Rapp took a sip of his coffee and looked past Ward toward the colorful bougainvillea climbing the wall. “Take it from a guy who’s done it, Nick. Surviving in the jungle with what I assume was no food or equipment isn’t easy. Particularly for people who’ve spent their lives in labs and universities.”

“Actually, David worked with Doctors Without Borders in some of the most dangerous countries in the world, and Jing Liu grew up on a farm with no electricity or running water.”

“Look,” Rapp said. “If we were talking about three days, I might feel different. But six? You’re clinging to hope that isn’t there.”

“The good thing about being a man in my position is that you have the resources to cling to anything you want.”

Rapp leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “You’re about to ask me to fly to Uganda and find your people, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“This seems like a job for the government, Nick. Africa Command could coordinate with the Ugandans and send enough people to clear out Auma’s men. Some problems can be solved by a small group of highly trained men. With others, you’re better off having five hundred and heavy equipment. This is probably in the second category.”

“I don’t disagree, Mitch. I talked to the president personally only a few days ago. In fact, Irene was at the meeting.”

“And?”

“I left the White House without any promises, but it’s my understanding that a small force was sent into the jungle two days ago. As far as I know, though, they have no support and no solid intelligence.”

“Where did you get that information?”

He shrugged. “I hear things.”

Rapp wondered if it was from Kennedy. The fact that she’d sent Ward to see him suggested strongly that she wanted him to get involved. And that she wanted to keep her distance.

“I’m not sure I’m the best man for the job, Nick. My record isn’t great when it comes to saving medical researchers from terrorists.”

“Victoria Schaefer,” the man responded. “An incredible tragedy. But the way you stopped those terrorists from getting YARS across the Mexican border was incredible. And I understand you contracted it. That you almost died.”

Rapp neither acknowledged nor denied what Ward had said. The entire episode was beyond top secret. The public had been fed a story about ISIS trying to smuggle radioactive materials into the United States and credit for stopping the shipment had gone to border patrol.

“You’re surprised I know about that,” Ward said. “You shouldn’t be. Irene Kennedy is a woman who always has a backup plan. She was confident that you’d succeed, but not absolutely sure. And in the face of that kind of uncertainty, who gets a call?”

“You and David Chism,” Rapp responded.