'I know. I looked it up,' Rodgers said. 'It's conservative and protectionist, with a heavy helping of big stickism.'
'Are those very different from your own beliefs?' she asked.
'Not necessarily,' Rodgers said. 'But you knew that, didn't you?'
'The senator has powerful allies and extensive resources,' Kendra admitted. 'General, people have a great deal of respect for you. The senator will need an adviser like you.' The woman leaned close.
'Someone who has experience in the field, off the field, and is fearless in both arenas. Someone who also has experience in intelligence. You are uniquely qualified.'
'Thanks,' he said. After weeks of feeling like a bastard son at Op-Center, that was good to hear.
The woman finished her Coke. She set the glass on the counter.
'General Rodgers I'm tired.'
'You don't look it.'
'I feel it,' she said. 'My staff and I put a lot of weeks into this party. Now I'm going to slip away and get some sleep.'
'Actually, I'll be leaving right behind you,' Rodgers told her. 'Can I give you a lift?'
'You're sweet, but Mr. Carlyle, the senator's driver, is going to take me home. Besides, you should stay and be seen.'
'Doing what?'
'Talking to people.'
'Your 'extensive resources' probably told you I'm not very good at that,' Rodgers said.
'We heard that,' she admitted. 'We also heard that you're a quick study. It would help us all if the power brokers started to associate your face with this group.'
'A soldier who is seen is a target,' Rodgers said. 'I prefer high ground or a trench.'
'Even in peacetime?' she asked.
'Is that what this is, Ms. Peterson?' Rodgers asked.
'Kendra,' she said.
'Kendra,' he nodded. 'I see a lot of mobilization out there.'
'I suppose there is no such thing as neutrality in Washington.' She laughed. She removed a Palm Pilot from her purse. 'Would three p.m. tomorrow suit you to meet with the senator and Admiral Link?'
'Admiral Link,' Rodgers said. 'I know that name.'
'Kenneth Link, the barrel-chested gentleman speaking with William Wilson,' she said. 'Crew cut, red bow tie.'
Rodgers turned. 'I see him. I still can't place him.'
'He's the former head of Naval Intelligence, later director of covert ops for the CIA,' Kendra said.
'Right,' Rodgers said. 'Now I remember. I saw him at a number of NIPC meetings.' The NIPC was the National Infrastructure Protection Center.
Based at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.' it was founded in 1998 to bring together representatives from various U.S. intelligence agencies, as well as experts from private-sector think tanks. The NIPC was chartered to assess threats against critical infrastructures in energy, finance, telecommunications, water, and emergency services. 'He was always complaining about special interests and compromise.'
'The admiral does not believe in making concessions where national security is concerned,' the woman replied.
