Macabee smiled. “I understand,” he said and bounded up the short steps into the plane.
Ten minutes later, Dugan watched the jet roar skyward, at ease for the first time since he’d met Ward and Gardner in Singapore two months and a lifetime ago.
Epilogue
“Great, Jesse,” Gardner said, “please go on.”
“That’s it for Panama. In Iran, the situation is confused since Motaki’s death. The unrest is being brutally suppressed, but the student-led opposition is winning. The regime is collapsing, and Ayatollah Rahmani has requested asylum in France.”
Gardner scowled. “Why wasn’t I told?”
“I just got it. I’m telling you now.”
Gardner bit off a reply and smiled. “I understand, Jesse. Sorry to interrupt. Prognosis?”
What’s with this asshole? Ward thought as he continued.
“Unknown,” he said. “The likely beneficiary is the Council of Resistance. They pay lip service to democracy but have Marxist roots, even though most of the world knows that ship has sailed. They’ll dominate any coalition. Not so bad, really. Sometimes” — he sighed—”a rational and predictable enemy is the best one can hope for.”
Gardner filed that away.
“Great job, Jesse.” He paused as if embarrassed. “I… I want to apologize for past behavior. I should have listened to you.”
Ward gave a wary nod as Gardner extended his hand.
“Friends?” Gardner asked with a hopeful smile.
“Ah, sure,” Ward said as he shook.
“Good man.” Gardner walked Ward to the door with a hand on his shoulder.
Ward walked back to his own office, ill at ease and counting his fingers.
“At times,” Gardner said with a practiced sigh, “a rational and predictable enemy is the best one can hope for.”
The deputy director looked puzzled.
“Yes, well, all in all a great briefing,” he said, recovering.
“Just doing my job, Mr. Director.”
“And quite well. But where’s Ward?”
“Off today.” Gardner lowered his voice. “Personal problems.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” the DDO said. “Ward’s a good man.”
Gardner’s silence spoke volumes.
“If you’ve something to say, son, say it.”
“Sir, I think he’s a burnout. The fitness report I just finished reflects that.”
The DDO nodded. “Sad, but it happens. I don’t second-guess supervisors.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“And you’ve impressed me. How’d you like to work directly for me?”
“In what capacity, sir?”
“Something I’ve considered for years,” the Old Man said. “We use tons of support, an effort decentralized across many groups. I want a sort of ‘czar’ to take charge. You’ve done operations. A staff position will enhance your résumé. How does assistant deputy director for administrative services sound?”
“It… it sounds fine, sir,” Gardner stammered, “ah… when…”
“Right now. We’ll get you moved over. Any loose ends?”
“No, sir.” Gardner stopped. “Well, yes. I have to review Ward’s fitness report with him.”
“Leave that for his next supervisor.”
“I better do it, sir. He’ll be upset. He may even make groundless accusations.”
“He’s not the first burnout we’ve dealt with,” sighed the DDO. “We’ll handle it.”
Ward fidgeted. He’d arrived at work to find Gardner’s office empty and an e-mail that his performance review would be done by “his next supervisor,” whatever that meant. Then this summons to the DDO’s office.
“Jesse. Sorry for the wait,” the DDO said, emerging from his office. “Come on in.”
He pointed Ward toward a sofa, and as he sat, the Old Man retrieved a file from his desk before sitting opposite, a coffee table between them.
“Damned impressive.” The DDO tapped Ward’s personnel file. “A string of superior ratings and a Director’s Citation. The only negative — a repeated refusal to accept advancement. Don’t you like hanging around the office, Jesse?”
Ward squirmed. “I’m better in the field and—”
“And you hate office politics. Believe me, Jesse, I know the downside of advancement.”
“Yes, sir, I suspect you do.”
“More on that later. First, tell me how you became a fuckup.”
“Sir?”
“Your latest fitness report.” The DDO passed him a single sheet of paper.
Ward read with building anger. “This is… this is complete horseshit!”
“I take it you dispute the evaluation?”
“You’re goddamned right I dispute—” Ward looked up to see the Old Man grinning.
“Good enough.” The DDO snatched the report and crossed to his desk. A shredder whirred.
“This,” the Old Man said, returning with a form, “says a disputed report was reviewed by senior management, that’s me, and voided. This” — he laid a report in front of Ward—”is a fitness report from your new supervisor, also me, full of praise. Some of it might even be true. Sign.”
“But, but… you’re not… I’m way down the food chain.”
“We’ll get to that. Sign,” ordered the Old Man, smiling as Ward complied.
“Now a question,” the DDO said. “Think before answering. An American citizen named Borqei died recently. What do you know about it?”
“Just what the FBI told us, sir. We suspect a hit by foreign nationals of unknown origin. The trail disappears in Mexico City.”
“Good answer,” the Old Man said. “Now, the next issue. Recent events showed everyone, including the president, the potential of maritime threats. At his order, I’m forming a Maritime Threat Assessment Section reporting to me. You’re gonna run it.”
“Sir, I’m just a field spook. I don’t—”
“Don’t give me that crap. I’m a field spook too, but here I sit, long past retirement. Because the country needs me, just like it needs you.” His face softened. “Jesse, it’s a good deal. You get a chunk of the black budget, and I’ll keep the politicians off your ass.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“’Yes, sir, thank you, sir,’ would be appropriate.”
They locked eyes. “Yes, sir, thank you, sir,” Ward said.
“Fantastic.” The Old Man thrust out his hand. “The paperwork’s ready. Start forming a team. And get that Dugan guy. He knows the industry, and I like his instincts.”
“I’m all over that.”
“Good. You and Dee Dee ever been to the White House?”
Ward looked confused. “Uh… we took a tour when the kids were little.…”
The Old Man laughed. “Well, you and Dee Dee are dining there next week. Just a quiet private dinner where you’ll receive a Presidential Commendation.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“For a smart fellow, Ward, you sure have a limited vocabulary.”
“But what about Gardner?”
The Old Man’s smile faded. “Yeah, we need to cover that, but what I’m about to say never leaves this room. Understood?” Ward nodded.
“You know Gardner’s being groomed for office. Intelligence work enhances the résumé, and his family leaned on enough senators to get him forced on me. It had to be a “leadership position.” Since you’d refused the top job in your group, I figured he could sit at that desk a while, and you’d keep him from stepping on his dick. I was prepared to step in if required, but Gardner’s idiotic actions caught me flat-footed. Thankfully you salvaged things.”