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"I was looking forward to ragging on the birthday boy," Herbert said.

"Monday," the thirty-two-year-old Ph.D. replied. "I'm sure the target will be just as sensitive."

"What about Mary Rose?" Hood asked.

"I stopped by to see her last night," the psychologist said. "She's going to need some time off, but she'll be okay."

"The bastards used her pain to try and control us," Rodgers said darkly, "over and over."

"Believe it or not," Liz said, "there can be something positive in what she suffered. People who survive one incident like that tend to attribute it to fate. If they get through two or more, they start thinking that maybe they have some steel in them."

"She does," said Rodgers.

"Exactly. And if we nurture that, she's going to be able to apply it to her daily life."

"I always thought she had butt-kick potential behind those soft Irish eyes," Herbert said.

Hood thanked Liz, then looked at Herbert. "Bob," he said, "I also want to thank you for the support you gave me, Mike, and Striker. If it weren't for the timely arrival of your people over there, myself, Warner Bicking, Dr. Nasr, and Ambassador Haveles would have been coming home in boxes."

"Your Druze soldier was also exceptional," Rodgers said. "Without him, Striker wouldn't have found the ROC in time."

"Those people over there are the best," Herbert said. "I hope you'll remind Congress of that at budget time."

"Senator Fox will get a full and confidential report," Hood said. "I'll keep after her."

"While you're at it," Herbert said, "Stephen Viens is going to need our help. A Special Prosecutor is going to be appointed to look into the NRO's black budget. He feels that he's going to take the brunt of the scapegoating, and I agree. For the record, he and Matt Stoll and their teams worked through the night to get our satellites back on-line."

"I know he's a friend, Bob," Hood said, "and we'll do what we can. Mike, who's overseeing the return of the ROC?"

"I'm going to work with the Tel Nef commander and Colonel August on that," he said. "It's safe at the base right now. As soon as things finish quieting down in the region, the colonel and I will go back and get it."

"Fine," said Hood. "Then if you can spare some time today--you too, Bob--I'd like to sit down and put together a file of the money and lives Viens has saved thanks to his work at the NRO. Maybe we can even pull in the accounting department to satisfy the number-crunchers on the Hill."

Rodgers nodded.

"I'll have our bean-counters start pulling together the figures," Herbert said.

Hood turned to Martha and Darrell McCaskey, who were sitting together on the leather sofa. Darrell was his usual stoic, FBI self, but Martha was shaking a crossed leg impatiently.

"You two," he said, "will not be able to help with any of this. You're going to Spain tomorrow."

Martha perked up.

"Bugs sent me a report on the flight back from London," Hood said. "The police in Madrid have been arresting Basque nationals and picking up hints of something big about to happen. Something with serious international consequences."

McCaskey's expression didn't change, but Martha was beaming. She relished any chance to test her diplomatic skills and flex her international muscles.

"The national security chief over there has asked for diplomatic and intelligence help," Hood went on, "and you're both elected. Bugs and the State Department are putting together materials for you. They'll be ready before you leave."

"And I'll lend you my Berlitz tapes, Darrell," Herbert said.

"We'll be fine," Martha said. "I speak the language."

Hood's eyes were on Herbert, and Herbert must have felt them. He squirmed a little in his wheelchair and said nothing. Bugs had E-mailed him about the tension between the two, and Hood knew he'd have to do something about that while Martha was away. Just what, he didn't know. He had a feeling that preventing a war between Bob Herbert and Martha Mackall was going to prove a whole lot more difficult than averting war between Turkey