A more immediate problem was telling Ann Chambers. She had no legal right to know, of course. But legality had nothing to do with it. Donovan wanted her to hear it from him, and that meant he would have to tell her in the next couple of hours, before he got on the Washington plane.
"Joe," he said, "you understand, of course, that Operation Aphrodite is now your responsibility?"
"When Stan Fine gets back, he will fill the role Canidy had. You will report to him."
"There's more to it than the sub pens at Saint-Lazare," Donovan said.
"I assumed there was," Kennedy said matter-of factly
Donovan's eyebrows rose.
"I'll have Colonel Stevens fill you in," Donovan said.
"We have to expect setbacks, Joe," Donovan said, wondering if he was talking as much to himself as he was to Kennedy.
"And not everything has gone wrong. Just before you came, there was word that Jimmy Whittaker is safely ashore in the Philippines."
"Sir?" Kennedy asked, confused.
I am more emotionally upset by all this than I like to think I am; there was no reason for me to tell Kennedy that, and I should have known that he didn't know what was planned for Whittaker.
"That's out of school, Joe," Donovan said.
"You don't have the Need-to Know
"You sent Jimmy back to the Philippines?" Kennedy asked incredulously.
"He volunteered to go," Donovan said.
That's pretty lame, Donovan, and you know it. You did indeed send Jimmy back, knowing full well the risks.
The door opened. Capt. Helene Dancy walked in.
"I asked not to be disturbed," Donovan said, coldly angry.
"Do I have to lock the door to keep from being interrupted?"
Just because you don't like yourself right now is no reason to jump all over her.
Capt. Dancy did not reply. White-faced, obviously hurt and angry, she marched to his desk, laid a top secret cover sheet on it, and marched back out of the office.
FROM STATION VII
TO OSS LONDON EYES ONLY BRUCE AND STEVENS
EX LAX AND TIN CAN ONE ALIVE AND WELL STATION VII STOP
GOONEYBIRDING STATION VIII STOP WILL REQUIRE IMMEDIATE AIR
TRANSPORTATION STATION VIII DASH LONDON SIX HUNGARIAN
CRIMINALS AND REMAINS LT CMDR JOHN DOLAN STOP
CAMIDY
It took Donovan a moment before he trusted his voice.
"I think, Joe," he said finally, handing him the message, "that you had better hold off on writing Lieutenant Darmstadter's family until we can get this sorted out."