It was as he feared. “We have an unknown actor.”
Karen frowned. “Our digital models are built for the things we don’t know, but the things we don’t know that we don’t know? How can we plan for that? How can we fight back?”
He sighed. She asked very good questions, ones that plagued him since he accepted the position of Assistant Director. “What was on the MV Rising Star? Why scuttle it? Was there another bomb? Was there something that identified our unknown party?”
Karen started to speak, but her eyes narrowed and he could almost see her mental gears turning. “The wreck is too deep for divers. Can we get a UAV to scan the ship?”
“Yes, but it’s going to take some doing. The USS Orlando has a UAV, but it’s for inspecting hulls. It’s not rated for that depth.”
She considered that, then rocked back in her chair. “Maybe you should have captured some of the terrorists in Ely.”
He bit his lip. It was exactly what he had been thinking. “An error on our part. We’re going to have to go back in, see if we can get information. Find out exactly what went on when they brought that bomb ashore.”
“How can I help?”
“I need a plan. Get Clark and get working on it.”
She nodded and left to make it happen.
Smith wasn’t surprised when Nancy knocked on his office door. His office was sparse, much like his apartment, and located in one of the older concrete and steel buildings near the capitol building. It housed several government agencies, but his office occupied a corner of the building and had massive walls to separate it from his neighbors, EM shielding, and a secured Internet connection. All phone calls and video calls routed over a VPN to a datacenter maintained by the OTM. Even the windows had been removed and the gaping holes covered with steel plates and concrete.
Nancy was one of the very people on earth who knew the location of his office, let alone the means to access it. He glanced up from his computer but said nothing.
She bowed her head. “You already know.”
“Of course.” He had watched the feed from the OTM, as he often did, without Eric’s knowledge. He was counting on the young man, and the feed allowed him to see not only how the team performed, but Eric’s performance as well. “How are the men?”
Nancy took a seat in the chair across from his desk, wiping her palms on the hem of her short black skirt. “As well as can be expected,” she said. “They’ve been picked up by the Peleliu. Freeman and the rest are upset. Frist seems to be taking it hard. He failed to save one of the pilots.”
Smith nodded. Frist’s compassion was… unexpected… given what the man had done. He reminded himself to ask Hobert about Frist’s latest diagnostics. “And Eric?”
“Taking it hard,” Nancy said. “I spoke with him on the way back from Turkey. He’s got Kryzowski working on it. Her theory was the bomb was tied to a GPS, and it detonated when moved from its preprogrammed path. She’s also found evidence that many systems around the world have been compromised by malware.”
“Yes,” he said. “I read the report. The malware was actually discovered by Mr. Green, wasn’t it?”
She caught his gaze and quickly glanced away. “Yes.”
“Your relationship with Mr. Green? It’s not an altogether poor choice.”
“You want to talk about my partners?”
He allowed himself a brief smile. “Child, I care about you. Dewey may be odd, but he is a genius. He’s also discreet.”
“He’s useful,” Nancy admitted. “Attentive. He does what he’s told.” She sighed. “I just don’t see a long-term commitment. He understands that.”
“I think the peculiarities with Mr. Green make him unable to process interpersonal communications.” Nancy started to speak, but he raised his hand. “If you’ve found some semblance of happiness, I wouldn’t hesitate to continue that relationship. Just keep in mind that Mr. Green is not like most men.”
Her nostrils flared. “He’s not Eric?”
“I did not bring Eric into the OTM for your benefit. He’s a good man. If you find that appealing, I understand. I’m actually surprised by your friendship with Mrs. Kryzowski.”
She glared at him, face reddening. “Why? She’s smart and dedicated.”
“Given her situation with Eric….”
“You really do have your hand in everything, don’t you?”
He allowed himself a self-satisfied smile. “You’ve had few friends.”
She shrugged. “Why do I feel like this is more evaluation than a father asking about his daughter?”
Because you’re quite smart. “Humor an old man.”
“I’m not even sure what friendship is. I respect Karen. She irritates me less than others. I would be angry if something happened to her. I don’t mind that she has a relationship with Eric. Does that make us friends?” She sighed. “You know I want Eric. You know that I would kill to have him. You probably have a risk assessment showing my likelihood of killing Karen just to be with him.”
“I care about you,” he repeated softly. “I want you to be well. I want you to have friends and find a man — or even a woman — if that’s your predilection.”
“A woman?”
“I may be ancient, but I’m aware that societal attitudes have shifted on such things. Try not to look shocked. I never cared where people found sexual release.”
Her face softened. “I’m trying to find my place. I’m trying to be a better person. It’s hard.”
“You’ve grown, as a woman and as an operative,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
“They’re trying to find who infected the IC chips. We also need to know more about the MV Rising Star. Eric has a plan.”
He nodded. “I’ll inform the President. The other Operators? The team from Syria? I’ve inspected their files. They would be a good fit, I believe.”
“Redman? You want me to recruit him?”
“Mr. Burton is an ideal candidate. Offer him the job. The other two I will leave to your discretion. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some matters that require attention. When I’m finished, I’ll meet you at the Groom Lake facility.”
She stood to leave, then turned back to him. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
There are many thingsI’m not telling you. “Of course. I’m your father.”
Her eyes narrowed, but when he didn’t speak she rolled her eyes and left, slamming the door behind her.
The President hunched over the desk in his underground bunker, his hands on his forehead. “I can’t believe we detonated a nuclear bomb.”
Smith sighed. “We did not do that, Mr. President. An unknown actor delivered the device to Somalia.”
The President’s eyes were dull, and puffy bags under his eyes added ten years to his age. “How many were lost?”
“Does it matter?” Smith asked gently. “Second-guessing will not bring them back.”
The President shook his head. “No, we can’t bring them back. Somewhere out there, mothers and fathers and wives and children have lost someone. Because of us.”
Smith understood how the President felt. It was easy from the outside to watch a President’s actions, to criticize and complain. He had watched for decades as men took the oath with the best of intentions, only to find out just how far down the rabbit hole they would fall to keep the world safe. “I don’t need to remind you that it could have been worse. The bomb could have detonated on US soil. It could have wiped out New York City. I would also remind you the men who lost their lives were volunteers. Each one of them knew the risks when they joined the service. They believe in the cause. It’s who they are.”