“Later for that,” Mike said. “Gentlemen, what are you looking for? Maybe we can just extract the hard copy files and try to find the video clips and turn them over. Understand, the Albanians still have the DVDs.”
“I’m not sure that will be sufficient.” Wythe-Harcourt sighed. “And we’d very much like to avoid naming names at this juncture.”
“Screw this,” Mike said, picking up a phone. “Greznya, get me OSOL on the line.”
“Mr. Jenkins,” Wythe-Harcourt said, firmly, “I really believe that the fewer people brought in on this…”
“And I believe that this decision is at the wrong level,” Mike replied bluntly. “Like I said, I don’t know you guys from Adam and as you said I’ve got no cred in your eyes. So let’s get people with cred involved. This is too high level for us to be dicking around with.”
“I’m here at the personal orders of the Foreign Minister,” Wythe-Harcourt said, just as bluntly.
“Head of MI-6 for me,” Carlson-Smith said.
“Head of MI-5 in my case,” Drake added.
“And I’ve got marching orders from the President,” Mike snapped. “I think I trump.”
“Parker.”
“You’re sounding tired,” Mike said.
“End of shift,” Parker said. “Pierson’s supposed to be in in about an hour. What do you got?”
“The Brits are refusing to let us take off with the take,” Mike said tightly. “They’re afraid that someone senior is on camera. Someone senior in the British government.”
“Oh, joy,” Parker said with a sigh. “And we have…”
“We have something very interesting,” Mike said. “Among other things, we’ve got data that tends to disprove our previous intel. The person named previously does not appear to be really present. But there is enough there for a slighly lame frame of said person.”
“Interesting,” Parker replied. “We need that data.”
“That’s what the Brits are saying,” Mike said. “And they’ve got the guns to prove it.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Parker said.
“Yeah, especially since without this take the previous information is out there,” Mike said. “We need bigger guns in on this.”
“I’ll make some calls,” Parker said with another sigh. “I’m going to have to wake people up.”
“Great,” Mike said. “Especially since right now my body has no idea what time it’s supposed to be.”
Mike ended the connection. “Parker is waking up some of our more senior people,” he said, picking up his coffee. “You can hang out here, or you can call your people and tell them to start expecting very important phone calls.”
“If you don’t mind, we’ll stay here,” Drake said, pulling out his cell phone. “But we would like to make some calls also.”
“Kildar,” Greznya said, sticking her head in the door. “Colonel Pierson for you on line two.”
“Got it,” Mike said, picking up the phone and hitting the connection. “Jenkins.”
“Do you just enjoy kicking hornet nests?” Pierson asked. “There I was, minding my own business, eating my breakfast like a real human being…”
“Tell it to the Brits,” Mike said, glancing over at where Carlson-Smith was scanning the video footage and taking notes.
“I understand that you’re going to get clearance soon,” Pierson replied. “But we’re going to have the Brits ‘assisting us in our investigations.’ ”
“Works for me,” Mike said. “As long as I can take off…”
“Kildar,” Greznya said, breathlessly, glancing around the room. “A very important call on Line Three.”
“I’m talking to Colonel Pierson,” Mike said, covering the receiver.
“More important!” Greznya said, her eyes wide.
“Hang on, Bob,” Mike said, putting him on hold and switching lines.
“Do you just enjoy kicking hornet nests?” the President asked, tiredly.
“Jesus, did they get you up for this, sir?” Mike asked.
“Yes, they did,” the President replied. “Actually, they got me up to field the call from the prime minister. You’re getting clearance to take off if you don’t already have it. When you get here, all the data, every snip and dribble, gets carted to a base along with your intel people. The Brits are sending over some people to keep an eye on it at the same time. Since we were on a very secure line, the prime minister told me who was suspected of being in their video and I agree that not letting it become public knowledge is a good idea.”
“Bloody hell—” Carlson-Smith snapped, hitting a computer key.
“Was that who I think it is?” Vanner asked, his eyes wide.
“I think they just found what they were looking for, Mr. President,” Mike said, at which four heads snapped up, even the two glued to the computer screen. “Is it who you thought it was? The Pres already talked to your prime minister and he’d like to know.”
“Yes,” Carlson-Smith snarled. “It is.”
“They confirm, Mr. President,” Mike said.
“Get that intel to the U.S., now,” the President ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Mike said.
“And don’t lose it!”
“Will do, sir,” Mike replied.
“Carlson-Smith will remain with the materials for the rest of the flight,” Drake said, hanging up his phone. “You’re cleared to take off. You’re to fly direct to Washington, Dulles Airport, refuel and then direct to Nellis Air Force Base. You will offload your materials there, as well as your intel specialists, and then fly to Las Vegas. The landing in Nellis will not be recorded. We’ll brief your pilot on the new itinerary. Mr. Wythe-Harcourt and I will debark and brief our respective bosses.”
“Well, I just debriefed the only guy I consider in the category,” Mike said, waving the phone. “Who was it, by the way?”
“That’s none of your business,” Carlson-Smith snapped.
“The British Home Secretary,” Vanner replied. “And Jesus does that guy have a tiny dick.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Daria,” Mike said, sitting down next to the girl. “I’m sorry, I haven’t been ignoring you. There’s just a lot going on.”
A lot was an understatement. Despite the President’s assurances, various hoops had to be jumped through. Among other things, it turned out that Carlson-Smith didn’t have his passport with him. Mike had offered one of the blank ones from the Georgian embassy, but that had been politely declined. The delay, however, even with no problems in the U.S., was going to make their arrival in Las Vegas tricky at best. Mike had, along the way, managed to convince people that he had a real need to go to Vegas first, so the landing in Nellis had been put off until the Keldara, and Mike, were dropped in Vegas. Which left just a few little details to clean up.
“I understand, Kildar,” Daria replied, smiling. “How is it going?”
“Well, we’re on our way at last,” Mike said. “But I was wondering if you could do me a few favors.”
“Of course,” Daria said, smiling. “Here?” she added with a wink.
“Now, now,” Mike said, shaking his head. “I need you to call ahead and talk to Gurum. Find hotel rooms for everyone. Some of us might not actually make it to Vegas but I want everyone to have a room. We probably can’t…”
“This is done,” Daria said, pulling out a notebook. “The group that cancelled at the convention had a block of rooms reserved. I found out about it and contacted them. They still had the rooms held, but had finally decided that they were not attending. I secured that block of rooms for us at a very reasonable rate. Since we needed some more space, and the hotel was mostly booked, I also secured the penthouse suite for your use, anticipating that Chief Adams and Mr. Vanner would be using it as well. I asked about information security on the room and the hotel has assured me that since the usual users of the room are major American businessmen who often discuss proprietary business in the penthouse that it is quite secure. I spoke with Gurum, who is a very nice man, and ensured that there was access to food for the Keldara. I also talked to the intel girls and they have sufficient ‘traditional native costumes’ for the convention.”