Stone - 25 - Collateral Damage

the fact that the late Dr. Kharl supplied the material is another connection to one of those two countries.”
    Dr. Kharl, who had assembled the California device, was recently deceased, an order that Holly had transmitted from the director, after presidential approval. He had been instrumental in the Pakistani nuclear weapons program, as well as the North Korean program, and had been thought to be available to just about anyone with the cash.
    “I agree,” Holly said. “Anything else, before I drop this bombshell on the director?”
    “Just don’t expand the loop. See you later.” Coleman hung up.
    Holly hung up, too. That meant she couldn’t bring it up at the briefing. She went back into the room and waited, trying to hide her impatience, while Lance concluded his report. He was talking of the penetration of an Iranian army unit connected with that country’s nuclear program.
    The director glanced at her. “Ladies and gentlemen,” she said when Lance had finished, “unless there’s something else of level one importance, you’ll have to hold any other information until tomorrow’s briefing. Thank you all.” She stood up, signaling that everyone should leave, and with a motion of her head indicated that Holly should follow her.
    Holly left the room and followed the director to her office, where she took the indicated seat.
    “You’ve learned something new,” Kate said.
    “First, Felicity and her people were not aware of the existence of Jasmine Shazaz, but now they are, and they will be checking out the Cheyne Walk house. I told her about that on my own authority, reasoning that MI-6 could get in there faster and more thoroughly than London station could, and with less of a local flap, and I think she’ll feel obligated to share.”
    “I concur.”
    “A second thing: Tim Coleman called and asked for you, but declined to interrupt your briefing. Since I’m in the loop he told me that Oak Ridge has determined that the enriched uranium in the California device most likely came from either Iran or North Korea, since it was introduced by Dr. Kharl and is not a match for that of any of the programs we’re familiar with.”
    “I’m glad you didn’t blurt that out in the briefing,” Kate said.
    “No, ma’am, I know the loop is small. I don’t even know if it includes Lance.”
    “You and I are the loop in this agency,” Kate replied, “and we’re going to keep it that way. Outside, it’s the Secret Service, Mike Freeman of Strategic Services, and Stone Barrington, who somehow managed to stop the clock on that thing without blowing us all to kingdom come, and Dino Bacchetti. And the president, of course, which accounts for Tim Coleman being inside, too.”
    “There’s one other,” Holly said.
    “And who might that be?” Kate asked sharply.
    “The reporter from Vanity Fair , Kelli Keane, who was in the room with the device when it was stopped.”
    “Good God,” Kate moaned.
    “Stone had a very serious word with her afterward, and impressed on her the importance of the event never having taken place.”
    “Do you think that will be enough to keep her lid on? I mean, she’s a journalist, for God’s sake!”
    “Stone thought she got the message.”
    “Did he threaten her?”
    “I don’t believe so.”
    “Holly, I want you to leave for New York immediately, by the fastest conveyance available, pick her up, sit her down in a quiet room, and frighten her to the bottom of her soul.”
    Holly stood up. “Yes, ma’am. Is there anything else?”
    “Do you have any doubts about the ability of Stone Barrington to keep this to himself forever? And Dino Bacchetti? It was his gun.”
    “No, ma’am, I have no doubts about either of them. They’re both under contract to the Agency as consultants and, as such, have the highest security clearance.”
    “Good. Get going.”
    Holly went to her office, picked up a phone and called the director of transportation. “This is Assistant Director Holly Barker. Is there a chopper on the pad right now?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” the man replied, “but it’s leaving momentarily for Dulles, to pick up a visiting dignitary.”
    “Cancel that flight immediately and find another way to transport the dignitary. I want the aircraft fueled and the flight plan filed for New York by the time I can get down there.” She hung up without another word, got her ready bag from her closet, and headed for the elevator.

The rotors were already turning on the