We have to keep it tight for the moment, Bill. I think the next step is getting somebody over from Justice to cover our asses for us. Who?

Christ, I dont know, Shaw replied in exasperation. Its one thing to run an investigation that the AG knows about but is kept out of, but I cant remember ever running one completely unknown to him.

Lets take our time, then. The main thing right now is to figure out what the plan was, then branch out from there. It was a logical observation from Murray. It was also wrong. It was to be a day of errors.

The F-15E touched down at Howard Field right on time, eighty minutes before the scheduled arrival of the flight from Andrews. Bright thanked the pilot, who refueled and took off at once for a more leisurely return to Eglin. The base intelligence officer met Bright, along with the most senior agent from the legal attachs office in Panama City, who was young, sharp, but too new in his post for a case of this sensitivity. The arriving agent briefed his two colleagues on what little he knew and swore both to secrecy. It was enough to get things going. His first stop was the post exchange, where he got some nondescript clothing. The intelligence officer supplied a very plain automobile with local tags that they left outside the gate. On base theyd use an anonymous blue Air Force sedan. The Plymouth sat near the flight line when the VC-20A landed. Bright pulled his Nikon out of the bag and attached a 1000mm telephoto lens. The aircraft taxied to a stop at one of the hangars, and the stairs folded down with the hatch. Bright snugged his camera in and started shooting close-ups from several hundred yards away as the single passenger stepped out of the plane and into a waiting car.

Jesus, its really him. Bright rewound and removed the film cassette. He handed it to the other FBI agent and reloaded another thirty-six-frame spool.

The car they followed was a twin to their Air Force sedan. It drove straight off post. Bright and the rest barely had time to switch cars, but the Air Force colonel driving had ambitions to race the NASCAR circuit and took up a surveillance position a hundred yards behind it.

Why no security? he asked.

He generally doesnt bother, they told me, Bright told him. Sounds odd, doesnt it?

Hell, yes, given who he is, what he knows, and where the hell he happens to be at the moment.

The trip into town was unremarkable. The Air Force sedan dropped Cutter off at a luxury hotel on the outskirts of Panama City. Bright hopped out and watched him check in, just like a man on a business trip. The other agent came in a few minutes later while the colonel stayed with the car.

Now what?

Anybody you can trust on the local PD? Bright asked.

Nope. I know a few, some of them pretty good guys. But trust? Not down here, man.

Well, theres always the old-fashioned way, Bright observed.

kay. The assistant legal attach reached for his wallet and walked to the registration desk. He came back two minutes later. The Bureau owes me twenty bucks. Hes registered as Robert Fisher. Heres the American Express number. He handed over a crumpled carbon sheet that also had the scrawled signature.

Call the office and run it. We need to keep an eye on his room. We needChrist, how many assets do we have? Bright waved him outside.

Not enough for this.

Brights face twisted into an ugly shape for a moment. This was no easy call to make. ODYSSEY was a code-word case, and one thing that Murray had impressed on him was the need for security, butthere was always a but, wasnt there?this was something that needed doing. So he was the senior man on the scene and he had to make the call. Of such things, he knew, careers were made and broken. It was murderously hot and humid, but that wasnt the only reason Mark Bright was sweating.

Okay, tell him we need a half-dozen good people to help us with the surveillance.

You sure Im not sure of anything right now! The man were supposed to be shadowingif we suspect himChrist Almighty, if we suspect him Bright stopped talking. There wasnt much else to say, was there?

Yeah.

Ill hang out here. Tell the colonel to get things organized.

It turned out that they neednt have hurried. The subjectthats what he was now, Bright told himselfappeared in the lobby three hours later, looking fresh and scrubbed in his tropical-weight suit. Four cars waited outside for him, but Cutter only knew about the small, white Mercedes into which he climbed and which drove off to the north. The other three kept it in visual contact.

It was getting dark. Bright had shot only three frames on his second roll of film. He ejected that one and replaced it with some super-high-speed black and white film. He shot a few pictures of the car just to make sure that he got the license number. The driver at this point wasnt the colonel, but a sergeant from the criminal-investigation detachment who knew the area and was impressed as hell to be working a code-word case with the Bureau. He identified the house the Mercedes pulled into. They ought to have guessed it.

