Contents ( 84)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- Acknowledgements
She reached across Meyer’s desk, picked up the handset of his landline phone and spun the console to face herself. She had already dialled the DC area code – 202 – before Meyer slammed his huge hand down onto the phone’s switch hook and cleared the line.
Kirk looked directly into Meyer’s face, her own a mask of pretend anger. In return, she saw his rage disappear.
The act had worked.
‘Are you gonna tell me, Jack?’ she asked. ‘What do I need to know?’
When Meyer replied, his voice was calmer.
‘Sit down, Elizabeth.’
Kirk did as instructed, never taking her eyes off of Meyer.
‘Look, I thought you must have known. I thought Dempsey must have been acting on orders.’
Kirk shook her head.
‘What orders? Why the hell would I send him after your men? The president’s men? I haven’t even seen Dempsey in days.’
‘It’s not that,’ he replied. ‘It was . . .’
He trailed off. And Kirk knew why. There was nothing Meyer could say that did not risk putting Kirk on the path he had – until moments ago – thought she was already on.
‘It was what? Come on, Jack. It’s me. What the hell is this?’
‘I . . . I can’t tell you,’ he finally answered. ‘Like I said, it’s a national security threat and you don’t have that kind of clearance any more.’
Kirk suppressed a smile. She had this.
‘Just know, if Dempsey contacts you in any way, directly, indirectly, you need to contact me immediately. He’s a threat, Elizabeth. A massive threat. And there’s only one way we can deal with him.’
Kirk felt her eyes widen. Almost like it was no longer an act.
‘You mean there’s a sanction on him?’
‘He killed four, maybe five US Secret Service agents. What do you think?’
Kirk looked down. Allowing the right amount of time to pass, she put just the right amount of regret into her voice when she looked back up.
‘I understand,’ she said. ‘If he contacts me or if I hear anything, I’ll get in touch.’
‘You have my cell?’
‘Have you changed it lately?’
‘Not in two decades.’
‘Then I have it.’
Meyer paused before replying. As if he was running through his remaining thoughts.
‘OK,’ he finally said. ‘In that case, I guess you should be going. What needs to happen now, you don’t need to be here to see. Not when it’s one of yours.’
Kirk rose to her feet.
‘I appreciate that, Jack. I really do.’
‘Don’t. I’m just disappointed it has to happen at all. I’d rather I had my team back.’
Meyer seemed genuinely sad. If Kirk had been naive, she might have even felt sorry for him.
But naive was something she had never been.
She reached out her arm, palm open. Meyer took it and gently shook her hand.
‘Good luck, Jack. I hope you find him.’
‘Thanks. Me too.’
Kirk held Meyer’s gaze for a moment more, allowed herself a sad smile and then opened her hand, releasing his grip. Then, without another word, she turned and walked to the door.