Lena said, “He’s asked to speak with us in person.”
“He has? When?”
“After the Washington, D.C., operation is executed.”
Natesh’s stomach turned at the mention of that operation. He had been horrified to learn the details.
“Alright, so we can speak to him about this.”
“Yes, in Guangzhou. He has asked us to come to him.”
“Why?”
She looked at him, not wanting to reveal anything about Jinshan’s health. “Because he is a busy man.”
A knock at the door, and then one of the Chinese intelligence officers popped his head through. “It’s time. You asked to be alerted when the Washington, D.C., operation was to begin.”
Lena looked at the clock. Right on time. “Thank you. We’ll be right there.”
The man nodded and shut the door. “Natesh, things will work out. Cheng Jinshan has devoted the majority of his life to this cause. I have devoted my entire adult life to this cause. We will not fail. I promise you.”
He sighed. “Okay.”
She got up and said, “Alright, let’s go watch the fireworks.”
4
“So you’ve known about this for how long?”
David Manning stared at his brother from the passenger seat. They were in heavy traffic on Chain Bridge Road.
Chase said, “I’m gonna take the Beltway.”
“Don’t take the Beltway. Traffic will be worse there.”
“I’ll take it to 66.”
“They’re both going to be parking lots.”
Chase drove his Ford Mustang onto the on-ramp of the Beltway. David didn’t say anything.
“Yes, I’ve known about it for a while. Come on, man.” He took his eyes off the road for a split second, making eye contact with his brother. “You know that with my job… I can’t talk openly about everything.”
David stared out the window. The Beltway was a sea of red taillights, inching along slower than a person could walk. He looked over at his brother. A former Navy SEAL. Now an elite member of the CIA’s Special Activities Division. But he was still human. Stuck in traffic, like the rest of D.C.
“I warned you,” he said, looking at the logjam.
“It’ll give us more time to talk,” Chase said.
David’s phone vibrated, and he scanned his new text message.
Lindsay: You on your way home yet?
David: Yeah in traffic
Lindsay: How’d it go?
David: Not bad I’ll tell u more when home
Lindsay: K Love you
David: love u 2
David said, “On the one hand, I’m glad to hear that they’re taking the stuff with China seriously.”
“But?”
“When we were in that meeting today… the way a lot of those CIA guys were looking at me…”
“Relax,” Chase said. “They wouldn’t have asked you to be on the team if they didn’t trust you.”
“I don’t think they all trust me.”
Chase shot another look at his brother. “You passed the background check. You’ve had multiple polygraphs with some of the best analysts in the world. Your stories check out. And a lot of good people in the military and intelligence community have vouched for you.”
“But some people still question whether I intentionally gave information to the Chinese… or if I was just too dumb to realize…”
“You gotta let it go, man. Forgive yourself. Focus on your new mission. Help save the people on that island. And help make sure our country is protecting itself from any Chinese threat. The director personally gave his approval to have you on the team. David. They believe you.”
David shook his head. “So why are we still about to go to war with Iran? If they really trusted me, they would listen to my warnings. To your warnings too, for God’s sake.”
“Because it’s hard to stop the drums of war,” Chase said, “and Iran has killed Americans. Whether it was orchestrated by the Chinese or not, whether they were manipulated or not — they’ve killed Americans.”
He referred to the Persian Gulf attacks a few weeks earlier. After Lena Chou had assassinated the Iranian politician near Bandar Abbas, Iran had retaliated by conducting a surprise attack on US military assets in the Persian Gulf. While the US Air Force and Navy had made quick work of the attacking parties, hundreds of American lives were lost. A tenuous ceasefire was declared. Things had settled down for now. But while Iran and the United States weren’t technically at war just yet, American forces had been building in the region for weeks. And most of the American public was calling for retribution. War might be only days away.
David shook his head, looking back out the window. “We’re playing right into Jinshan’s hands.”
“I don’t disagree.”
“Then why aren’t you angrier?”
“Because Iran is a destabilizing force in the region,” Chase said. “They’re the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. There are lots of people in Iran who would relish a free and democratic government. Maybe all they need is a little help in getting there.”
David turned to him. “You mean help from our military?”
Chase shrugged as he changed lanes. “Sure. Why not.”
“Come on, Chase. You can’t just bring democracy to countries. It isn’t that simple. You of all people should know that. You’ve seen a lot of the results of that sort of thing.”
Chase shot his brother a dark look. “You’re right. I have seen a lot of the world. Where the American military has tried to bring democracy to other countries. And you’re right. It is complex. It’s not easy. But every country is different. Iran is not Iraq, and it definitely ain’t Afghanistan. All I’m saying is, it sure would be nice if Iran had a free and open democracy. One where they weren’t ruled by an extremist leader. It might be one of the keys to peace in the Middle East.”
“Alright, I can appreciate that. But still, this whole Iran situation is a setup. It’s been staged by the Chinese. We both know that.”
“Right, but we can’t prove it. Not to John Q. Public. And that’s what matters.”
“So then we just let China get away with it?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Chase looked at his brother. “That’s what you’re on the team for.”
David sighed. “You’re saying I need to be patient.”
“Yes. You still have a lot to be briefed on. Trust me.”
David said, “Alright.”
A motorcycle puttered and snarled next to their car as its rider revved its engine, his feet touching the ground as the already-slow traffic came to a full stop.
Chase shook his head. “I forgot why I don’t want to work an office job. It’s this damn traffic.”
David looked out ahead. Columns of cars, SUVs, and eighteen-wheelers stood still on the Beltway. David heard a few cracks that sounded like fireworks. He looked at the motorcycle next to them, trying to figure out if it was having some sort of engine trouble.
Then he saw Chase’s face. His brother placed the Mustang in park and reached under his seat, moving fast. He pulled out a canvas black container about the size of a lunch bag and unzipped it.
“What is that?”
Chase didn’t respond, just looked up out the window, scanning the horizon. His hands working the bag, reaching for its contents.
“Chase. What’s wrong?”
Chase held up his finger. “Shhh.” Then he removed a Sig Sauer P226 9mm handgun from the black bag.
“Dude. What are you doing?”
He was still looking forward, through the windshield. David turned to follow his gaze. An overpass stood about a quarter mile in front of them. A plume of black smoke began to rise up from the highway in front of it.