The Outlaws (Presidential Agent 6)

“Follow my orders.”

“What are the charges they’re bringing against Charley?” Allen Junior asked.

“I don’t know.”

“But you’re going to arrest him anyway?”

“I don’t like the tone of your voice.”

“And I don’t like what I’m hearing here.”

“That’s not really germane, is it?”

“What I’m hearing is bullshit,” Allan Junior pursued.

“That’s quite enough, Allan.”

“Starting with that Top Secret Presidential classification,” Allan Junior went on. “Information is classified to keep it from our enemies. The Russians know all about this. This is classified to keep it off Wolf News, so that Clendennen can cover his political ass.”

“I said, enough!”

“Tell me this, Dad: What has Charley done wrong? Exactly what article of the Uniform Code of Military Justice has he violated?”

“Willful disobedience of a lawful order.”

“What order was that?’

“When he flew the defectors out of Vienna to Argentina—without any authority to do so—Ambassador Montvale came to me and suggested the best way to deal with the problem was for me to send an officer from Special Operations Command—Charley was then assigned to Special Operations Command and thus subject to its orders—down there and order him to turn the Russians over to the CIA officers Montvale would have with him. I did so. I sent a colonel from Special Operations with Ambassador Montvale. He ordered Charley to turn the Russians over to Montvale. Charley refused to do so.”

“Charley was then working for the President,” Allan Junior said. “He was not subordinate to Special Operations Command. Your colonel had no authority to order him to do anything.”

“Okay, that’s it, Allan. I am not going to debate this with you.”

Allan Junior stood up, and said, “Good evening, Colonel Brewer. It’s always a pleasure to see you, sir.”

He walked to the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” General Naylor challenged.

“I’m going to see if I can find Charley, and if I can, I’m going to warn him about what you’re trying to do to him.”

“Major, you have been advised that what you heard here tonight is classified Top Secret Presidential,” General Naylor said, coldly angry.

“So court-martial me. Let’s see how Wolf News plays that story.”

He walked out of the kitchen and slammed the door closed after him.

After a long moment, General Naylor said, “I don’t think he knows where Castillo is any more than we do.”

“I hope he doesn’t. In his frame of mind, if he finds him, he will tell him.”

“Suggestions solicited.”

“I think you ought to keep him on a short leash until this is over.”

“Particularly since I know the lieutenant colonel promotion board is sitting.”

“Has sat. And selected Allan from below the zone. I suspected that was why he was here when we got here; he wanted to tell you.”