“I didn’t send for them,” Clendennen said.
“Secretary Beiderman said he is aware he doesn’t have an appointment, Mr. President,” Douglas said. “He said he will await your pleasure.”
Clendennen considered that a moment, and then said, “Let them in with the others.”
“Yes, sir.”
Five minutes later, Secretary of State Natalie Cohen led Attorney General Stanley Crenshaw, FBI Director Mark Schmidt, Defense Secretary Frederick K. Beiderman, and CENTCOM Commander in Chief General Allan Naylor into the room.
“Since I didn’t send for you, Secretary Beiderman,” the President said, “what’s on your mind? Let’s get that out of the way first.”
“Mr. President, I regret to have to tell you that General Naylor was unable to speak with General McNab as you requested.”
“Why not?”
“General McNab was on his way to—by now is in—Afghanistan,” Beiderman said, and waited for the explosion.
It didn’t come.
Clendennen didn’t say anything at all.
Beiderman went on: “It was our intention, Mr. President—General Naylor’s and mine—to speak with General McNab together. But when General Naylor called, General O’Toole, the deputy SPECOPSCOM commander, reported that General McNab was on his way to Afghanistan.”
The President considered that for a moment, and then said, “Well, we’ll just have to deal with that issue at a later time, won’t we?”
“Yes, sir,” Beiderman said.
“And the photographs?”
“I have them right here, Mr. President.”
“Give them to Mulligan,” the President said. “We wouldn’t want them to disappear, would we?”
“Yes, sir,” Beiderman said. “I mean, no, sir, we wouldn’t.”
Still standing, and thus somewhat awkwardly, he opened his attaché case, took out the manila envelope that held the photographs, and handed it to Supervisory Special Agent Mulligan.
“Will that be all, Mr. President?” Beiderman asked.
“No. Stick around. I think you should hear what we’re going to do about Colonel Ferris. You, too, General Naylor.”
“Yes, sir,” they replied, speaking on top of each other.
Natalie Cohen, although she had not been invited to do so, sat down in one of the armchairs. After a moment, Attorney General Crenshaw sat on one of the couches, and a moment later FBI Director Schmidt sat beside him. Beiderman and Naylor remained standing.
“So where do I start?” the President asked rhetorically, and then answered his own question. “With you, Schmidt.”
“Yes, sir?”
“How are things going in El Paso? Has that classified advertisement our Mexican friends have asked for been published yet?”
“Yes, sir. Yesterday. The first time, yesterday. It will run for four days.”
“And when do you think there will be a reply. Today? Or when?”
“Mr. President, my SAC there—William Johnson—I told you about him, sir. He’s one of my best—”
“That’s nice to hear, but it doesn’t answer my question,” the President interrupted.