The Hadrian Memorandum - Allan Folsom [150]
“Two: This document, upon affixation of signatures of the principals (named by position below) and courier-delivery to CIA Headquarters by Agency Security Officers, does constitute an active and legally binding accord for the two corporate entities under penalties heretofore separately specified by the Office of the Attorney General, the Internal Revenue Service, and other ancillary judicial instruments employable at the Agency’s discretion.” Anne stopped. “That’s just the first part. The rest is the same, all concise and neatly spelled out. Congressman Ryder will love it.”
Marten put the strips back into the envelope. “How did you get it?” He was incredulous.
“It’s why I needed an Internet connection and a large-screen TV. It was something I asked about at the hotel on our way here when I told you I had to pee. The hotel you were smart enough to go back to. The one where Conor White tracked me, because of my credit card, I’m sure. I knew they would be watching everything but it’s all I had.
“I couldn’t very well have photographed the screen on my BlackBerry, it’s too small. Nor could I download the document or make an electronic copy of it because they would know immediately that the site had been accessed and a copy had been made. Immediately they would attempt to trace the intruder. But by photographing it the old-fashioned way, bringing the pages up one by one, and clicking off each with the Minox, then, at the end, simply turning off the television, you see?” For a moment her voice drifted off and she seemed to forget what she was talking about; then she came back. “They would probably know the site had been accessed, but there would be no evidence it had been compromised and nowhere to look for the hacker.”
Marten was astounded. “That site has to be highly classified. How did you get into it? You would need a myriad of codes and passwords.”
“I was in the Agency for a long time, Nicholas. I know a few procedures. I also sit on Striker’s board of directors. Not long ago I sat on Hadrian’s board as well.”
“Hadrian’s?”
“Yes. I know both companies intimately. Codes, passwords. Some I had to work my way around, but in the end I had a basis for it all.”
“Since when do boards of directors have access to a company’s classified codes and passwords?”
Anne smiled faintly and ran a hand through her hair. “I told you before I had been married twice. I didn’t say to who. My first husband was Loyal Truex, founder and president of Hadrian. My second was Sy Wirth, chairman of Striker. We shared a lot of things for a lot of reasons. Like most couples do.”
“Jesus, Anne.” Marten felt the air go out of him.
“I knew when Erlanger warned me on the airstrip, and then with Franck and the other CIA people getting involved, there had to be more to it than just the photographs . . . So I looked for it . . . and . . . found it.” Suddenly the tears welled up again. “What I’ve done . . . is . . . betray the Agency, my country, my father, and myself. Striker Oil is . . . finished. Probably I am, too . . .”
Again she used the palms of her hands to wipe away the tears. “The thing is . . . that contract, that memorandum, belongs in the hands of Joe Ryder. He has the right to know about it and should know about it. When he has it he will act accordingly through the proper channels. Whatever else it does, the CIA cannot have its own foreign policy. Especially when the result is the horrifying deaths of all those people.” Her eyes found Marten’s and for a long moment held there. “I did it because it was the right thing to do . . . I didn’t mean to hurt you or frighten you or use you . . . Now . . . I’m . . . very . . . tired. I would like to . . . no, I need to . . . sleep . . . Please . . . excuse me.”
Marten found a piece of