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Savich grinned at her, controlled a sudden skid in the snow that would have slid theood I’ on him for his input But he’s old school, believes in rank and seniority, regardless"

Sherlock eyed an SUV negotiating a corner soht about the turf wars Most of the old guard had retired in recent years Under the leadership of Director Mueller, the FBI had reevaluated, reassigned, and refocused itself, placing anti-terrorism and hoencies had been ordered by the President to coether and share infor on But there were egos and old rivalries at play, so the going could still be tough

Director Mueller was overseeing this extraordinary case himself, with his second in command, Jimmy Maitland, as Savich’s boss Both would keep the waters calm, at least on the surface

CHAPTER 10

HOOVER BUILDING

"I’D LIKE TO KNOW why the hell you’re heading this investigation, Savich"

Reassured by Frank’s show of consistency, Savich said easily, "I’m not Director Mueller and DAD Jimmy Maitland are I’m lower down on the chain"

Neither Director Mueller nor Jimmy Maitland was there as yet, so Frank Halley could vent Frank had collared Savich the e conference room on the fifth floor, blocked hiroups The large roo, about the dozens of interviews that had already been conducted during the past nine hours, the newest available reports

"Yeah, so you say, but not as low as the rest of us You’re the one handing out interview assign the whole direction we take Why have I been passed over?"

No, Sherlock thought, there was no shortage of egos and turf, not in any organization in the world Given the sheer size and bureaucracy of the FBI, they weren’t doing so badly, really She patted Frank’s ar the ot a probleet a grip and pull your nose back in joint, or I’ll have to haul you down to the gym and wipe up the mat with you"

It was hard, even for a veteran of nearly twenty years, to be rinned down at her, this s red hair, and he just couldn’t help himself "You’re half my size You really think you could take ive it a try sohtest smile "Now, listen up You really want to do all the paperwork, interface with the ation, Frank Get in the field, that’s where you’re best, that’s where the action is It’s where we’re going to try to spend o of it "It isn’t right, Savich It should have come directly down to me, I’m the next in command This should be ent, said from just behind Frank’s left elbow, "It’s whoever’s deal Director Mueller wants it to be You’ve got to hang it up, Frank"

Frank waved his hand "Boy, the first thing I’d do is wipe up the floor with Marshal Halpern at the Supre her, it was hard not to do a slaine? One of her own police--that idiot Officer Biggs--going out for a sent right out of the acadeined that Marshal Halpern was probably so defensive when Frank went after her that he didn’t get anything useful out of her

"Ah," Savich said "Here are the bosses Let’s get ourselves seated We’ve got lots to talk about, lots of plans to make"

Frank didn’t want to sit down, didn’t want to do anything but break both of Savich’s arms, but in a moment of stark clarity, he knew he’d have to fall into line He’d been raised in the Bureau to do just that But it was very hard for him this time A Justice murdered in the Supre to happen The Supre on the crest of Capitol Hill, was supposedly one of the ton Here he was, Special Agent Frank Halley, one of the top guys in the Criation Division, and yet Director Mueller had placed Savich, with his dinky computer-based unit, over him