Don't Order Dog_ 1(144)

Alex could feel the Deputy Secretary’s eyes on him as he picked up the photo. The image showed a small cardboard box with the top removed. Inside was a neatly pressed and folded blue t-shirt, a familiar logo printed across the front. Lying on top of the shirt was a small piece of notepaper with a precisely written message clearly visible in the photo.

For Agent Alex Murstead –

Sorry we missed each other in Amsterdam.

The Deputy Secretary lifted her small frame from the chair and walked slowly over to the window. In the distance, the Lincoln Memorial stood somberly against the lifeless winter landscape of the National Mall. She spoke quietly as she stared out at the view. “Now, before you start piecing together your bullshit defense, let me just assure you that I have no interest in hearing your side of the story. At least not now.” She turned and looked at him coldly. “There’s one more wrinkle in this situation you may or may not be aware of. Jack Preston is convinced that the supposed NSA source who initiated Sergeant Kearney’s mission was none other than Homeland Security’s own Intelligence Director.”

Alex looked at her in a daze of disbelief. “You mean Richard Connolly?”

The Deputy Secretary nodded. “Preston said he’d kept Connolly apprised of this situation from the beginning and that he was the only other person who’d been told the terrorist’s location in Dongying. Given Connolly’s awareness and access to NSA resources, it doesn’t seem to be much of a stretch to draw the same conclusion.”

Alex placed the photo back on the Deputy Secretary’s desk and rubbed his hands dismissively. “Deputy Secretary, I’m afraid I have absolutely no explanation for that photo.



“Don’t insult my intelligence.” McCarthy said flatly. “You’re as involved in this mess as the rest of them. Even if Director Preston hadn’t told me about the CIA’s recent investigation of these same terrorists, it wouldn’t have been difficult to connect the dots. We’ll discuss your activities in Amsterdam at another time. Right now I have enough to worry about. I don’t have time to turn this situation into some kind of inter-agency witch hunt.”

“Yes ma’am.”

McCarthy walked over and pointed at Alex menacingly.

“So you’re going to do it for me.”

Alex looked up at the Deputy Director in confusion.

“Excuse me?”

“Make no mistake, agent – the fallout from this crisis is going to be severe. Careers will be destroyed. Lives will be ruined. But I will tell you right now that mine won’t be among them. I’ve spent far too long in the political trenches to let some power play between agencies pull me out of this office… which means we’ve finally come to the reason I’ve called you here.”

The Deputy Secretary returned to her seat.

“Whatever you thought you’d accomplished with these miraculously elusive terrorists obviously failed. So as I see it, Agent Murstead, you have two choices. Either immediately reopen your investigation and make sure it is properly concluded this time, or end up on the sacrificial altar along with Preston and whoever else is responsible for this catastrophe.”

Alex considered the Deputy Secretary’s humorless expression for a moment before responding. “You make a persuasive argument, Deputy Secretary,” he replied flatly. “May I get a copy of the Dongying file and Preston’s phone conversation immediately?”

“Yes you may,” McCarthy replied genially. “Susan will have both for you on your way out.”

“Then I’ll get started immediately.”

“Excellent. I believe you’ve made the right decision, Alex.”

“I’m sure I have, ma’am.”

“I’ll expect regular updates on your actions, starting with your first one.”

“And just what would you expect that to be, Deputy Secretary?”

McCarthy gave him a hint of a smile. “Richard Connolly has a congressional hearing in less than an hour. I suggest you reschedule that meeting for him.”





53.




Jeri awoke with a start. Her heart was racing, her breath coming in quick gasps, as if she’d just been running a sprint. The remnants of her dream were already beginning to fade.

She had felt him standing there, his face hovering over hers, his dark eyes examining her in the dim light. She opened her eyes and stared up at him, but he gave no indication of noticing. His eyes were focused on something else, something deeper, as if he were watching the very thoughts in her head. She reached out, her long fingers moving slowly towards him. He continued watching her until she’d nearly touched him,