The Point Of A Gun: Thriller

by Steven W. Kohlhagen

  “If the President will sign my revised assignment,” Licht said, “and all three of you agree to go this route, I will sign. I will agree to join this effort as Linda has proposed and as it is written in the agreement.”

  “Cheese will be so happy,” Linda said, and they all laughed.

  “And my wife is good with it,” Licht said.

  Tom and Nancy looked at each other.

  He shrugged. “It’s your career, Nan. We discussed it.”

  “I’ll sign,” she said.

  “Then me, too.”

  Chapter 55

  Cheese, May, Tom, and Samms sat in a conference room at the Ritz Carlton in Tysoon Corner.

  “I think we have no choice, Cheese,” Tom said, “but to forgive you your insubordination in Houston.”

  “Battle decision. On the ground.”

  “You undercut our guarantee to the President,” Samms said.

  Cheese stared them down. “Battle decision. None of us trusts the Feds. I knew I was taking that risk. I knew I was taking the risk of being court marshaled from the gang.”

  “What was the President’s reaction to Cheese’s being there?” May asked.

  “I think Tom just spoke for the President,” Samms said. “It’s behind us now. Events are overtaking our ability to make battlefield decisions on the ground anyway.”

  “Let’s move on,” Tom said. “That’s not why we’re here.”

  Over her iPod playing Gene Pitney’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Samms looked at it, smiled, and then briefed them on the terms of the agreement that still awaited Presidential approval.

  “Do we have a choice here?” May asked when she had finished.

  Samms cocked her head and looked at May carefully. “I’m having a hard time seeing why any of you would opt out.” Looked at Cheese.

  “You’re ignoring that I can just resign from the gang and go find a job in security for some company,” May said. “Be done with all this.”

  “We’re all friends here, May,” Samms said, choosing her words carefully. “Setting aside that if you don’t come forward it negates what the four of us have signed on to…”

  “Not the four of us,” Cheese said.

  “I’m sure the six of you can negotiate a different deal if I don’t agree to come along,” May said.

  Samms looked at Tom, then turned back to May. “It never occurred to any of us that you wouldn’t jump at the chance to be pardoned and to be a part of an expanded effort. With more resources.”

  “You do understand,” Tom said, “that the President of the United States himself will be pardoning you, right? That he’ll be pardoning each of us? Will be creating a counter-terrorist organization with us having the ability, in fact, the authority, to continue what we’ve been doing without any fear of arrest or reprisals?”

  “I’m concerned you’re both being naïve is all. For one thing, once we’re out and publically a part of the government, all my sources evaporate. For another, no matter what they say, we’re going to have to be dealing with people in the government we don’t want to deal with.”

  “We’re being set up as an independent unit, reporting only to the White House.”

  “Whose senior-most official,” Cheese said, “on occasion, you have both referred to as an ‘officious ass’.”

  “Point taken,” Samms said. “Look. I’m not saying it’s perfect, I’m just saying it’s better than stopping and letting so many of the terrorists get through the U.S. security system. We will still be doing what we were doing, just with better leverage.”

  “And,” May said, “I’m concerned that the operating phrase that you’re using here, is that ‘we’re being set up…’.”

  “You don’t trust the President of the United States?”

  “No. And up until now neither have you. He was spying on the three of you on the Task Force. Spying on the top levels of the intelligence community. Also, they tried to use me to set us up.”

  “Let me try it this way,” Tom said. “It’s better than eventually being caught. The two of you have both been identified in some of our operations, and you know it. It’s only a matter of time before some bungling intelligence agent stumbles upon you. An arrest may be the best you can hope for in that scenario. This is a much better scenario than just stopping or being stopped.”

  “I’m willing to die for this, Tom,” May said. “Always was.”

  “So, May, are you telling us you’re bailing out? If you don’t join us, what do you propose to do?”

  “I’ll think about it.” She looked at Cheese. “You?”

  “My alternatives are pretty bleak, May. Maybe you can disappear. Change your ID’s and doctored work experience, but they’ve directly ID’d me. I’ll think about this. How long do we have Samms?”

  She shrugged. “I’ll talk to the President. We didn’t anticipate this bump in the road.”

  “I have one other thing,” May said, opening her laptop. “I thought this meeting was going to be about the suicide bombing imminent in D.C.”

  “How imminent?” Tom asked.

  “Tomorrow afternoon. I’m sure of it. We’ve intercepted his plans for tomorrow. Afternoon rush hour on the Metro. At the McPherson Square Station.”

  “The station nearest the White House,” Cheese said.

  “Right. I thought that’s why you’d asked me here. He lives a few blocks from here, near the McLean Station.”

  “What did the FBI and DHS say about him last week when we told them he was imminent?” Samms asked.

  “Same old answer. They’ve been watching him. He’s harmless. Nothing actionable.”

  “This guy is the consummate ‘known wolf’,” Cheese said.

  Samms took out Licht’s phone. Handed it over to May. “Whether or not this is your last act with us, May, I owe you the honors.” She hit redial. Listened. Handed the phone to May. “Moose will answer. You’re on.”

