"I'm not so sure of that," Rodgers said. "None of us has been given permission by the 'lawful' government to stage any action."
"We'll get that authority after the fact, assuming it all works out," Herbert said. "They'll be happy to give it to us."
"Mike, I'm inclined to agree with Bob, but not for the reasons stated," Hood said. He was looking at the photograph. "A third party, as yet unknown, killed Bishop Max. Maybe Spain, maybe Gaborone, but maybe someone else. The someone else is the one that scares me. Especially with Beaudin on the perimeter. It would suggest that there is something larger going on. The sooner the Brush Vipers and the Vatican are removed from the equation, the sooner we can find out who is behind the killing."
"You're assuming the Brush Vipers can be removed from the equation," Rodgers said.
"They haven't fought for years," Herbert said.
"True. But there are dozens, possibly hundreds of them," Rodgers said. "And they will be fighting on terrain they know well."
"Yes, but we have an advantage they do not," Herbert said.
"Which is?" Rodgers asked.
"We have someone on the inside," Herbert said. "Someone of whom they are unaware."
"Someone who isn't going to be risking her life to stop what smells like a revolution we have no business in," McCaskey said.
"Darrell, she has no instructions to intervene," Hood said. "We'll monitor this closely, I promise."
McCaskey's arms were folded tightly across his chest. He leaned back in the chair and was rocking. Hood considered ordering him home. He would see how things developed.
"You know, I'm missing something here," Coffey said. "How does having Maria on site help us? We can't contact her directly."
"Aideen and Battat will be able to do that," Herbert said. "And we'll make sure they are fully briefed via voice mail. They'll check for instructions and fresh intel before they do anything."
"Gotcha," Coffey said.
"We'll let them know the Spaniards are going to move in," Rodgers said. "Their job will be to get to Father Bradbury, if possible. Get him out if they can. That accomplishes our original goal, and it gives us the moral high ground."
"In other words, our people get in and out before the shooting starts," Coffey clarified.
"Either that or they lay very, very low," Herbert said.
Rodgers's hands were folded on the conference table. He was staring at them intently. "I do want to make this observation," he said. "This started as an intelligence-gathering operation. It now has a potential political objective with a military component. The military end will be undertaken by soldiers who will not have the time nor inclination to check passports before they open fire. The people we have sent are not qualified to participate in that kind of operation. I don't want them involved in any way."
"Maria speaks Spanish, doesn't she?" Coffey asked.
"Yes," McCaskey said. "But Mike is right. They should not be interfacing with the Spanish soldiers."
"I didn't mean to suggest that," Coffey said. "Only if it comes down to that, she can communicate with them."
"Yes," Rodgers said. "Communicate. Not collaborate." He looked at Hood. "Are we on the same page about that?"
"Unless I'm mistaken, it's your call," Hood said.
Herbert made a face. "I have a couple cents to put in, too, Mike. Darrell's not going to like this, but safety aside, they are our only resource in the region."
"For intelligence," McCaskey reminded him.
"Yes, but only if we exclude the one objective we have not discussed," Herbert said.
"Which is?" Hood asked.
"Whether our people can prevent bloodshed," Herbert said. "We aren't just there for the greater glory of Op-Center. I believe that part of our mission is to try to save lives."
"Starting with the lives of our team," McCaskey said. "You heard Kline. He wants them to lead his soldiers to Dhamballa."
"That doesn't necessarily mean 'For a bloodbath,' " Herbert said. "Our people can be a moderating force. And for that matter, the Spanish soldiers can help to protect them."
"Like they protected the bishop?" McCaskey asked.
Hood held up his hands. "People, these are all good points. But I'm thinking that maybe we can do both."
"Do both what?" McCaskey asked.
"Keep the peace and free Father Bradbury," Hood said.
"How?" McCaskey asked.
"Aideen and David will be intercepting Maria before long," Hood said. "Suppose they tell her and Seronga what is coming. If they can persuade him that the cause is in serious jeopardy, they may convince him to split up. One or two of our people go with Seronga to free the priest. The other one or two lead the Spanish soldiers off-trail. Meanwhile, we work with Kline to convince Gaborone that the Brush Vipers were not responsible for the killing of Bishop Max."
The Tank was silent for a moment.
"Not bad," Herbert said.
"What if Seronga is not as reasonable as you think?" Rodgers asked. "He's a soldier. If he decides to fight, we could be leading the Spanish soldiers and our own people into an ambush."
"Seronga cannot want that kind of a showdown," Hood said. "Especially if Maria can convince him that we're on the trail of whoever it was that really did kill Bishop Max."
"It's not risk-free, but it's solid," Herbert said as his wheelchair phone beeped. "I like that better than cutting bait and running." He picked up the phone and wheeled himself from the table.
Hood turned to Rodgers. "Mike?"
Rodgers thought for a moment. "There are still a lot of variables," he said.
"When are there not?" Hood asked.
"True, but the biggest is what three men will do-Seronga, Dhamballa, and Beaudin, if he has any influence in this. Religious zealots are not known for rational behavior. Even when it comes to survival. And industrialists are not known to give up plans for mega-expansion, if that's what he has in mind."
"Nothing's guaranteed," Hood agreed.
"And of course, it's not our asses on the line out there," Coffey added.
"No, but we're going to get them through this," Hood said as Herbert wheeled back over. "Bob, you want to get Kline back on the phone?"
"In a minute," Herbert said. He tapped the photo of the airplane. "That was my guy at Air Force Intelligence. He tracked the identification number on the airplane and located the registration."
"And?" Hood asked.
"It was rented from a local company named SafAiris" Herbert said. "The plane landed in a field and was abandoned."
"Who rented it?" Rodgers asked.
"The name they gave was Don Mahoney of Gaborone," Herbert said. "I'm willing to bet there's no such person."
"Fingerprints?" Rodgers asked.
"If there are, we may not be able to get to them before the plane is impounded by the Botswana military," Herbert said. "Police in the region have already spotted the aircraft. Anyway, it probably wouldn't tell us much. People this thorough don't forget to wear gloves."
Hood knew the intelligence chief well. There was something else on Herbert's mind. "Out with it, Bob," Hood said. "What's the rest of it?"
"The rest is a real kick in the head," Herbert said. "Air Force Intelligence Signal Surveillance picked up a transmission from those same coordinates at four-thirty-one P. M. Botswana time."
"Why were they listening to that area?" Rodgejp asked.
"They weren't. They picked something up because they've been monitoring our outgoing calls," Herbert said.
"Come again?" Coffey said.
"It seems that since the showdown in Kashmir, the AFISS has been keeping track of our foreign communications," Herbert said.
"What are they doing?" Coffey asked. "Making sure that we behave ourselves?"