Trust Me If You Can
Author: Barb Moore
Rating: PG-13
Category: Adventure
Disclaimers: The JAG characters in this story belong to Donald Bellisario. The others are figments of my imagination. This story is based on a factual situation which currently exists in the United States.
Summary: Webb involves the JAG crew in a plan to avoid one of the worst disasters in North American history. The Admiral, Mac and Webb are the primary characters. Research sources are listed at the end of each part.
Author's Notes: Thanks to Gray, Lisa and Packrat for beta reading and making some very good suggestions and thanks to my brother-in-law, Bill Palmer, who helped me with the plot. 10/2000
The Mission - {The Briefing} - {Alabama Bound} - {Tennessee Waltz} - {My Old Kentucky Home} - {Chicago, Chicago} - Back Home Again In Indiana
Part 1: The Mission
11:00 AM
Admiral Chegwidden's Office
"Why us?" AJ asked of the visitor sitting quietly in the corner of the office.
"Because nobody else fits the profile."
"That's a lot of crap, Webb, and you know it. Every time you show up here with a favor to ask, one of my people ends up in danger. The answer is 'no,' so don't even tell me about it. "
"It's really big this time, AJ. Bigger than anything either of us has ever seen. Maybe the biggest thing since Pearl Harbor."
"I don't believe you, Webb. You never level with us until it's too late. We're not getting involved in your spook games anymore. We're JAG Corps and we're sticking to what we do, so you can just quit wasting my time."
There was a measurable pause as the two men sized up each other. Webb's position and expensive suit might have impressed some people, but the admiral was not one of them.
"Aren't you even curious, AJ? It's not like you to make a decision without all the facts."
"I guess you're going to tell me whether I want to hear it or not. Okay, talk. But back to the first question, why me?"
"We need a middle-aged male who can speak passable Italian and has combat experience."
"That narrows it down to 10,000 men. And that's not even counting the Italians. Try again, Webb."
"He has to be an expert marksman and escape artist."
"We're down to maybe 1,000 ex-special forces men. Again, why me?"
"This man also has to have a background in black ops, connections with all types of people, including military and organized crime. And he has to have no dependents." Webb cringed as he added the last remark.
AJ ignored the dependents remark and went right to the mob reference. "Organized crime? You introduced me to one Wise Guy and that makes me connected?"
"I saw the respect that Mafia Don had for you. I was there. Remember? I saw how you handled him. You speak their language."
"You're going to have to do better than that. What are you NOT telling me?"
Webb sat up a little straighter in the wing-back chair. He looked at the Admiral straight in the eye and said quietly, "We need someone with all those qualities AND he has to have the absolute and complete trust of Sarah MacKenzie."
Shifting uncomfortably on his desktop perch, AJ knew that Webb had played his trump card. He glared at the complicated man who sat across the room. Silence filled the room for several seconds while the two men played their mental games.
"Okay, you've got my interest. Why Mac?"
"This mission requires a female operative with no dependents and who speaks Farsi."
AJ pondered Webb's answer. "Not enough. Mac is female and speaks Farsi, but she's certainly not an 'operative,' as you call it." Again he ignored the dependents remark because he knew the answer to that question.
Webb held him in a steady gaze as AJ poked holes in his evasive responses. "There's a lot you don't know about Mac." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Webb knew he had the Admiral's attention. "Mac worked for the Company for five years."
The Admiral stared at Webb. The words he didn't want to hear had been said, and AJ felt deceived and hurt. Moving to stand behind his chair, he tried to regroup. "When Mac came to JAG, I personally checked out her entire military career. At that time our female officers were in and out of here like a revolving door. I didn't want to endure another staff shakeup, so I checked every post and assignment she has ever had. There's nothing in there about working for the Company."
"Records can be altered. You know that."
"I checked more than records. I talked to real people she worked with. I talked to her commanding officers and peers, people who had no reason to lie to me. This went way beyond the usual official background check."
"And she did everything her record shows. Everything in her duty record is factual. It's just not complete."
"Right, Webb," AJ said sarcastically. "She was a top operative when she was twelve. Do the math."
"Didn't you think it was a little strange that she was a Major at age thirty? How many people do you know who have done that?"
AJ thought carefully before he answered. "The Navy was promoting females rapidly at the time. I also knew Mac did a spectacular job with some tricky political situations in Bosnia, and she was a top student and officer candidate. It's not entirely unheard of."
