Their minds were already made up. They were afraid of a vengeful Mitch Rapp, or more to the point, they were afraid of what he would do in the name of the U.S. government. The embarrassment he could bring to them and their organizations was immense.
“I can assure you,” Attorney General Stokes continued, “if a crime was committed, we will make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice. It might take some time, but we will do it. In the meantime you need to explain to Rapp that he is in no way involved in this investigation, and if he decides to get involved, he’s going to find himself in some serious legal trouble.”
If the situation wasn’t so serious, Kennedy would have found the attorney general’s warning laughable. She turned to the president to see if he was actually buying into this nonsense. She found him looking at his watch and trying to avoid eye contact. She remembered Haik’s warning, and turned back to the attorney general. “I’m sure Mitch will be sufficiently intimidated by your threat of legal trouble. Maybe you’d like to deliver the message yourself.”
Stokes did not like the comment and turned to Berg and Ross for support. The director of National Intelligence spoke first. “The last thing we need is an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency acting as a judge, jury, and executioner.”
“I would actually say the last thing we need is someone getting away with trying to assassinate an employee of the CIA.”
“If someone tried to kill Rapp, we’ll find them, and they’ll be punished.”
Kennedy nodded in a way that said she wasn’t buying any of it, and then asked, “How do you plan to stop Mitch from pursuing this on his own?”
“As his boss I expect you to control him,” Ross said flatly.
“And if he quits?”
Ross turned to Secretary of State Berg. She hesitated briefly and then said, “We’ve revoked Mr. Rapp’s passport. He’s forbidden to leave the country.”
Now this truly was funny. The trivial precaution caused Kennedy to laugh out loud. Three stone-faced cabinet members stared back at her. “And you think that’s going to stop him?” asked Kennedy. “Mitch Rapp…a man we trained as a deep cover operative? A man who speaks five languages, has I don’t even know how many aliases, and has at one time or another crept in and out of virtually every country in Europe and the Middle East? You think revoking his passport is going to stop him?”
They ignored the question and Stokes said, “For his own good we’re placing him under protective custody.”
Kennedy shook her head and replied in a sarcastic tone, “That’s kind of you to offer, but we’ll pass.”
“Irene, it’s for the good of the country,” said Ross.
“That’s debatable, but in the meantime, he’s safe and in no need of further protection.”
“Irene,” said Stokes, “if I need to, I’ll get a court order.”
“On what grounds, Marty?” Kennedy’s temper flared for the first time. “You think you’re the only person in this town who has a judge in his back pocket?” She let him think about the implied threat for a second and then added, “Trust me…you’ll lose on this one, and it won’t be pretty.”
Ross held his hand up, signaling for them both to stop. “Let’s all take a deep breath and calm down. I’m sure the CIA is more than capable of keeping an eye on Mitch until he’s recovered. In the meantime, Irene, we’re going to have to grant access to the FBI so they can interview him.”
Kennedy hesitated and then said, “Have Special Agent McMahon call me, and I’ll set it up.”
“I would also like to talk to him,” said Ross.
“I doubt he’s up for visitors at the moment, but…”
“When he’s ready,” the president said, directing his comment at Ross and not Kennedy.
There was a brief pause and the president’s national security advisor took the opportunity to end the meeting. He stood and said, “The president is on a tight schedule this morning, so if you’ll excuse us.” Haik pointed at Ross and asked, “Do you have fifteen minutes?”
“Of course.”
Haik pulled the director of National Intelligence aside and began speaking in hushed tones. The president was gone before anyone noticed, ducking out through the door that led to his personal secretary’s office. Kennedy took one last look at Secretary Berg, Attorney General Stokes, and Vice President Baxter and then left the room in disgust.
43
THE WHITE HOUSE
K ennedy went straight for the situation room. In her twenty plus years at the CIA she had never sat through a bigger cover-your-ass meeting. It was not her boss or the attorney general or the secretary of state who she was upset with, though. She had expected them to protect their fiefdoms, just not so soon. Her ire was directed at the president. She’d never seen him so ineffectual before and especially on an issue where she thought he would be every bit as upset as she was. None of it made sense.
