Friberg answered, “We have no evidence whatsoever of any nuclear activity in the region. We’ve handled dozens of threats, which, to use your words, hold more water than this one. The chances that the Brotherhood has anything resembling a bomb is highly unlikely. And if they did, a threat like this would make no sense.”

The president turned to Bancroft. “Myles?”

“Frankly, I agree. My guess is that they don’t have it, but I’m basing that on nothing more than my gut. Nonproliferation has had nuclear components under the highest scrutiny since the Gulf War. Despite all the experts who insist suitcase bombs are available on any black market street corner, assembling all the components to actually build a bomb is, as you know, nearly impossible. I can’t see it, especially not in South America.”

“But it still involves a weapon of mass destruction,” the president said. “We treat them all the same. What were the chances of Iraq getting the bomb? Tell me about the man who issued the threat. This Abdullah Amir.”

Friberg answered, “We have no idea how Abdullah Amir came to be in South America, or whether in fact he is in South America.”

The president just looked at him.

“It’s more likely that the threat came from one of the drug cartels in the region.” Friberg made a decision then, hoping desperately that Ingersol would follow his lead. Sweat wet his brow and he took a deliberate breath.

“We recently sent an agent operating under the name Casius into the jungle to take out a powerful drug cartel in the region. A black operation. Our information is a bit sketchy, but we believe that the agent attempted an assassination and failed. We believe the cartel is responding with this threat. But it’s important to remember what Bancroft said, sir. It’s highly improbable that the cartel has anything resembling a bomb at their disposal.”

“But it is possible.”

Friberg nodded. “Anything is possible.”

“So, what you’re saying is that you initiated black operations against a drug cartel and your guy, this Casius, missed his target. So now the cartel is threatening to blow up the country?”

Friberg glanced at Ingersol and caught the glint in his eye. “Isn’t that pretty much your assessment, Mark?” His nerves ran taut. Ingersol’s next few words would cast his position. Not to mention Friberg’s future.

Ingersol nodded. “Basically, yes.”

“And this Brotherhood threat is just to throw us off ? We’re not dealing with Islamic militants at all but some drug runners?”

“That’s our assessment,” Ingersol answered.

The president looked at his security advisor, Masters. “Make sense to you, Robert?”

“Could be.” He looked at Friberg. “DEA involved in this?”

“No.”

“If this agent of yours failed in his assassination attempt, why is the cartel so uptight? Seems like an unusual reaction, doesn’t it?”