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“Which begs the question of why you think Fuat needs additional protection”
“Agent Gross believed his own people were spying on hiht that the park shooters were not in the hotel but in a govern that required a special security card to access”
“I see,” McElroy said, nodding his head
“Did you know that ATF found so in the bomb debris that they can’t ID? That they’ve had to call in NASA?”
“Yes, Chapencies you folks have, why that one?”
“Maybe the substance is soram Other than that I don’t know”
“You folks and the Russians are really the only ones with any space program to speak of other than a few stray private entrepreneurs with lots of money”
Chaplance If McElroy noted this he made no reaction
“For all I know, NASA won’t be able to determine what it is either,” said Stone
Chapman spoke up “Or they may know but won’t say Or aren’t allowed to say,” she amended
McElroy looked between the sticky wicket I’ve had to look over my shoulder for ree on the coht now that’s safe”
“So what does your PM want?”
“Assurances that on’t make a bad matter even worse”
Chapet much worse?”
“Anything can becoround bos in London to the attacks in Mu, as Director Weaver intimated to you earlier”
“And I haven’t heard froered that?”
“If I had to speculate, I think our Mr Weaver is truly running scared Afraid to turn to anyone So don’t take it personally”
“That’s a hell of a situation to have with the head of our intelligence umbrella”
“And yet it’s exactly the one we do have It’s like when the global financial collapse occurred Credit markets were frozen No one trusted anyone else That’s where we are in the intelligence world right now”
“And the bad guys keep plugging away,” said Chapman hotly
“Precisely”
“And we can’t control what the bad guys do,” said Stone
“It depends on who they are,” replied McElroy
Stone thought about this for awhat I think you are?”
“What do you think I’, Oliver?”
“That we back off because certain folks ht not like e find?”
“I think that captures the spirit of the thing, yes”
“And that’s what you want us to do?”
With difficulty McElroy rose on shaky legs When Chaphtened his jacket and turned to Stone
“I’ As far as I’m concerned, it’s full speed ahead And daut put it”
“But the PM?” said Stone
“Nice enough fellow, but he’s out of his depth in the intelligence field And so long as he sees fit to entrust me with the security of the British people I will act as I see fit I refuse to be paralyzed I trust you I presuh”
“Bucking the command carries a price”
“I’ I believe that very little of e’ve seen so far is actually what it appears to be”
“Whichtoo”
“Perhaps not all But the important ones, probably yes”