She reached the outer door to the situation room and punched her cod
e into the cipher lock. She opened the heavy door and ignored the duty officer who was sitting behind a desk a few paces ahead. Kennedy turned to her left and entered the soundproof conference room, where she was surprised to see two individuals sitting at the far end of the long, shiny, wood table. Before she had a chance to address them, the president entered the room and closed the door. The two men attempted to stand, but the president told them not to bother.
Kennedy assumed Senators Walsh and Hartsburg had been asked by the president to come to this meeting. As to why, she hadn’t a clue. Instead of sitting in his normal chair at the head of the table nearest the door, Hayes walked to the other end of the room and grabbed the chair next to Senator Hartsburg, “Irene, have a seat.”
Kennedy took her place and the president walked around the table and sat next to Senator Walsh. Hayes leaned forward and placed his forearms on the table. “Irene, I’m sorry you had to sit through that.”
Kennedy was rarely caught off guard, and she rarely allowed anger to get the best of her, but today was a day of firsts. “Mr. President, would you mind telling me just what in the hell is going on?”
“Irene, there isn’t a proverbial snowball’s chance in hell that the explosion was an accident. You know it, I know it, and they know it.”
“Then why are you allowing them to put Mitch on ice and cut the CIA out of this?”
“I’m not.”
“That’s not what I just heard upstairs.”
“Irene, what do you think Mitch is going to do when he’s well enough to get out of bed?” the president asked.
Kennedy knew the answer, but was reluctant to respond to the question.
Senator Hartsburg coughed and said, “He’s going to kill anyone who had anything to do with his wife’s death.”
“That’s right,” said the president, “and I can’t say I blame him.”
“Then what’s this nonsense about revoking his passport and putting him under protective custody?”
“Not my idea.” Hayes shook his head. “And what does it really matter? You and I both know there’s no stopping him. Passport or not…he’s going to leave the country and go wherever he damn well pleases.”
“Mr. President, I’m confused. Mitch has sacrificed a great deal for this country. I think there is a better way to handle this than treating him like a criminal.” Kennedy shook her head in disgust. “To be honest, sir, after all Mitch has done for you, I would have expected you to stand by him when he needs you most. Not cave into the demands of a few cabinet members.”
Hayes took the rebuke surprisingly well. He sat back and looked at his two former colleagues from the Senate and then slowly returned his gaze to Kennedy. “I’m going to let you in on something that only a handful of people know, but first I need your word that you will not discuss this with anyone.”
Kennedy looked at him intently. “Of course.”
“I’ve decided not to seek reelection.”
Kennedy’s eyes opened a bit wider upon hearing the shocking news. With a little more than a year left in his first term, and a solid approval rating, there wasn’t a person in town who had even mentioned the possibility of Hayes not seeking a second term. “Do you mind my asking why, sir?”
“I have some health issues that I think preclude me from serving as president.”
Kennedy wanted to ask what those health issues were, but knew it could be personal. “I’m sorry, Mr. President.”
Hayes glanced up at the clocks on the far wall and then said, “Parkinson’s. It runs in my family. My mother’s side.”
“But I haven’t noticed any signs.”
“They’re there. Trust me. I’ve been taking medication for five months. At first the results were good, but over the last few weeks things have gotten worse. My doctor tells me I should have no problem serving out my first term, but any hope of a second term would be purely selfish.”
“But Parkinson’s…”
Hayes shook his head. He’d studied every side of it. He’d discussed it with his wife until they had beaten the subject to death. Was there a chance he could stay on top of his game for four more years? The answer was maybe, and maybe wasn’t good enough. And then there was the other issue of his physical appearance. That was the thing that really decided it for him. Hayes smiled and said to Kennedy, “The man in charge of the word’s most potent nuclear arsenal cannot be seen standing at a podium with shaky hands.”
Kennedy blinked slowly and glanced at the other two men. They all knew he was right, and admired him for making the difficult decision. There were others who would not have relinquished the mantle of power so easily. “Mr. President, I’m very sorry.”
“Don’t be. This office is bigger than any single person. It’s been my honor to serve.” Hayes regarded his two old friends from the Senate. Walsh smiled, Hartsburg frowned, and they both nodded. The two career politicians would have gladly settled for one term. Not one to feel sorry for himself, Hayes changed the subject. “Irene, let me lay things out for you. I have a vice president who is in over his head, I have a deeply flawed attorney general, a secretary of state who is more concerned with appeasing foreign governments than protecting our own long-term national security, and I have a new director of National Intelligence who will probably throw a party when he learns that I have Parkinson’s.” Hayes gave Hartsburg a sideways glance. It was Hartsburg who had recommended Ross for the top intelligence job.
