“All right. So what exactly is the problem?” said the president, looking puzzled.
“Apparently, their agent called the number. General Pak, thinking it was Carson, answered. And the agent recognized his voice.”
“Shit!” roared the president. “Are you serious, Tucker? That’s how it went down?” He slumped back in his chair, his eyes closed once more.
Tucker and Potter exchanged anxious glances. Each man was probably thinking about what his next career might be. Certainly it would be outside government.
Without opening his eyes the president said, “And if Carson was murdered and no one other than us knew about this mission, how did we learn about all this?”
Tucker knew the question was coming and he had prepared many answers, some longer than others. He had decided the shortest response would be the best.
“General Pak. When he learned that Carson had been murdered, he immediately recognized his mistake in answering the phone and reported to us.”
The president opened his eyes. “So what exactly does North Korea intend to do?”
“Well, this is only conjecture, but I imagine that they intend to tell the world what the plot was. That Western powers were planning to assassinate their Supreme Leader and install General Pak as the new leader. And even though Carson was a Brit, the term ‘Western powers’ would obviously include us.”
“And who would believe that?”
“Well, we’ve done it before,” pointed out Tucker. “In other countries.”
“But not for a long time,” replied the president. “That’s why there’s a law now that—” He broke off and muttered “Shit” again.
“Great Britain is our closest ally. No one would believe they would act without us on something like this,” added Potter.
“They will torture Pak and his family until he tells all he knows,” said Tucker. “He will have details, facts that will substantiate his position. He will tell them of the video conference here where you gave him your word—”
The president slammed his fist against the tabletop. “Don’t throw that in my face, Tucker; this is your screwup and yours only.”
“I absolutely agree with you, sir. Only—”
“Only what!” snapped the president.
Potter spoke, perhaps feeling that as the president’s advisor he needed to, well, advise. “Only the ultimate blame will fall to you, sir,” he said in an apologetic tone.
The president put a hand to his face and said, “Harry Truman, right? Buck stops here?”
Potter nodded and eyed Tucker severely. “Unfair, sir, but true. The DCI won’t be the main target. You will.”
The president opened his eyes and looked at Tucker.
“We certainly hoped for better, sir,” said Tucker lamely.
The president sighed and said resignedly, “So they tell the world. All right. They torture Pak and he gives them ammo for it. All right. I guess we wait and counterpunch when the blow comes. Do we know what the timing will be? I assume they already have Pak in custody.”
“He’s not in North Korea,” answered Tucker.
The president shot him a glance. “What?”
“He left North Korea both on official business and because of a medical condition that needed tending to and which he felt foreign doctors were better suited to treat. Because of his position within the leadership he was able to do that.”
“Well, where the hell is he?” sputtered the president, evidently still trying to process all of this.
“He’s in France.”
“But with what the North Koreans know, won’t he already be under arrest there?”
“He would have been, except he has unofficially left his entourage and is now in hiding.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Because I needed you to fully understand the situation, sir, before I started to present possible solutions.”
Potter spoke up. “If he’s in hiding and not under North Korean arrest, why don’t we simply go get him and put him in hiding permanently?”
“With what explanation?” asked Tucker.
The president said, “Why the need for explanation at all? They don’t have to know that we have him.”
“Then they’ll simply release publicly that we attempted to use Pak to overthrow the government in violation of both international law and our own laws. And that we are now harboring him and granting him asylum in the United States.”
“And they won’t have a shred of proof.”
“Sir, they do not deal in facts. But consider this. If they do make the allegations, it will stir up a lot of attention. As you’ve said, Carson was a Brit. That will entangle our allies in London. He goes missing in France. Our Paris colleagues will be targeted. No one will believe that they acted without the United States. The media will have a field day. They will leave no stone unturned. Questions will be asked. Answers will have to be given. And if the truth comes out?” He looked at both Potter and the president. “I personally do not want to go to prison over this.”