“Yes, sir, but that’s my personal opinion. No more.”

“And you think it’s possible, at least, that these people intend to fly the airplane into the Liberty Bell?”

“Yes, sir, I do. But again, that’s just my personal opinion. I have nothing to go on except what Pevsner told me in Vienna. And we won’t know whether or not the airplane is, or was, in Chad for some time.”

“Going off at a tangent, how are you going to find out one way or the other if it’s where this Russian said it is? Or was.”

“I haven’t been told that, sir. I’m sure the satellites will really give that airport some close study. I don’t know what humint sources the CIA or anyone else . . .”

“Humint, meaning ‘human intelligence’? CIA agents? That sort of thing?” the commissioner interrupted.

“Yes, sir. And it’s possible—even likely, if we don’t have people in the area—that they’ll send in an Air Force Special Ops Pave Low helicopter. They’ll find out just as soon as they can. Maybe within an hour, maybe not for twenty-four hours. And until they do, all we have is speculation.”

“I wonder if you understand my problem, Major Castillo.”

“I’m not sure I follow you, sir.”

“There are two people responsible for the safety of people in Philadelphia. One is the mayor, and the other one is me. Don’t misunderstand this. The mayor is probably the best one we’ve had since Frank Rizzo. But he doesn’t know how to direct traffic, much less handle the nuts-and-bolts problems that would result from a plane crash in downtown Philadelphia.”

The commissioner saw the look on Castillo’s face.

“You can see where I’m going, right?” he asked. “And none of this occurred to you before?”

“No, sir,” Castillo confessed.

“If there is even a slight chance that this incredible scenario is going to come to pass, then it would seem we should have whatever precautionary measures we can, right? Warn the citizens, etcetera, etcetera.”

“Yes, sir.”

“There are problems with that,” the commissioner said. “Starting with panic. And there is also the problem of crying wolf. If the mayor puts these measures into play and nothing happens, not only is he going to look like a fool but the next

time this happens people would not pay attention. Most people are already starting to think of the World Trade towers going down as something they saw in a movie starring Charlton Heston and Paul Newman.” He paused. “Still with me?”

“Yes, sir. I believe I am.”

“The mayor, as I say, is about as fine a leader as they come. Unfortunately, he is also a politician. I have absolute confidence in my deputy commissioners. I have virtually none in the mayor’s staff. I am very much afraid that if I pass this situation on to the mayor—and it is clearly my duty to do so—he will pass it on to certain members of his staff and they will either panic and let the story out or they will do so consciously, seeing the mayor on television defending the city from terrorist attack as a very good way to ensure his reelection.

“If there is a flurry of activity against this potential attack and nothing happens, I think it might well cost him reelection and I would hate to see that happen.”

“Jesus H. Christ!” Miller said, softly.

“Your father just now alluded to making unpleasant choices when it is clearly your duty to do so,” the commissioner said. “I am about to do something like that. I am going to both fail to do what I know I am duty bound to do and I’m going to lie, and so are you.”

“Sir?”

“When you and Dick came in here, Major, you told me nothing of this crash of an aircraft into the Liberty Bell scenario. Your visit to my office was in the nature of a courtesy call. Secretary Hall wanted my assistance in your investigation of Lease-Aire, Incorporated. I of course told you I would be happy to cooperate.”

“Yes, sir,” Castillo said.

“You said a moment ago, Major, that you believe there will be information regarding the location of this missing airplane within twenty-four hours?”

“Yes, sir. Perhaps a little less time than that.”

The commissioner looked at his watch.

“It is now eight-thirteen,” he said. “In thirty-two hours, it will be four-thirteen tomorrow afternoon. At that time, I’m going to the mayor with this. He will like that because it will give him time to make the six o’clock news. You understand me? I don’t want any misunderstandings about this, and it goes without saying that I expect you to immediately bring me up to speed on any further developments.”

“I understand, sir,” Castillo said.

Tags: W.E.B. Griffin Presidential Agent Thriller
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