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Chapters (61)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. Epilogue
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. About the Author
  60. Also by Catherine Coulter
  61. About the Publisher

Lodner continued in a sharp impatient voice to Savich, “I was unable to be here earlier because I wanted to discuss this unusual situation with CIA Director Hendricks. Agent Savich, you know as well as I do that any investigation you conduct into this situation is unlikely to bear fruit. We have resources in place, we know the players. It is very doubtful you’ll be able to find the identity of the foreign national Agent Hildebrandt was forced to kill last night. There is even less chance you will find the second shooter. In short, you face failure, which makes it more obvious that the only intelligent solution is for the CIA to continue working on this case ourselves, even without domestic police power, while keeping you informed, naturally.”

9

Olivia

So it was gloves off right out of the gate. Lodner’s whopping lie to keep him informed if he took over the case made Savich want to smile. Time for his boot on Lodner’s neck. Savich sat back in his chair, crossed his arms. “Mr. Lodner, as you very well know, it’s our responsibility, in our charter, not yours, to investigate domestic violence that violates federal law whether it involves a mail clerk in the post office or a CIA agent. Since you were perfectly clear, let me return the favor. If you do not cooperate with me today, provide me all the information I need to proceed, our own director will be told. Let me assure you, he will not take this lightly.”

Lodner’s voice became frigid. “You fail to realize how serious the diplomatic damage would be if Agent Hildebrandt’s mission becomes public. You have no understanding of the possible consequences or retaliation, nor should you, because your charter hasn’t equipped you to. There are lives at stake as well, lives that are our responsibility, not yours.”

“All the more reason for you to tell me what I need to know. There will be no leaks from the FBI. Now, can we stop the pissing contest? Tell me about the mission to Iran that resulted in the serious injury of Agent Hildebrandt and the subsequent attempt on her life last night.”

Lodner’s fist hit the tabletop. “There is no definitive proof the attempted shooting last night has anything to do with Iran.”

Olivia’s eyebrow shot up. She opened her mouth, closed it.

Lodner ground his teeth, turned to Olivia. “Agent Hildebrandt, what did you tell him about Iran?”

“Nothing, sir. Only that one of the men last night was probably Iranian. I heard him speak Farsi.”

Grace said quietly, “I believe, sir, you should tell Agent Savich about our mission to Iran.”

Lodner looked back at Savich. “Very well. I am prepared to give you an overview of the mission, but certainly not the classified details.”

“You may begin with the broad strokes, Mr. Lodner, then we’ll see.”