Executive orders - Tom Clancy [582]
Enjoy the shower, Dan? the DCI asked.
Oh, yeah, I'm losing the rest of my hair, Ed.
Hi, Jeff, the President said, looking up.
Good morning, Mr. President, Raman said, taking his usual place against the wall.
Okay, Dan, what do you guys have for me? Ryan asked.
We've broken an Iranian espionage ring. We think it's associated with the attempt on your daughter. While Murray talked, O'Day opened his briefcase and pulled out a folder,
The Brits turned the connection, Foley started to say. And the contact here is a guy named Alahad-would you believe the bastard has a business about a mile from here?
We have him under surveillance right now, Murray put in. We're running his phone records.
They were all looking down at the papers on the President's desk and didn't see Raman's face freeze in place. His mind started racing, as though a drug had been injected into his bloodstream. If they were doing that right now There might still be a chance, a slim one, but if not, here was the President, the directors of FBI and CIA, and he could deliver them all to Allah, and if that weren't sacrifice enough Raman unbuttoned his jacket with his left hand. He eased off the spot on the wall he was leaning against and closed his eyes for a quick prayer. Then, in a rapid, smooth movement, his right hand went to his automatic.
Raman was surprised to see the President's eyes move and stare right at him. Well, that wasn't so bad, was it? Ryan should know that his death was coming, and the only shame was he'd never quite understand why.
Ryan flinched as the pistol came out. The reaction was automatic, despite the briefing on what to expect, and the sign from O'Day that it was okay. He dodged anyway, wondering if he could really trust anyone, and saw that Jeff Raman's hands tracked him and pulled back on the trigger like an automaton, no emotion in his eyes at all-
The sound made everyone jump, albeit for different reasons.
Pop.
That was all. Raman's mouth dropped open in disbelief. The weapon was loaded. He could feel the added weight of the live rounds in it, and-
Put it down, O'Day said calmly, his Smith out and aimed now. An instant later, Murray had his service weapon out.
We have Alahad in custody already, the Director explained.
Raman had another weapon, a telescoping billy club called an Asp, but the President was fifteen feet away and
I can put one right through your kneecap if you want, O'Day said coldly.
You fuckin' traitor! Andrea said, entering the room with her pistol out, too. You fuckin' assassin! On the floor now!
Easy, Price. He's not going anywhere, Pat told her.
But it was Ryan who nearly lost control: My little girl, my baby, you helped plan to murder her? He started around the desk, but Foley stopped him. No, not this time, Ed!
Stop! the DCI told him. We have him, Jack. We've got him.
One way or another, you get on the floor, Pat said, ignoring the others and aiming at Raman's knee. Drop the weapon and get down.
He was trembling now, fear, rage, all manner of emotions assaulted him, everything but the one he'd expected. He racked the Sig's action and pulled the trigger again. It wasn't even aimed, it was just an act of denial.
I couldn't use blanks. They don't weigh the same, O'Day explained. They're real rounds. I just tapped the bullets out and dumped the powder. The primer makes a cute little pop, doesn't it?
It was as though he'd forgotten to breathe for a minute or so. Raman's body collapsed in on itself. He dropped the pistol to the rug with the Seal of the President on it and fell to his knees. Price came over and pushed him the rest of the way. Murray, for the first time in years, snapped the cuffs on.
You want to hear about your rights? the FBI Director asked.
* * *
59 - RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
DIGGS HAD NOT received proper mission orders yet and what was even more disturbing, his Operation BUFORD did not really have much of a plan yet, either. The Army trained its commanders to act swiftly and decisively, but as with doctors in hospitals, emergency situations were not as welcome as planned