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Chapters (83)
  1. Cover
  2. ALSO BY TOM CLANCY
  3. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
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  82. 79
  83. What’s next onyour reading list?

Jack got a sinking feeling. He would rather jump out of an airplane than spend it sitting next to a man whose idea of a good time most likely was watching subtitled reruns of Gunsmoke on the hotel cable channel. He didn’t exactly relish the idea of spending the next ten days in a city so uptight it outlawed chewing gum, either.

But like his dad used to say, at least he wasn’t shoveling shit in Louisiana.

12

What did you need to talk to me about?” Paul asked. He’d watched Rhodes close the door after Hendley and Jack left, then shut the curtain to the sidelight window.

Certain they were alone and unobserved, Rhodes crossed back over to Paul, who was seated in the club chair again. Rhodes took up a position directly in front of him, leaning against Hendley’s desk, towering over the heavyset accountant. The ex-senator’s instincts told him he should do a bug check to make sure no one was listening in, but Gerry Hendley was an old friend and a straight arrow, and he certainly didn’t want to spook Brown.

“Paul, everything I told Gerry and Jack before about the purpose of this assignment was absolutely true. I need you to believe that.”

“Okay.”

“And I need you to believe I really did ask for you to be on this assignment, and when I said you’re the best forensic accountant I know, I wasn’t just blowing smoke. We both know your skill set. You’re even a certified fraud examiner—perfect for this job. And we both know that CFE title isn’t an easy one to acquire.”

Paul shrugged, uncomfortable with the compliments.

“I also know you’re a man of . . . routine. And plucking you out of this place, out of your comfort zone and your work schedule at the last minute, and hurtling you to the other side of the planet on a moment’s notice isn’t the kind of thing you relish.”

“It’s just that I’m right in the middle of a major project, and my team—”

Rhodes raised his palm like a traffic cop, silencing him.

“You don’t need to explain yourself, Paul. You’re absolutely right. You already have important responsibilities here. And I want to assure you that you don’t have to do this thing if you don’t want to. But I know you, and if you’ll let me tell you what’s really going on, I think you’ll jump on board.”

“Okay. I’m all ears.”

Rhodes slipped into the empty club chair next to Paul—two old friends now, conspiring against the world.