Shoot Him If He Runs (Stone Barrington 14)

“Croft has been working at upgrading all of St. Marks’s security procedures. At some point, he would turn his attention to computer security, and we may be at that point.”

“And what is our next step?”

“When the ambassador arrives at his office, Jim Tiptree is going to have to involve him in the effort to secure the release of the Peppers. That, of course, will mean the involvement of State, since the ambassador will certainly inform the Caribbean Desk, as a matter of routine.”

“And we don’t want that, do we?”

“No, Director.”

“And how do you propose that we prevent that from happening?”

“The ambassador to St. Marks, Warren Holden, is a personal friend of the president, I believe.”

“Yes, they were both Senate staffers on the Select Committee on Intelligence when they were younger. Are you suggesting that the president call Holden and prevent him from reporting this incident to State?”

“Nothing quite as formal as that,” Lance said. “If he could just ask him to give us time to get the Peppers released and off the island.”

“And when they’re gone, then report to State?”

“Well, a delay in reporting might make it awkward to report it at a later date.”

“So you want the president to call in a favor from an old friend?”

“It was a pretty big favor, on the part of the president, to appoint his old friend to a cushy Caribbean ambassadorship. I should think Mr. Holden would be anxious to repay that.”

“I suppose he might, but if this should turn into an international incident, then…”

“I believe this will end with the release and repatriation of the Peppers.”

“What, exactly, do you want Warren Holden to do?”

“I’d like him to call the prime minister, Sir Winston Sutherland, tell him that the Peppers are personal friends of his-they play bridge every Thursday, or something like that-and ask him to call Colonel Croft and have them released at once.”

“Are you at all concerned about the security of Holly Barker’s group? Should we get them out of there now?”

“An airplane had already been scheduled to pick them up at noon tomorrow and bring them home. I think to rush that might be counterproductive.”

“Would there be room on that airplane for the Peppers?”

“There would be, if I send a larger airplane.”

“How large?”

“The presently scheduled airplane is quite small; something mid-sized, like a Hawker, would be sufficient.”

“All right, I’ll ask the president to make the call. If we can get the Peppers off the island tomorrow, and without a fuss, then Holden can just forget any of this ever happened. I want you to take every conceivable step to see that a fuss does not occur.”

“Certainly, Director.”

“Because that is what I’m going to tell the president, and you’d better not make a liar of me.”

“I’ll get this done, Director.”

“All right, I’ll make the call now; go back to your office, and I’ll call you when it’s in the works.”

“Ah, there is one other thing, Director.”

“What thing?”