And then something else occurred to Stone. That’s why I’m here. McElroy was told to deliver the message directly to me from the president.
He decided to verify this speculation. “I already have an assignment. I’m supposed to leave tomorrow, in fact.”
“Yes. Well, plans are fluid aren’t they? One has to account for recent events.”
“Does one?”
“A new arrangement is possible because of what happened in the park,” McElroy said bluntly.
“Why? Simply because I was there?”
“Partly. Plus, in the circles in question, I’m not without influence. And I thought you could be better deployed here than in more southern parts of this hemisphere.”
So he does know about the Russians and the Mexican pipeline.
“You became my advocate? That’s dangerous.”
“So was Iran in 1977. Didn’t stop you, did it?”
“My job. You owe me nothing.”
“Actually, you’re not telling the truth.”
Stone cocked his head slightly.
McElroy continued, “I did some investigation afterwards. You had already been authorized to return home. In fact you were technically off duty. The actual team that was supposed to come to my aid was ambushed en route. Killed to a man. Why do I think I’m not telling you anything you didn’t already know?”
With this observation Chapman eyed Stone with even deeper interest.
“You were in trouble. I was there. You would have done the same for me.”
“Not, I’m afraid, with the same successful results.” He added quickly, “Not for lack of will. But I could never shoot that straight.”
“So just give me the basic outline.”
“You investigate. You succeed. Then…” McElroy shrugged. “What you were promised before will remain unchanged.”
“And if I don’t succeed?”
McElroy said nothing.
“Okay,” said Stone.
“Okay, you’ll do it?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.”
“So how is this all going to play out?” asked Stone. “I’ve been on the outside a long time. You don’t just jump back in.”
“I pulled some professional strings, with the PM’s blessing. He and your president are wonderful friends. They golf, they go to war together. You know how that is.”
“So you’re saying?”
“I’m saying they decided it would be spot-on brilliant for you and Mary here to poke around a bit on this.”
“Just so we’re clear, I’m not what I once was.”
McElroy studied his old friend. “Some remember you only for your extraordinary feats of physicality, for the aim that never missed, the courage that never wavered. But I also remember you as one of the cagiest operatives that ever wore the stars and stripes. Many tried to get you, some close to home. But no one ever succeeded. I’d say you are just what the doctor ordered. And I think it would be personally beneficial for you too. And not just for the obvious reasons.”
“So keep my enemies closer?”
“Friends and enemies closer,” corrected McElroy.
Stone looked at Chapman. “How do you feel about this?”
She said flippantly, “My boss has spoken. And I play by house rules.”
“That’s not what I asked you,” he said sharply.
Chapman lost her playful look. “I need to find out who wanted my PM dead. And if you can help me do that I’ll go the last mile with you.”
“Well put,” McElroy said as he rose, clutching the armchair for support. “I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to have seen you again. It has really done my old heart good.”
“One thing. Weaver showed me the video feed of the park surveillance. Unfortunately, it cut off after the explosion. Went to static.”
“Did it now?” McElroy peered at Chapman. “Mary, perhaps you can provide Oliver with the full video.”
“I thought there might be more.”
McElroy smiled. “There’s always more.”
Stone’s mouth edged upward. “Been back to Iran?”
McElroy smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of it unless you went with me. Mary will provide you with our files to date. Good luck.” A few seconds later he’d disappeared into an interior room, leaving Chapman and Stone alone.
“I need a ride back to my place,” he said.
“And then?” she said.
“And then we’ll go over your files.”
“Okay, but we may be running out of time.”
“Oh, there’s no question about it. We are running out of time.”
CHAPTER 12
WHEN HE AND CHAPMAN RETURNED to the caretaker’s cottage, Stone put on a pot of hot water for tea while the MI6 agent took the files from her briefcase and spread them out over Stone’s desk. She also loaded a DVD into her laptop.
With a frown she said, “You know I would prefer to meet in a more secure place. These files are all classified.”
Stone looked up from the stove and said cheerfully, “Not to worry, I don’t have any security clearances, so as soon as I look at them they’ll be immediately declassified.”
“Bloody hell,” murmured Chapman.
Teacups in hand, they sat at the desk and began to go over the documents and reports. Stone’s gaze flew swiftly over the papers and photos, his agile and experienced mind separating the important from the trivial.
After he was finished Chapman said, “Would you like to see the full feed?”
He nodded. “I’m wondering why I was shown the edited version at NIC.”
“Don’t ask me. It’s your blokes’ doing, not mine.”
“I’m also wondering if the edited version is the only one they have.”
To this, Chapman simply stared stoically at the screen.
They watched the feed. It was picture only, no audio. After the explosion happened, the feed went to static, but only for a second as though the detonation had momentarily disabled the electronic surveillance’s signals. When the video resumed, Stone saw the remainder of the feed. Flames and white smoke covered Jackson’s statue, or where it used to be. The fence and cannons had also been flung away like feathers. It was a miracle no one had been killed. Luckily, at that time of night the park had been nearly deserted, and the security teams typically kept to the perimeter of the park.
Stone saw himself lying on the ground unconscious while the British agent slowly rose and staggered away.