Anna noticed the changes as she walked through the underground corridor of White House Bunker #5.
There were three checkpoints now instead of the one upstairs before entering the elevator. The last barrier had several high-tech snoopers to see if anything had been secreted within the body.
Iranian suicide bombers had become more sophisticated, undergoing surgery so the explosive was hidden in a person’s gut. Not that any of them were Iranian agents—that was the excuse, she supposed.
She wondered if Dr. Levin would be here today. Since the one contact in Macy’s, she hadn’t seen or spoken to him. Another change was that the Marine guards had been replaced with Militia personnel, which she’d noticed months earlier already. The other difference was the quantity of security. Many Militia guards lining the corridors and even more stood inside the main chamber.
She blinked with astonishment. The chamber was packed with Militia and Army personnel. What event would bring so many people here?
Hmmm, she didn’t see Levin. Did that mean anything? Had Director Harold uncovered the CIA’s plot? Was that why Harold had summoned her? Did the director toy with her? She didn’t know he had been the one to order her appearance. Her escorts wouldn’t say, but who else had that kind of authority?
Director Harold sat at the President’s former spot at the circular conference table. His head swayed as he saw her. “What are you doing here?” he asked in a commanding voice.
That scratched her first theory, as fear gripped her at his tone. It felt as if a strong wind whipped against her. She had to fight to keep from taking a step back, and she squinted as if a gale blew into her face. The director’s bearing had become much more powerful, forceful.
He’s become the dictator. He knows he’s in charge and he knows everyone else knows it. He has more confidence, more authority than he has ever exhibited before. He’ll never let David live. Levin was right about that.
As the director spoke, people turned toward him. He pointed at her. “Guards, take her outside.”
“Wait a minute,” Tom McGraw said, pushing to the front of the crowd. “She’s here at my request.”
Harold studied the general. “Why would you do that?” he finally asked.
Anna felt the tension between them. McGraw didn’t kowtow to the director. The general stood like the big man he was, with several watchdog majors flanking him.
Right, Anna thought. Those aren’t really majors. They’re part of McGraw’s security team. It looks like he’s finally getting smart.
“She’s the expert on the Chinese,” McGraw said, “on Chairman Hong particularly. I expect tonight is going to be the time we need all the intelligence on him we can get.”
Harold kept his eyes on her as McGraw spoke. The director went into robot mode, showing nothing that went on in his analytical brain.
“Yes,” Harold said. “She can stay, as long as she doesn’t make a nuisance of herself.”
The door opened, and Dr. Levin walked in. Anna kept her eyebrows from lifting. She recognized the aide with Levin. It was Hicks, the Agency’s wet works specialist. Why would Levin bring Hicks to this kind of meeting? She wondered if anyone else knew who Hicks was. If they had, they’d never have let him in.
“Let’s get settled,” Harold said. “It’s almost time to begin.” He turned to Chairman Alan. “Is the THOR Command Center ready?”
Alan looked up from his monitor. “Yes, Director,” the thin, glasses-wearing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said.
“Is the Air Force in Manchuria ready to strike?”
“It is,” McGraw said.
“Are the Navy submarines’ Tomahawks set to launch?” Harold asked Admiral O’Hara.
“I’ve put as many as I dared on station off China’s coast,” the admiral said. “They’re not as numerous as we wanted. As you know, the Chinese have a highly effective coastal waters defensive system and it’s been difficult maneuvering our submarines into position there.”
“I don’t want to hear that tonight,” Harold said.
“I understand,” O’Hara said. “Although I think I should warn you that we might lose whatever submarine launches Tomahawks.”
“With our inland attack scheme,” McGraw said, “we’re also going to lose most of our Manchurian-based planes and drones—at least those making the deep strikes.”
Harold nodded in an approximation of an easy manner.
It’s an act, Anna realized. He’s nervous, more frightened than I’ve ever seen him. Maybe he finally realizes what David went through all these years. The pressure can be debilitating.
Harold cleared his throat, putting his hand in front of his mouth. He laid the hand on the table and began to speak.
“Ladies and gentlemen, these past few years, the Chinese have shown us some tricks. I’m not above learning from anyone if it will help me win. We’re going for the kill tonight. This is victory or bust. We’re holding nothing back. Either we win, or we’re going to lose in China, which will be a massive setback for our country.”
“High stakes,” McGraw said, with a scowl that put a deep vertical line between his eyebrows. “I don’t like it.”
“I know,” Harold said. “But we have no choice. I believe Dr. Levin’s reports. Premier Konev has lost his nerve. He’s making moves as if he’s still America’s ally, but I’m sure he’s planning to sell us down the river. We have to strike tonight and win big enough to keep the Russians with us for a while. We have to keep the Premier greedy, thinking he can get a little more. That’s Konev’s weak point.”
I wonder what your weak point is? Anna asked herself.
“If our Marines are successful,” McGraw said, “just how many enemy cities are you willing to atomize?”
The chamber fell silent as every eye fell on Director Harold. He gave them a wintery grin. “General, if I have to, I plan to destroy every city in China to bring true peace to America.”
“We don’t have enough hypervelocity missiles to level their country,” McGraw said. “The number is not even close.”
“So very true,” Harold said. “It is the reason I have given the hypervelocity missile launchers new targets.”
McGraw bristled. Anna wondered why. Maybe the missiles were under his jurisdiction normally. With those words, the tension built in here. America attacked tonight, but the country’s leaders jockeyed for supreme power among themselves. Alan seemed to have sided with Harold, while McGraw probably had Levin.
“The hypervelocity missiles will demolish every Chinese ABM laser site they can reach,” Harold said. “I mean to yank China’s pants down around their ankles. If Hong refuses our deal, we’ll launch the ICBMs, and China will no longer have anything to stop them.”
“Genocide,” McGraw whispered.
Harold shook his head. “No. They’ll still have millions of people left. Tens of millions. This is payback, General, for what the Chinese did to us in Oklahoma. Hmmm, for even thinking to invade our country, I will obliterate them. Tonight, one way or another, we destroy China’s power.”
The silence stretched, almost becoming painful.
Harold turned to the communications people. “It’s time. Give the order.”
First Sergeant Paul Kavanagh of Second Squad, First Platoon of Third Company, First US Orbital Drop Marine Battalion lay on an acceleration couch. He wore his battlesuit. Romo lay on the couch to his left and Dan French to the one on his right.