AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"The further you distance the Office of Organizational Analysis from the President, the better. That's why he's hiding it in Homeland Security. As far as you working for him directly, there's a lot of captains through colonels-the aides, the guys who carry the football, for example-who work for him directly, and if some enterprising reporter sniffs you out, you can answer the same way they are instructed to. 'Sorry, my duties in the White House are classified. You'll have to ask the White House.' Still with me?"
"Sir, what I was really asking was how much of what I'm doing do I tell him. Or you."
"As far as 'or me' is concerned: Whatever you tell me I will tell the President when I think I should, and only then. The President is not interested in the means, just the end. That's what puts me back in the loop. I will tell him only those things which may require some action on his part-I'm thinking of 'Hell no, we can't do that; tell him to stop.'" He paused, then asked, "You understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Okay. Now is there anything you need?"
"Just one thing I can think of, sir. I asked Tom McGuire to do it for me, but I'm not sure-don't misunderstand this, I have a profound admiration for his abilities-that he'll be able to do it."
"You have 'a profound admiration for his abilities'?" Hall asked.
"Yes, sir."
"How would you like to have Tom working for you?"
"Is that possible, sir?"
"Joel suggested he would be very useful to you. I agree. Should I ask Tom?"
"I'd really like to have him, sir," Castillo said, and thought, I have just proved that I, too, am learning to be a Washington bureaucrat. Those answers were, without being out-and-out lies, certainly designed to mislead. I already know Tom wants to work for me and that it's possible.
"Okay, I will. Now what don't you think Tom will be able to do?"
"Find out what FBI agent Yung is really doing in Montevideo. If he's doing something covertly, they're not going to tell Tom."
"What makes you think he's not doing what he says he is?"
"I don't think you want to know, sir."
"Ah, you're learning," Hall said. "Has this guy got a first name?"
"David William, sir. Junior."
Hall pushed the speakerphone button on his telephone.
"Mary-Ellen, will you get me Director Schmidt on a secure line, please?"
"Right away, Mr. Secretary," Mary-Ellen Kensington said.
He pushed the button again and looked at Castillo.
"I know the DCI knows about the finding; he called me first thing this morning to feel me out about it. I don't think Schmidt has seen it yet. This is one-upmanship, Charley. A dirty game we all have to learn to play."
The speaker came alive with Mrs. Kensington's voice:
"Director Schmidt is on one, Mr. Secretary, the line is secure."
Hall pushed the speakerphone button again.
"Good morning, Mark," Hall said cordially. "How are you?"
"What can I do for you, Matt?"
"You've seen the Presidential Finding vis-a-vis the Masterson assassination, right?" Hall asked, ignoring Schmidt's abruptness.
"As a matter of fact, no."