  “Hello?”

  “Moose?”

  “Samms?”

  “Close enough. You have pencil and paper?”

  She read him the name and address of the jihadist. Gave Moose his job address.

  The three others in the room could hear Moose’s whistle out of the phone past May’s ear, as she pulled the phone away. Put it back against her ear.

  “Yes, Moose he works there. Yes, for the government. How senior?”

  She gave him his job description.

  The whistle again.

  “Tomorrow. Rush hour. Suicide belt.”

  She went on to give him the full description of the bomb and his intended schedule.

  “Yes, as far as we know he always stays in that apartment, and we know the materials are there. He’ll either leave in the morning armed or go back from work, gather the bomb, and head out again.”

  She listened, looked out the window in disbelief.

  “Are we sure? Are you serious? Yes, Moose, we’re one hundred percent certain. This is on you now. That’s the President’s deal with us.”

  She clicked off and handed the phone to Samms.

  Made a face. “Not nearly as much fun as killing the dirtbag ourselves.”

  “Especially if they fuck it up,” Tom said.

  “Anything anybody want to add?” Samms asked.

  May and Cheese shook their heads.

  “When can I tell the President he can expect your answer, May?”

  “I’ll give you my answer either one hour after our guy blows up the Metro Station, or twenty-four hours after I hear they’ve arrested him,” May said.

  They all looked at Cheese.

  “And no vigilante action tomorrow off the reservation, Cheese,” Samms said.

  He nodded. “On a different note, you told us the current jobs of the four members of the Rogues Task Force without telling us their names or who you two are. Or which one of you or both are actually on the Rogues Task Force?”

  Tom looked at Samms, then back at Cheese and May. “It’s now called the Pal
adins Task Force. Once each of the four of us are on board to the agreement among the members of the Paladins Task Force and the President, we’ll be happy to tell you everybody’s identity.”

  “Essentially,” Samms said, “there will no longer be any secrets among us. At that point we’ll all be coming in out of the dark together.”

  Chapter 56

  Two days later, the Director of the CIA walked into Linda Simmons’ office. He carried a package in his hand.

  “Can I come in?”

  “It’s still your Agency.”

  “You sure?”

  She cocked her head.

  “You know about the meeting the President has called for tomorrow at noon, right?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “And you know the list of attendees, right?”

  She nodded again.

  “And the press conference he’s called for one o’clock?”

  “Yes, sir, I do.”

  “You willing to share with me what you know about the topics?”

  “Can I see the list of attendees you have there?” pointing to the folder in his hand.

  He handed it over.

  She looked at it. “You know everything I know, then. That’s the same list they showed me.”

  “Well, I don’t think I know exactly everything, Lin. Any chance you’re willing to tell me why your husband and Cheese and the Asian woman they’ve been looking for are on this list?”

  “I can give you the President’s phone number.”

  He pulled off the virtually impossible task of a simultaneous smile and frown. “Okay, tell me this, then. Am I going to be needing a replacement for you?”

  “Not until I resign or the President tells you to replace me.”

  “Or I tell you to leave.”

  “There’s that. But I’m guessing you’re in no hurry. And besides, no big deal, right? All the time we spend on succession planning might finally pay off.”

  “Very funny, Linda. Are you Samms?”

  “Can you give me twenty-one hours to answer?”

  They looked at each other. The Director stood up and walked over to the window. Signaled her over.

  They stood looking out over the grounds.

  “Lin, I truly don’t know the agenda tomorrow. I’m not sure why the President is introducing so much drama into this. It’s obvious from the guest list that either George is Samms or is suspected of working with or being Samms. Although why he’d show up at the White House as a suspect doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

  It wasn’t a question, so she didn’t answer it.

  “Lin, you have been the best division head I could have ever asked for. If I lose you tomorrow, I want you to know that whatever they require me to say or sign that doesn’t give you the highest commendation is a lie.”

  “Thank you, sir. In the event that happens, know that it’s been a mutual pleasure.”

  “The jihadist they killed at the Mclean Metro Station yesterday? A result of the Paladins turning things over to the FBI?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Nancy?”

  “Noon tomorrow, sir.”

  “Okay, no more tries. One last thing.” He turned and headed to the door. “If you are Samms, I want you to know that I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

  “Whatever happens?”

  “Whatever happens.”

  He turned.

  “Sir?”

  He stopped. Turned back.

  “I had the impression that package was for me,” pointing at his right hand.

  “Oh, yes. Sorry. I forgot. The courier happened to be walking by me on my way here and I offered to bring it up for him.”

  “You forge my signature?”

  “Of course.”

  He tossed it on her desk and walked out, closing the door behind him.

  *

  Fifteen minutes later, Linda Simmons was still staring back and forth between the woods outside the window and the contents of the opened package on her desk.

  She had twice started to make a call from her phone, then stopped. Twice picked up Licht’s phone only to put it down.

  She picked up her cell for a third try. Hit speed dial and called her husband.

