The sum of all fears - Tom Clancy [353]
"Yeah."
"Bill, Dan here," Murray said over the secure phone. "Hoskins scored last night. Says he's got it all on tape - all five principal subjects cut the deal over their roast beef."
"You realize that we might have to promote the guy now?" the FBI Director noted with a chuckle.
"So, make him a deputy-assistant director," Dan suggested.
"That hasn't kept you out of trouble. Do I need to come in?"
"Not really. What's it like there?"
"I'm thinking of putting up a ski-jump in the driveway. Roads really look bad."
"I took the Metro in, then it shut down - ice on the tracks or something."
"Washington, D.C., the City that Panics," Shaw replied. "Okay, I plan to relax and watch the game, Mr Murray."
"And I, Mr Shaw, will forgo my personal pleasures and work for the greater glory of the Bureau."
"Good, I like dedication in my subordinates. Besides, I got my grandson here," Shaw reported, watching his daughter-in-law feed him from a bottle.
"How is Kenny Junior?"
"Oh, we just might make an agent out of him. Unless you really need me, Dan "
"Bill, enjoy the kid, just remember to hand him back when he messes the diapers."
"Right. Keep me posted on this. I'll have to take this to the President myself, you know."
"You expect problems there?"
"No. He's a stand-up guy on corruption stuff."
"I'll be back." Murray walked out of his office towards communications. He found Inspector Pat O'Day heading the same way.
"Were those your sled dogs I saw in the drive-thru, Pat?"
"Some of us drive decent cars." O'Day had a four-wheel-drive pickup. "The 9th Street barrier is frozen in the up position, by the way. I've told 'em to leave the other one down."
"What are you in for?"
"I have the watch in the command center. My relief lives out in Frederick. I don't expect to see him until half-past Thursday. I-270 is closed until spring, I think."
"Christ, this is a wimpy town when it snows."
"Tell me about it." O'Day's last field assignment had been in Wyoming, and he still missed the hunting out there.
Murray told the communications staff that the inbound fax from Denver was code-word material. Nobody would get to see it but him for the moment.
"I can't match this one," Goodley said, just after lunch.
"Which one?"
"The first one that shook us up - no, excuse me, the second one. I cannot reconcile Narmonov's and SPINNAKER'S schedules."
"That doesn't necessarily mean anything."
"I know. The odd thing is, remember what I said about linguistic differences in his reports?"
"Yeah, but remember my Russian is pretty thin. I can't catch nuances like you can."
"This is the first place it shows up, and it's also the first one where I can't satisfy myself that they definitely met." Goodley paused. "I think I might have something here."
"Remember that you have to sell it to our Russian department."
"That's not going to be easy."
"That's right," Ryan agreed. "Back it up with something, Ben."
One of the security guys helped Clark with the case of bottles. He restocked the bar supplies, then headed to the upper level with the remaining four bottles of Chivas. Chavez tagged behind with the flowers. John Clark put the bottles in their places and looked around the compartment to be sure that everything was in order. He fussed with a few minor items to show that he was being sincere. The bottle with the transceiver in it had a cracked top. That should make sure that nobody tried to open it, he thought. Clever of the S&T guys, he thought. The simple things usually worked best.
The flower arrangements had to be fastened in place. They were mainly white roses, nice ones, Chavez thought, and the little green sticks that held them in place looked like they belonged. Ding next went downstairs and looked at the forward washrooms. In the trash bin of one he dropped a very small, Japanese-made, tape recorder, making sure beforehand that it was operating properly. He met Clark at the base of the spiral stairs, and then both left the aircraft. The advance security