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
Dupart rose to his feet immediately.
‘Mr President, I think I know this drill. I’ll be in my office when you’re ready to continue.’
‘Thanks, Nick.’
‘Of course.’
Dupart turned and left without another word, passing Meyer as he went. For his part, Meyer hardly seemed to notice him at all.
With Dupart gone, Meyer silently indicated for Special Agents Hodge and Reynolds to follow suit.
The agents did as they were instructed, with Reynolds closing the office door behind them. Meyer checked that it was fully closed before he stepped forward.
‘Sir, we’ve located Joe Dempsey.’
‘Where?’
It was Cunningham who spoke. He was on his feet and inches from Meyer by the time he did so, having almost leapt from his chair at the news.
‘Afghanistan, sir. In the United Nations compound southwest of Kabul.’
Cunningham shot a glance towards Knowles. This was unexpected, and it could only have one meaning: Dempsey was going after the truth about Tootkai. And he was moving much more quickly than anyone had anticipated.
He turned back to Meyer.
‘How good is your intelligence?’
‘Solid, sir. We have people in that compound. They report that an Agent Joe Dempsey arrived there by Airbus A330 within the last hour. He was carrying an injury to his shoulder that needed emergency medical care.’
‘Shit.’
‘And he was not alone, sir.’
Bitterness had crept into Meyer’s voice. Knowles could not miss it. Nor could he mistake the hatred that now filled the man’s eyes.
Knowles knew the answer to his next question before he even asked it.
‘Who was he with?’
‘According to my sources, he was travelling with Special Agent Eden Grace of the United States Secret Service.’
Cunningham’s eyes shot back to Knowles. This time there was no look of shared concern. This time, the glance was an accusation.
‘Eden Grace is with Dempsey?’ His eyes remained fixed on Knowles as he questioned Meyer. ‘You’re sure?’
‘Not a doubt in my mind,’ Meyer replied.
Cunningham nodded, his eyes still fixed on the president.
Knowles knew what they were thinking. After everything he had told them – after his assurances of Grace’s loyalty – it made no sense that she would have betrayed them. There could be only one explanation . . .
‘Why did you insist that Grace went after Dempsey?’ Cunningham’s voice was low. Dangerous.
‘What are you suggesting, Kelvin?’
‘I’m not suggesting anything, John.’ The use of Knowles’ first name was a message. The daily pretence of who was in charge had been suspended. ‘I’m just asking you a question. Why did you put her on Jack’s team?’
‘I put her on there because I thought I could trust her.’ Knowles spoke slowly, as if educating a child. ‘I sent her to avoid the screw-ups you’ve made throughout this whole thing.’
‘BULLSHIT!’ Cunningham’s self-control seemed to snap. ‘DID YOU SEND HER TO HELP HIM? DID YOU FUCKING PLAN THIS?’
The president rose to his feet, standing tall at his full six feet three inches. He towered over Cunningham. A size difference that did nothing to intimidate the smaller man.