Executive orders - Tom Clancy [254]
You taught me that on the other side of the river, Mr. President, Goodley agreed, but without the expected smile. You also taught me not to like things I can't explain. The national intelligence officer paused. They know we'll know, and they know we'll be interested, and they know you're new here, and they know you don't need a hassle. So, why do it? Goodley asked, also rhetorically.
Yeah, the President agreed quietly. Andrea? he said. Price, as usual, was in the room, pretending not to pay attention.
Yes, sir?
Where's the nearest smoker? Ryan said it entirely without shame.
Mr. President, I don't-
The hell you don't. I want one.
Price nodded and disappeared into the secretaries' room. She knew the signs as well as anyone. Switching from regular coffee to decaf, and now a smoke. In a way it was surprising that it had taken this long, and it told her more about the intelligence briefing than the words of Dr. Benjamin Goodley did.
It had to be a woman smoker, the President saw a minute later. Another one of the thin ones. Price even brought a match and an ashtray along with her disapproving look. He wondered if they'd acted the same way with FDR and Eisenhower.
Ryan took his first drag, deep in thought. China had been the silent partner in the conflict-he still couldn't use the word war, not even in his own mind-with Japan. At least that was the supposition. It all made sense, and it all fitted together nicely, but there was no proof of the sort to flesh out a SNIE-a Special National Intelligence Estimate-much less present to the media, which often as not required the same degree of reliability as an especially conservative judge. So Ryan lifted the phone. I want Director Murray.
One of the nice things about the presidency was the use of the telephone. Please hold for the President, a simple phrase spoken by a White House secretary in the same voice one might use for ordering out a pizza, never failed to cause an instant, almost panicked, reaction on the other end of whatever line she might use. It rarely took longer than ten seconds to get the call through. This time it took six.
Good morning, Mr. President.
Morning, Dan. I need something. What's the name of that Japanese police inspector who came over?
Jisaburo Tanaka, Murray replied at once.
Is he any good? Jack said next.
Solid. As good as anybody I have working here. What do you want from him?
I presume they're talking a lot with that Yamata guy.
You may safely assume that a wild bear goes potty in the woods, too, Mr. President, the acting Director of the FBI managed to say without a laugh.
I want to know about his conversations with China, especially who his contact was.
That we can do. I'll try to get him right now. Call back to you?
No, brief Ben Goodley in, and hell coordinate with the people down the hall, Ryan said, using an old catch-phrase between the two. Ben's here now in my old office.
Yes, sir. Let me do it now. It's heading up to midnight in Tokyo.
Thanks, Dan. Bye. Jack put the phone back. Let's start figuring this one out.
You got it, boss, Goodley promised.
Anything else happening in the world? Iraq?
Same news as yesterday, lots of people executed. The Russians fed us this 'United Islamic Republic' thing, and we all think it likely, but no overt move yet. That's what I'd planned to do today, and-
Okay, then, get to it.
OKAY. WHAT'S THE drill for this? Tony Bretano asked.
Robby Jackson didn't especially like doing things on the fly, but that was the job of the newly promoted J-3, Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the previous week, he'd come to like the designate-Secretary of Defense. Bretano was one tough-minded little guy, but his snarl was mainly for show, and concealed a very thoughtful brain able to make quick decisions. And the man was an engineer-he knew what he didn't know, and was quick to ask questions.
We have Pasadena-fast-attack sub-in the strait already doing routine surveillance. We break her off the current job of trailing