Clear and present danger - Tom Clancy [150]
"Color me important," Murray observed. "No. Can I use this one?"
"Sure, the bottom button's a D.C. line."
Murray punched in the number without referring to his beeper. It was Shaw's office. "Murray here. You rang, Alice? Okay… Hi, Bill, what gives?"
It was as though the room took a sudden chill. Ryan felt it before he understood the change in Murray's face.
"No chance that - oh, yeah, I know Pete." Murray checked his watch. "Be there in forty minutes." He hung up.
"What happened?"
"Somebody killed the Director," Dan answered simply.
"What - where?"
"Bogotá. He was down for a quiet meeting, along with the head of DEA. Flew down this afternoon. They kept it real quiet."
"No chance that -"
Murray shook his head. "The attaché down there's Pete Morales. Good agent, I worked OC with him once. He said they were all killed instantly. Emil, Harry Jefferson, the ambassador, all the security guys." He stopped and read the look on Jack's face. "Yeah, somebody had some pretty good intel on this."
Ryan nodded. "This is where I came in…"
"I don't think there's a street agent in the Bureau who doesn't love that man." Murray set his beer down on the counter.
"Sorry, pal."
"What was it you said? Endangered species?" Murray shook his head and went to collect his wife. Ryan hadn't even closed the door behind them when his secure phone started ringing.
The Hideaway, located only a few miles from the Luray Caverns, was a modern building despite its deliberate lack of some modern amenities. While there was no in-room cable television, no pay-for-view satellite service, no complimentary paper outside the door every morning, there was air conditioning, running water, and the room-service menu was six pages long, supplemented by ten full pages of wine listings. The hotel catered to newlyweds who needed few distractions and to others trying to save their marriages from distractions. Service was on the European model. The guest wasn't expected to do anything but eat, drink, and rumple the linen, though there were saddle horses, tennis courts, and a swimming pool for those few whose suite didn't include a bathtub large enough for the purpose. Moira watched her lover tip the bellman ten dollars - far more than he ever tipped anyone - before she thought to ask the most obvious question.
"How did you register?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Juan Díaz." Another embarrassed look. "Forgive me, but I didn't know what else to say. I didn't think" - he lied haltingly. "And I didn't want - what could I say without embarrassing myself?" he finally asked with a frustrated gesture.
"Well, I need a shower. Since we are husband and wife, you may join me. It looks big enough for two." She walked from the room, dropping her silk blouse on the bed as she went.
Five minutes later, Cortez decided that the shower was easily big enough for four. But as things turned out, that was just as well.
The President had flown to Camp David for the weekend, and had barely showered himself when his junior military aide - a Marine lieutenant had the duty - brought him the cordless phone.
"Yes - what is it?"
The lieutenant's first reaction on seeing the President's expression was to wonder where his pistol was.
"I want the Attorney General, Admiral Cutter, Judge Moore, and Bob Ritter flown here immediately. Tell the press secretary to call me in fifteen minutes to work on the statement. I'll be staying here for the time being. What about bringing them back home? Okay - we have a couple of hours to think about that. For now, the usual protocol. That's right. No, nothing from State. I'll handle it from here, then the secretary can have his say. Thank you." The President pushed the kill button on the phone and handed it back to the Marine.
"Sir, is there anything that the