Oates gave Simmons a dubious stare. "You make it sound as if Blackbeard the Pirate was responsible."
"Agents were patrolling the dock and riverbank," Lucas explained.
"No way passengers and crew could be subdued and carried off without a sound."
"Maybe they were drugged," suggested Dan Fawcett.
"A possibility," admitted Lucas.
"Let's look at this head-on," said Oates. "Rather than speculate on how the abduction occurred, I think we must concentrate on the reason
and the force responsible before we can plan a response."
"I agree," said Simmons. He turned to Metcalf. "General, any evidence the Russians are behind this as a time cushion to launch a first strike?"
"If that was the case," answered Metcalf, "their strategic rocket forces would have taken us out an hour ago."
"They still might."
Metcalf gave a slight negative tilt to his head. "Nothing indicates they're in a state of readiness, Our Kremlin intelligence sources report no signs of increased activity in or around the eighty underground command posts in Moscow, and our satellite surveillance shows no troop buildup along the Eastern bloc border.
Also, President Antonov is on a state visit to Paris."
"So much for World War Three," said Mercier with a look of relief.
"We're not out of shallow water yet," Fawcett said. "The officer carrying the codes designating nuclear strike sites is also gone."
"Not to worry on that score," said Metcalf, smiling for the first time. "As soon as Lucas here alerted me to the situation, I ordered the alphabetical code words changed."
"What's to stop whoever has them from using the old code words to break the new ones?"
"For what purpose?"
"Blackmail, or maybe an insane attempt to bit the Russians first."
"Can't be done," Metcalf replied simply. "There are too many built-in safeguards. Why hell, even the President couldn't launch our nuclear arsenal on his own, in a fit of madness. The order to start a war has to be transmitted through Secretary of Defense Simmons and the joint Chiefs. If any of us knew for certain the order was invalid, we could countermand it."
"All right," said Simmons, "we temporarily shelve a Soviet conspiracy or an act of war. What are we left with?"
"Damned little," grunted Mercier.
Metcalf looked squarely at Oates. "As things stand, Mr. Secretary, you are the constitutionally designated successor."
"He's right," said Simmons. "Until the President, Margolin, Larimer and Moran are found alive, you're the acting President."
For several seconds there was no sound in the library. Oates's flamboyant and forceful facial exterior cracked ever so slightly, and he seemed to suddenly age five years. Then, just as suddenly, he regained control and his eyes took on a cold, visceral expression.
"The first thing we must do," he said in a level tone, "is to act as though nothing has happened."
Mercier tilted back and gazed unseeing at the high ceiling.
"Granted we can't hold a press conference and announce to the world we've misplaced the nation's four ranking leaders. I don't care to think about the repercussions when the word leaks out. But we can't hide the facts from the press for more than a few hours."
"And we have to consider the likelihood the people responsible for the kidnapping will give us an ultimatum or make a ransom demand through the news media," Simmons added.
Metcalf looked doubtful. "My guess is that when contact is made it will come without a trumpet blast to Secretary Oates, and any demand will be for something besides money."
"I can't fault your thinking, General," said Oates. "But our top priority is still to conceal the facts and stall for as long as it takes to find the President."