Call to Treason - Tom Clancy [150]
Senator Orr stepped forward. He looked from Detective Mastio to Detective Howell. "Bob, does this young lady know who I am?"
"I do, sir," Detective Mastio replied. "You are Senator Donald Orr. I have a warrant for your detention as well, Senator."
"Detention?" Orr snapped. "Are you saying we are under arrest?"
"No, Senator. Formal charges will not be filed until we have had a chance to further review the evidence that has been presented, Senator," Mastio replied.
"We have a convention to run!" Kat said. "You have no right to walk in with accusations based on hearsay and interfere with our work."
"I'm sorry," Mastio told her. "We do have that right."
Orr turned back to Howell. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I have extradition papers," Howell said. He raised the envelopes. "If you are arrested for crimes that may have been committed in our jurisdiction, we will be bringing you to D.C. for arraignment."
"This is the most outlandish and offensive thing I have ever heard!" the senator barked. "I am the one who was assaulted here! Link and his accomplices are the ones you should be talking to!"
Orr seemed anxious to turn away, to throw his position and reputation against the problem and make it go away. Howell seemed equally determined to prevent that. When Rodgers had called McCaskey to suggest the detective fly out, Op-Center's top law officer seemed eager to make that happen.
"I find it odd that neither of you asked who was murdered," Rodgers said, stepping forward.
"I assume this has to do with that idiot Englishman," Orr said.
"What this has to do with are the rights of a murder victim," Rodgers said.
"How dare you lecture this man about rights!" Kat yelled. "He defended his nation in Vietnam and has spent a lifetime legislating on behalf of citizens like us, improving the standard of living for all Americans and for women in particular."
"The senator's patriotism is not at issue," Rodgers said. "Robert Lawless was an American," Rodgers remarked. "What happened to his rights? Lucy O'Connor is an American woman. Did she have any idea what she was getting into?"
Kat turned on Rodgers. "You are the worst of them all.
We took you in when you had nothing. I was responsible for Lawless and for Lucy. The senator had nothing to do with this."
"Admiral Link tells a different version of the story," Rodgers said.
"Ms. Lockley," Mastio said, "would you please turn around?"
Kat glared at her. "What? Why?"
Mastio removed handcuffs from her belt.
"You're handcuffing us?" Kat screamed.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Detective, I am not going anywhere without my personal attorney," Orr said. "I will call him and wait here until he arrives."
"I'm sorry, Senator, but that is not how it works," Mastio told him.
"You will have to come with us. All of you."
"This is ridiculous!" Orr huffed.
"No," Rodgers said. "This is the system you took a vow to uphold."
"You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer any questions," Mastio said to them. "Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law "
"Please don't do this to the senator," Kat implored. "His office demands some measure of respect."
"It's like a bank account, Kat," Rodgers said. "The more you invest, the more you earn."
As Mastio finished reciting the Miranda warning, Kat turned again and glared at Rodgers, then at the others. Fierce, angry glances from the senator and his aide were met with resolute looks from the others. It was only a moment, but it was like nothing Rodgers had ever experienced. This was not like political views or tactical opinions clashing in an office or command center. Those were about ideas, and they were expressed in words. This had become a primal, unspoken confrontation, something closer to the apes than to the stars.
The young San Diego detective broke the tension. She provided an edge of humanity, a touch of the dignity Kat had requested.
"Senator, Ms. Lockley, if you agree to come peaceably, I will remove restraints," Mastio said. "My officers