"Mac's record was rearranged chronologically. She's five years older than her record shows. Those five years have been erased. And, I might add, she was one of the best female operatives we ever had."
Admiral Chegwidden stood in stunned silence. Mac? Working for the CIA? Never! She wouldn't tolerate the deceit and lies and manipulations that were commonplace in the Company. She would have said something. Wouldn't she?
Webb waited and watched the Admiral digesting the bombshells he had just delivered. He felt for his friend. And Webb did think of AJ as his friend--although he was pretty sure it was not mutual.
AJ moved to his favorite 'thinking' window as Webb broke the silence. "She couldn't tell anybody. You know that. You can't tell anybody about the undercover work you've been involved in." Noting the Admiral's raised eyebrows, Webb added "Yes. I know your record with military intelligence. You're no babe in the woods when it comes to undercover work."
AJ ignored Webb's reference to his own past. "Why did you let her out? Nobody ever gets to quit the company."
"That's another story for another time. Maybe she'll tell you someday. But I can tell you this, the way she got out proves that she's the best. ...AJ, if you don't want to accept this assignment, we can find somebody else. But Mac is absolutely essential to the plan."
AJ turned slowly to face Webb. With a note of resignation in his voice, he said, "You know I wouldn't let her go alone. It's obviously dangerous. I'll go along to keep an eye on her. But why Rabb? Why do you need him, too? What's he got that's indispensable?"
"We need a man who can fly any damned thing with wings and somebody who will follow you to the ends of the earth."
"Right. And no dependents?" AJ asked.
"And no dependents," Webb said quietly.
"Why does that make me nervous, Webb?"
"You know why, AJ." There was another pause in the conversation, while the flame from the gas log flickered against the walls. "You want the details?" Instead of answering, AJ crossed the room and pulled up a chair and sat down by the fire.
The next 10 minutes were spent with the two men leaning forward in their facing chairs; Webb talking quietly and handing files to AJ. The Admiral was visibly shaken as he read, and he was pale when he finally walked back to the window. Webb followed him and stood quietly.
AJ broke the silence. "We're not coming back from this one, are we?"
"Probably not." And both men leaned on the windowsill and stared out at nothing.
10 minutes later
AJ's office
"Enter," the Admiral responded to the rap on the door.
Colonel Sarah MacKenzie and Commander Harmon Rabb entered the room and stood at attention in front of the Admiral's desk. They had no idea why they had been summoned. AJ didn't look up and made no response to their presence. His mood was obviously somber and distracted. He was staring at the front edge of his desk and Mac's mind raced through events that could cause this reaction in the normally controlled and steady Admiral. Francesca! she thought. Something has happened to Francesca. This thought overruled protocol as she spoke without permission. "Sir? Has something happened to Francesca?"
AJ looked up and for the first time seemed aware that he was not alone. "What? Oh... sorry. Have a seat."
As Harm and Mac seated themselves, AJ said quietly, "Thanks for asking, Mac. Francesca is fine." He then fell silent again. Mac knew that the Admiral would eventually tell them what was on his mind. Harm was less patient and started looking around the room.
"Uh-oh! Here's trouble," Harm uttered when he saw the figure seated in the wingback chair in the darkened corner. Mac's eyes turned to see Webb rise and walk toward the threesome.
"Thanks, Harm. That's the nicest thing anybody has said to me today." Webb pulled up a chair and joined the group.
Not a word was spoken. AJ looked from Mac to Harm and back to Mac. Here were two of his finest officers: smart, loyal, brave. He could only think, What a waste! Harm thought the Admiral was angry with them for some unknown reason, but Mac thought he looked very, very sad. They waited for him to speak. Both of them knew Webb's presence could not bode well. He had to be on some type of mission and they knew the Admiral didn't want them to get involved.
AJ looked up and said one word. "Newport."
Harm reacted with a quizzical look on his face. But Mac's reaction was much more animated. She drew in a loud breath. Harm looked at her with a question in his eyes wondering what horror could invoke the reaction in his normally unflappable partner. Mac never saw his silent question. She could only stare into the sad eyes across the desk.
"Is it loose?" she finally asked the Admiral.
AJ shook his head slowly. "Not yet."
AJ and Mac saw the fear in each other's eyes. It was something neither had ever seen from the other. Webb watched the entire scene without comment.
Harm looked at Webb and broke the silence. "Is Newport supposed to mean something to me? It obviously means something to everybody else."
"Tell them, Webb. Don't spare the details," AJ said wearily.
