White raised his hands. When he looked at Brad Elliott again, the three-star general had a big .45 caliber automatic pistol in his hand, aimed at White as well. "Hey, General," White said, an amused smile on his face, "these guys are good."
"You're under arrest, Colonel, for revealing classified information and attempting to exchange classified information. I want him Mirandized, hooded any time he is outside a building, searched-body cavity and X-ray-booked, and held in maximum security until a full identity check has been accomplished. No phone calls, no contact with any individuals whatsoever until I authorize it. Move out." White did not say another word as a black hood was placed over his head and he was dragged off.
"Good job, Hal," Elliott said, sitting back down.
"Don't thank me. Thank Sergeant Taylor. He recognized the duress code word 'ceremony' and called me the second you mentioned it. What was he trying to sell you?"
"An unbelievable story, Hal," Elliott said. "An incredible story. Half of me prays it's not true and half of me prays it is. We have some phone calls to make."
"You gonna let me bust this guy, sir?" Briggs said enthusiastically. "It's been a slow week and I could use the-"
"If his story doesn't pan out, I'll authorize a full national-security investigation and you can dismantle the guy piece by piece-with his defense counsel present, of course. But first I want to find out if what I've heard has any truth to it. I've got to ask General Curtis. He should get involved."
"Curtis? The General Curtis? The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Curtis?"
"If what White said is true-and a lot of it seems to be irrefutable- then Curtis needs to know immediately. If this is all some big con game, then he can squash it quick and neat."
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, SOMEWHERE OVER KANSAS
17 MARCH, 0130 CT (0030 ET)
The President of the United States, on an evening flight back to Washington, D.C., after a trip to the West Coast, had just retired for the evening into the front section of Air Force One, which was outfitted as a full luxury suite for him and the First Lady. As usual, he left his staff with another two or three hours' work to do before the plane landed. Fortunately, Air Force One was well suited for work, with impeccable service, eighty-five phones on board, plus the assistance of no less than three operators, not to mention fax machines, word processors, and a rack of computers
That evening flight found the White House Chief of Staff Robert "Case" Timmons, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Wilbur Curtis, and National Security Advisor George Russell, together in the staff lounge, the plush "living room" in the center of the modified Boeing 747
reserved for the President's staff. Several soft leather chairs were arranged along the fuselage wall around a large, low coffee table, where magazines and English4anguage newspapers from all over the world were scattered. Aides for each Cabinet officer were nearby, taking copious notes and instructions as their superiors tossed orders to them.