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By Root 1471 0

quick investigation on Patrick O'Day. Emil Jacobs had re-instituted the post of roving inspector years before, and collected people who preferred investigation to management. O'Day was an agent for whom running a field division had little appeal. He was part of a small team of experienced investigators who worked out of the Director's office, an unofficial inspectorate which went into the field to keep an eye on things, mainly sensitive cases. He was a good cop who hated desk work, and Price had to concede that he knew how to run an investigation, better yet was someone outside the chain of command who wouldn't ham things up in order to get a promotion. The inspector had driven to the House in a four-by-four pickup-he wore cowboy boots! she noticed-and probably wanted publicity about as much as he wanted the pox. So Assistant Director Tony Caruso, titularly in charge of the investigation, would report to the Department of Justice, but Patrick O'Day would short-circuit the chain to report directly to Murray-who would, in turn, farm O'Day to the President so as to garner personal favor. She'd figured Murray for a sharp operator. Bill Shaw, after all, had used him as personal trouble-shooter. And Murray's loyalty would be to the institution of the FBI. A man could have a worse agenda, she admitted to herself. For O'Day it was simpler still. He investigated crimes for a living, and while he appeared to jump too quickly to conclusions, this transplanted cowboy was doing it all by the book. You had to watch the good ol' boys. They were so good at hiding their smarts. But he would never have made the Detail, she consoled herself.

ENJOY YOUR VACATION? Mary Pat Foley was either in very early or in very late, Clark saw. It came to him again that of all the senior people in government, President Ryan was probably getting the most sleep, little though that might be. It was a hell of a way to run a railroad. People simply didn't perform well when denied rest for an extended period of time, something he'd learned the hard way in the field, but put a guy into high office, and he immediately forgot that-such pedestrian items as human factors faded into the mist. And then a month later, they wondered how they'd screwed up so bad. But that was usually after they got some poor line-animal killed in the field.

MP, when the hell is the last time you slept? Not many people could talk to her that way, but John had been her training officer, once upon a time.

A wan smile. John, you're not Jewish, and you're not my mother.

Clark looked around. Where's Ed?

On his way back from the Gulf. Conference with the Saudis, she explained. Though Mrs. Foley technically ranked Mr. Foley, Saudi culture wasn't quite ready to deal with a female King Spook-Queen Spook, John corrected himself with a smile-and Ed was probably better on the conferences anyway.

Anything I need to know about?

She shook her head. Routine. So, Domingo, did you drop the question?

You are playing rough this morning, Clark observed before his partner could speak.

Chavez just grinned. The country might be in turmoil, but some things were more important. Could be worse, Mr. C. I'm not a lawyer, am I?

There goes the neighborhood, John grumbled. Then it was time for business. How's Jack doing?

I'm scheduled to see him after lunch, but it wouldn't surprise me if they canceled out. The poor bastard must be buried alive.

What I saw about how he got roped into this, is what the papers said true?

Yes, it is. So, we have a Kelly Girl for President, the Deputy Director (Operations) posed as a multifaceted inside joke. We're going to do a comprehensive threat assessment. I want you two in on it.

Why us? Chavez asked.

Because I'm tired of having all that done by the Intelligence Directorate. I tell you one thing that's going to happen: we have a President now who understands what we do here. We're going to beef up Operations to the point where I can pick up a phone, ask a question, and get an answer I can understand.

PLAN BLUE? Clark asked, and received a welcome nod. Blue had been his