"Director Hood, Director Harker. Let's sit on the couches."
Corrigan sat down and they took their seats.
"I read your brief, Director Harker," Corrigan said. "Your people have been getting in a lot of trouble over there."
"They weren't looking for it, sir," Elizabeth said. "When this sort of thing happens, it means they're getting close to something important."
"This sort of thing? Does that happen often, Director? No, don't answer that."
"The Iranians seem bent on stopping anyone except themselves from finding King Solomon's treasure."
"If it exists," Corrigan said.
"Yes, sir. Even if it doesn't, this has to play out to the end."
"The Israeli government has made an official request for your team to back off."
"With respect, Mister President, the Israeli government is its own worst enemy right now. There's a serious disagreement between people who want peace at any cost and those who see Iran and its surrogates as the principal threat to Israel's existence. The Iranians are not going to stop looking. If that gold does exist, the last thing we want is for them to get their hands on it."
"What has your team discovered so far?"
"There is a strong possibility the gold is located in Egypt, right across the border from Israel. I would like to send my team in to confirm the location or eliminate it."
"Director, I'm sure I don't have to point out to you that I'm the new kid on the block. The last thing I need is an international incident with Egypt. It's one of the few Middle Eastern countries we get along with. Whatever our differences, it provides a semblance of stability in the region."
"I fully appreciate your position, sir."
"I'm not sure that you do, Director," Cartwright said.
Her voice was nasal and sharp, the kind of voice that set Elizabeth's teeth on edge.
Watch your step. This woman's like a junkyard dog.
Cartwright continued. "If it becomes known that an American covert team has violated Egypt's sovereignty, it will create a firestorm of criticism. We're trying to get this administration in place against the opposition of people who voted for the other side and don't like us. We don't need the kind of distraction an incident would create."
Hood cleared his throat. "I'd like to say something, if I may."
"Go on," Corrigan said.
"The potential benefit that could come from this mission far outweighs the negatives. If this treasure trove exists and we find it, we'll have performed a major service for one of our most important allies. They'll owe us after that."
"A chip in the game," Corrigan said. "That's what President Rice called it."
"Yes, sir, that's right," Hood said. "A big chip."
"I'd like to point out that this chip, as you call it, is in Egypt. How are the Israelis going to benefit from that?" Cartwright said.
"The Israelis are quite resourceful," Hood said. "I'm sure they'll find a way. In any event, it's essential that the Iranians don't find it first."
Cartwright seemed annoyed. "We don't know it's the Iranians looking for it."
"We do know it's them," Elizabeth said. "We've identified several of their agents, including the woman who worked in New York. There's no question in my mind that Iran is behind the attacks on my team in Israel. They killed several Israeli agents."
"All the more reason to back away," Cartwright said. "We don't need to take on Iran at this time."
Corrigan held up his hand.
"Director Harker, what do we know about this woman who worked at the Museum?"
"Her real name was Ayala Khorosani. She was born in Iran and trained as an agent of VAJA, their intelligence and secret police apparatus. We believe she was inserted into the Jewish Museum as a way to gain information about the upcoming Jewish World Conference that's being held in New York next week. Director Hood and I believe the Iranians are planning a major terrorist attack against the conference. It's the main reason we requested this meeting."
Cartwright interrupted. "Are you saying there's going to be a terrorist attack in New York, and you're just now telling us? How long have you known?"
Corrigan said, "Ellen, please." He looked at Elizabeth and Hood. "You realize I am going to speak at that conference, don't you? What are you doing about it?"
"That needs to be coordinated with DHS and the Bureau," Elizabeth said. "We wanted to brief you before alerting the other agencies. As to how long we've known, we put it together this morning."
"Mister President," Hood said, "I fully agree with Director Harker's analysis. Based on what we know, the indications are that there will be an attack on the conference. We could be wrong, but my gut says we're not."
"Your gut?" Cartwright made a dismissive sound. "If your gut is wrong, we spend a lot of money and upset a lot of people for no reason. The news will leak. If nothing happens, we'll look like fools. We need more than your gut feeling to act."
"What will it look like if there's an attack and you didn't do something about it, when you knew it might happen?" Elizabeth asked.
Corrigan had been watching the exchange. Now he said, "Director Hood, inform Homeland Security and the Bureau and turn it over to them. This is their turf, but since it involves the Iranians, I want you to remain involved. I want continual updates on what is being done. Make sure Ellen is kept in the loop."
"Yes, Mister President," Hood said.
"Director Harker. Go ahead and send your team into Egypt. But you damn well better make sure they don't cause any trouble. If they do, I will deny all knowledge of them. Understood?"
"Yes, Mister President."
Corrigan stood. The others rose.
"Keep me informed. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with the Russian ambassador in five minutes."
A Secret Service agent escorted Hood and Elizabeth away from the Oval Office.
"You were right," Elizabeth said. "That was interesting."
"What did you think of Corrigan's Chief of Staff?"
"She reminds me of one of those Greek myths. A harpy, ready to tear you to bits."
"She's Corrigan's personal attack dog. I don't think she's going to last too long."
"She's not big on people skills, is she?"
"You'd better watch your step, Elizabeth," Hood said. "Corrigan is under a lot of pressure to create at least an illusion of transparency. Your unit is a potential problem for him, not to mention the budget that sustains you. Cartwright sees you as a liability. She'll do everything she can to undermine you."
"It won't be the first time someone went after the Project."
"All the same, you'd better make sure all your ducks are lined up in a row."
"If Cartwright comes after me, she may find that she's taken on more than she bargained for," Elizabeth said.
Hood laughed. "I don't have any doubt about who would come out on top."
"Any luck with that phone number Stephanie found?"
"Not yet. It's turned off. The last time it was on, a call was made in the Bronx to another burner."
"That doesn't narrow it down much."
"No, it doesn't. The number is being monitored. If it goes active, we'll know it."
"I hate this kind of situation," Elizabeth said. "We know an attack is coming. We can make a good guess about the target. But until someone makes a mistake or until the attack takes place, the only thing we can do is increase security."
"At least we're fairly sure the target is the Jewish World Conference."
"That's the biggest guess of all," Elizabeth said. "What if it isn't? What if they're planning to attack somewhere else in the city?"
"Then we have a real problem," Hood said.
CHAPTER 36
The storage unit was cold and uncomfortable. Amin and Hamid had moved the pallet with the air compressors out of the van and had started stripping away the plastic shrink wrap surrounding the cylinders. Amin moved carefully, even though he knew that the canisters with the sarin were in the center, hidden inside two false compressors. They were unobtrusively marked to set them apart from the others. There was no need to worry about picking the wrong ones. Even so, being in the same room with something that brought such a horrible death was enough to make him nervous.