Executive orders - Tom Clancy [219]
Not bad, O'Day thought. They'd had to look closely; the bulk of the leather was good concealment. Both had their gun hands off whatever educational task they'd been performing, and the looks in their eyes would appear casual only to the unschooled.
Sweep. Checking out arrangements for all the kids, she explained.
This is Katie, Megan said, introducing her new friend. And that's my daddy.
Well, hello, Katie. He bent down again to shake her hand, then stood again. Is she ?
SANDBOX, First Toddler of the United States, Price confirmed.
And one across the street? Business first.
Two, relays.
She looks like her mom, Pat said of Katie Ryan. And just to be polite he pulled out his official ID and tossed it to the nearest female agent, Marcella Hilton.
You want to be a little careful testing us, okay? Price asked.
Your man at the door knew who I was coming in. He looks like he's been around the block.
Don Russell, and he has, but-
But ain't no such thing as 'too careful,' Inspector O'Day agreed. Yeah, okay, I admit it, I wanted to see how careful you were. Hey, my little girl's here, too. I guess this place is a target now. Damn, he didn't say aloud.
So do we pass?
One across the street, three I can see here. I bet you have three more camped out within a hundred yards, want me to look for the Suburban and the long guns?
Look hard. We've got them well concealed. She didn't mention the one in the building he hadn't spotted.
I bet you do, Agent Price, O'Day agreed, catching the clue and looking around some more. There were two disguised TV cameras that must have gone in recently. That also explained the faint smell of paint, which in turn explained the lack of little hand-prints on the walls. The building was probably wired like a pinball machine. I must admit, you guys are pretty smooth. Good, he concluded.
Anything new on the crash?
Pat shook his head. Not really. We went over some additional interviews at WFO today. The only inconsistencies are too minor to count for much of anything. The Mounties are doing a hell of a job for us, by the way. So are the Japs. I think they've talked to everybody from Sato's kindergarten teacher on up. They even turned two stewardesses he was playing with on the side. This one's in the bag, Price.
Andrea, she replied.
Pat. And they both smiled.
What do you carry?
Smith 1076. Better than that 9mm mouse gun you guys pack. This was delivered with a somewhat superior attitude. O'Day believed in making big holes, to date only in targets, but in people if necessary. The Secret Service had its own weapons policy, and in that area he was sure the Bureau had better ideas. She didn't bite.
Do us a favor? Next time you come in, show your ID to the agent out front. Might not always be the same one. She didn't even ask him to leave it in his truck. Damn, there was professional courtesy.
So, how's he doing?
SWORDSMAN?
Dan-Director Murray-thinks the world of him. They go back a ways. So do Dan and I.
Tough job, but you know-Murray's right. I've met worse men. He's smarter than he lets on, too.
The times I've been around him, he listens well.
Better than that, he asks questions. They both turned when a kid yelled, swept the room at the same time and in the same way, then turned back to the two little girls, who were sharing crayons for their respective works of art. Yours and ours seem to get along.
Ours, Pat thought. That said it all. The big old bruiser at the door, Russell, she'd said. He'd be the chief of the sub-detail, and sure as hell that was one experienced agent. They'd have selected younger ones, both women, for inside work, the better to blend in. They'd be good, but not as good as he was. Ours was the key word, though. Like lions around their cubs, or just one cub in this case. O'Day wondered how he'd handle this job. It would be boring, just standing post like that, but you couldn't allow yourself to get bored. That would be a fight.