AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The president sighed and eyed his advisor. “Thoughts?”
Choosing his words with care, the man said, “There are ways. There are always means, Mr. President. To avoid a trial, messy disclosures, and the like.”
Foster studied the president carefully to see how he would react to this suggestion. Some chief executives were squeamish about this sort of thing. Others had large backbones and small consciences and never thought twice about it.
“I suppose we should start evaluating some of them,” said the president.
Foster gave him a look filled with sympathetic pride. “These decisions are hard, sir, but also easy in a way. When the impact on the country is so clear.”
“I’m not putting any of this in writing. In fact this meeting officially never happened,” said the president. “But I want my options before any action is taken.”
“There may be one caveat to that, Mr. President,” said Foster. This was the moment of truth, she knew. This was what she had rehearsed over and over again in the mirror in her private bathroom back at DHS.
The president’s gaze was piercing with a flash of anger lurking behind it ready to be unleashed. “Caveat?” Presidents did not like caveats to their decisions.
“Only based on one factor that we don’t have control over,” she said.
“What is that?”
“We don’t know what Bunting may be plotting.”
“Well, let’s pick the man up and make sure he’s not plotting anything.”
“We have to tread cautiously there, sir,” said Foster, who really didn’t want to “pick the man up.” “He’s smart and resourceful. I’d rather let him play his hand out.” She paused and looked at the advisor.
On cue he said, “You mean give him rope to hang himself.”
Foster nodded. “You read my mind. Exactly, give him enough rope to hang himself.”
“And then we act?” said the president.
“And then we can act in the manner that is most advantageous to us,” amended Foster. “And there’s one more thing, sir.”
The president smiled in an irritated manner. “You’re just full of surprises today.”
She hurried on, sensing his patience was running out. “Edgar Roy’s sister.”
“His sister?”
“Half sister, technically. Her name is Kelly Paul.” She glanced at the advisor.
“She was one of our very best field agents, Mr. President. Put the woman into any situation, any hot spot around the world, and she would fix the problem, whatever it might be.”
“And she’s Roy’s sister,” said the president. “Why am I just hearing about this now?”
“You have many things on your plate, sir,” said Foster. “And it really didn’t matter until now.” She paused. “We think she’s now working for the other side.”
“Good God! Are you serious?”
The advisor said, “Officially she retired. However, there is some indication that she’s back on the job. Only it’s not working for us. That we know.”
“What could she be after?” said the president.
“In the right situation Edgar Roy would be very valuable to enemies of this country.”
The advisor added, “The amount of knowledge the man has about our national security and our tactical and strategic goals is staggering.”
“But using her own brother?” said the president dubiously.
