“Who told you Special Agent Hessinger is a sergeant?”
“You don’t use the term ‘sir’ often, do you, Captain?” Ashley snapped.
“I guess I don’t. Sorry. Blame it on the OSS.”
“‘Blame it on the OSS’?” Ashley parroted sarcastically.
“The OSS was—and I suppose the DCI will be—a little lax about the finer points of military courtesy,” Cronley said. “My question to you, Major, was who told you Special Agent Hessinger is a sergeant?”
“As a matter of fact, it was Colonel Mattingly.”
“I’m surprised. He knows better.”
“My question to you, Captain,” Ashley snapped, “is whether after Two January you will wear the prescribed uniform.”
“After Two January the chief, DCI-Europe, will prescribe what DCI-Europe personnel will wear,” Cronley said. “Right now, I don’t think that will often be a uniform revealing our ranks to the world.”
Ashley opened his mouth to reply. Cronley saw Parsons just perceptibly shake his head, which silenced Ashley.
Two waiters appeared and handed out menus.
They ordered.
“You understand, of course, Mr. Cronley,” Colonel Parsons said, “that Major Ashley was understandably curious.”
“Mister Cronley”? Was that a slip of the tongue?
Or is he being nice?
If he’s being nice, why is he being nice?
“Absolutely,” Cronley said. “Curiosity’s a common affliction of intelligence officers, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely,” Parsons agreed with a smile. “My wife says, aside from my drinking, it’s my worst character flaw.”
Everyone laughed dutifully.
“Truth to tell, I’m a little curious about what you’re going to do after Two January.”
“Do about what, Colonel?”
“Identifying yourself, yourselves.”
“To whom?”
“Hypothetical situation?”
“Why not?”
“You and Mr. Hessinger and Captain Dunwiddie—in civilian attire—are riding down the super highway here—what’s it called?”
“The autobahn.”
“The autobahn, in that magnificent German automobile Major Wallace drives . . .”
“The Opel Admiral,” Dunwiddie furnished.
“Thank you. And, deep in conversation about how to repel the Red Threat to all we hold dear, you let the Admiral get a little over the speed limit. The ever-vigilant military police pull you over.”