State of Siege - Tom Clancy [87]
"What's happening with the phone number?" "The State Department still only has the number for Secretary-General Manni, if you can believe it. I've got Darrell working on getting the number through Interpol and Matt trying to hack it," Herbert said. "I'm betting on Matt getting it first at this point. Another minute or two."
"Bob, we're measuring time in seconds," Hood said. "Understood," Herbert replied.
Hood looked at Rodgers. "How do you both get inside?" "Only Colonel August has to go in," Rodgers continued. "I'll take the base position, which will be outside the Security Council." He looked at August. "The entrance to the UN garage is located on the, northeast side of the compound, down a flight of stairs that are on a direct line from the front door of this building. That's where you get in."
"How do you know the garage will be open?" Hood asked. "It was open when I came here," Rodgers said, "and they're obviously keeping it that way in case they want to move personnel or equipment in. The terrorists might hear the sound of a big door like that shutting and then opening. It could tip them off, if something were up." That was a good point, Hood thought. "There probably won't be any security personnel in the rose garden leading to the garage," Rodgers said to August. "They'll keep the perimeter itself guarded to maximize manpower. If there are choppers, you'll have sufficient cover under the bushes or statues. Once you get through the park and into the garage, your only problem will be the corridor between the elevator and the Security Council. According to the blueprints, the elevator shaft lets off about fifty feet down the main corridor from the Security Council."
"Isn't that a big problem?" Hood asked.
"Not really," August said. "I can cover fifty feet pretty quick. I'll bowl people down if I have to. Surprise works against your own people, too."
"What if the security personnel fire at you?" Hood asked. "I heard foreign accents on our little bug," August said. "I'm sure there are UN personnel I can use as a shield. Once I get inside the Security Council, it doesn't matter what they do."
"It's still an extra impediment," Hood said. "Maybe we can convince Chatterjee to help us, if it comes to that," August suggested. "If the lie about the ransom doesn't work, I doubt she'll go with a second lie," Hood said. "Diplomats who were never soldiers don't understand the quicksilver nature of warfare."
"She may not have a choice by that time," Rodgers said. "Colonel August will be inside."
"Who do you think will be watching the garage door?" August asked Rodgers.
"They're probably letting the NYPD take charge of that," Rodgers said. "Most of the UN police are probably upstairs."
Bob Herbert came back on then. Op-Center's computer genius Matt Stoll had managed to pull it from the restricted online United Nations directory before Darrell McCaskey was able to get the number from his Interpol people. Hood wrote it down. The phone line wouldn't be secure, but Hood would have to risk it. There wasn't much time left.
He would have to risk a number of things, he decided. He okayed Rodgers's plan and August left at once. Hood punched in the number. A man with an Italian accent answered. "This is the secretary-general's line."
"This is Paul Hood, the Director of Op-Center in Washington," Hood said. "I need to speak with the secretary-general."
"Mr. Hood, we have a situ-was
"I know!" Hood snapped. "And we can save the next victim if we act quickly! Put her on."
"Just a moment," the man told him.
Hood glanced at,his watch. Assuming the terrorists didn't rush the deadline, there was just over a minute left. A woman came on the line. "This is Mala Chatterjee."
"Madam Secretary-General, this is Paul Hood," he said. "I'm the director of a crisis management team in Washington. One of the hostages is my daughter." Hood's voice was quaking. He realized that what he said now could save or doom Harleigh. "Yes, Mr. Hood?"
"I need your help," Hood went on. "I need you to radio the terrorists and tell them that you