“We were. Although at this point, we’re pretty sure it was no accident.” She went over the basic sabotage theory. “Now that you’ve recovered the hardware we can hopefully figure out who’s to blame.”
“Let’s hope.”
“Is it true you interrogated one of the perpetrators?”
Clark gave her a circumspect look. “Briefly.”
“And did he give up anything important?”
“I’ve sent that information up the chain, and I would guess it ended up on your father’s desk. I’m not sure how closely they’re holding it, so it would be better if you asked that question through formal channels.”
“Sorry…I didn’t mean to stick my nose where it shouldn’t be.”
“Sure you did. Which is exactly what I would have done. But in this case, I think it’s better that we both play by the rules.”
“Understood.”
“What are your plans now?” he asked.
“I’d like to spring JC out of the hospital.”
“I’m sure he would appreciate that. And then?”
“I guess I’ll head back to the crash site.”
The blue gaze sharpened. Clark pulled two chairs away from a small dinette and set them to face one another. He sat in one and waited. Katie tentatively took the other.
“No,” he said.
Her eyes narrowed. “No…what?”
“You can’t go back to Bodrum.”
“Why not?”
“I think you know.”
Katie felt her ire rise. “I’ll go where my commander sends me. And last I heard, that was to Bodrum to help with this investigation.”
“Look, let’s cut to the chase. You are an officer in the United States Navy, and by all accounts you are serving your country admirably. But you are also the daughter of the President of the United States. Your partner was just kidnapped by foreign nationals, a confirmed terrorist element who haven’t yet been identified, but who could conceivably have more manpower in the area. Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country with marginal security, and it’s bordered by countries that are known havens for terrorists. By the grace of God, you didn’t join JC on that chopper ride.”
He paused as if waiting for an argument.
Katie had an impulse to do just that. But she fought it. Maybe it was her respect for Clark, or possibly doubts about whether shewould really be of use in Bodrum. In the end, she realized it was neither of those things. She simply knew Clark was right.
He said, “As soon as JC gets the okay to travel, both of you need to get on the next flight stateside. There are C-17s, C-130s, and tankers passing through here all the time. Dover, Andrews, McGuire—just get Conza back. He won’t admit it, but he’s going to need some PT to get back up to speed. For what it’s worth, that’s what I would do if he was one of mine.”
She nodded, her eyes going to the floor. “Okay…you’re right. My staying here would be more trouble than it’s worth, I get that. And JC needs medical care, the kind he can only get back home.” Her frustration then burst through. “John, I love my dad. I love who he is and what he does for our country. But it pisses me off thatwhohe is…it’s always hanging over my head. It’s like a shadow I can’t escape.”
“Look, I get it. That stinks, but it’s reality. The key is how you deal with it, Katie. From all I’ve heard, you’re doing a damn good job for the Navy. This is just one of those times when you have to back off.”
She heaved a long sigh.
“In all honesty, I do have an ulterior motive for wanting you to go stateside.”
She looked at him questioningly.
“I’m not trying to put you out of the fight. I want you running it. Yesterday we were getting some shit-hot intel from a new DIA unit called Cyber Cell 6.”
