Divide and conquer - Tom Clancy [17]
Rodgers and Herbert were happy to see him. The two men stayed long enough to welcome him back and for Hood to brief them on what had happened at the state dinner. Herbert was blown away by what the president had said.
"That's like the Goodyear Blimp saying it's going to watch the stands for rowdy fans instead of watching the Super Bowl," Herbert said.
"No one would believe that.
No one."
"I agree," Hood said.
"Which is why we've got to find out why the president said it. If he has a plan that we don't know about, we need to be brought into the loop. Talk to the other intel people and find out."
"I'm on it," Herbert said as he wheeled out.
Rodgers told Hood that he would get in touch with the heads of Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine intelligence to find out what their knowledge of the situation was.
When Herbert and Rodgers left. Hood was visited by the only key members of the team who hadn't known about Hood's return, FBI and Interpol liaison Darrell McCaskey and press liaison Ann Farris. McCaskey was just back from a stay in Europe, working with his Interpol associates and nurturing a romance with Maria Comeja, an operative he had worked with in Spain.
Hood had a good sense about people, and his instincts told him that Darrell would be handing in his resignation before long to return to Maria. Since McCaskey was gone while Hood's retirement was briefly in effect, he had not missed his boss.
Ann Farris was a different story. The five-foot, seven inch-tall divorcee had always been close to Hood and had hated to see him leave.
Hood knew that she cared for him, though no one could have told that just by looking at her. The thirty-four-year-old woman had developed the perfect poker face for reporters. No question, no revelation, no announcement made her jump. But to Hood, her large, dark-rust eyes were more articulate than any speech-maker or television moderator he had ever heard. And right now, her eyes were telling Hood that she was happy, sad, and surprised all at once.
Ann walked toward the desk. She was dressed in what she called her "uniform," a black pantsuit and white blouse with a pearl necklace. Her brown hair was shoulder length and held back from her face with a pair of clips. Hood's office was stripped of his personal touches.
He hadn't had time to put the photographs and mementos back. Yet after the struggles with Sharon and the coldness of his hotel room, Ann's arrival suddenly made this place seem like home.
"Mike just told me," she said.
"Told you what?"
"About Sharon," Ann replied.
"About your coming back. Paul, are you all right?"
"I'm a little banged up, but I'll be okay."
Ann stopped in front of the desk. Was it only just ten days ago that she had stood there while I packed? Hood thought. It seemed so much longer. Why did pain stretch time while happiness made it feel so short?
"What can I do, Paul?" Ann asked.
"How are Sharon and the kids?"
"We're all reeling. Liz is helping Harleigh, Sharon and I are pretty civil, and Alexander is Alexander. He's okay." Hood dragged a hand through his wavy black hair.
"As for what you can do, I just realized we're going to have to send out a press release about my return."
"I know." She smiled.
"A head's-up would have been a big help."
"I'm sorry," Hood said.
"That's all right," Ann replied.
"You had other things on your mind. I'll write something up and show it to you."
Ann looked down at him, her shoulder-length brown hair framing her angular features. Hood had always felt the sexual tension between them.
Hell, he thought.
Everyone around them did. Bob Herbert and Lowell Coffey used to tease Hood about it. Hood's unwillingness to give in to that tension had always kept Ann at a distance. But he could feel that distance closing.
"I know you have a lot to do," Ann said, "but if you need anything, I'm here. If you want to talk or don't want to be by yourself, don't be shy. We go back quite a few years."
"Thanks," Hood said.
Ann's eyes held him for a long moment.
"I'm sorry for what you and your family