It was a moment before Castillo answered.
"Where's Torine now?" he asked.
"Forty minutes ago, he was about to land at MacDill."
"As soon as we get off here, contact him, bring him up to speed on what's happened. Tell him Montvale is not to know we're onto him, and to call me once he's on the Gipper."
"Okay, but what's happened? I must have missed something."
"Stay on the line while I brighten Admiral Jacoby's dull daily routine with a call from the White House."
"White House," the pleasant professional female voice answered. "What can I do for you, Colonel Castillo?"
"I need Rear Admiral K. G. Jacoby on a secure line. He's aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, which is somewhere between Norfolk and Key West."
There was a moment's pause, then the operator replied: "The difficult we do immediately, sir; the impossible takes a little longer. I'll have to go through the Navy. That'll take a little time. Can I call you when it's set up?"
"Can I stay on the line?"
"Certainly."
"Navy."
"White House. We need a secure encrypted voice connection to the USS Ronald Reagan. It's in the Atlantic some-"
"We know where she is, thank you very much, White House."
"Reagan."
"Navy. Establish secure encrypted voice connection."
"Hold one, Navy."
"Navy, Reagan. This connection is encrypted Class Two."
"Reagan. The White House is calling. Request upgraded encryption."
"Hold one, Navy."
"Navy, Reagan. This connection is now encrypted Class One."
"White House, Navy. You read?"
"Reagan, this is the White House. We're calling Rear Admiral K. G. Jacoby."
"White House, Reagan. Ma'am, the admiral is in his cabin. He has only Class Two encryption on that line. It will take a minute to get him to the secure voice communication room."
"We'll wait. Thank you."
"Radio, voice commo room."
"Go."
"We have Admiral Jacoby. Encryption status Class One."
"White House, Navy. You read?"
"Admiral Jacoby?"