Divide and conquer - Tom Clancy [38]
"Sir," Hood continued, "last night, when you thanked Senator Fox for budgeting Mr. Fenwick's initiative, that was the first she'd heard about it." President Lawrence froze, but only for a moment. His expression changed slowly. He looked very strange for a moment, both twenty years older and like a lost boy. He sat back.
"Gable wouldn't go behind my back on something," the president said faintly.
"He wouldn't. And if he did, I'd read it in his face."
"When was the last time you saw him?" Hood asked. The president thought.
"Friday, at the cabinet meeting."
"There were a lot of people there, a lot of issues on the table," Hood said.
"You might have missed it. Or maybe he was snookered by the NSA."
"I can't believe that, either," the president said.
"I see," Hood said.
"Well, if Fenwick and Gable aren't rogue, there's only one other option I can think of."
"Which is?" Hood had to be careful how he said this. He was no longer floating ideas about the president's staff but about the president himself.
"Maybe none of this happened," Hood said.
"The UN initiative, the meetings with foreign governments-none of it."
"You mean I imagined it all," the president said. Hood didn't answer.
"Do you believe that?" the president asked.
"I do not," Hood replied truthfully. If nothing else, there was the rerouted phone call from the Hay-Adams, and the president didn't imagine that.
"But I won't lie to you, Mr. President," Hood went on.
"You do seem tense, guarded, distracted. Definitely not yourself." The president took a long breath. He started to say something and then stopped.
"All right, Paul. You've got my attention. What do we do next?"
"I suggest we proceed under the assumption that we've got a serious problem," Hood said.
"I'll continue the investigation from our end. We'll see what we can find out about the Iranian connection. Check on what else Fenwick has been doing, who he's been talking to."
"Sounds good," Lawrence said.
"Fenwick is due back late tonight. I won't say anything to him or to Red until I hear from you. Let me know as soon as you learn anything else."
"I will, sir."
"Will you also bring Senator Fox up to speed?" Hood said he would and then stood. So did the president. He seemed a little stronger now, more in command. But the things Megan had told Hood still troubled him.
"Mr. President," Hood said, "I do have one more question." The president looked at Hood intently and nodded once.
"A few minutes ago, you said that this was'more bullshit,"
"Hood said.
"What did you mean?" The president continued to regard Hood.
"Before I answer that, let me ask you a question."
"All right."
"Don't you already know the answer to that?" the president asked. Hood said that he did not.
"You came to see me only because of what happened last night?" the president asked. Hood hesitated. The president knew that he and the First Lady were old friends. It was not Hood's place to tell the president that his wife was worried about him. But Hood also did not want to be just one more person who was lying to the president.
"No," Hood answered truthfully.
"That is not the only reason." The president smiled faintly.
"Fair enough, Paul. I won't press you."
"Thank you, sir."
"But I will tell you one thing about the bullshit," the president said.
"This is not the only mix-up we've had here over the past few weeks.
It's been frustrating." The president extended his hand across his desk.
"Thanks for coming, Paul. And thanks for pushing me." Hood smiled and shook the president's hand. Then he turned and left the Oval Office.
There was a group of eager-looking Boy Scouts waiting outside with a photographer. The young men were award-winners of some kind, judging by their sashes. Hood winked at them, taking a moment to savor their openmouthed awe and innocence. Then he thanked Mrs. Leigh as he passed her desk. She flashed a concerned look at Hood, and he indicated that he would call her. She mouthed a thank-you and then showed the Boy Scouts inside. Hood walked briskly to his car. He