found what he sought sooner.
Or maybe not.
It seemed the invitation must be earned.
But how?
His gaze raked the room.
The answer was here.
Malone 2 - Alexandria Link
THIRTEEN
WASHINGTON, DC
5:45 AM
STEPHANIE WATCHED AS LARRY DALEY COLLAPSED INTO ONE of the club chairs in Brent Green’s study. True to his word, the deputy national security adviser had arrived within half an hour.
“Nice place,” Daley said to Green.
“It’s home.”
“You’re always a man of few syllables, aren’t you?”
“Words, like friends, should be chosen with care.”
Daley’s amicable smile disappeared. “I was hoping we wouldn’t be at each other’s throats so soon.”
Stephanie was anxious. “Make this visit worth our while, like you said on the phone.”
Daley’s hands gripped the overstuffed armrests. “I’m hoping you two will be reasonable.”
“That all depends,” she said.
Daley ran a hand through his short gray hair. His good looks projected a boyish sincerity, one that could easily disarm, so she cautioned herself to stay focused.
“I assume you’re still not going to tell us what the link is?” she asked.
“Don’t really want to be indicted for violating the National Security Act.”
“Since when did breaking laws bother you?”
“Since now.”
“So what are you doing here?”
“How much do you know?” Daley asked. “And don’t tell me that you don’t know anything, because I’d be really disappointed in you both.”
Green repeated the little bit he’d already related about George Haddad.
Daley nodded. “The Israelis went nuts over Haddad. Then the Saudis entered the picture. That one shocked us. They usually don’t care about anything biblical or historical.”
“So I sent Malone into that quagmire five years ago blind?” she asked.
“Which is, I believe, in your job description.”
She recalled how the situation had deteriorated. “What about the bombing?”
“That was when the shit hit the fan.”
A car bomb had obliterated a Jerusalem café with Haddad and Malone inside.
“That blast was meant for Haddad,” Daley said. “Of course, since this was a blind mission, Malone didn’t know that. But he did manage to get the man out in one piece.”
“Lucky us,” Green noted with sarcasm.
“Don’t give me that crap. We didn’t kill anybody. The last thing we wanted was for Haddad to die.”
Her anger was rising. “You placed Malone’s life at risk.”
“He’s a pro. Goes with the territory.”
“I don’t send my agents on suicide missions.”
“Get real, Stephanie. The problem with the Middle East is the left hand never knows what the right is doing. What happened is typical. Palestinian militants just chose the wrong café.”
“Or maybe not,” Green said. “Perhaps the Israelis or the Saudis chose the right one?”
Daley smiled. “You’re getting good at this. That’s exactly why we agreed to Haddad’s terms.”
“So tell us why it’s necessary for the American government to find the lost Library of Alexandria?”
Daley applauded softly. “Bravo. Well done, Brent. I figured if your sources knew about Haddad, they’d deliver that tidbit, too.”
“Answer his question,” Stephanie said.
“Important stuff is sometimes kept in the strangest places.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s all you’re going to get.”
“You’re in league with whatever is happening over there,” she declared.
“No, I’m not. But I won’t deny there are others within the administration who are interested in using this as the quickest route to solving a problem.”
“The problem being?” Green asked.
“Israel. Bunch of arrogant idealists who won’t listen to a word anybody says. Yet at the drop of a hat they’ll send tanks or gunships to annihilate anyone and anything, all in the name of security. What happened a few months ago? They started shelling the Gaza Strip, one of their shells goes astray, and an entire family having a picnic
Or maybe not.
It seemed the invitation must be earned.
But how?
His gaze raked the room.
The answer was here.
Malone 2 - Alexandria Link
THIRTEEN
WASHINGTON, DC
5:45 AM
STEPHANIE WATCHED AS LARRY DALEY COLLAPSED INTO ONE of the club chairs in Brent Green’s study. True to his word, the deputy national security adviser had arrived within half an hour.
“Nice place,” Daley said to Green.
“It’s home.”
“You’re always a man of few syllables, aren’t you?”
“Words, like friends, should be chosen with care.”
Daley’s amicable smile disappeared. “I was hoping we wouldn’t be at each other’s throats so soon.”
Stephanie was anxious. “Make this visit worth our while, like you said on the phone.”
Daley’s hands gripped the overstuffed armrests. “I’m hoping you two will be reasonable.”
“That all depends,” she said.
Daley ran a hand through his short gray hair. His good looks projected a boyish sincerity, one that could easily disarm, so she cautioned herself to stay focused.
“I assume you’re still not going to tell us what the link is?” she asked.
“Don’t really want to be indicted for violating the National Security Act.”
“Since when did breaking laws bother you?”
“Since now.”
“So what are you doing here?”
“How much do you know?” Daley asked. “And don’t tell me that you don’t know anything, because I’d be really disappointed in you both.”
Green repeated the little bit he’d already related about George Haddad.
Daley nodded. “The Israelis went nuts over Haddad. Then the Saudis entered the picture. That one shocked us. They usually don’t care about anything biblical or historical.”
“So I sent Malone into that quagmire five years ago blind?” she asked.
“Which is, I believe, in your job description.”
She recalled how the situation had deteriorated. “What about the bombing?”
“That was when the shit hit the fan.”
A car bomb had obliterated a Jerusalem café with Haddad and Malone inside.
“That blast was meant for Haddad,” Daley said. “Of course, since this was a blind mission, Malone didn’t know that. But he did manage to get the man out in one piece.”
“Lucky us,” Green noted with sarcasm.
“Don’t give me that crap. We didn’t kill anybody. The last thing we wanted was for Haddad to die.”
Her anger was rising. “You placed Malone’s life at risk.”
“He’s a pro. Goes with the territory.”
“I don’t send my agents on suicide missions.”
“Get real, Stephanie. The problem with the Middle East is the left hand never knows what the right is doing. What happened is typical. Palestinian militants just chose the wrong café.”
“Or maybe not,” Green said. “Perhaps the Israelis or the Saudis chose the right one?”
Daley smiled. “You’re getting good at this. That’s exactly why we agreed to Haddad’s terms.”
“So tell us why it’s necessary for the American government to find the lost Library of Alexandria?”
Daley applauded softly. “Bravo. Well done, Brent. I figured if your sources knew about Haddad, they’d deliver that tidbit, too.”
“Answer his question,” Stephanie said.
“Important stuff is sometimes kept in the strangest places.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s all you’re going to get.”
“You’re in league with whatever is happening over there,” she declared.
“No, I’m not. But I won’t deny there are others within the administration who are interested in using this as the quickest route to solving a problem.”
“The problem being?” Green asked.
“Israel. Bunch of arrogant idealists who won’t listen to a word anybody says. Yet at the drop of a hat they’ll send tanks or gunships to annihilate anyone and anything, all in the name of security. What happened a few months ago? They started shelling the Gaza Strip, one of their shells goes astray, and an entire family having a picnic
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