“No,” he said. “They’ve been claiming Taiwan for years. Nothing has changed.”
“Instability in East Asia,” Nancy stated. “Think about it. We’ve attacked Iraq and Afghanistan. The fluctuations in global oil prices threaten their economic growth.”
“That does sound more likely,” he admitted. “We’ve got to contact our asset in Unit 61398 and find out what he knows.”
Karen smiled. “On it, boss. I’ve drafted a mission for your review.” Her smile faltered. “I’ve got something else. Well, Dewey has something else.”
Eric clenched his jaw. He was going to have a long talk with Dewey Green. The man was suddenly involved in everything. “What now?”
“He’s been working on another project for the Old Man.” She turned to Nancy. “Your father has Alzheimer’s.”
He turned to Nancy, who was leaning forward in her chair, her face pale, knuckles turning white as her hands gripped the arms of her chair. “What?” she managed.
Karen spoke quickly, the words pouring out. “He asked Dewey to research a treatment. It’s called a deep-brain stimulator—”
Nancy didn’t let her finish. She stood so suddenly her chair slid back and slammed against the wall of the conference room. She was turning to leave when Eric stood. “Nancy,” he barked. “Stand down.”
She wheeled around and glared at him. “Focus on the mission. I’m going to speak to my father.”
He watched as she stormed out of the conference room. “I better go with her.”
Deion whistled softly. “Better you than me, man.”
Eric caught up to Nancy in a narrow tunnel, halfway to Smith’s office. “What are you going to do?” he asked. He thought about grabbing her hand, but one look at the expression on her face quickly changed his mind.
“I want to know if it’s true,” she said, continuing her rapid walk through the tunnels and halls of the base.
Soldiers and technicians swerved around them as Nancy stomped through the base. He shook his head. “Slow down,” he said. “He might have a good reason for not telling you.”
She turned to stare at him but didn’t slow her pace. “He keeps secrets and nobody ever calls him on it. I’m his daughter. Why wouldn’t he tell me?”
They reached Smith’s office and Nancy didn’t bother to knock. She flung open the door so hard it slammed against the inside wall.
The Old Man was sitting at his desk, speaking calmly to Doctor Barnwell. Barnwell turned, startled, but Smith just smiled. “An unexpected pleasure,” Smith said. “Please, come in.”
Nancy started to speak, her jaw working, but Eric jumped in before she could say anything. “We just got disturbing news, sir.”
Smith turned to Barnwell. “Did you? Hob?”
Barnwell shook his head. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Is it true?” Nancy demanded. “Do you have Alzheimer’s?”
Smith nodded. “I’m afraid it’s true.” He placed his weathered hands on the top of the ancient wooden desk. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself….”
“Are you?” Nancy asked.
“My dear, I am sorry for many things. I didn’t want to worry you. You’ve been through so much already….”
“You didn’t think I could handle it? You wanted to protect me?” she asked, incredulous.
“I’ve tried to protect you your entire life,” Smith said. “What would you have me do? Shout from the rooftops? I had work to complete. Hobert has been treating me, but the treatments are no longer working.”
Nancy turned her withering glare on Barnwell. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Nancy, calm down,” Eric said. “I’m sure they had good reasons.”
She turned her stony gaze upon him. “This is between me and my father.”
“It does concern Eric,” Smith said. “I must complete an orderly transition of the Office to Eric’s hands.”
Suddenly the pieces clicked into place. “How long have you known?”
Smith shook his head. “You already know the answer.”
It all made sense. Smith’s rush to recruit him for Project StrikeForce, the push to promote him, even naming him Assistant Director of the OTM. “I guess I do.”
Nancy froze. “I….”
Smith stood and stepped around his desk. Eric noticed how slow the man walked, how carefully he approached his daughter.
“I’m an old man,” Smith said, taking his daughter’s hand in his own. “You’ve known this was coming. Deep in your heart, you’ve known. I’m sorry I kept you in the dark. It wasn’t to hurt you.”
For the first time, Eric saw the vulnerability on Nancy’s face. She seemed to deflate, her anger disappearing only to be replaced by uncertainty. “How bad is it?” she asked.
Smith gripped Nancy’s hand tighter. “I’m in stage two. Without Hobert’s help, I would be in stage five.”
Eric knew the staging system from his experience with his mother. Stage five would be bad for a man as powerful as Smith. “What about this thing Dewey worked on?”
“It will give me months,” Smith acknowledged. “Perhaps enough time to ensure you have the Office well in hand.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” Barnwell interrupted, “but we have no idea if this will work. You’re asking Nathan to implant metal probes into your brain. It’s ludicrous.” He turned to Nancy. “Can’t you talk sense into him?”
Nancy’s eyes darted from Barnwell to her father. “Dewey created this? They’re going to put something in your brain?”
Smith’s smile faltered. “Dewey didn’t create it. Nathan did. Mr. Green repurposed it.” He released Nancy’s hand and slowly lowered himself back into his seat. “I’m sorry. Each of you deserves better. Hob, you’ve been a trusted friend. Nancy, you’ve deserved more than I’ve been able to provide. You, young Eric,” he said, pointing. “It is your legacy to be my replacement. If the operation is successful, I will have little time to complete my transition. And if it fails, well, then my time has come to an end. There’s nothing to be done about it.” He nodded at them. “My decision has been made.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Eric sat with Nancy and Barnwell, watching the doctors through the thick glass. He hadn’t been in the observation room in two years, not since they used nanobots to sheath John’s skeleton in carbon graphene mesh. Smith lay in the center of the room, strapped to a table, while Doctor Elliot and Doctor Oshensker hovered nearby.
The observation room reeked of carpet cleaner and antiseptic, a stench he remembered well. He turned up his nose and cleared his throat, trying to shake the smell. “You sure you don’t want to take one last stab at changing his mind?”
Nancy shook her head. “It wouldn’t do any good. He’s stubborn, and once he’s made up his mind….”
Barnwell watched their exchange before finally speaking. “How can you be okay with this?”
Nancy shrugged. “He’s never cared for my opinion. What makes you think he would suddenly listen to me?”
“I believe she’s right,” Eric said. “He’s the Old Man. It’s part of who he is.”
Barnwell snorted. “He’s an old fool. This is an unnecessary risk.”
Eric agreed, but also saw the Old Man’s point. He’d watched his mother lose her memory after his father’s death. When he placed her in the assisted living facility, she hadn’t known his name or acknowledged his presence.
He thought of Smith slowly losing his memory, with changes to his personality and cognitive ability. It terrified him. Smith had access to deep resources, not the least of which was the base at Area 51, but also included agents around the world. If Smith started making bad decisions, it could cost people their lives.