“Finally, my liaison for this operation will be a general officer who has been on the ground in Albuquerque. He is General Archie Gladstone. I know this is a bit unusual, but I’m recommending Gladstone to the president for the temporary rank of Lieutenant General. If the president agrees, Gladstone will assume that rank within days. I’d like you all to please give him your full cooperation. Thank you, gentlemen.”

As they walked out, James Wong winked. “Al, you’re always three steps ahead of the rest of us. I hope you can stay ahead of our very dear friend, Beaulieu.”

“Hang on a second, Jimmy. I have an urgent call to make.”

He plugged into a secure line and asked the operator for General Archie Gladstone at Fort Bragg. “Archie, this is Al Augustus.”

“Yes, Mr. Secretary. How can I help you?”

“Archie, there is an urgent matter of national security. Can you get up here to Washington right away?”

“None of our jets are flying, Mr. Secretary. I have a little single-engine plane that can make it, but it may take me four or five hours to get there.”

“Fine. I know it’s late, but come directly to my house. You can spend the night—what’s left of it—when you get here.”

“Yes, sir. On the way. See you tonight.”

As Al Augustus left the Pentagon, he wondered, Who, beside Jimmy and Archie, can I trust? Is there anyone I can confide in who won’t betray me?

As they stepped outside, Al grasped Jimmy Wong’s hand. “I’m counting on you.”

“And I’m counting on you, Al. See you tomorrow.”

THE INSISTENT CHIMING of the doorbell woke Barbara and Al Augustus in the middle of the night. Barbara sat up in bed and nudged her husband’s shoulder. “Someone’s at the door,” she whispered.

“I know,” he mumbled into his pillow.

“You know?” she said in surprise.

“Forgot to tell you,” he said groggily as he swung his legs out of bed. He stood up and reached for his robe, which was on a nearby chair.

“Well, who is it?” she asked.

“Gladstone,” he said, heading toward the door. “General Archie Gladstone.”

“Gladstone? The head of the relief effort in New Mexico?” she asked.

“That very one,” he said. At the door, he turned and added, “I needed to meet with him, and it couldn’t wait. I’ll put him in one of the guest rooms.” He walked back over to the bed, bent down, and gave her a kiss on the cheek; then he left the room and headed downstairs.

Barbara sighed deeply as she lay back in bed. She and Al had been married over twenty years, and she loved him deeply. She didn’t know what the meeting with Gladstone was about, but she knew that, whatever it was, it was for the good of the country.