Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

doesn’t. I think we have to assume that Sutherland knows everything Croft knew. Of course, he’s unlikely to know that one of the Brits is Teddy. He probably thinks that Teddy is dead, like the rest of the world.”
    Stone spoke up. “Sutherland is not a stupid man; I’ve dealt with him before, and you should think of him as dangerous at all times.”
    â€œYeah, I heard about your trial here a few years back,” Pepper said, “and I tend to agree with you.”
    â€œIf Sutherland goes after Robertson, Pemberton or Weatherby, then we’ve got to get there first,” Holly said.
    â€œFunny, that’s what Lance said, which means that’s what the director has said, too. He’s working directly for her on this, and I think Hugh English is royally pissed off about it. Something’s going to blow at Langley pretty soon.”
    â€œHow do you think this is going to play out?”
    â€œWell, I don’t think Lance will want to work with English or vice versa, and I also don’t think Hugh will sit still very long with Lance poaching on his turf, so the director is going to have her hands full.” He toyed with his food. “There could be political implications, too.”
    â€œI can see how there might be,” Holly said, “but I’m not mixing in that.”
    Pepper sipped his wine. “I think that if we can prove that one of the three Englishmen is Teddy, one of us in this room is going to be asked to do something about him. You’d better be prepared for that when you talk to Lance.”
    â€œMy orders were to find Teddy, report back and get the hell out,” Holly said.
    Pepper shook his head. “Everything has changed, with Croft’s killing. We’re all going to be getting new orders.”

38
    H ugh English knocked, then entered Kate Lee’s office. “Good morning, Director,” he said.
    â€œGood morning, Hugh,” Kate replied. She thought he looked a little flushed and angry. “Let’s go straight in to lunch, shall we?”
    â€œOf course.”
    Kate led him into the small dining room off her office, where the round table was set for three and a bottle of Chardonnay was on ice. “Please take a seat.”
    â€œIs someone joining us?”
    â€œYes, I’ve asked Lance to come a little later; first, though, I want us to talk.” She continued quickly, not giving him time to ask questions. “Hugh, first thing is I want to thank you again for stepping in after Dick Stone’s murder and holding things together.”
    â€œI was happy to help.”
    â€œI know you had to delay your retirement plans and that it may have been expensive for you to do that, so let me assure you, the Agency will make you whole in that regard.”
    â€œThank you, Director.”
    â€œSecondly, I want to ask you to stay on just a little longer.”
    â€œI suppose I can do that. Have you made any progress on choosing my replacement?”
    â€œYes, I’ve decided to promote Lance Cabot to the job. I realize, Hugh, that Lance would not have been your first choice, but I’m sure you know that I have my own priorities. I know you will agree that Lance has been a more than capable officer for us, winning good outcomes on a remarkable number of important efforts over the past few years.”
    â€œWell, yes,” English said without enthusiasm. “I suppose you’ve already told Lance.”
    â€œNo, I wanted you to be here for that; it’s the purpose of our lunch. I also want to have a conversation among the three of us about the future of the operations directorate.”
    â€œWhen is Lance’s appointment going to take effect?”
    â€œRight after this luncheon,” Kate said. “What I’d like you to do is to gather your deputies and assistants this afternoon, tell them of the transition and ask them to assemble summaries of the various operations, both under way and contemplated. Tomorrow, or the next day, if they need the time, I’d like them to make full-blown presentations to Lance, so that he will have the greatest possible grasp of what’s happening everywhere. At your meeting this afternoon with your people, I’d like you to tell them to begin immediately to report to Lance on absolutely everything, and to cable all stations and all field agents to do so, as well. Instructions should go out before close of business today. It