Games of State - Tom Clancy [110]
"Wait!" Ballon barked.
The soldier repeated the command into the telephone. His face was expressionless as he watched the commander.
Ballon rubbed his face. He wouldn't know the answer to that unless he took the call. And what was more important? he asked himself. Pride or getting Dominique?
"I'll take it," he said.
He walked briskly toward the phone, arm extended as Sergeant Ste. Marie watched with delight.
"Don't look so pleased," Ballon said to him as he passed. "It was my own decision. You had nothing to do with it."
"No, Sir," Ste. Marie replied as he continued to look very pleased.
Ballon took the phone. "This is Ballon. What is it?"
"Colonel," said the dispatcher, "I have a phone call from General Michael Rodgers of the National Crisis Management--"
"Colonel Ballon," Rodgers cut in, "forgive the interruption but I need to talk to you."
"C'est evidement."
"Do you speak English?" Rodgers asked. "If not, give me a minute to get a translator--"
"I speak English," Ballon said reluctantly. "What is it, General Rodgers?"
"I understand you're trying to close in on a mutual enemy."
"Trying, yes."
"We believe," Rodgers said, "that he's planning to download computer software which will help to cause rioting in cities around the world. We believe he intends to use those riots to throw the economies of major American and European nations into chaos."
Ballon's mouth began to go dry. This man was either a godsend or the pawn of Satan himself. "How do you know this?"
Rodgers said, "If we didn't, the government would take away all the money they give our team."
Ballon liked that too. "What about his terrorist squads? What do you know about those?" he asked, hoping for some new information. Any new information.
"Nothing," Rodgers admitted. "But we suspect he's working closely with several neo-Nazi groups in America and abroad."
Ballon was silent for a moment. He still didn't trust this man entirely. "Your information is interesting but not very useful," he said. "I need evidence. I need to find out what's going on inside his fortress."
Rodgers said eagerly, "If that's the problem, I can help. I was calling, Colonel Ballon, to offer you the assistance of a NATO commander in Italy. His name is Colonel Brett August, and his speciality is--"
"I have read white papers by Colonel August," said Ballon. "He is a brilliant counterterrorist operative."
"And a lifelong friend of mine," said Rodgers. "He'll assist you if I ask him. But I also have equipment in Germany which I'll lend to you."
"What kind of equipment?" Ballon asked. He was getting suspicious again. This man seemed like too much of a good thing. A good thing he wouldn't be able to resist. A good thing who might be taking his marching orders from Dominique. A good thing which might end in an ambush.
"It's a new kind of X-ray device," Rodgers said. "One with which my operator can probably work some near-miracles."
"A new kind of X-ray," Ballon said dubiously. "That isn't going to help. I don't need to know where people are--"
"It might be able to read papers for you," Rodgers said. "Or lips."
Ballon was attentive but still wary. "General Michael Rodgers," he said. "How do I know you're not working with Dominique?"
Rodgers said, "Because we also know about a pair of murders he committed twenty-five years ago. We know about them because we know the person who was with him at the time. I can tell you nothing more-- except that I want Dominique brought to justice."
Ballon looked at his men, who were all looking at him. "Watch the monitors!" he yelled.
They did. Ballon was dying to get out of there and into action.
"All right," said the Colonel. "How do I get in touch with this miracle worker of yours?"
Rodgers said, "Stay where you are. I'll have him phone you there."
Ballon agreed and hung up. Then he told Ste. Marie to take three men outside and watch the building. If it looked as though