Webb scooted forward on his chair and began:
"Newport, Indiana: A little burg on the western border of Indiana, forty miles north of Terre Haute, seventy miles west of Indianapolis. Not a likely place for what I'm about to tell you. I suppose you've heard of Agent VX?"
A look of recognition crossed Harm's face. Mac's eyes never left the Admiral's. They both knew Harm's next question. "Isn't that one of the nerve gases Congress has ordered the Army to destroy?"
"One and the same, Commander. Listed as one of the five most deadly nerve gases ever developed."
"And what has that got to do with Newport, Indiana?" Harm innocently asked.
"The Newport Chemical Depot is only one of eight storage depots in the continental United States. Congress has ordered the VX's destruction by the year 2004, but there is considerable controversy over how to destroy it safely. There are citizen and government committees all over the country devoted to the study of the problem."
"You mean the public knows?" Harm asked.
"Hell, yes. There was even an article in Time a few years ago. It's not a secret." Webb answered.
"So," Harm began " how dangerous is this stuff? And I don't want to hear the official line; I want to hear the truth."
Mac glared at Webb with intense, angry eyes. She knew he was going to involve her in something and she hated him for it. She wondered if he was ever going to let her go.
"In answer to your question about the danger, it's very dangerous. VX is an organic-phosphate similar to some pesticides. It's clear, odorless, and tasteless. Its appearance is similar to motor oil, and can become aerosol through explosion or vapor through ignition. Normal delivery is by shells, bombs and land mines. It's heavier than water and evaporates 2,000 times more slowly. It's highly toxic in all forms. It kills when absorbed through the skin or inhaled through the lungs or if it's swallowed. Simply, it kills through suffocation when the nerves tell the organs to quit functioning. When the diaphragm fails to expand and contract, the victims strangle. It only takes 1 milligram to kill a human; much less to kill animals. And it's not an easy way to die."
"My God! How much is being stored there?"
"As I said, Newport is only one of eight chemical weapon depots on the continent, and there's one more in Hawaii. The Indiana site is one of the smaller ones, but it contains almost half of the VX supply. They're storing 1,690 one-ton steel containers. They're being held until everybody can agree how to destroy it."
"So what's the problem? Are the containers leaking, or have there been threats from terrorists?"
At this point, Admiral Chegwidden entered the conversation. "The problem, Commander Rabb, is that it exists. And as long as it exists, we have a problem. A huge problem. Colonel, do you care to tell the Commander of the potential of that amount of Agent VX?"
"I'll try, sir. I researched it during Desert Storm. You and Officer* Webb will have to fill in the details." Mac gave a scathing look to Webb when she mentioned his name. "I believe I read somewhere that if that amount of VX was released into the air from the Newport site, the kill zone would include a radius that includes Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville and St. Louis. It would include most of Indiana and Illinois and much of Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa. And that's just the kill zone. The mutation zone would extend much further. Probably would include Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin. There's really no way of knowing how lethal it might become if it's released freely into the environment and organisms are allowed to mutate naturally."
Harm couldn't suppress a stunned, "Oh, my God!" as Mac continued: "All air-breathing animals would also be affected, and when the bodies fall into the streams and rivers, we don't know exactly what the effect would be on the fish and water quality. We do know the Wabash, the Illinois and the Ohio rivers would be included in the kill zone, and they all flow eventually into the Mississippi, which flows into the Gulf. There's really no telling how much damage would ultimately occur, particularly if the surviving animals and humans are mutated in some horrible way and then reproduce. The long term results could be... horrendous." Mac's voice broke at this point and she stopped talking.
AJ cleared his throat and began where Mac left off. "The military, economic and social significance is equally disturbing. The United States would have a 'no-entry' zone right through the middle of the nation. There would be no free passage between the East and West coasts except by air. And for all we know, it might not be safe to fly over it. Who knows what would develop in a barren area that size? And how many months or years would it be before it would be safe for rescuers to enter the danger zone? We're not even sure it would be safe to let the survivors out of the area. It's something right out of a horror movie."
The conversation stopped, each of them lost in a horrific vision of the terrible consequences that would result from the scenario the Admiral had described.
Mac was the first to regain her voice. "What do you want, Webb? You're not here to enroll us in Greenpeace."
Webb shifted uncomfortably in his chair. This was the part he hated most. He looked at the Admiral for help, but AJ ignored his silent plea. You're on your own, Asshole, he thought.
