D.C. Dead (Stone Barrington 22)

TODD BACON AND HIS TEAM MET, BY PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENT, in the parking lot at Langley, all seven of them.

“What’s going on, Todd?” his number two asked.

“I don’t know, and that’s the truth. What I suspect is that we’re being shut down and transferred. Certainly, there’s no reason to think we might be jettisoned. When the day is over, call my cell and leave a message. All I want from you is one of four words: one, ‘excellent’ means you got a better assignment; two, ‘satisfactory’ means it was a sideways move but acceptable; three, ‘unsatisfactory’ means a demotion but you’re still working here; four, ‘unacceptable’ means you got the ax or quit. I’ll respond when I can. Got it?”

There were positive mumbles and nods, and the group trooped to the front door and checked in with security. Todd was sent upstairs for his appointment with Holly Barker, while the others were told to take a seat and wait.

Todd took an elevator to the top floor and found her office. Her secretary wasn’t in yet, so he rapped on Holly’s door.

“Come in!” H

er voice was strong as ever.

Todd opened the door and stepped in. “Good morning.”

“Good morning. Take a seat.”

Todd sat and waited. She looked great in her business suit, he thought. If she hadn’t been his superior, he’d have hit on her a long time ago.

“I’ll give it to you without adornment,” Holly said. “The project you’ve been working on is discontinued. As you know, it was an off-the-books effort, so no records of any kind were kept of it. If you’ve made notes or kept any other materials, destroy them today, without exception. Neither you nor your former team members are ever again to speak of that effort, among yourselves or to any other person. Am I clear so far?”

“Perfectly clear,” Todd said, his heart sinking.

“I appreciate your written evaluations of your team members, which have already been burned, and I accept your conclusions. Therefore, each of them has had his records annotated positively and will be assigned to a new operation within thirty days, one which each will, no doubt, regard as an advancement.”

“Thank you for that, Holly,” Todd said. “I’m grateful to you.”

“Don’t be grateful too soon,” Holly said. “I’m not finished.”

Todd took a deep breath and let it out.

“Those above you have concluded that you are an able and resourceful officer who has had a run of bad luck. They have also concluded that your talents would be best used in other than an operational position.”

He was being demoted, that was clear; all that remained was to learn if it was bad enough that they would expect him to resign.

“The deputy director has had a long conversation about you with Ed Freely, the deputy director for Technical Services.”

Todd frowned and his pulse increased; this, he had not expected. Were they going to bury him in the basement of the Agency forever?

“Both Lance and Ed believe you have the technical skills and personal qualities to be a success in Tech Services. This is Ed’s offer: he will assign you as a tech supervisor, meaning you will oversee tech specialists who are equipping operatives for foreign assignments. He feels that you can both learn from your specialists and teach them, given your operational background.

“You will be evaluated after a year or so in this assignment, and you will either continue in that position, if Ed feels you need further experience, or, if he feels you are ready, be promoted to assistant deputy director for Technical Services.

“Personally,” Holly said, “I think you have what it takes to succeed Ed as deputy director, in time, and he is due for retirement in six years. That’s it, Todd. Give me your thoughts.”

Todd’s thoughts were that he had been handed a great gift. He had always worried about being killed or crippled on an operation, or failing abjectly. What Holly was offering was an opportunity for long-term success in the Agency. “Again, I want to thank you for your treatment of my team,” he said.

“You’re welcome.”

“I think your offer to me is a better than fair one, and I am very pleased to accept it.”

Holly smiled and stood up. “Ed Freely is waiting for my call now,” she said. “I’ll tell him you’re on your way downstairs.” She held out a hand.

Todd shook it. “Please thank Lance, too, for his recommendation.”

“I’ll do that,’ground.” Holly said. “Good luck down there, I know you’ll do well.”

Todd left her office, breathing deeply and sagging with relief. As he waited for the elevator, only one thing nagged at him: Teddy Fay was still out there, and now he would have no way to stop him.