Now the picture was becoming clearer. The old-boy network at Langley had called on one of their favorite sons again—a CIA legacy, no less, the grandson of an OSS hero—and that dutiful son, Rhodes, had answered that call yet again. It was only natural for Rhodes to reach out to someone who could actually carry the water on this mission, and so Rhodes cajoled Paul into the assignment. Rhodes had handed him a rock too heavy to lift and then told him to lift it.

But then again, the more he thought about it, the more Paul began to see the logic. No doubt the reason the CIA didn’t run the op themselves was that they couldn’t figure out a way to pull it off, either. So they called in Rhodes for ideas, and apparently Paul was his best. “If anyone call pull this off, it would be Paul Brown,” he imagined Rhodes telling them. And that would be true, because Paul had certain unique skill sets and Rhodes knew that.

So that would’ve been a compliment.

Hard to get angry about that.

“But what if he can’t pull it off?” Paul imagined the Langley special activities officer asking. And in his mind’s eye, he saw Rhodes shrugging and saying, “Then he doesn’t pull it off. We’re no worse off for trying.”

“Unless he gets caught,” Paul whispered aloud, still speaking as the imaginary SAD man.

Paul shrugged. So just don’t get caught.

So how could he avoid getting caught? The only way to definitely not get caught was to not try at all, but that wasn’t an option.

He didn’t want to let Rhodes down. More important, he didn’t want to let his country down. He had to try something.

But what?

Paul checked his watch. It was time to call Rhodes. He wasn’t going to be happy.

After several rings Rhodes finally picked up. “Paul?”

“One and the same.”

“It’s good to hear your voice.”

“Yours, too, Wes. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“Not at all. Just got back from the gym. How’s the weather over there?”

“Warm, scattered showers. A lull in the monsoon season, I’m told.”

“We’re expecting snow this evening. I think I’d rather be where you are. How do you like it? The city, I mean?”

“It’s an amazing place. I’ve never been in such a clean, well-ordered city. It feels more like Disney Epcot than New York or Chicago.”

“I thought you’d like it. So, how is everything? Has Dr. Fairchild taken good care of you and Jack?”

“Very much so. Jack’s out on the town right now with Lian Fairchild.”

“Outstanding. How’s work?”

“Uneventful, as we suspected.”

“That’s good news.” The senator paused. He was waiting for the coded message Paul was required to deliver.