"No thanks. I'll do it when I'm finished with Gregory. Poor guy must be going through hell. We get so wrapped up in events here, we forget the people sometimes."

The secure phone beeped just as Liz Gordon and Lowell Coffey walked in. Donald's prefix appeared with the number at the display along the bottom. Hood motioned for Liz to close the door. She sat and Coffey stood behind Ann, who shifted uncomfortably. Hood hit the speaker phone.

"Gregory-- how are you?"

"All right. Paul, are you on the secure line?"

"Yes."

"Good. And you're on speaker?"

"Yes."

"Who's there, Liz, Ann, and Lowell?"

"That's the list."

"Of course. Then let's get right to it. I did radio Hong-koo, and he responded. I'm to meet him in five and a half hours. Why shoot bullets when you can shoot off your mouth, that's always been my motto."

"It's a good one, Greg, but not with the DPRK."

"That's what General Schneider said when he read me the riot act. He's going to leave me twisting in the wind. So is Washington, I'm told." He hesitated a moment. "Are you, Paul?"

"Give me a minute."

Hood hit the Mute button and looked at Liz. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ann nodding solemnly. Lowell stood motionless. The Staff Psychologist sucked on her upper lip and then shook her head.

"Why not?" Hood asked.

"As his ally, you have a chance of changing his mind. If you're his adversary, he'll shut you out."

"What if I fire him?"

"It won't change a thing. He's a man who's had a severe shock today, who thinks he's behaving with restraint and compassion-- a common reaction-- and won't be dissuaded."

"Lowell, what if Schneider charges him with something-- misappropriation of government equipment when he made the radio broadcast, something like that-- and arrests him."

"It'll be a hell of a messy trial, and we may have to reveal things we don't want to about the way we work."

"What if they only hold Greg twenty-four hours? Security reasons, some bullshit like that."

"He may sue you. Same result."

"But he won't," Liz said. "I went over his file when you appointed him, Paul. He's never done anything vindictive. That was one of his problems, as far as his diplomatic career was concerned. He was a true Christian."

"Ann, what kind of press is up there?"

"As a rule, no one, they're all based in Seoul. But I'm sure reporters are scrambling for credentials and are on the way. They'll be looking to file any and all kinds of stories. Especially the holding of a former high-level diplomat."

Lowell said, "And what will the press do to us if Donald goes to the meeting and they find out that he's connected with Op-Center? We'll be portrayed as a bunch of kooks working outside the establishment."

"I hate to agree with Lowell," Ann said, "but he has a point."

"Donald won't say anything," Liz said. "Not even in anger. As far as the world is concerned, he works only for the U.S./Korean Friendship Society."