they are left unconstrained, one year. The more successful your president is in bringing pressure through Russia and some countries in the Middle East, the longer some of their testing will be delayed. Your president could do much more to make it difficult for Iran to get some of the necessary materials and equipment.”
“We agree, my friend,” Webster said with his hand on Aviv’s shoulder, “but we can’t count on President Jackson being very effective. The man is surrounded by fools who advise him that Iran is not a serious threat even with nuclear capabilities.”
“Reference to a nuclear threat or any other for that matter is always determined within the context of to whom . In the case of Iran, the sooner threat will be against my homeland. And, as Hezbollah expands its control in Lebanon, nuclear weapons from Iran will find their way there as well. In any event, left to their own devices, over time the Iranians will enhance their launch capacities to reach central Europe, and one day over the pond into your Virginia countryside.”
“I trust Israel will take action before your homeland falls within that shadow.”
“Ah, my friend, even with you I cannot discuss our positions on that subject. However, such actions, if necessary . . . perhaps, I should say when necessary, would be much easier if your president would step up to the plate on this one.”
The tap of a woman’s high heels on the Italian marble flooring pulled the two men’s attention. A voluptuous woman on the arm of a man in a white dinner jacket stepped out through a second door, moving in their general direction. Webster nodded. She smiled. Her escort nodded.
“They’re with me. Security,” Aviv said. “They won’t come too close.”
Webster moved to the other side of the Israeli Deputy. From that position the Israeli agents could not read his lips. Then he said, “Yes, well, I’m still working on getting you a statement of clear support from our president. A statement that will tell the world America will support Israel, should such action become necessary.”
“Sadly,” Aviv said, “I can’t see that coming from President Jackson. And this situation may well boil over before your next election.”
Chapter 13
At precisely midnight, Webster heard the light knock for which he had been listening. Plush carpeting muffled his steps as he moved across the open seating area of his hotel suite. He looked through the peephole before opening the door. Ryan Testler came in after glancing each way down the hall. The two men nodded, but did not shake hands.
“This is your first absolute failing,” Webster said, ignoring any pleasantries. “I want to know why. And I want it straight.”
“First off,” Testler began, “the major piece of the mission, SMITH & CO., went just as planned, a success not a failure. I shipped you their hard drives and backup disks.”
“I’ve been told they’ve arrived. They’re being looked at as we speak. Now tell me about Darby. That should have been the easier part of the assignment.”
“I wish I knew more than I do,” Ryan said, taking a seat on the arm of an overstuffed chair after Webster had first sat on the facing couch. “I had two men, men we’ve used before, skilled men set up to take Linda Darby at her home. Five minutes from launch, she unexpectedly left to go for a walk. I dispatched the operatives to an alleyway she would pass. I considered waiting for Darby to return home, but we couldn’t chance where she was headed. She often got together with Cynthia Leclair. Darby could have been heading to Leclair’s home. She could even have had a key or she could have walked to SMITH & CO., expecting to meet Leclair. Had she walked into the middle of either of those scenes, she would have called the police. Had that happened we would not have gotten to Darby in time to learn what, if anything, Leclair had told her. The alley would have made her death appear more random for her killer
“We agree, my friend,” Webster said with his hand on Aviv’s shoulder, “but we can’t count on President Jackson being very effective. The man is surrounded by fools who advise him that Iran is not a serious threat even with nuclear capabilities.”
“Reference to a nuclear threat or any other for that matter is always determined within the context of to whom . In the case of Iran, the sooner threat will be against my homeland. And, as Hezbollah expands its control in Lebanon, nuclear weapons from Iran will find their way there as well. In any event, left to their own devices, over time the Iranians will enhance their launch capacities to reach central Europe, and one day over the pond into your Virginia countryside.”
“I trust Israel will take action before your homeland falls within that shadow.”
“Ah, my friend, even with you I cannot discuss our positions on that subject. However, such actions, if necessary . . . perhaps, I should say when necessary, would be much easier if your president would step up to the plate on this one.”
The tap of a woman’s high heels on the Italian marble flooring pulled the two men’s attention. A voluptuous woman on the arm of a man in a white dinner jacket stepped out through a second door, moving in their general direction. Webster nodded. She smiled. Her escort nodded.
“They’re with me. Security,” Aviv said. “They won’t come too close.”
Webster moved to the other side of the Israeli Deputy. From that position the Israeli agents could not read his lips. Then he said, “Yes, well, I’m still working on getting you a statement of clear support from our president. A statement that will tell the world America will support Israel, should such action become necessary.”
“Sadly,” Aviv said, “I can’t see that coming from President Jackson. And this situation may well boil over before your next election.”
Chapter 13
At precisely midnight, Webster heard the light knock for which he had been listening. Plush carpeting muffled his steps as he moved across the open seating area of his hotel suite. He looked through the peephole before opening the door. Ryan Testler came in after glancing each way down the hall. The two men nodded, but did not shake hands.
“This is your first absolute failing,” Webster said, ignoring any pleasantries. “I want to know why. And I want it straight.”
“First off,” Testler began, “the major piece of the mission, SMITH & CO., went just as planned, a success not a failure. I shipped you their hard drives and backup disks.”
“I’ve been told they’ve arrived. They’re being looked at as we speak. Now tell me about Darby. That should have been the easier part of the assignment.”
“I wish I knew more than I do,” Ryan said, taking a seat on the arm of an overstuffed chair after Webster had first sat on the facing couch. “I had two men, men we’ve used before, skilled men set up to take Linda Darby at her home. Five minutes from launch, she unexpectedly left to go for a walk. I dispatched the operatives to an alleyway she would pass. I considered waiting for Darby to return home, but we couldn’t chance where she was headed. She often got together with Cynthia Leclair. Darby could have been heading to Leclair’s home. She could even have had a key or she could have walked to SMITH & CO., expecting to meet Leclair. Had she walked into the middle of either of those scenes, she would have called the police. Had that happened we would not have gotten to Darby in time to learn what, if anything, Leclair had told her. The alley would have made her death appear more random for her killer
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