The sergeant knew a place that overlooked the house, not a thousand yards away, but they were too late getting there and the car couldnt stay on the highway. Bright and the local FBI representative jumped out and found a wet, smelly place to lie down and wait. The sergeant left them a radio with which to summon him and wished them luck.

The owner of the house was away attending to matters of state, of course, but he had been kind enough to give them free use of it. That included a small but discreet staff which served light snacks and drinks, then withdrew, leaving the tape recorders, both men were sure, to record events. Well, that didnt matter, did it?

The hell it doesnt! Both men realized the sensitivity of the conversation that was about to take place, and it was Cortez who surprised his guest by graciously suggesting that they speak outside, despite the weather. Both men dropped off their suitcoats and went through the French doors to the garden. About the only good news was the impressive collection of blue bug-lights which crackled and sparkled as they attracted and electrocuted thousands of insects. The noise would make hash out of most recording attempts, and who would have expected either of them to eschew the houses air conditioning?

Thank you for responding to my message, Cortez said pleasantly. It was not a time for bluster or posturing. It was time for business, and hed have to appear appropriately humble before this man. It didnt bother him. Dealing with people of his rank required it, and it was something hed have to get used to, Flix expected. They needed deference. It made surrendering all the easier.

What do you want to talk about? Admiral Cutter asked.

Your operations against the Cartel, of course. Cortez waved toward a cane chair. He disappeared for a moment, then returned with the tray of drinks and glasses. For tonight, Perrier was the drink of choice. Both men left the alcohol untouched. For Flix, that was the first good sign.

What operations are you talking about?

You should know that I had nothing personally to do with the death of Mr. Jacob. It was an act of madness.

Why should I believe that?

I was in America at the time. Didnt they tell you? Cortez filled in some details. An information source like Mrs. Wolfe, he concluded, is worth far more than stupid, emotional revenge. It is more foolish still to challenge a powerful nation in so obvious a way. Your response was quite well done. In fact, the operations you are running are most impressive. I didnt even suspect your airport-surveillance operations until after they were terminated, and the way you simulated the car bomba work of art, if I may say so. Can you tell me what the strategic objective of your operation is?

Come now, Colonel.

Admiral, I have the power to expose the totality of your activities to the press, Flix said almost sadly. Either you tell me or you tell the members of your own Congress. You will find me far more accommodating. We are, after all, men of the same profession.

Cutter thought for a moment, and told him. He was greatly irritated to see his interlocutor start laughing.

Brilliant! Cortez said when he was able to. One day I would wish to meet this man, the one who proposed this idea. Truly he is a professional!

Cutter nodded as though accepting the compliment. For a moment Flix wondered if that might be true . . . it was easy enough to find out.

You must forgive me, Admiral Cutter. You think I am making light of your operation. I say to you honestly that I am not. You have, in fact, accomplished your goal.

We know. We know that somebody tried to kill you and Escobedo.

Yes, Flix replied. Of course. I would also like to know how you are developing such fine intelligence on us, but I know that you will not tell me.

Cutter played the card for all he thought it was worth. We have more assets than you think, Colonel. It wasnt worth that much.

I am sure, Cortez allowed. I think we have an area of agreement.

What might that be?

You wish to initiate a war within the Cartel. So do I.

Cutter betrayed himself by the way he stopped breathing. Oh? How so?

Already Cortez knew that he had won. And this fool was advising the American President?

Why, I will become a de facto part of your operation and restructure the Cartel. That means eliminating some of the more offensive members, of course.

Cutter wasnt a total fool, but made the further mistake of stating the obvious as a question: With yourself as the new head?

Do you know what sort of people these drug lords are? Vicious peasants. Barbarians without education, drunk with power, yet they complain like spoiled children that they are not respected. Cortez smiled up at the stars. They are not people to be taken seriously by men such as ourselves. Can we agree that the world will be better when they have left it?

The same thought has occurred to me, as you have already pointed out.

Then we are in agreement.

Agreement on what?

