Griffin W.E.B. - The Corps 08 - In Dangers Path

«Colonel Donovan brought that up himself,» Leahy said. «When he is finished with the individual, he will join us. If you have any questions, he will either ask them himself, or you may. Having an experienced man do the interviews strikes me as the quickest way to get to the bottom of this.»

«I think it's a fine idea, sir,» Pickering said.

Rickabee gave him a surprised look.

But first they had to get into the building. In the belief that he and Hart would not be returning to OSS headquarters before traveling to the Pacific, Pickering had ordered Hart to place their red-striped Any Area Any Time identification badges in the safe in his apartment in the Foster Lafayette. Neither General Rickabee nor Admiral Leahy had OSS identification badges.

If he were Donovan, Pickering knew, he would have just marched past the guards, saying something like, «these people are with me,» especially since one of the people with him was the chief of staff to the President of the United States.

But he didn't.

«Sorry about the inconvenience, Admiral,» he said. «We didn't plan on having you with us this morning.»

Leahy and Rickabee were furnished with Visitor 5th Floor Only badges, and pinned them to their lapels.

Though Donovan was visibly annoyed when Pickering told the guard lieutenant, «Lieutenant Hart and I will need a couple of those, too, please,» he said nothing.

They rode the elevator to the fifth floor and walked down the corridor to Donovan's office.

The Deputy Director (Administration) was behind his desk. He rose to his feet. «Good morning, Admiral,» he said. «Mr. Director.» He nodded at Pickering, Rickabee, and Hart, but didn't say anything.

«Something's come up, Charley,» Donovan said. «Is anyone using the White Room?»

«No, Mr. Director.»

«How long will it take you to get… let's say, three stenographers up and running?»

The DDA didn't respond directly. Instead he picked up one of the telephones on his desk, pushed a button on it, and announced, «The Director requires three stenographers in the transcription room immediately.» He put the receiver back in its cradle and went on: «By the time we walk down the corridor, Mr. Director, you'll have your stenographers.»

Donovan nodded. «Call JCS,» he ordered. «Tell General Adamson that Admiral Leahy wishes to see him and Colonel… What's his name. Fleming?»

«Albright,» Pickering furnished.

»… Colonel Albright here as soon as possible. Have badges waiting for them downstairs.»

«General Adamson has a badge, sir,» the DDA said.

«And locate the Deputy Director (Operations) and tell him I need to see him immediately.»

«He's on his way here from the training establishment, Mr. Director.»

«Is there a radio in his car?»

«Yes, sir.»

«Contact him and make sure he is coming here,» Donovan ordered. «And then join us, please, in the White Room.»

«Yes, Mr. Director.»

«I don't believe you've seen the White Room, have you, Admiral?» Donovan said to Leahy.

Leahy shook his head, «no.»

«If you'll follow me, please, Admiral?» Donovan said, and led the group down the corridor to the White Room. By the time they had satisfied the two guards at the door that they were who they represented themselves to be, and Donovan had authorized Rickabee and Leahy to go inside, the DDA had caught up with them.

They entered the White Room.

«Charley, explain to the Admiral and these gentlemen how the transcription system works,» General Donovan ordered.

«Yes, sir,» the DDA said. «Microphones have been placed in various locations around the room,» he began. «They are connected with an amplification system in the room behind that door.» He pointed to a door at the rear of the room. «There are provisions for six sets of headphones, although our experience has been that we have never needed more than three stenographers to transcribe even the largest conference. So each of you gentlemen will have earphones.»

«I took that precaution, sir. They are either next door, or will be momentarily.»

«They will let us know when General Adamson and the others arrive, right?» Donovan asked.

«The Deputy Director (Operations), Mr. Director, said he will be here in no more than ten minutes. General Adamson, who has Colonel Albright with him, has probably left the Pentagon by now.» He paused and then added: «Mr. Director, General Adamson was naturally curious about what this is all about.»

«I'm sure he was, Charley, and I'm sure you are, too. You find out first. You can be our guinea pig, so to speak. Will you take these gentlemen to the stenographer's room, make sure everything is in place? And then come back in here. We'll start with you. Pure formality, of course.»

Well

, Pickering thought,

what did I expect Donovan to do ? Accuse his Director for Administration of having a big mouth

?

Because of the three stenographers—two middle-aged women and a young man—there were only enough spare headphones for three people. Pickering solved that problem by separating one of the earphones on his headset from the frame and, motioning Hart to stand close to him, handed him the loose earphone.

He saw Leahy looking at him curiously, perhaps disapprovingly. «I like to have George listen in on everything, Admiral,» Pickering said. «To refresh my memory.»

«I see.»

«He used to be a police detective.» Pickering went on.

«Perhaps we should have left him in there with Donovan,» Admiral Leahy said.

«Okay, Charley, let's have our practice run,» Donovan's voice came, very clearly, into Pickering's single earphone.

«Yes, Mr. Director.»

«This is pretty serious business,» Donovan said. «Someone has been talking too much about magic.»

«Yes, sir?»

«We're trying to find out who, and under what circumstances,» Donovan said, and then, before the DDA could reply, said, «If you can all hear us in there, let me know.»

«George,» Pickering ordered.

Hart took his loose earphone from his ear, let it dangle from Pickering's headset, looked at everybody in the room until they nodded, and then walked to the door and announced, «Colonel, we read you five-by-five.»

He closed the door and resumed his place next to Pickering.

«Okay, Charley, at least that much works,» Donovan's voice came over the system.

«I personally check on the system frequently, Mr. Director,» the DDA said.

«Good idea,» Donovan said. «Okay. Now… I really don't know how to start this… The possible compromise occurred in connection with the shipment of magic devices to Chungking.»

«When I saw General Pickering, Mr. Director, I thought that might be the case.»

«Were you happy with the security arrangements, Charley? You were, of course, familiar with them?»

«Yes, sir. I was familiar with them. And no, sir, I wasn't absolutely satisfied with the security arrangements.»

«In what regard, Charley?»

«It's a little embarrassing for me, sir, with General Pickering privy to this.»

«That can't be helped, I'm afraid. What is it about General Pickering and the magic movement that made you uncomfortable?»

What is this sonofabitch doing

? Pickering wondered.

Asking questions that make me look like a fool? Trying to lay the blame on me

?

«Well, there was the matter of the CIC agents, Mr. Director.»

«Tell me about that, Charley.»

«General Adamson had arranged for Army CIC agents to accompany the magic devices. General Pickering said that his people could adequately guard the devices and declined the services of the CIC. Is that what's happened, sir? Something has happened to the devices?»