'Let me guess,' Rodgers said. 'She wanted to know if the senator had any reaction to the attack on Op- Center.'
Kat nodded.
'Does he?'
'He thinks it's awful, as we all do,' Kat said. Her warm eyes settled on his. 'Were you at the NCMC at the time?'
Rodgers nodded.
'I'm sorry. Are you okay?'
'Surprisingly, yes. I lost my car and my work cell phone, and I'm guessing my credit cards got scrambled. But all of that can be replaced.'
'I assume Hood and the others are pretty shaken.'
'They're on autopilot, but they'll get through this,' Rodgers replied.
'I'm more interested in who was behind this.'
'Of course. Any thoughts on that?'
He hunched forward. Now that Kendra was suspicious, there was no reason to be discreet. 'I need to ask this, Kat, and I hope you'll keep it between us. But is there any chance that Admiral Link was involved?'
The woman did not seem surprised by the question. 'A chance? Sure. A likelihood? No. Think what the admiral would stand to lose if he were caught.'
'For what? Attacking Op-Center or having William Wilson killed?'
That one came out sounding more like an accusation than a question.
This time Kat was openly disapproving.
'I surely hope you do not believe the admiral was involved in either of those,' Kat said.
'I want to believe that,' he said truthfully.
Kat's phone beeped. She answered. She listened for a moment, said she would be right there, then hung up.
'That was reception,' she said. 'Your friend Mr. McCaskey is here. He insists on seeing the senator.'
'Let me talk to him,' Rodgers said.
'We'll both go,' Kat replied flatly.
Tension had descended like sleet, heavy and cold. The two walked through the office. Though it was nearly five o'clock, none of the workers was preparing to leave. Rodgers heard pizzas being ordered for dinner. There was excitement in the air, energy in the staff's activities, a sense of purpose on youthful faces. Here he was, embarking on a new career and trying to find out who bombed his old office. Yet he felt none of what these people felt. It was not a virtue of age but of attitude. For the first time in his life, Mike Rodgers did not know which side he was on.
McCaskey was pacing in the carpeted reception area. That was unusual.
He was usually Mr. Patient.
'Hello, Mike,' McCaskey said thickly. 'I'd like to talk to you.' He regarded Kat. 'I also want to see the senator.'
'That is not possible,' she replied. 'He is out.'
'Then I'll go wherever he is,' McCaskey told her.
'Don't waste your time,' she said. 'Senator Orr has already said he would only speak to your superior, and then as a courtesy, nothing more.'
