Vince Flynn - The Third Option

«Between you and me?» Stansfield asked. The president nodded. «It won't be long now.»

«What are the doctors telling you?»

«Not much. I've stopped talking to them.»

Hayes looked confused. «Why?»

«I'm eighty years old, sir. I have lived a very full life. I see no sense in torturing myself for another six months of questionable living.»

The president had tried to get Stansfield to call him by his first name when they were alone, but the director of the CIA had resisted. «Do you miss your wife?» Mrs. Stansfield had passed away just a few years before.

«Every day, sir.»

The president smiled sadly and said, «I respect your decision, Thomas. You have lived an incredible life and have given immeasurable service to this country.»

«That is kind of you to say, sir.»

President Hayes brought his hands together and said, «I heard Irene had some trouble on the Hill this morning.»

«Where did you hear that?» Stansfield always wanted to know where people got their information before responding.

«I received a call from one of the committee members.»

«Chairman Rudin?»

«No.»The president laughed slightly. «Chairman Rudin and I aren't exactly on speaking terms.»

«If you don't mind me asking, sir, why can't you get the party leadership to reel him in?»

President Hayes thought about the question for a moment and said, «Chairman Rudin is a strange duck. Between you and me, I've never liked the man. He is filled with irrational hatred which tends to cloud his judgment. He has his place in the party, however.» Hayes shook his head. «Unfortunately for you and me, the party put him where they thought he could do the least damage. I suppose I could make a few calls, but it might only serve to enrage him further.»

«Well, do what you think is best. I might be able to do some things to help, but my real concern is where he's getting his information.»

«He could just be guessing.» The president looked at Stansfield for a response.

«He could, but given the fact that Mitch's mission was \ compromised, I'm inclined to believe we have a leak.»

President Hayes didn't like hearing this. He exhaled a slow, painful breath. «What in the hell have I gotten myself into, Thomas?» The president put his elbows on the table and cupped his face with his hands.

«What do you mean, sir?»

«If it gets out that I ordered the assassination of one of Germany 's leading citizens, it will be devastating.»

«Sir, in your position, you have. three options to deal with this growing threat. The first, diplomacy, has had very poor results; the second, military action, is ill suited to combat the small force we are up against; and the third option, sir, the one you have chosen, is the best option. We take the battle to them with small covert units. You made the right decision, sir.»

«If this thing blows up in my face, it will not have been the right decision.»

«I will not let that happen, sir.»

«How?»The president sounded skeptical.

«We are making some progress in finding the leak.»

«Really?»

«Yes.»

«What have you found?»

«We think it might be someone at the State Department.»

«How high up?»

Instead of answering the question, Stansfield said, «Irene told me about the meeting you had the other day with the German ambassador.»

Hayes leaned back in his chair. «And?»

«How have things been between you and Secretary Midleton?»

After thinking about it for a moment, the president replied, «I don't think he ever got it in his head that I'm the boss.»

«He thinks you're both still colleagues back in the Senate.»

«Yes. You've seen it before?»

«Many times. It's strange that it always seems to be that position more than the others.»

«Secretary of state?»

«Yes. For some reason they tend to think of themselves as the most important person in each administration.»

«I should have known better. Charles has always fancied himself as American royalty. When I won the election, I owed him. He had raised a lot of money for the campaign, and I knew he would be an easy confirmation. He was my first nominee, and I wanted to get it right.»

«You're not the first, sir.»

«And I’m sure I won't be the last.»

«No, you won't.»

«What have you found out?» asked the president. Stansfield had thought this next part through and was determined to get his way. He had the gift of all great tacticians. He could focus on the smallest detail and never lose sight of the overall picture. Over the last few days, he had seen a pattern developing. Like reconnaissance photos before a battle, he was beginning to see what the enemies' objectives were.

«Sir, I have decided that for your own good, I am going to keep you in the dark about what I know so far and what I think is going to happen over the next week or so.»

President Hayes looked miffed. «I'm not so sure I like that idea.»

«I knew you wouldn't, sir, but it's for your own good. If things go wrong, I want you to have complete deniability.»

«I'm afraid that will be impossible.»

«No it won't, sir. You will be able to blame me whole thing on me. I will have me documents prepared, and I will leave them in Irene's care.»

President Hayes was more man surprised. After staring at Stansfield for a while, he asked, «Why would you do that?»

«I am about to die, sir. It was I who counseled you to use me third option, and it is I who will take the blame if things don't work out.»

«I'm not so sure about this, Thomas.»

«I am, sir. I think things are going to get very ugly.»

«How ugly?»

Stansfield thought about his answer for a second.» Mitch has made some progress in finding who it was mat set him up in Germany.»

«And?»

«And I've given him orders to follow that trail as high as it goes.»

The president cleared his throat. «What are his orders once he finds them?»

«Deniability, Mr. President. You don't want me to answer that.»

Hayes leaned forward and in a whisper said, «Thomas, if this thing ends up at the feet of Charles Midleton, you can't just simply have Rapp kill him.»

«Sir, it is my sincere hope that this trail does not go that far.»

NINE BLOCKS AWAY from me White House, a taxi pulled into me drive of me Four Seasons Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue and 28th Street. A doorman dressed in black from head to toe opened me back door of me cab and extended a gloved white hand for the passenger. A woman with shimmering auburn hair emerged from the cab, and heads turned. It was difficult for Donatella Rahn to hide her beauty. She was wearing a simple black Armani pants suit. Nothing fancy, nothing too sexy; it was perfect for thirteen and a half hours of transatlantic travel. Donatella had left Milan shortly after noon. The eight-hour flight to New York 's JFK landed at 2:34 in the afternoon, local time. It took about an hour to clear customs and then another hour to get into the city. Donatella stopped in Manhattan just long enough to say hello to a few of her fashion contacts and grab some things, and then it was off to Grand Central Station. It was 8:30 in the evening by the time her train pulled into Union Station just two long blocks north of the United States Capitol.

Donatella was tired, but she could handle it. She'd been through a hell of a lot in her life. She didn't let simple things like fatigue get to her. She walked casually across the expansive lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel and ignored the looks she was receiving from men and women alike. She had stopped noticing them years ago. She approached the front desk, where an Asian woman was standing ready to punch the new arrival's information into the hotel's computer.