  He picked up on the second ring, “Hey, Lin.”

  “Hey, honey. You home?”

  “No, I’m picking up the new suit you made me buy for tomorrow’s White House meeting.”

  “I’m headed home to meet you. And it’s not an optional meeting.”

  “A nooner?”

  She looked at her watch. “It’s three o’clock. You missed our nooner.”

  “Too bad. Do we have a serious problem, Lin?”

  “I just need to talk, George. It’s a problem with no solution. I’ll let you decide how serious it is.”

  *

  The President hung up the phone two hours later, looked over at Licht and Moose.

  “At least we now know that Linda is Samms.”

  “Or George is,” Licht said.

  “How so?” the President asked.

  “It really doesn’t matter, of course. But we now know from that call that both Linda and George are in the Paladins. They could have easily covered for each other all along. It could have been a joint operation all along, with Samms falsely being presented as a woman just as a cover for George.”

  “I don’t see that it matters to us which one is Samms anymore.”

  “No, but it might matter to them for some reason,” Licht said.

  “More importantly, what do we want to do about the Asian girl?”

  “Nothing. Linda seems convinced nobody will ever be able to find her.”

  “That may or may not be true, but it’s not what I meant. We have a legal agreement with Linda, Nancy, and Tom…”

  “…and me.”

  “And you. An agreement that is conditional on the Paladins coming in that includes pardons for all seven of you. May Kung isn’t coming in. Where does that leave us?”

  “Good question. I’ll call the lawyer and get back to you.”

  “Don’t you first want to know how I want it handled?” the President asked.

  “Sure. Sorry, sir.”

  “I want the girl’s pardon to be conditional on her not carrying out any further vigilante attacks.”

  “I doubt any of the three of them will agree to that, sir.”

  “And, in any case,” Moose said, “they said they have no way of reaching the girl.”

  “Let’s see what the lawyer says, Licht. You now know what I want.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “One more thing, Licht.”

  “Yes?”

  “We now know that Linda and George, one of them as Samms, are in the Paladins.”

  “Yes, sir. We do.”

  “What about Nancy and Colonel Edwards?”

  “Not to mention me, sir.”

  “Okay, Licht, are you and Tom and Nancy members of the Paladins?”

  “You have a signed document that says all five of us are. Along with the two others identified in the documents. All pardoned by you.”

  “Yes, Licht, I read the agreement before I signed it. But I asked if Colonel Edwards and Nancy, notwithstanding their claim, have been members of the Paladins.”

  “I have no reason to question signed statements by senior intelligence officers, Mr. President.”

  *

  At 9:00 that night, George Simmons opened the door and ushered Cheese into the safe house.

  “Thanks for coming on such short notice, Cheese.”

  “Sure, Tom. Hi Samms.”

  “Hi Cheese.”

  “No May?”

  “May’s not coming with us,” George said. “She’s opted out.”

  “Completely? Not accepting the Paladins Task Force proposal?”

  “Correct. May’s out.”

  “Okay. I’m surprised.”

  “Two more things. First, there’s no longer any need to call me Tom.”

  Ch
eese looked at Samms. “Okay, General Simmons. And the second thing?”

  “Cheese,” Samms said, “George is my husband. My name’s Linda Simmons. I’m head of the CIA’s counter-terrorism division. At least I am until tomorrow morning.”

  “Are you both on the Paladins Task Force?”

  “No, only Linda.”

  “What was the point of hiding Samms’, er Linda’s identity from me? And hiding your relationship all this time?”

  “In the beginning,” Linda said, “it was a necessary precaution. In case you or May were caught. May never knew who George was either. Unless you told her.”

  “I don’t think I ever told her. I’m pretty sure I never did.”

  “In her note to me, she claimed she never knew.”

  “And, of course,” Cheese said, “if your trust in May or me turned out to be misplaced, the secrecy covered you two.”

  “Correct I suppose, but not fair,” George said. “We never doubted you, Cheese.”

  “So tell me, General,” Cheese said, “was this whole thing your and my idea like you told me on the chopper, or was it Linda’s all along?”

  “It was…” Linda said.

  George held up his hand. “He asked me.”

  Linda shrugged.

  “The original idea came from your comments that day we flew back together. After that it developed over a series of bilateral discussions between Linda and me, and between you and me. Simultaneous conversations. Over several months.”

  “It was natural, Cheese,” Linda said. “The way it evolved, it never became necessary for you to ever know my identity.”

  “Who else knows your true identity, then?”

  “May figured it out somehow. I don’t know when. And I told the President this afternoon. When I told him that May was not coming with us.”

  “What about the other members of the Paladins Task Force?”

  “I’m sure the President will tell Licht, and he will then tell the two others, both of whom you know, before tomorrow morning. At tomorrow’s meeting with the President, Licht, Colonel Tom Edwards, and Nancy Moffett will each be claiming to have been with us all along. They have signed the agreement with George and me and are being pardoned along with us.”

  “The gang is growing, Cheese,” George said.

  “But May is gone?”

  “Yes, Cheese, May is gone.”