for lack of any other real control on the Oval Office. My guess is they’re little more than lackeys riding on the coattails of some oversight committee member, and they’re jockeying for position by calling out any discrepancy they can find.”
Price shrugged and took her seat. “It all sounds like the standard cutthroat politics of Washington, D.C. I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up about it.”
“Mainly because the Man said he’s officially giving the proposal serious consideration.”
Price caught her breath. “What?”
“It’s true,” Brognola said. “I had it checked out with my best sources.”
“You have ears inside the White House?”
“Unfortunately, espionage is a necessary evil in this business.” He lowered his voice, and added, “You of all people can probably understand that. We live in a time where you have to know where you might have enemies. While our operations remain mostly clandestine, there are occasions where Stony Man’s security has been compromised. In those cases the lives of our people can become forfeit, and I won’t allow that to happen. We’ve had our operations compromised before and it resulted in terrible, terrible losses. I won’t let it happen again if it’s at all in my power.”
“But why?” Price asked. For the first time she could remember in a very long time, she felt helpless. “We haven’t given him any reason to disband Stony Man.”
“He’s the President. He doesn’t need one.”
Price swallowed hard. “This doesn’t make any sense, Hal.”
“None of it makes sense,” Brognola replied. “For now, I want you to keep this quiet. Nobody’s to know we had this conversation, including Striker. At least not until I’ve had some time to think about it. Is that clear?”
“It’s clear.” Price stood once more. “I’d better get to work. We need to put together some additional intelligence. We should be hearing from Striker soon.”
She started to turn, then thought better of it, stopped and put her hand gently on Brognola’s forearm. “This will all turn out okay, Hal. Trust me.”
6
“This isn’t going to work,” Rhonda Amherst told the Executioner.
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