Stone - 25 - Collateral Damage

for any reason, we should both be unavailable, all you do is flip the master switch here”—she pointed to it—“and the operator at the White House can control this room, as well as his.”
    “Thank you, Phyllis.” She looked at her watch. “It’s seven-forty now. I’m expecting the police commissioner and the AIC of the local FBI office and some of their staffers here for a meeting at nine o’clock. Will you let garage security know that they’ll be arriving, and that I’ve given them the code name Red Rose for admittance to the garage? We don’t want a repeat of last week.”
    “Certainly.”
    “As you’ve no doubt heard, the president has authorized the Agency to operate domestically in terrorism cases for the remainder of his term, and he has asked Congress to make the change to our charter permanent. Who among our personnel here would be best qualified to participate in the search for the bombers?”
    “I should think the three section heads in Analysis, Operations, and Technical Services should be present at your meeting. They’ll know best which of their people should be assigned to the investigation.”
    “Please invite them and ask them to be present at eight forty-five. I want the room to be fully staffed when the others arrive.”
    “Certainly. Chief. You may not be aware, but there is an office suite for the station chief on the top floor which is unoccupied, because we’ve never had a station chief. Since you now hold that position, you might like to move in there. May I show it to you?”
    “Thank you, yes.”
    They rode the elevator to the top floor of the building, and Phyllis led her to the south end of the hallway and opened one of the pairs of double doors. “Your key works this lock, too,” she said.
    Holly walked into a large office suite that spanned the width of the building, including an office, a secretary’s office, a kitchenette, and a conference room.
    “The sliding doors lead to a glassed-in terrace, which is well placed to avoid surveillance or attack,” Phyllis said. She opened the doors. “The glass, like all the glass in the building, is armored and triple glazed, and the outside of the windows has a coating of film which makes them mirrored, so that no one can see in. Would you like me to find you a secretary?”
    Holly thought about that. “No, thank you, I have a secretary at Langley that I’ve hardly met. I’ll have her come up here.”
    “We have residential quarters that can house her comfortably,” Phyllis said.
    “I know, I’ve stayed here a couple of times in the past.”
    “Is there anything else I can do for you before the nine o’clock meeting?”
    “Yes, if you could go back to my temporary office, close my briefcase, and send someone up here with it, that would be very helpful.” Phyllis left, and Holly sat down at her desk. Everything was very nice in her new office. She picked up the phone and called her secretary, Heather, known as Scotty, at Langley.
    “Assistant director’s office,” she said.
    “Scotty, it’s Holly.”
    “Good morning, Director.”
    “I’m not the Director.”
    “It’s protocol for how you are addressed, just as a lieutenant governor is addressed as ‘governor.’”
    “I see. I don’t know what your personal situation is, but I’m about to disrupt your life.”
    “I’m single, and I live alone, if that’s what you mean, Director. I don’t even have a cat.”
    “That’s what I mean. I’d like you to go home, pack a couple of bags, and get yourself to the New York station by the fastest available means.”
    “The director is choppering up this afternoon.”
    “See if you can hitch a ride.”
    “How long will I be in New York?”
    “Indefinitely. Housing will be provided.”
    “I’ll see you this afternoon. If I have to travel commercial, I’ll let you know.”
    “See you then, Scotty.” Holly hung up. So the director was coming up, unannounced. Her phone rang. “Holly Barker.”
    “Holly, it’s Kate. I’m coming to New York this afternoon.”
    “Very good, Director. May my secretary hitch a ride with you? I’m bringing her up for the duration.”
    “Of course. If you would have a car at the East Side Heliport for us at three, I’d appreciate it.”
    “Certainly, ma’am.”
    “And Holly, I think we know each other well enough now for us to be on a first-name basis. From now on I’m Kate, except on official occasions.”
    “I’m meeting with the police commissioner and