Webb began speaking in a low voice. "The Army wants to destroy or move the VX, but they aren't allowed to transport it, and the citizens' groups won't let them incinerate it. Probably just as well. It seems that incineration isn't as safe as we once thought. The canisters aren't leaking as you mentioned, Harm, but they will eventually deteriorate. The positive side of all this is that we have two chemists who have completed a chemical solution to neutralizing the Agent VX. They need a week to neutralize the supply at Newport."
"Why the hell are they starting with Newport? You just said there were other larger deposits in several other places." Harm asked.
"As I said, Newport contains about half of our VX supply. They don't store much else there. We've received some disturbing intelligence that the supply at Newport is at risk. Apparently the location is more crucial than the amount of chemicals stored there. Psychologically and geographically, Middle America represents all that is safe to us. The Mississippi will carry the damage into the South. And security at Newport leaves a lot to be desired. Hell, they allow civilians in there to pick mushrooms and hunt deer. They even lease acreage to farmers and allow a logging operation on the grounds. It wouldn't be hard to infiltrate."
"Wouldn't it be easier for an enemy to just use missiles?" Harm said.
"Almost every cornfield in five states hides an anti-missile site. It would be damned hard for a missile to get in. The Security Council agrees that a missile isn't the greatest danger," Webb responded.
"Then what is?" Mac asked.
"Infiltration or theft. The containers are large and would be hard to handle, so we're thinking blackmail. And it certainly wouldn't be possible for the infiltrators to escape if they blew it up. We're not sure of the exact plan, but our intelligence tells us that Newport is the target." Webb answered somberly.
"What about a time bomb giving them time to get away?" Harm interjected.
"Possible, but we think they are planning to steal a few containers or take over the facility to blackmail the United States."
"And how does that involve JAG Corps, Officer Webb? " Mac asked in a cold tone.
Webb and AJ exchanged glances. Mac knew there was more to this story than the horrors of chemical warfare, and she wasn't shy about letting Webb know she knew.
"I'm glad you asked that, Colonel. I was just about to explain our plan and how it involves JAG." Webb cleared his throat and began.
"I told you we have two scientists who can neutralize the chemical. Their process leaves a harmless residue and has tested out to be completely safe. And they are very near an antidote for people who have been exposed. We don't think the bad guys know about the antidote, so they're more intent on delaying the neutralization of the stockpile. The Newport supply would require at least a week to treat. In the meantime, we have to protect the chemists. We believe the terrorists' plan is to kidnap the chemists or at least delay them while they steal the VX or infiltrate. The bad guys would undoubtedly like to have the secret neutralization process to add to their bargaining power. But they will kill them if necessary. In either case, the United States will have no recourse but to give in to whatever demands are made."
"Why is it so hard to protect two people? Surely you've done that before. And did it ever occur to the Army to close the damned gates and beef up security?" Mac asked sarcastically.
"Colonel, it's more complicated than that."
"I'm sure it is, Webb. Why don't you explain it to us? And while you're at it, why don't you tell us what you want from us?"
Good girl! AJ thought. Mac obviously knew how to play the game.
"I want you to know I'm telling you much more than I should." Webb stood up as if being taller than the three seated officers would give him the courage to tell them the plan.
"Our plan is to replace the chemists with decoys. The decoys will have to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, but not escape completely. If they think the scientists are dead, they may move on the depot. In other words, the decoys are expected to buy time while the real scientists neutralize the supply and teach others how to duplicate the process in the other depots. The terrorists must believe the chemists are alive but so busy eluding capture they can't finish their work."
"And you want Mac and me to be the decoys?" Harm asked.
Webb glanced tentatively at the Admiral. "No, Commander. Actually... we want Mac and the Admiral to be the decoys. We want you to be available to fly them out of any jam they get into."
Harm didn't know whether to be relieved or insulted. So he just sat there and watched Mac stare furiously at Webb. The Admiral was silent as he watched Mac resist the temptation to punch Webb in the face. The tension in the room was strangling.
Mac was the first to speak. "Admiral, would you and Commander Rabb give me a moment of privacy with Officer Webb?"
"You aren't going to hurt him, are you, Colonel?" AJ managed to suppress his bemusement.
"Just a few minutes, please," Mac answered.
"Commander, perhaps we should go to your office and have a cup of coffee. Let me know when you're finished, Webb," AJ said as he rose from his chair.
As the two officers left the office, Mac rose to face the still standing Webb. She was in a controlled fury.
