Games of State - Tom Clancy [35]
"Yes, ma'am."
"Call it, please."
"I'm sorry," she said, "but I don't have that number. Mr. Abram does."
"Then call him," the Senator said. "Tell Mr. Abram that we would like to see him. Tell him as well that we do not sit in waiting rooms."
The guard began to phone the Assistant Deputy Director. Although his shift officially ended at 6:00 A.M., he was empowered to act in the absence of a superior.
As she rang him, the elevator opened and Political and Economics Officer Martha Mackall stepped out. The handsome, forty-nine-year-old black woman was wearing her dour morning expression. It vanished when she saw the Senator.
"Senator Fox." She beamed. "How are you?"
"Ticked," the Senator replied.
The women shook hands.
Martha looked from the Senator to the young guard. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I didn't think that Superman needed sleep," the Senator said.
"Superman?" Martha asked.
"General Rodgers."
"Oh." Martha laughed. "Gotcha. He said he was going to be stopping by the Squireses this morning."
"To look after the boy, I trust," the Senator said.
The guard looked away uncomfortably.
Martha extended her arm. "Why don't you wait in my office, Senator Fox? I'll have some coffee and croissants brought in."
"Croissants?" The Senator grinned. She turned to Neil and said, "Seventy-five thousand and a couple hundred."
The two men smiled; as did Martha. The Senator knew that Martha had no idea what they were talking about. She smiled just to be make herself part of the group. There was nothing wrong with that, Senator Fox had to admit, except that while her smile showed a lot of teeth, it told the Senator nothing about the person behind them. The truth was, she didn't think Martha had a sense of humor.
As they walked down the carpeted corridor, Martha asked, "So how are things on the Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committee? I haven't heard of any serious repercussions about allowing Striker's Russian incursion."
"Considering that Striker prevented a coup, I'm not surprised," Senator Fox replied.
"Nor am I," said Martha.
"Last I heard, in fact," said the Senator, "President Zhanin told his aides at the Kremlin that he wanted to erect a plaque on the bridge, when it's rebuilt, honoring Lieutenant Colonel Squires."
"That would be wonderful," Martha smiled.
They had reached her office door, and Martha entered her code in the keypad on the jamb. The door clicked open and she allowed the Senator and her aides to enter first.
Even before Martha had shown the Senator to a chair, Bill Abram swung in.
"Morning, all," said the chipper, mustachioed officer. "Just wanted to let you know that General Rodgers phoned a minute ago from the car and said he'd be a little late."
Senator Fox's long face grew a little longer as her chin fell and her eyebrows rose. "Car trouble?" she asked.
Martha laughed.
Abram said, "He's caught in traffic. Says he didn't know it got so bad this late."
Senator Fox sat in a thickly cushioned armchair. Her aides stood behind her. "And did the General say why he was running late? He knew about our appointment."
"Yes, he remembered it," Abram said. His little mustache rose on one side. "But he, uh-- he said to tell you he got caught up in a war simulation with Striker personnel."
Martha glared at Abram. "He didn't schedule any war simulations for this morning." The glare deepened. "It wasn't one of their chicken fights in the pool--"
"No," Abram assured her. He absently pulled at the ends of his bowtie. "This was something else. Something unplanned."
Senator Fox shook her head. "I'll wait," she said.
Bobby Winter still had the briefcase in his hand. When the Senator spoke he set it down, beside the chair.
"I'll wait," the Senator went on, "because what I have to say can't wait. But I promise you that when General Rodgers arrives, he's going to find an Op-Center vastly different from the one he left last night." Her small, ski-slope nose rose as she said, "Vastly and