The gruff senator said, “Bob, he’s an ambitious fellow, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s going to celebrate your misfortune.”
“Okay, he’ll celebrate his own opportunity.”
“He’s off to a bit of a rocky start,” Hartsburg conceded and then looked to Kennedy. “Don’t worry. We’ll have a talk with him and get him settled down.”
“The point is, Irene,” the president said, “that I don’t plan on spending my last year in office refereeing battles between my cabinet members. They sprang this one on me this morning,” Hayes shook his head, “I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for it. As it is, I don’t agree with them, but I do see their point.”
“I’m afraid I don’t, sir.”
“We are a civilized country ruled by laws. We are constantly preaching to other countries about free speech, due process, and fair and just courts. It is one of the most important missions of the State Department. Here at home, our Justice Department and the courts are tasked with keeping things fair. A crime has been committed on American soil. Yes, it was perpetrated against an employee of the CIA, but the jurisdiction still falls squarely in the lap of Justice, and there is nothing any of us can do about that.”
“Irene,” said Senator Walsh, “there’s another angle to consider. Mitch’s wife was a fairly well-known reporter. The press is going to follow this story closely. The Justice Department would much rather announce that this was an accident, that way they won’t have to set the bar too high for themselves. They’ll quietly continue to investigate, but my guess is they will not classify it as a crime unless they have a suspect they can pin it on.”
“That explosion was not an accident.”
“We all know that,” answered Hayes.
“Then what are we going to do about it?”
“Let me be very clear about this.” Hayes placed his forearms on the table and clasped his hands. “I want whoever did this brought to justice, and I want it to happen quickly. I don’t want an investigation that goes on for years, and I don’t want to see a single person dragged in front of a court unless there is absolutely no other alternative.”
“What about the Justice Department?”
“Let them run their official investigation.” Hayes waved his hand as if the massive Justice Department were some inconsequential nuisance. “You and Special Agent McMahon have a good working relationship. Anything he finds I want him to pass on to you, but to be honest, I expect you to be way out in front of him on this.”
“Why is tha
t, sir?”
“Because you don’t have to play by the rules, Irene, and they do.”
“What about Ross?” Kennedy turned to Senator Hartsburg.
“Mark will be fine.”
Kennedy shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She looked to the president expecting him to back her up. Ross had after all told the president about Rapp’s insubordination and thuggish behavior.
Instead of giving her a knowing nod, Hayes’s face twisted into a frown of confusion.
Kennedy realized at that moment that Ross had lied to her. “Mr. President, I don’t think Director Ross has been as forthright with you as he’s led me to believe.”
“What has he led you to believe?”
“He told me that he briefed you on a problem he’d had with Mitch recently.”
Hayes shook his head. “He hasn’t said a word to me about Mitch since he got the job.”
“Last week I was having a meeting in my office with Mitch and Scott Coleman.” Kennedy spoke directly to the president. “Director Ross showed up at Langley unannounced and barged in on the meeting.” Kennedy went on to explain how the IRS showed up on Scott Coleman’s doorstep the next day and that Ross had his people call the Pentagon and request Coleman’s service record. She ended the recap by explaining that Rapp had decided to pay Ross a visit at his office and when he walked in, Ross was having a meeting with several investigators and the topic of conversation was Scott Coleman. Rapp picked up a dossier containing Coleman’s tax returns and slapped Ross across the face with it.”
Hartsburg looked a little stricken, while Walsh and the president sat in stunned silence until finally Senator Walsh said, “I told both of you he was the wrong man for the job.”
“He’ll be fine,” said a defensive Hartsburg. “I’ll have a talk with him.”
“He’s done listening to you,” grumbled Walsh. “I told you, he’s a damn power-hungry peacock.”
“I’ll talk to him,” the president said quietly.
“I don’t want you to have to do that, Mr. President.” Hartsburg had pushed Ross on the president and he felt obliged to straighten out the mess. “Let me have one more shot at him.”