Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

Colonel Croft and have them released at once.”
    â€œAre you at all concerned about the security of Holly Barker’s group? Should we get them out of there now?”
    â€œAn airplane had already been scheduled to pick them up at noon tomorrow and bring them home. I think to rush that might be counterproductive.”
    â€œWould there be room on that airplane for the Peppers?”
    â€œThere would be, if I send a larger airplane.”
    â€œHow large?”
    â€œThe presently scheduled airplane is quite small; something mid-sized, like a Hawker, would be sufficient.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll ask the president to make the call. If we can get the Peppers off the island tomorrow, and without a fuss, then Holden can just forget any of this ever happened. I want you to take every conceivable step to see that a fuss does not occur.”
    â€œCertainly, Director.”
    â€œBecause that is what I’m going to tell the president, and you’d better not make a liar of me.”
    â€œI’ll get this done, Director.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll make the call now; go back to your office, and I’ll call you when it’s in the works.”
    â€œAh, there is one other thing, Director.”
    â€œWhat thing?”
    â€œHugh English.”
    Kate Lee emitted a small groan.
    â€œThere was no way I could ask Jim Tiptree not to report this to him. I’m sure he’ll be on the phone to me within minutes.”
    The Director sighed. “Hugh English is going to be more trouble than the ambassador,” she said.
    â€œI know. Unless you speak to him before he speaks to me, there will be an eruption, and I don’t think we want that.”
    The director picked up the phone. “Get me Hugh English, please; if he’s not in, try his cell or his car phone.” She pressed the speaker button and waited.
    Lance tried not to squirm in his seat.
    â€œHello?” Hugh English might have been in the room with them, his voice was so clear.
    â€œGood morning, Hugh.”
    â€œNot really, Director; I have a problem.”
    â€œThe situation in St. Marks?”
    There was what seemed a stunned silence, then: “I’m very surprised that you should know about this so quickly, Director; I’m not sure it rises to your level.”
    â€œHugh, we’re not sure about this yet, but the Peppers may have been detained because Bill was trying to extract some information from St. Marks government computers at my request.”
    â€œI received no such request from you, Director.”
    â€œNo, it was made through another Agency officer who is also present on St. Marks at the moment. It’s my understanding that Bill Pepper has been extracting all sorts of information from those computers for months, so I believed that my request would be routine for him, and he did not indicate otherwise.”
    â€œDirector, I’m sure this could have all been avoided, if you had had the courtesy to go through my office, as prescribed by the operational procedures which you yourself instituted.”
    â€œPerhaps, but we don’t know that yet. He may well have been detained for something you yourself asked him to do.”
    Lance loved that.
    â€œIn any case, Hugh, I am personally working to have the Peppers released and returned to the U.S., perhaps as early as tomorrow, so please take no steps in that regard without consulting me first.”
    â€œAs you wish, Director.”
    â€œI think we can resolve this quickly and without a fuss, so just give me some time. In the meantime, you might be thinking about a replacement for the Peppers on St. Marks.”
    â€œDon’t you think that might be precipitous, Director? I mean, until we know the meaning of their detention, we won’t know if they’ve been compromised.”
    â€œHugh, they were compromised the moment they came to the personal attention of the infamous Colonel Croft.”
    â€œQuite,” Hugh English said. “I’ll begin working on a replacement. Is that all, Director?”
    â€œFor the moment, Hugh.”
    â€œGood-bye.” He hung up.
    â€œIf he calls you, Lance,” the director said, “stonewall him, but as politely as possible. Now, get to work on getting an airplane there tomorrow.”
    Lance stood up. “Thank you, Director.” She was asking for the White House when he left her office.

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    B ill Pepper still sat in the uncomfortable