Your car bombs have already eliminated five of the chieftains. I will further reduce the number. Those eliminated will include all who approved the murder of your ambassador and the others, of course. Such actions cannot go unpunished or the world is plunged into chaos. Also, to show good faith, I will unilaterally reduce cocaine shipments to your country by half. The drug trade is disordered and overly violent, the former DGI colonel said judiciously. It needs restructuring.

We want it stopped! Even as he said it, Cutter knew that it was a foolish thing to say.

Cortez sipped at his Perrier and continued to speak reasonably. It will never be stopped. So long as your citizens wish to destroy their brains, someone will make this possible. The question, then, is how do we make the process more orderly? Your education efforts will eventually reduce the demand for drugs to tolerable levels. Until then, I can regularize the trade to minimize the dislocation of your society. I will reduce exports. I can even give you some major arrests so that your police can take credit for the reductions. This is an election year, is it not?

Cutters breathing took another hiatus. They were playing high-stakes poker, and Cortez had just announced that the deck was marked.

Go on, was all he managed to say.

Was this not the objective of your operations in Colombia? To sting the Cartel and reduce drug trafficking? I offer you success, the sort of success to which your President can point. Reduction in exports, some dramatic seizures and arrests, an intramural war within the Cartel for which you will not be blamed, yet for which you will also take credit. I give you victory, Cortez said.

In return for . . . ?

I, too, must have a small victory to establish my position with the chieftains, yes? You will withdraw support for the Green Berets you have climbing those horrible mountains. You knowthe men you are supporting with that large black helicopter in Hangar Three at Howard Air Force Base. You see, those chieftains whom I wish to displace have large groups of retainers, and the best way for me to reduce their numbers is to have your men kill them for me. At the same time, unfortunately, in order to gain standing with my superiorsthis word was delivered with Richter-scale ironymy bloody and costly operation must ultimately be successful. It is a regrettable necessity, but from your point of view it also eliminates a potential security problem, does it not?

My God. Cutter looked away from Cortez, out past the bug lights into the jungle.

What do you suppose theyre talking about?

Beats the hell out of me, Bright replied. He was on his last roll of film. Even with the high-speed setting, to get a good shot he had to bring the shutter speed way down, and that meant holding the camera as still as a hunting rifle on a distant pronghorn.

What was it the President said? Close the operation out, and I dont care how. . . .

But I cant do that.

Sorry, Cutter said. Impossible.

Cortez made a helpless, shrugging gesture with both hands. In that case we will inform the world that your government has invaded Colombia and has committed murder on a particularly epic scale. You are aware, of course, of what will probably happen to you, your President, and many senior members of your government. It took so long for you to get over all those other scandals. It must be very troubling to serve a government that has so many problems with its own laws and then uses them against its own servants.

You cant blackmail the United States government.

Why not, Admiral? Our mutual profession carries risks, does it not? You nearly killed me with your first car bomb, and yet I have taken no personal offense. Your risk is exposure. Untiveross family was there, you know, his wife and two little ones, eleven domestic servants, I believe. All dead from your bomb. I will not count those who were carrying guns, of course. A soldier must take a soldiers chance. As did I. As must you, Admiral, except that yours is not a soldiers chance. Your chance will be before your courts and television reporters, and congressional committees. What was the old soldiers code? Cortez asked himself. Death before dishonor. He knew that his guest had no stomach for either.

I need time to Think? Excuse me, Admiral, but I must be back in four hours, which means I must leave here in fifteen minutes. My superiors do not know that I am gone. I have no time. Neither do you. I offer you the victory for which you and your President hoped. I require something in return. If we cannot agree, then the consequences will be unpleasant for both of us. It is that simple. Yes or no, Admiral?

What do you suppose they just shook hands about?

Cutter doesnt look real happy about it. Call the car! Looks like theyre buggin out.

Who the hell was he meeting with, anyway? I dont recognize him. If hes a player, hes not a local one.

I dont know. The car was late getting back, but the backup followed Cutter right back to his hotel. By the time Bright got back to the airfield, he learned that the subject was planning a good nights sleep for himself. The VC-20A was scheduled for a noon departure right back to Andrews. Bright planned to beat it there by taking an early commercial flight to Miami and connecting into Washington National. Hed arrive half dead from fatigue, but hed get there.