"Webb, this is a low point, even for you. Why don't YOU play the Goddamned decoy? Why drag in the Admiral?"
"Now, Colonel. There's no need to get personal," Webb began.
"This IS personal, Webb. My life is very personal to me. Maybe I deserve this never-ending spook life, but the Admiral doesn't. I signed up voluntarily when I was young and stupid, but I'm willing to live with that mistake. You never intended to let me out of the Company. You just wanted me on-call for whenever I was necessary. But the Admiral never signed up to do your dirty work, so let him out. I'll do your damned job if you'll let him out of it. Those are my terms. You and I will be the decoys. Or are you afraid of the risky end of the business?"
"Mac, calm down. There's a reason I asked you... I thought you'd want to be included when you found out the details. The fact is the male scientist is middle-aged, bald and 6'3. He speaks Italian and, with a little help from us, could be AJ's twin. The Admiral is the only man who can do the job. If he hadn't volunteered, the President would have ordered him to take this assignment. I thought you'd want to be along to protect him."
"Are you lying to me, Webb?"
"I'm not lying, Sarah. AJ is the crucial element in this case, and he may be a little rusty at this 'spook stuff,' as he calls it. He's going to need you."
"What do you mean, 'rusty'? He's never done undercover work... Has he?"
"How do you think he got that Congressional Medal of Honor?"
"He doesn't have a Medal of Honor. He has a Navy Cross and a chest full of medals, but no Medal of Honor."
"He can't wear it in public. It has to stay in the drawer for five more years, when the mission can become public record. Maybe he'll tell you about it someday. I can't."
Mac was stunned. She couldn't imagine the Admiral doing the dirty undercover work that she hated. She wondered how he had managed to stay so 'together' through it all. The work had almost cost Mac her sanity. She hated everything about it: hated the constant fear, hated the constant need for alertness and suspicion. And she hated not knowing who to trust. She thought she had earned her way out of that life, but now she was walking back in by choice. She hesitated for a long time and finally said, "If the Admiral has to go, then you can count me in, too." And Mac returned to her chair while Webb waited through the cold silence. Finally, she said, "But there's no reason for Harm to get killed, too. Leave him out of it, or I won't go, and I'll do my damnedest to dissuade the Admiral."
"What's all this sudden concern about Harm? I thought you were an item with Brumby."
"Harm isn't a team player, Webb. You should know that by now. He would probably go off on his own crusade and get us killed. He's not cut out for this kind of work. Leave him out of it, or I don't go."
"You have a deal," Webb said as he turned to leave. He silently congratulated himself on how well his plan had gone. Only Webb would ever know that Harm had never been part of the original plan, but he was a good bargaining chip in case AJ or Mac balked. But instead of gloating, he put on his most official face and said, "I'll see you and the Admiral at Langley in two hours. The briefing will take two days."
Mac called after him, "And Webb, if we survive this, I never want to see your face again."
****
Mac sank in the leather chair by the fireplace. Sitting by the fire in the Admiral's office was normally a very relaxing and safe atmosphere. But the last thirty minutes had changed all of that. She thought her brain would burst, first from anger, then from fear, and finally from the knowledge that her life had once again plunged into the shadowy world of espionage. From this moment on she would need to be constantly alert to every little nuance of behavior by everyone around her. She would have to read the eyes and body language of every person she saw. There would be no more accepting anyone's behavior or words at face value. She would have to be alert, suspicious, and tireless until they returned to the safety of JAG. And this time would be worse than before, because now the Admiral's life was in her hands. She wondered how good he would be in the shadow world. Mac thought the Admiral had more courage and integrity than anyone she ever knew, but did the man have an ounce of duplicity in him? Could he lie when necessary? Would he have the attention to detail that would allow him to pass as another person? Would she?
Over the years, Mac had come to associate intelligence work with lying, corruption and deception. Webb must have been lying when he said the Admiral had worked undercover. He wasn't that kind of man. Now, after years of working with decent people in the military and at JAG, she had slowly learned to trust. She even started liking Sarah MacKenzie again--until Webb reentered her life and asked her to return to Hell. It was at this low point when Mac promised herself she would do whatever it took to be sure a good man returned to the real world and she would be strong one more time. And if she lived, she would never go to Hell again.
****
Lost in thought, Mac didn't hear the Admiral return to his office. She jumped when she felt his hand on her shoulder. If he had been the enemy, she would be dead.
"Sorry, Mac. Didn't mean to startle you. You look exhausted."
