Stephen Hunter - Dead Zero

Bob said, “Yes, sir, that is fair.”

The three sat alone in the director’s big office overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue with a nice view of the Capitol dome. The man himself, pink and glowing in his dark suit like so many of the DC big-footers, had his legs up on his table and his body language communicated the “friendly talk” mood as opposed to the “you are so fucked” mood. He liked Nick, and had more or less “supported” (best not to look too carefully at it) Nick during the twisted investigation that had led to the still controversial murder-one four times conviction of Tom Constable some years back. But he was also putting out a message that maybe this time, Nick was asking a little too much. He was a genius at sending messages with layers and layers of subtext.

“Mr. Director,” said Nick, “the evidence is pretty incontrovertible. We have a former drone pilot willing to testify that she was ordered, via secret CIA protocols, to destroy what turned out to be a nonmilitary target. We can tie that by time frame to the destruction of the hotel in Qalat where a U.S. Marine sniper had told his headquarters he would be setting up his mission. It connects to almost the minute. No, we don’t know how the Agency got into the marine communications net. But we’ll find that out. The marine was set to go Afghan time 1700, the missile, smart-bomb hit actually, was set up fast in real time, enabling an on-ground spotter to relay the info to whomever that the sniper had indeed entered the hotel, and the shot was ordered at about 1658.30 Afghan time. That gave the pilot just enough time to vector her Reaper vehicle to the exact grid location her battle management officer had given her, acquire target, launch the Paveway, and guide it down so that it hit at 1559.38. The time is on record at Two-Two Recon, Cruz’s battalion, outside Qalat. That fact won’t go away.”

“And you believe that operation continued in the United States?”

“I have the entry into the U.S. of three extremely proficient ‘contractors,’ last known locality Miami, Florida. After they disappeared, things started happening: a building was shot up in Danielstown, South Carolina, and a man killed. Mr. Swagger here just survived the incident by chance and you can still see the scar on his face where he was hurt in the gunfire. Second, four days ago, nine Filipino temporary workers were killed in Baltimore by a highly proficient team utilizing silencers and extremely developed raid craft. They had, we believe, followed Swagger and me to that location and meant to wipe out its inhabitants as a way of nailing Ray Cruz, whom we thought might seek shelter there. They’re still around, they’re still trying to kill Ray Cruz, and they won’t be leaving any witnesses. Since we believe they have satellite assistance in all the tracking they do, there is a good chance they are working for elements within the Agency.”

The director nodded. But then he said, “And the fact that Ray Cruz is still out there, that he tried to make his kill in Baltimore, the fact that he has not been apprehended, that seems not too important to you.”

This was the time to put it on record, Bob realized, that he had been in contact with Ray, that Ray had agreed to back off while the scandal was sorted out, and that he had not attempted any operations on Sunday last against his supposed target.

But knowing that was the only card he still had to play, Bob kept it to himself. Instead, he said lamely, “He did not make an attempt this past Sunday. Maybe he’s backing off. Maybe he’s letting us dig into Pentameter and that’s the point of his game, not killing this Zarzi fellow. He actually never pulled the trigger in Baltimore. His supposed ‘attempt to kill’ Zarzi certainly did lead us to Pentameter. Maybe that was the original idea.”

“Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. Maybe you’re giving him too much credit. Maybe you like him too much.”

“That is a possibility,” said Swagger. “I hope it ain’t the case, but maybe it’s working that way in my mind.”

The director sighed.

“I will take your findings to the U.S. attorney general and we will see what will exists in the Justice Department to continue and widen the investigation. I suspect very little, and I warn you of that. If this Ray Cruz has evidence to give, he’d better turn himself in. That would make everybody’s job a lot easier.”

“Yes, sir. I’d like to emphasize that time-”

“Yes, time is of the essence. I’ve got a crew of attorneys on their way over and their Administration overlords too. This will be political, you understand. Politics will have its way, maybe more than truth and justice. You have to get, especially you, Swagger, that we can’t have any Marshal Dillon stuff this time or the hammer will come down in very hard ways on all of it.”

“I won’t do no Marshal Dillon, sir,” said Bob. “Way too old for it.”

OUTSIDE THE DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, CONTINUING INTO ELEVATOR, AND CONTINUING TO NICK’S

OFFICE IN TASK FORCE ZARZI WORKING ROOM

FLOORS 7 TO 5

HOOVER BUILDING

PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

WASHINGTON, DC

1028 HOURS

Okay, we will see what we will see,” said Nick as they waited for the elevator. “I told you, I’d give it my best shot and he will too. You have to prepare yourself for the fact that some things won’t happen.”

“Such as?”

“They are not going to give Ray Cruz a Silver Star and his old job back and erase the several crimes he has committed. He will do time, no matter what.”

“Don’t seem right,” said Bob.

“Can’t have one law for heroes and another for us normal folks. Although, yes, you can have one law for corporate presidents, elected officials, congressmen and lobbyists and Wall Street bankers, and one for the rest of us. I’m sorry about that and if I ever get any juice in this town, I will try to change it. But it doesn’t change reality: Ray will do time and his marine career is finished. Assuming he doesn’t kill Zarzi.”

“He won’t.”

“And I don’t think we’ll get a case out of it. I think what we’ll get is nothing but the satisfaction that the Agency had to explain itself and back way down and a lot of heads will roll and maybe Susan Okada will get a big promo and maybe when she gets it she will run off to Idaho and iron your Jockeys for you for the rest of your life.”

“Unlikely,” Bob said.

“Well, you’re probably right about that. Okay, I’m going to bump up my inquiries about these guys Bogier, Zemke, and Crane to ‘Detain for interrogation. Approach with caution.’ If we get them off the field, then maybe Cruz will be more cooperative.”

“Them bastards may not go easy. You could get some cops killed.”

“I will also add a ‘Caution, presumed armed and dangerous.’”

“Real good.”

“And I want you to go to Georgetown today and make a site analysis, just like the last time. Then it’ll be the same, a round of meetings with our good friends from Secret Service and metro police and we’ll lay out our plans for Friday.”

“There ain’t going to be no hit on Friday.”

“Let’s hope. Meanwhile, we’ll wait for our callback to the director’s office.”

“Sure,” said Bob, “I’ll get right on it.”

“Starling says you did really well.”

“The gal pilot and I had a lot in common. I don’t want to see her getting in any trouble over this either.”

“I don’t see how she can. There isn’t going to be any case, you have to be ready for that. The Administration is too in love with drones to let anything happen to the program. Okay? Comprende? ”

“I get it.”

“Now go, do your job. Or someone else’s, anybody’s job.”