Becket gave no indication that he recognized the name Grant Stevens. He shook Grant’s hand. “Lieutenant John Becket, sir, and that’s Petty Officer Jake Kidd.”
“Nice to meet you, Lieutenant.” He gave a nod toward Kidd, “Petty Officer.” Pointing at Becket’s injured, swollen eye, Grant asked, “Are you doing okay? That’s gonna be quite a shiner.”
Becket laughed. “Maybe, but you should’ve seen the other guy’s fist, sir.”
“If it was the guy we found in Bridge House, he won’t be bustin’ any more faces.”
“Dead, sir?”
“Yeah, but not by us. Okay, let’s get back on track. You wanted to comment about our proposed route?”
“Yes, sir. The way you’re talking about going is the way my team and I came when we extracted General Zhu. We pulled into one of the smaller islands on the south side of that big island.”
“What’s your recommendation?” Grant asked. “Is that the best and shortest way?”
“Well, sir, if the carrier's still steamin’ the same course as when we left her, I’d say so.”
“Very well, Lieutenant. One more question.”
“Sir?”
“Can you give me some idea where the carrier was when the ChiComs intercepted you?”
“I can give you more than that, sir. I can tell you exactly where she was.”
“Wait one,” Grant said, as he reached for his rucksack and took out the GPS. “Okay. Give me those numbers.”
“Her coordinates were 31°10′ 30.76, 122°27′ 22.90.” Grant fed the numbers into the GPS as Becket added, “We had the chopper in sight, but it and the fleet had orders to remain in international waters. But there’s not a doubt in my military mind, sir, that the chopper hovered as close to that damn ‘border’ as it could get.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Grant smiled. “Let us know if you need more water.”
“We’re good for now, sir. We’ll get more aboard ship soon enough.”
“I like your attitude, Lieutenant!”
Becket started to scoot backwards, when Grant reached forward and extended his hand again. “I just want to tell you that was one helluva brave decision you both made that night.”
“No more than all of you coming to find us… Captain Stevens,” Becket replied with a wink, as he shook Grant’s hand, then said, “Thanks.” He gave a quick nod, before scooting backward on the deck, rejoining Kidd near the bulkhead.
Adler poked Grant in the ribs with an elbow. “Your reputation precedes you.”
Chapter 18
President Carr sat opposite General Trevor Prescott and CIA Director Hank Bancroft. On the coffee table between the two sofas were new satellite images.
Prescott commented, “The ones on the right, Mr. President, were images of Shanghai taken two days ago. I circled an area in red.”
Carr picked up the black and white photo. “Is this the Consulate building?” he asked, circling his finger around a specific area labeled with an “A.”
“Yes, sir. All the buildings in the neighboring area are part of old Shanghai. The government ordered that all homes be abandoned before construction was started on the Consulate.”
Carr noticed another building. “What does this ‘B’ indicate?”
“That’s the Bridge House.” Before Carr could comment, Prescott picked up the second photo, handing it to Carr. “You’ll notice in this photo, in an area not far from the Consulate, it appears to have been demolished.”
Carr held both photos, with his eyes going from one to the other. “What’s the answer, Trevor?”
Prescott nodded to Bancroft, who answered, “Well, sir, we started picking up a lot of chatter. The Chinese weren’t too concerned this time about who was listening. From what we could piece together, two explosions occurred within a matter of seconds at location ‘A.’ But we also heard them talking about another explosion in an area known as the ‘ghetto’ about a mile or two from there.”
“What the hell happened?” Carr asked, totally surprised.
Bancroft handed Carr a third photo. “That, Mr. President, was where our operative was located. It’s gone. Totally wiped out.”
Carr dropped the photos on the table, then flopped back against the couch. “Are you trying to tell me the Chinese blew these places apart?”
“No, sir, at least we don’t think so.”
Carr was sounding frustrated. “Then what’s your opinion?” he asked looking back and forth between the two men. “Somebody has an idea, right?!”
Bancroft scooted toward the edge of the cushion. “If our operative followed the usual SOP, he already had that house booby-trapped. If the ChiComs found it, then he took care of it and them. But from the chatter we picked up, the ChiComs were caught off guard when the other buildings exploded, too.”
Carr stood by the coffee table. “If you gentlemen are thinking what I’m thinking, whoever had their hands on that plutonium was preparing to use it while the Vice President was on his visit.”
“Yes, Mr. President,” Bancroft confirmed, with General Prescott nodding in agreement.
“Then can we safely say it was Alpha Tango that took care of the explosives?”
“Yes, sir,” Prescott replied. “That’s the only logical explanation. And since we haven’t detected any plutonium in the air, it also means the Team most likely has the canisters, Mr. President.”
Looking down, Carr folded his arms across his chest. “But the bigger question still remains. Who originally planned on using the plutonium?”
“The only person who might be able to answer that, Mr. President, is Grant Stevens,” Bancroft answered as he sat back, and put his glasses in his jacket pocket.
“I’m assuming that neither of you have heard from him?” Both men shook their heads. Carr walked to his desk, then turned a phone around. He dialed State.
“Yes, Mr. President?” Colonel James Maclin answered.
“Jim, has your man heard from Captain Stevens?”
“He hasn’t reported anything, sir. But let me check.” Maclin rested the receiver against his shoulder, while he dialed Mullins from another phone. The conversation was short, with Mullins confirming he hadn’t heard from Grant.
“Mr. President, Agent Mullins has not talked with Captain Stevens.”
“All right, Jim. Keep me posted.” Carr hung up, then remained by his desk. “Nothing. No word yet.” Holding up a hand, he said over his shoulder, “Be with you in a moment.” He dialed another number. “Secretary Daniels please. Tell him it’s the President.” Carr tapped a foot on the floor as he waited.
“Yes, Mr. President?” Daniels answered
“Jerry, listen. It’s urgent you have the Coral Sea put on alert.”
Daniels’ back straightened. “What’s happened, sir?”
“There isn’t time to fill you in on all the details, but communication from Team Alpha Tango should be expected. Grant Stevens is in charge.”
“That’s the team sent to find the two SEALs, correct?”
“Right, but I don’t have any definite proof they’ve succeeded, Jerry. TheCoral Sea must be ready in any case.”
“I’ll see that Captain Gregson is contacted immediately, Mr. President.”
Carr filled SECDEF in about the CIA operative, who seemed to be the last person in contact with the Team. Then he added, “One other matter to pass on to Captain Gregson, Jerry. It’s possible Stevens may have two small canisters of plutonium in his possession.”
Daniels exhaled a long breath. “Wow! I’ll pass that on, sir.”
“And, Jerry, I don’t care by what means they have to use to help those guys, even if it means a chopper or rescue craft has to accidentally ‘drift’ into Chinese waters. But I must be kept informed, especially if I end up talking with the Chairman. I don’t want to lose any men, Jerry. Am I clear?”