Vince Flynn - The Third Option

«Anything is possible, but for obvious reasons, I don't like the timing.»

«What about Mitch? What are we doing to bring him in?»

«Nothing.»

«What?»

«Sir, this is what Mitch does best. He's trained to disappear. If we start looking for him, it will only make things worse.»

Hayes still didn't like the idea. «There has to be something we can do.»

Kennedy shook her head. «Director Stansfield agrees with me.»

«Then what's our plan of action?»

«The unknown team that hit the Jansens… we are in the process of tracking them down.»

The president sat back and looked out the window at the Old Executive Office Building. For almost a minute, he didn't speak. His mind was filtering through all of the possibilities, none of which he particularly liked. It would be nice if these Jansen people were killed by a former employer, but Kennedy was right; given the timing, it was highly unlikely. For an operation that no one was supposed to know about, things didn't look good.

Finally, Hayes turned back to Kennedy and said, «Find out who got to the Jansens, and do it as quickly and quietly as possible.»

«I will, sir.»

«Now, about this meeting with the German ambassador, we need to get on the same page about a few things.»

AT ELEVEN MINUTES after eight, President Hayes, Dr. Kennedy, and the president's national security advisor, Michael Haik, entered the Oval Office through the president's private study. Seated at the two long couches in front of the fireplace were some of the administration's biggest hitters. Robert Xavier Hayes didn't become president of the United States by missing out on the importance of showmanship. He had a rough plan for how this meeting would go, and the list of attendees was part of it.

Everyone stood when Hayes entered the room. The President walked over to the German ambassador, Gustav Koch, and shook his hand. He then grabbed one of the two chairs in front of the fireplace. Michael Haik took the other chair, and Kennedy sat on the couch next to General Flood, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Next to General Flood sat his boss, Secretary of Defense Rick Culbertson. Directly across from them sat Secretary of State Midleton and the German ambassador.

President Hayes sat back and crossed his legs. He had a deeply concerned look on his face as he glanced over at Ambassador Koch. Inside, he was relishing the thoughts that must have been going through his secretary of state's head as well as the German ambassador's. They were the ones who had called this meeting. It was unusual, to say the least, that the secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs were asked to attend a meeting that clearly fell under the purview of Foggy Bottom.

Introductions were made for the benefit of the ambassador. Hayes clasped his hands over his knee and asked, «What can I do for you this morning, Mr. Ambassador?»

Ambassador Koch cleared his throat and glanced at the secretary of state before starting. Then, turning back to President Hayes, he said, «Chancellor Vogt asked that I speak to you about a very serious matter.» Koch spoke perfect English, without the slightest trace of an accent. He was not a dumb man. A career politician for thirty-one of his sixty years, he understood the significance of the presence of the two men from the Pentagon. That was why he had immediately interjected the name of the leader of Germany into the conversation.

For Hayes's part, he wasn't going to make this easy for the ambassador and, more importantly, for the secretary of state. He made no effort to communicate that he knew what this meeting was about. Koch grew a little uncomfortable at the silence and looked to the secretary of state for assistance.

Finally, Midleton said, «Sir, I assume you've been briefed about what happened in Germany over the weekend.»

Midleton looked at Hayes for confirmation but got none. «Sir, I'm referring to the assassination of Count Hagenmiller and the fire that destroyed one of the finest homes in Europe and,» Midleton added with an agonized tone, «a priceless art collection.»

Hayes finally nodded. «I'm familiar with the situation.»

No words of sympathy were offered.

«Sir,» Secretary Midleton continued. «Ambassador Koch knew Count Hagenmiller quite well, as did Chancellor Vog.»

Hayes nodded just once and again offered no words of condolence.

Koch was confused by President Hayes's lack of sensitivity, but since he had only dealt with the man on a limited basis, he ignored the strangeness and stated his case. «Chancellor Vogt is deeply concerned that the assassination of Count Hagenmiller may have been carried out by a foreign intelligence service.»

«Really, and why does he think that?» The president kept his eyes focused on the ambassador's.

«We are privy to certain information that leads us to that conclusion.»

«And what would that information be?»

Ambassador Koch sat rigid. «We have been told that the count was under surveillance during the days leading up to his death.»

«By whom?»

Koch glanced at Irene Kennedy and then the president. «The CIA.»

«And?»

«Can you confirm or deny that the CIA had Count Hagenmiller under surveillance?»

«I can confirm that the CIA had him under surveillance prior to his death.»

The ambassador was happy that he had received on honest answer. He was, however, less than enthusiastic about where he had to take the conversation. Choosing his words carefully, he said, «We have been very good allies for a long time, Mr. President. Chancellor Vogt is deeply concerned that the relationship may be in jeopardy over this incident.»

«Why is that?» Hayes knew what the ambassador was implying, but he wanted to hear him say it.

Koch looked down uncomfortably at his hands and then glanced at Kennedy before turning back to the president. «The chancellor is worried that… the CIA… may have acted without your authority and done something that would offend even the most ardent American supporters in my country.»

In a way, Hayes felt sorry for the ambassador. It was highly probable that he had intentionally been kept in the dark about Count Hagenmiller's recent business dealings. He was advised by Kennedy that there was a good chance the German chancellor was also unaware of Hagenmiller's nefarious dealings. This was the only thing that was keeping Hayes from going ballistic.

«Mr. Ambassador, I, too, value our friendship. Germany is one of our greatest allies.» The president leaned forward and rubbed his hands together. «How well do you know Count Hagenmiller? I mean, did you know?»

«Fairly well. His family is very well respected and very involved in the arts and a variety of philanthropic endeavors.»

«Did you know that he has been selling highly sensitive equipment to Saddam Hussein? Equipment that is used to manufacture components for nuclear weapons?»

The bomb had been dropped. Secretary Midleton shifted uncomfortably, and his face turned a touch ashen. Ambassador Koch took a little more convincing. «I find I that very hard to believe, Mr. President.»

«Is that so?» Hayes stuck out his hand, and Kennedy handed him a file. The president opened it and held up a photograph. «The man on the left I'm sure you recognize. Do you know who the other man is?»

Koch shook his head. He had a sinking feeling that he didn't want to know either.

«He is none other than Abdullah Khatami. Does the name ring a bell?»

«No.»

«He's a general in the Iraqi army:» Hayes's voice was beginning to take on an edge. «He is in charge of rebuilding Saddam's nuclear weapons program. What you see happening here» – the president stuck out the photo so there could be no misinterpretation – «is Count Hagenmiller receiving a briefcase from Khatami containing five million dollars.»