Tom Clancy's Op-center Balance of Power - Tom Clancy [113]
"You don't need María for that," Burkow said. "They go out the same way they go in."
"I don't mean we need an exit strategy from the palace," Hood said. "I'm talking about culpability. Who's going to take the heat for this, Steve? Did the President work that out with the king?"
"I don't know. I wasn't in on the conversation."
"Are we supposed to disavow Striker if they're caught?" Hood asked. "Say they're mercenaries or some kind of rogue operation and then let them twist in the wind?"
"Sometimes that has to happen," Burkow said.
"Sometimes it does," Hood agreed. "But not when there's an alternative. And the alternative we have here is to let a Spaniard be involved somewhere. A patriot. Someone Striker is there to support, even if that's just smoke-and-mirrors for public consumption."
Burkow said nothing.
"So I'm going to wait until noon to see if we get anything from María," Hood said. "Even her whereabouts in the palace will do. If Striker can scoop her up on the way to Amadori, then no-I won't have any problem giving the order to waste the son-of-a-bitch."
There was a long moment of thick silence. Burkow finally broke it.
"I can tell the President it'll happen at noon?" he asked.
"Yes," said Hood.
"Fine," Burkow said coldly. "We'll talk then."
The National Security chief hung up. Hood looked up at Rodgers. The general was smiling.
"I'm proud of you, Paul," Rodgers said. "Real proud."
"Thanks, Mike." Hood closed down the computer file and rubbed his eyes. "But God, I'm tired. Tired of all of this."
"Close your eyes," Rodgers said. "I'll take the watch."
"Not till this is over," Hood said. "But you can do me a favor."
"Sure."
Hood picked up the phone. "I'll get on top of Bob Herbert and Stephen Viens, tell them I want that woman found and pinpointed. Meantime, see if there's anything else Darrell can do. An hour's not much time, but maybe somebody once bugged the palace. See if he can scare up any enemies of the king."
"Will do."
"And make sure he briefs Striker about what we're waiting on."
Rodgers nodded and left, shutting the door behind him. Hood made the calls to Herbert and Viens. When he was finished, he folded his arms on his desk and rested his forehead on them.
He was tired. And he wasn't particularly proud of himself. To the contrary. He was disgusted by his eagerness to tear down Amadori as payback for Martha Mackall-even though it was someone else who had planned and carried out her murder. It was all part of the same inhuman tableau.
Eventually, though, it would all be over. Amadori would be dead or Spain would be Amadori's-in which case it was the world's problem and not his. Then Hood would leave here and go home to nothing. Nothing but a few private satisfactions, some awful regrets, and the prospect of more of the same for as long as he stayed at Op-Center.
That wasn't enough.
He would never get Sharon to see things his way. But as he sat there, his mind fuzzy and his emotions clear, he had to admit that he was no longer sure his way was right. Was it better to have big professional challenges and the respect of Mike Rodgers? Or was it better to have a less demanding job, one that left him time to enjoy the love of his wife and children and the small satisfactions they could all share?
Why should I have to choose? he asked himself. But he knew the answer to that.
Because the price of being one of the power elite in any field was time and industry. If he wanted his family back he was going to have to take back some of those things. He was going to have to join a university or a bank or a think tank-something that left him time for violin recitals and baseball games and snuggling in front of the boob tube.
Hood raised his head and turned back to his computer. And as he waited for news from Spain, he typed:
Mr. President:
I herewith resign the office of Director of Op-Center.
Sincerely,
Paul Hood
* * *
THIRTY-THREE
Tuesday, 10:32 a.m.
Madrid, Spain
When María finally reached the corridor outside the Hall of the Halberdiers, she was no longer able to