Dale Brown: Executive Intent

“We’ll talk about it,” Patrick said.

At that moment Central Intelligence Agency senior scientific programs analyst Timothy Dobson came into the room, his face wearing a smile but his body language saying otherwise. “Hey, Timothy,” Gia greeted him, “come to watch the inauguration with us?”

“Sure,” Dobson said.

But Patrick studied his face and immediately got up and walked him into the kitchen. “What’s up, Tim?” he asked.

“The FBI picked up on another team that came through McCarran International today,” the CIA assistant director said in a low voice. “Both Ukrainian nationals. Registered in the consulate as employment and training consultants for the Ukrainian government, but verified by the CIA as Russian Federal Security Bureau agents. It’s the second team to come through this area in a week.” Patrick looked over at his son with Gia, enjoying the pageantry of a presidential inauguration. “I’m sorry, General, but the Agency says it’s a high probability you’ve been targeted by the FSB. We’ve got to relocate you.”

“When?”

Dobson took in a long breath, then let it out quickly and said, “Yesterday, sir.” He saw Patrick’s shoulders slump. “President Phoenix has been advised, and he’d be as pleased as punch if you came back to the Washington area. President Martindale wants to meet with you, too. He says he’ll set you up any way you want.”

Now Patrick realized what Phoenix had meant by “I have a feeling you’ll be back soon”-he’d already had the briefing and was suggesting an alternate home. As much as Patrick thought he knew the inner workings of Washington, he reminded himself, he found he actually knew very, very little.

Just as Ann Page was beginning to recite the oath of office, Patrick came back into the living room and pressed the “MUTE” button on the TV remote. Gia and Bradley turned to him, but they both looked at his worried face and didn’t say a word.

“We have to talk about the move, guys,” Patrick McLanahan said somberly. “We have to talk.”

A major source of information on living and working in space was from the book Sky Walking (New York: Smithsonian Books, 2006), written by four-time Shuttle mission specialist, fellow B-52 veteran, Fox News space commentator, and friend Thomas D. Jones. Thanks for your great work, TJ.

As always, the mistakes are all mine.

Your comments are welcome at readermail@AirBattleForce.com! I read all e-mails and respond to as many as I can. Please visit my Web site at www.AirBattleForce.com for the latest info on my novels, upcoming interviews and events, and my occasional rants about flying, geopolitics, foreign affairs, and almost everything else under the stars!

DALE BROWN is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, starting with Flight of the Old Dog in 1987. A former U.S. Air Force captain, he often flies his own plane over the skies of the United States.