Mac turned to look into his gentle eyes. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I'd better get my edge back pretty quickly, or we'll both be dead." Mac tried a weak smile.
AJ sat in the chair facing Mac, elbows resting across his knees. "We're both going to have to go back to another lifetime if we're going to get through this."
Mac's weak smile brightened a little. "It sounds like Webb told you more than I wanted you to know."
"Webb's a sonofabitch."
Mac smiled faintly. "You said it, not me."
They both stared into the flames from the gas log for a moment. Then Mac looked up and said, "Admiral... do you trust Webb?"
AJ thought before he answered. "I don't trust him to tell us the details we think we need to know. With Webb, there's no way to be certain. He's not above using us for his own agenda, but I do trust him in the sense that he's doing what he thinks is right. I would bet my life he would never be a double agent or anything like that."
"I've never worked with anybody in the intelligence community that I can completely trust," Mac said.
AJ could relate to what Mac was saying. Being all alone and not trusting anyone was a familiar feeling to him, too. Finally, he said, "Well, Mac, this time we'll both have somebody we can trust."
"That will be nice," Mac said softly and they both stared into the flames.
After several seconds of silence, he sighed and looked up at Mac. "We'll get this job done, Mac. We have to. One way or the other, we'll get the job done. I can't think of anybody I would rather work with on this. I have a lot of confidence in you, and if America's fate has to rest on somebody's shoulders, it might as well be ours."
"Thank you, Admiral. I hope your confidence is warranted. But I'm not sure if I'm as good at deception as I used to be. I hated that life, and have shoved it far in the back of my mind."
"And now old Webb has dredged it right out in front again; just when we thought we had it conquered. Right?"
"Sounds like you know about Hell."
"Been there and done that, Colonel. And when this is over, we'll never go back." AJ gave her one of his best lopsided smiles and Mac felt better already.
****
AJ and Mac agreed to meet at CIA Headquarters. Each had to make arrangements so their absence from JAG would be as seamless and normal as possible. Mac divided her case load between Imes and Bud. She explained she had been assigned a top secret investigation in Pensacola and planned to take leave in Florida for ten days after the investigation was complete. She reminded them both that she would be incommunicado until she returned.
The Admiral arranged with the Deputy JAG to assume his duties. His explanation was that he was going deep-sea fishing for ten days and would check in from time to time. "And if the fishing is good, I might stay another week."
When Mac had completed her preparations, she approached Harm's office. The door was ajar, and she stood hesitantly outside.
Harm was standing at the file cabinet with his back to the door. He turned and saw Mac. "Come on in, Partner. I'm just trying to get my desk cleared so I'll be ready when Webb calls us."
Mac stepped inside. "That's why I'm here, Harm. Webb... Webb has decided he won't need you for this mission. You're off the hook."
Harm crossed the room and shut the door, a frown growing on his face. "What do you mean, I'm off the hook? I'm supposed to be standing by in case you need air extraction."
"The plans have changed, Harm. They've decided air extraction wouldn't be the best way."
Harm motioned for Mac to sit down and he sat behind his desk. "I don't understand that. What could be better than air extraction? They'd never be able to follow you."
"That's just the problem," Mac lied. "The idea is to keep them just one jump behind us. If we fly off into the wild blue yonder, they'll lose us. Then the bad guys will return to the depot and blow it all to hell."
"Those stupid desk jockeys don't have a clue. They're going to get you and the Admiral killed." Harm thought a few seconds. "Mac, you have my cell phone number and pager. You call me if you get in trouble and I'll be there in an instant. If Webb doesn't want my services, we'll just go around him. I'll have a helicopter and a plane ready until you get back. You just call me and I'll get you out of anywhere. If you can't call, try to get a message out and mention the Harris case if I'm to bring the helicopter or the Phillips case if you need a plane. Use Adams if I'm to bring a car. Use our usual code for time and place."
"Got it, Partner. Thanks. I'll explain the system to the Admiral. I knew we could count on you." Mac gave Harm a big hug and an extra squeeze. She walked out the office door and never looked back. Lie number one, MacKenzie. It was way too easy. And to your own partner! Back to Hell.
* "In the spy business, the distinction between officers and agents is crucial: the CIA officers are staff employees who are patriots in their own country; the agents are the people recruited by the CIA officers to betray their own countries. Invariably, the press mixes up the two, calling anyone who works for the CIA an agent."
--Inside the CIA by Ronald Kessler. Copyright 1992.
