Empire (Empire 1)

“We didn’t meet here,” said Malich. “And he told me a name, but I have to assume that it wasn’t real.”

“Then how do you know he even worked here?”

“Because he arranged for me to meet the National Security Adviser at another location and the NSA confirmed that I was, indeed, working for someone who reported to the President.”

“Okay, that would be convincing enough for me,” said Cole.

“I’m not actually an idiot,” said Malich. “You have to go to a little trouble to get me dancing on the end of a string.”

“You think this guy is the one set you up?”

“If he didn’t come in to the White House today, then I’ll know something,” said Malich. “If he is but he won’t talk to me, then I’ll know something else.”

“What would it mean if he isn’t here? That he knew to stay away?”

“No, that he isn’t the inside guy for the terrorists. Whoever it is had to be able to tell them, to the minute, where the President was inside the White House. I get the feeling this guy isn’t in the loop on the President’s daily schedule. He’d have to be in position to observe.”

And then the look on Malich’s face told Cole that his White House guy was there. He was one of the briefcase clutchers standing in the shade of some shrubbery. A little on the heavy side, his hair a little thin, he was sweating like crazy and looking both furtive and miserable. In fact, he looked so guilty that it convinced Cole that he couldn’t have been involved with the terrorist incident, because this guy didn’t have a secret-keeper’s face.

When he saw Malich and Cole approaching, he at first looked scared, but then visibly relaxed and stepped out to meet Malich with a handshake. Malich introduced Cole but didn’t say the White House guy’s name.

The White House guy only nodded at Cole, then turned to Malich. “Send him away.”

“Captain Coleman was at my side today as we took out one of the two rocket launchers aiming at the White House.”

“Gee,” said the White House guy snidely, “you mean it could have been worse?”

Malich was suddenly in the guy’s face, holding him by the belt so he couldn’t back away. “I’m in the mood to kill assholes today,” said Malich quietly. “Try not to be one.”

“What do you want? Why are you here?” asked the guy.

“I’ve been all over this town, all over the world, delivering messages, negotiating sales, all to help the counterterrorism cause,” said Malich. “But those two rocket launchers—they looked an awful lot like the kind of launchers I arranged to purchase for a Sudanese rebel force to help them counter the superior artillery of the pro-government militias.”

“Everybody buys from the same merchants,” said the guy.

“Not good enough,” said Malich. “This hit took place under my nose. I was right there when the submersibles came up the channel and headed into the Tidal Pool.”

“They killed the President,” said the guy. “And you think it’s about you?”

“It’s about beheading the United States of America,” said Malich. “But they used my plan, and I want to know where you fit into this.”

“Your plan?” The man seemed genuinely puzzled.

“My assignment in the Pentagon. My day job—when I wasn’t running around for you. Think up ways that a smart enemy might strike inside Washington, with the President as target.” Malich gestured toward the White House. “This was what I came up with.”

“That’s just . . . that’s sick. You think the people you gave your plan to, they did this? Our own military?”

“Information can pass from hand to hand, and most of the hands might be innocent. But someone knew I created that plan, and they were glad to have me close by when the attack was launched. Though probably they didn’t want me as close as I got.”

“But didn’t you say you killed the guys?”

“I got there too late. If I hadn’t had Cole here with me, I would have been even later. He’s the one who saw there was something under the water. And somebody cut the phone lines and jammed cell reception on Hain’s Point so I couldn’t get word to the White House in time.”

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t me, I was here, I was in a meeting, and then there’s an explosion and I only have time to get back to my office and get these files before they have us out here on the lawn. If you think I had something to do with this, then you’ve got your head up your ass.”

“Did you know where the Presiden

t was when the explosion took place?”