The Project 01 - White Jade

was stolen from an American investor. "
    " Are you talking about William Connor? "
    " Yes. We identified and detained two of Yang ' s agents, one of whom was embedded in the FBI. He was caught red handed talking with Yang ' s principle aide. He passed along the information that we suspected a coup and expressed concern for his personal safety because of unspecified events planned to take place today. "
    Lodge raised an eyebrow. " Why wasn ' t Langley informed, Director? "
    " I believe that was the responsibility of the FBI. They handled the discovery and detention of Yang ' s people. Perhaps they were embarrassed to find out one of their own is a traitor. "
    Harker knew that her political survival, even the survival of the Project , might depend on how this man read the situation. If he decided to oppose her, she was in trouble. There was no harm in letting the FBI take some of the heat. Besides, what she said was mostly true.
    As if on cue, FBI Director Gordon Westbrooke entered the room, followed by the Director of Homeland Security, Joseph Wiseman. Harker watched Lodge ' s eyes narrow as he observed Westbrooke. Behind Lodge ' s back General Hood gave her a look of approval.
    " I look forward to hearing more about this, Elizabeth . Let ' s get together soon. Perhaps lunch next week? I like to talk with you about something, but this isn ' t the place. If you ' ll excuse me, I think I ' ll go have a little chat with Gordon. " He nodded at Hood and moved with purpose toward Westbrooke.
    " You ' re on your toes today, Director, " said Hood . " That was neatly done. "
    Harker glanced at her watch. It was almost 11:00 P.M. Kevin Hogan, President Rice ' s Chief of Staff came in.
    " The President will be here momentarily, " he said. " Please find your seats. "

Chapter F orty- Eight

    President Rice entered the room.
    " Good evening, everyone. Please be seated. " Rice took his place at the head of the table and the others sat.
    President James Rice was in the third year of his first term and deep in the quicksand of presidential politics. Descended from early American colonists, he was named after an ancestor who'd fought in the American Revolution. He'd served with distinction as a young Marine officer in Vietnam . At s ixty-seven he looked ten years younger. His face was strong and comforting, with hazel eyes that seemed to speak directly to you alone. He was popular, charismatic when he chose and possessed of a streak of integrity that defied the conventions of the political world. Harker liked him.
    " Let ' s get started. Joseph, what is our current situation? "
    The Director of Homeland Security cleared his throat.
    " Mister President, power is out throughout Northern and Central California, Oregon , Southern Washington and Western Nevada . The effect is spreading as other stations in the grid try to take up the load. The electrical utilities have gone to rolling brownout in an effort to head off more failures.
    " The Governor of California has called out the Guard . All civilian emergency forces have been activated. E mergency power is up and running at all medical facilities . We are currently at Elevated Alert . "
    " Are we certain these explosions were not accidental? "
    " Yes, Mister President. They occurred at exactly the same time and appear to have been selected to create maximum disruption in the grid. "
    " Any communication from terrorist groups? "
    " We have received a statement claiming responsibility from a group calling itself the Beijing Great Nation Brigade. "
    " Is this a known group? "
    " No, Mister President. "
    At that moment an aide entered and handed President Rice a note. Everyone watched as he read it. Rice looked up at them. He was grim.
    " There ha ve been explosion s in San Francisco with heavy civilian casualties. Turn on the monitors. "
    Heads swiveled toward the end of the room . T he monitors came alive. There was no sound, but the visuals were enough. All t he major networks were showing scenes in the Bay Area.
    A live helicopter shot zoomed in on bodies lying in the Ferry Building Plaza . A bomb had detonated under the restaurant at the end of the Ferry Building Pier. The restaurant was gone. The pier was mostly gone . Under the restaurant a reinforced concrete shaft had fed air into the BART tunnel running below the bay. It was gone. Where it had been, t he waters of the Bay churned in a seething whirlpool, pouring into a black hole.
    The networks were pooling shots. Injured and