Read Online Code Word: Paternity, A Presidential Thriller by Doug Norton - Free Book Online
Authors: Doug Norton
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response.”
Catching the president’s mood, Dorn said,
“OK, Vijay, bring us up to date on the economic impacts and what you’re doing.”
Vijay Ramanna immediately began to speak.
A former Federal Reserve governor, he had been a surprise choice, the first
Indian-American to serve in a cabinet, and Martin had been pleased with the
buzz.
Leaning forward, Ramanna spoke more
loudly than necessary. “Mr. President, the Fed chairman agrees with me that the
stock markets and commodity exchanges should stay closed for a few days in
order to prevent panic selling. There’s the Nine- eleven
precedent , so we’re not getting too much push back.
But, obviously, we can’t keep the doors shut very long, because that would
create an even bigger panic. We’re watching liquidity closely, but for now we
believe it’s best to leave banks open.”
Martin rubbed tired eyes, trying to
relieve the gritty sensation signaling fatigue.
Ramanna continued: “Right after your
address last night, I took action! Treasury is reaching out to our
international counterparts and also requesting that all major banking centers
report large transactions in which the amounts are unusual. If the bombers bought that weapon, there may
be a money trail leading to the seller or the terrorists.”
“Vijay, how far back are you looking?”
said Vice President Griffith.
“First cut is six months, Mr. Vice
President. That’s just my guess. We’ll adjust when we have more information. My
hunch is that terrorists would use the bomb as soon as possible for their own
security reasons.”
“What does
Justice think, Ed?” said Martin.
“That time window is as good a place to
start as any. I agree with Vijay’s hunch. We’re working with CIA now to locate
known bagmen for al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups. At some point renditions
may make sense, so we can question them.”
“Ed, that comes to the NSC before you
grab anyone. I’m probably going to need a lot of convincing. This
administration is not going to
waterboard anybody, so I’m not sure that the gain from having them in custody
would be worth the grief we’d get for snatching them.”
Martin was watching th e vice president’s reaction, but Griffith’s face remained neutral. His presence on the ticket was crucial to me in Pennsylvania and several other states ,
thought Rick, but he’s often wrong on civil liberties and national security. I’ll bet
he’ll come to me on this before long.
Three hours into the meeting, Rick was
more than ready for a break. “Thanks, Vijay. He glanced at his watch.
“John, are we
done?”
“Yes, Mr.
President.”
Martin rose,
then paused. “No, don’t get up. It’s too crowded in here for that.” The
president examined their faces gravely before continuing: “This is going to
take a long time. Pace yourselves and your people. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Once in awhile, go home in time to hug your kids and your spouses.
Chapter 11
After a one-hour break, Rick eased into
his chair and looked around the room, less crowded this time. Returning his
gaze, or fiddling with papers and smart phones, were the members of the
National Security Council (NSC), plus CIA Director Scott Hitzleberger and
National Security Advisor John Dorn.
Martin spoke: “The purpose of this
meeting is to discuss a CIA program, the Paternity Project, which only a few
people know about.” Maybe that will fuzz
it up enough to keep Bruce and Anne from knowing immediately that they’ve been
kept out, he thought. “ This is a
technical program—something called nuclear forensics—which could reveal the
origin of the Las Vegas
bomb. Over to you, Aaron and Scott.”
Hendricks began to speak, and Rick let
his mind wander while the DNI repeated what he’d heard from him in January. In
a brief meeting just before this one, Hendricks had listened as Hitzleberger
reported that initial analysis pointed to North Korea. Martin told them not
to
Catching the president’s mood, Dorn said,
“OK, Vijay, bring us up to date on the economic impacts and what you’re doing.”
Vijay Ramanna immediately began to speak.
A former Federal Reserve governor, he had been a surprise choice, the first
Indian-American to serve in a cabinet, and Martin had been pleased with the
buzz.
Leaning forward, Ramanna spoke more
loudly than necessary. “Mr. President, the Fed chairman agrees with me that the
stock markets and commodity exchanges should stay closed for a few days in
order to prevent panic selling. There’s the Nine- eleven
precedent , so we’re not getting too much push back.
But, obviously, we can’t keep the doors shut very long, because that would
create an even bigger panic. We’re watching liquidity closely, but for now we
believe it’s best to leave banks open.”
Martin rubbed tired eyes, trying to
relieve the gritty sensation signaling fatigue.
Ramanna continued: “Right after your
address last night, I took action! Treasury is reaching out to our
international counterparts and also requesting that all major banking centers
report large transactions in which the amounts are unusual. If the bombers bought that weapon, there may
be a money trail leading to the seller or the terrorists.”
“Vijay, how far back are you looking?”
said Vice President Griffith.
“First cut is six months, Mr. Vice
President. That’s just my guess. We’ll adjust when we have more information. My
hunch is that terrorists would use the bomb as soon as possible for their own
security reasons.”
“What does
Justice think, Ed?” said Martin.
“That time window is as good a place to
start as any. I agree with Vijay’s hunch. We’re working with CIA now to locate
known bagmen for al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups. At some point renditions
may make sense, so we can question them.”
“Ed, that comes to the NSC before you
grab anyone. I’m probably going to need a lot of convincing. This
administration is not going to
waterboard anybody, so I’m not sure that the gain from having them in custody
would be worth the grief we’d get for snatching them.”
Martin was watching th e vice president’s reaction, but Griffith’s face remained neutral. His presence on the ticket was crucial to me in Pennsylvania and several other states ,
thought Rick, but he’s often wrong on civil liberties and national security. I’ll bet
he’ll come to me on this before long.
Three hours into the meeting, Rick was
more than ready for a break. “Thanks, Vijay. He glanced at his watch.
“John, are we
done?”
“Yes, Mr.
President.”
Martin rose,
then paused. “No, don’t get up. It’s too crowded in here for that.” The
president examined their faces gravely before continuing: “This is going to
take a long time. Pace yourselves and your people. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Once in awhile, go home in time to hug your kids and your spouses.
Chapter 11
After a one-hour break, Rick eased into
his chair and looked around the room, less crowded this time. Returning his
gaze, or fiddling with papers and smart phones, were the members of the
National Security Council (NSC), plus CIA Director Scott Hitzleberger and
National Security Advisor John Dorn.
Martin spoke: “The purpose of this
meeting is to discuss a CIA program, the Paternity Project, which only a few
people know about.” Maybe that will fuzz
it up enough to keep Bruce and Anne from knowing immediately that they’ve been
kept out, he thought. “ This is a
technical program—something called nuclear forensics—which could reveal the
origin of the Las Vegas
bomb. Over to you, Aaron and Scott.”
Hendricks began to speak, and Rick let
his mind wander while the DNI repeated what he’d heard from him in January. In
a brief meeting just before this one, Hendricks had listened as Hitzleberger
reported that initial analysis pointed to North Korea. Martin told them not
to
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