"Yes, sir," Castillo said. "But Sergeant Schneider has just made the Philadelphia connection, which confirms what I'm telling you."
"What did she do?"
"What Pevsner suggested-he's in the process of finding out more-was that the Holy Legion of Muhammad plans to get through our security by substituting the airplane they have for an airplane that routinely comes to Philadelphia. Schneider found there is an airplane, owned by Costa Rican Air Transport, that flies fresh flowers to Philadelphia at least once a week. Lease-Aire sold them the airplane, and they service it when it's in Philadelphia. This ties in with what Pevsner told me that our airplane was at a private strip in Venezuela getting repainted as a Costa Rican Air Transport plane."
Secretary Hall looked across the small room at Sergeant Betty Schneider, who was leaning against the wall. He was aware that Joel Isaacson, Tom McGuire, and Major H. Richard Miller, Jr., were looking at him, waiting for his reaction.
That means they know about this Philadelphia connection, and, if they let Miller burst into the mayor's office, they believe it.
I would expect Miller to go with Castillo. They're like brothers.
But Joel and Tom, too?
Jesus Christ! I just finished convincing the mayor that the National Security Agency's satellites found the airplane in Suriname, that the CIA verified on the ground that it's the airplane we've been looking for, and the president has ordered "all necessary steps be taken" to neutralize it, that that operation is already under way and the situation is under control and there's no reason for further concern.
And now I'm supposed to go back in there and tell him, "Sorry, a little problem has come up"?
The first thing he's going to do is order an evacuation of Center City and go on television to tell the people there is a genuine threat of an airliner crashing into the Liberty Bell.
"Sir, are you still there?" Castillo asked.
"Hang on a minute, Charley, while I think," Secretary Hall said.
He looked at Sergeant Betty Schneider again.
"You believe this Philadelphia connection, Sergeant?"
"Yes, sir. It seems to fit."
"I'm going back in the mayor's office and tell him and Commissioner Kellogg that I have to go back to Washington immediately," Hall said, carefully. "To the White House."
She nodded.
"Tom, have them get the airplane ready," Hall ordered.
McGuire turned his back and spoke softly into a microphone in the lapel of his jacket.
"Inasmuch as I still believe the situation is under control, that we will be able to neutralize the airplane, I am not going to tell the mayor of this development," Hall said. He let that sink in a moment. "Sergeant, I would like an escort to the airport. I have to get there as quickly as possible."
"I'll be happy to give you an escort, Mr. Secretary," Betty Schneider said.
"If on the way to the airport, Sergeant, I told you I thought it would be helpful if you went to Washington with me, what would your reaction be? Please take a moment to think over your answer."
Betty Schneider pursed her lips and exhaled audibly.
"You understand, I think, what I'm asking, and why," Hall added.
She nodded.
"Major Castillo does have a way of upsetting the apple cart, doesn't he?" she asked, softly. "Just when you think things are under control, up he pops."
Joel Isaacson chuckled.
"Mr. Secretary," Sergeant Schneider said. "My orders from Chief Inspector Kramer are to provide you with any support you asked for. If you asked me to go with you to Washington, I'm sure I would go."
"Thank you," Secretary Hall said.
He put the secure telephone to his ear again.
"Charley?"
"Yes, sir?"
"You don't know where in Costa Rica?"
"No, sir. But according to Colonel Torine there are only two airports in the country that'll take a 727: hold one, sir."
"Now what?" Hall snapped, impatiently.
"Sir, Mr: my friend tells me that he is working on a positive location and should have it shortly. He said to tell you he's doing the very best he can."
"Tell him thank you," Hall said, and then went on: "Charley, I'm on my way to the White House. Stay close by the phone. I strongly suspect that our boss is going to want to talk to you."
"Sir, I was about to head for Costa Rica."
"And while you're doing that, you'll be out of touch?"
"It's about seven hundred miles from here. Figure an hour and a half in the air and thirty minutes to shut down the radio here and get to the airport. I'll be out of touch for a little over two hours, sir."
"You really think you have to go there yourself? Can't we get the CIA or Meade to find the airplane for us?"
"I think it would be best if I went myself, sir."
Yeah, and so do I. When the CIA learns that based on flawed information from them, Gray Fox is about to violate the sacred territory of Suriname and neutralize – probably blow up – a perfectly legitimate airplane, Langley's first reaction is going to be denial, and, way down the pike, taking action – maybe – to fix the problem.
"Get back in touch as soon as you can."
"Yes, sir. Of course."
Secretary Hall put the handset back in its cradle.
"Miller, I want you to come with us," he ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Hall started for the door to the mayor's office.
"I won't be long," he said.
[TWO]
Penthouse "B"
The Grande Cozumel Beach and Golf Resort
Cozumel, Mexico
1022 10 June 2005
"Okay, Sherman, get General McNab again," Castillo ordered.
Five seconds later, Sherman reported, "The link is down, Major."
"Oh, shit!" Castillo said. "Get Bragg and see if they know why."
"Already working on it, sir," Sherman said, and almost immediately, "I'm getting some green LEDs on General McNab, Major: Okay, sir, we're all up."
"General McNab, please," Castillo said into the headset.
"And now what, Major Castillo?" McNab himself answered.
"General, we have confirmation of what I told you before. It's now almost certain that the stolen airplane has been repainted with the color scheme of Costa Rican Air Transport, which regularly flies into Philadelphia with flowers from Costa Rica, and they intend to:"
"You did say," McNab interrupted, "did you not, Major, 'flies into Philadelphia with flowers from Costa Rica'?"
"Yes, sir, that's what I said. Flowers grown in Costa Rica and sold in supermarkets in the States. They go through customs in Tampa:"
"How convenient for General Naylor and CentCom. They can just hop in a couple of Humvees, drive over to Tampa International, and neutralize it there."
"Please, sir, let me finish."
"Why not?"
"Where they can top off the tanks and then file a flight plan-a domestic flight plan-to Philadelphia."
"And how are they going to explain to the customs people in Tampa why they are carrying so much fuel in U.S. Army fuel bladders?"
"I don't know, sir," Castillo confessed.
"What was Secretary Hall's reaction to this fascinating scenario? You did tell him?"
"Yes, sir. He told me he's on his way to Washington. To the White House."
"And?"
"That's all, sir."
"You probably won't have a security clearance much longer so I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but, for auld lang syne, with warm memories of happier times, I will. I have received further orders from General Naylor. I am immediately to proceed to a field near Kwakoegron, Suriname, there to hold myself in readiness to neutralize an Air Suriname 727 when ordered to do so. In compliance with these orders, I am presently, I would estimate, about forty or fifty miles south of Hurlburt Field, over the Gulf of Mexico."
"Yes, sir."
"Keep in touch, Charley. McNab out."
"It would appear, Charley," Alex Pevsner said as Castillo laid the headset on the table, "that no one seems willing to call off the plan to neutralize the wrong airplane in Suriname."