Part 2 (1/2)
”Such as?”
”I understand the President is dining tonight at the Lafayette Restaurant in the Hay-Adams. Perhaps he'd like some company.”
”My G.o.d, cousin, you do like your fun.” His voice was very pleasant, with a strong tinge of Boston. ”Excuse me a moment. I'll be back.”
As he got out, she said, ”Rupert, where are you going?”
”My money, sweetie. I want it back.”
”But you've got money, Rupert.”
”It's the principle of the thing.”
He lit a cigarette as he crossed the avenue to the two men huddled under the trees.
”Well, that was very entertaining.”
”You told us he'd be a walkover,” Shaven-head said.
”Yes, life can be a b.i.t.c.h sometimes. But you two screwed up royally, didn't you? I want my money back.”
”Go to h.e.l.l.” Shaven-head turned to his friend. ”Don't give him nothing.”
”Oh, dear.”
Rupert produced a .25 Colt from his right-hand pocket, a bulbous silencer on the end. He prodded Shaven-head's left thigh and pulled the trigger. The man cried out and went down. Rupert held out a hand and the other got the bills out hurriedly.
Rupert said, ”I noticed you had a mobile phone when we met earlier. I'd call the police if I were you.”
”Jesus,” the man said. ”And what do I say?”
”Just tell them you were mugged by three very large black men. It's Was.h.i.+ngton, they'll believe you. Terrible, the crime situation in the city, isn't it?”
He walked back to the car. As he got behind the wheel, Kate Ras.h.i.+d said, ”Can we go now?”
”Your wish is my command.”
3.
AS THEY PULLED UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE, BLAKE clicked off his cell phone. ”I never heard Cazalet at a loss for words, but he is now. He's shocked.”
”I'm shocked,” Quinn said. ”Blake, I'm fifty-two years old. Vietnam was a long time ago.” shocked,” Quinn said. ”Blake, I'm fifty-two years old. Vietnam was a long time ago.”
”It was a long time ago for all of us, Daniel.”
”But, Blake, what I did to those two back there. Where the h.e.l.l did that come from?”
”It never goes away, Senator,” Clancy Smith told him. ”It's like being branded for the rest of your life.”
”Is it the same for you? Does the Gulf War still affect you today?”
”Ah, h.e.l.l, I never think about it,” said Smith. ”We all cut throats on the right occasion, Senator, you just did it with style. That's why you're the legend.”
”Bo Din?” Quinn shook his head. ”It's like a curse.”
”No, Senator, an inspiration,” and they were inside the gate.
When the three of them entered the Oval Office, President Jake Cazalet was seated at his desk, which was littered with papers. The room was in shadows, a table light on the desk. Cazalet, like Blake and Quinn, was in his early fifties, his reddish hair peppered with gray. He jumped to his feet and came round the desk.
”Daniel, what a h.e.l.l of an experience. What happened?”
”Oh, Blake will tell you. Could I possibly have an Irish whiskey?”
”Of course. Clancy, will you see to it?”
”Mr. President.”
Daniel followed him out to the anteroom. He waited as Clancy poured, aware of the murmur of voices from the Oval Office. When he went back, Cazalet turned to greet him.
”A h.e.l.l of a thing.”
”What? That I've just discovered I'm still a killer after thirty years?”
Cazalet took his hand. ”No, Daniel, that you still have what it takes to be a hero. Those two lowlifes made a mistake. They won't be trying that again for a while.”
”Thanks, Mr. President. I hope that's true. Now-what can I do for you? Why did you want to see me?”
”Let's sit down.”
They drew chairs up to the coffee table. Clancy stood against the wall, as always, dark, taciturn, and watchful.
The President said, ”Daniel, you've done a fine job so far in your new role, especially your work in Bosnia and Kosovo. I can't think of anybody who could have done better in the time I've been here, and that's five years now. I know you have another trip to Kosovo coming up, but after that-I was wondering if you could put down roots in London for a while? Completely separate from the London Emba.s.sy, just some...research it'd be useful to have done.”
”What kind of research?”
Cazalet turned. ”Blake?”
Blake Johnson said, ”Europe has changed, Daniel, you know that. There are terrorist groups all over the place, and not only the Arab fundamentalists. The emerging problem is anarchism. Groups with names like the Marxist League, the Army of National Liberation, a new group called Act of Cla.s.s Warfare.”
”So?” Quinn asked.
”Before we get into the details,” Cazalet said, ”I must say this goes beyond any security cla.s.sification you've ever had.” He pushed a doc.u.ment across. ”This is a Presidential Warrant, Daniel. It says you belong to me. It transcends all our laws. You don't even have the right to say no.”
Quinn studied it. ”I always thought these things were a myth.”
”They're real enough, as you see. However, you're an old friend. I won't force you. Say no now and we'll tear this up.”
Quinn took a deep breath. ”If you need me, Mr. President, then I'm yours to command, sir.”