Ryan took the call for the DirectorJudge Moore was finally on his way back, but was still three hours out of Dulles. Jacks driver was ready as the executive elevator opened onto the garage, and they immediately left for Bethesda. They got there too late. Jack opened the door to see the bed covered with a sheet. The doctors had already left.

I was there at the end. He went out easy, one of the CIA people told him. Jack didnt recognize him, though he gave the impression that hed been waiting for Jack to appear. Youre Dr. Ryan, right?

Yes, Jack said quietly.

About an hour before he faded out, he said something aboutto remember what you two talked about. I dont know what he meant, sir.

I dont know you.

John Clark. The man came over to shake Ryans hand. Im Operations, but Admiral Greer recruited me, too, long time ago. Clark let out a breath. Like losing a father. Twice.

Yeah, Ryan said huskily. He was too tired, too wrung out to hide his emotions.

Come on, Ill buy you a cup of coffee and tell you a few stories about the old guy. Clark was sad, but he was a man accustomed to death. Clearly Ryan was not, which was his good luck.

The cafeteria was closed, and they got coffee from a waiting-room pot. It was reheated and full of acid, but Ryan didnt want to go home just yet, and was late remembering that hed driven his own car in. Hed have to drive himself home tonight. He was too tired for that. He decided to call home and tell Cathy that hed be staying over in town. CIA had an arrangement with one of the local Marriotts. Clark offered to drive him down, and Jack dismissed his driver. By this time both men decided that a drink wasnt a bad idea.

Larson was gone from the room. Hed left a note saying that Maria would be coming in later that night, and he was going to pick her up. Clark had a small bottle of bourbon, and this Marriott had real glasses. He mixed two and handed one over to Jack Ryan.

James Greer, the last of the good guys, Clark said as he raised his glass.

Jack took a sip. Clark had mixed it a little strong, and he nearly coughed.

If he recruited you, how come Operations? Clark smiled. Well, sir, I never went to college, but Greer spotted me through some of his Navy contacts. Its a long story, and parts of it Im not supposed to tell, but our paths have crossed three times.

Oh?

When the French went in to bag those Action Directe folks you found on the satellite photos, I was the liaison officer in Chad. The second time they went in, after the ULA people who took that dislike to you, I was on the chopper. And Im the fool who went on the beach to bring Mrs. Gerasimov and her daughter out. And that, sir, was all your fault. I do the crazy stuff, Clark explained. All the field work that the espionage boys wet their pants over. Of course, maybe theyre just smarter than I am.

I didnt know.

You werent supposed to know. Sorry we missed on bagging those ULA pukes. Ive always wanted to apologize to you for that. The French were really good about it. They were so happy with us for fingering Action Directe that they wanted to give us the ULA heads on plaques. But there was this damned Libyan unit out on maneuvers, and the chopper just stumbled on themthats a problem when you go zooming in lowand it turned out that the camp was probably empty anyway. Everybody was real sorry it didnt work out as planned. Might have saved you a little grief. We tried, Dr. Ryan. We surely tried.

Jack. Ryan held out his glass for a refill.

Fine. Call me John. Clark topped both drinks off. The Admiral said I could tell you all that. He also said that you tumbled to what was happening down south. I was down there, Clark said. What do you want to know?

You sure you can tell me that?

The Admiral said so. Hesexcuse me, he was a deputy director, and I figure that means I can do what he told me to do. This bureaucratic stuff is a little confusing to a humble line-animal, but I figure you can never go far wrong by telling the truth. Besides, Ritter told me that everything we did was legal, that he had all the permission he needed for this hunting expedition. That permission had to come from one place. Somebody decided that this drug stuff was a clear and present danger thats a quoteto the security of the United States. Only one man has the power to say that for-real, and if he does, he has the authority to do something about it. Maybe I never went to college, but I do read a lot. Where do you want me to start?

At the beginning, Jack replied. He listened for over an hour.

Youre going back? Ryan asked when he was finished.

I think a chance at bagging Cortez is worth it, and I might be able to help with the extraction of those kids up in the mountains. I dont really like the idea, but it is what I do for a living. I dont suppose your wife likes all the things she has to do as a doc.