“There’s no need for that,” the president said.

Roth took a breath. “Mr. President,” he said, “I have some other business to discuss with you.”

“I think this current crisis takes precedence, don’t you, Levi?”

“Sir, this refers to my captured agent.”

“Everlane?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you want to discuss it alone?”

“If we could, sir.”

Roth and the president had known each other a very long time. They’d had their run-ins, and they certainly didn’t see eye to eye on everything, but they’d steered the country through more than one crisis and they trusted each other.

The president knew Roth had a closer eye on national security strategy than anyone else in Washington, and despite the arrival of new favorites like Mansfield every once in a while, both men knew they’d still be there, manning their posts, long after men like Mansfield had come and gone.

“Harry,” the president said, turning to Mansfield. “You have enough to get started. I want a proposal to put before the Joint Chiefs by dawn.”

“But, sir,” Mansfield said.

“That will be all, Harry.”

“Yes, sir,” Mansfield said, turning to leave.

“Bye, Harry,” Roth said as he left.

When he was gone, the president said, “Couldn’t you at least try to get along with him?”

“I’m sorry,” Roth said. “He reminds me of my nephew.”

“The one who asked about your will?”

Roth nodded. “Sir,” he said, “I need to tell you something very sensitive.”

The president had poured them each a scotch and handed Levi his glass.

They sat down by the fire and the president said, “What’s really going on, Levi?”

“I have a rat in my house,” he said, easing into the subject.

“There are rats in every house,” the president said.

“The malware used in this breach was based on technology we know was developed by the Dead Hand,” Roth said.

“The Dead Hand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“So they’re behind this?”

“It gets worse,” Roth said.

“What could be worse than that?”

“The breach required direct access to my office.”

“What does that mean?”

“I mean someone physically placed a device in my office.”

“Physically?”

“Sir,” Roth said, pulling a small electronic device from his pocket. “Someone walked into my office and hid this under the desk.”

The president took the device from Roth and looked at it. It was about the size of a matchbox, and looked like something you might buy to upgrade your computer.

“Levi,” the president said, “you’re telling me someone literally walked this into your office?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It wasn’t a remote hack?”

“They had inside help, sir.”

The president drained his scotch. “Mansfield’s right. We’re going to have to shut you down.”

Roth nodded. “Yes, sir, I’m flushing my team now. Setting breadcrumbs to see what filters back from Moscow. We’ll catch this mole by the balls.”

“That will take too much time.”