'Any thoughts?'
'Yeah. I think we've been had,' Rodgers said. 'Big time.'
'In what way?'
'I'll let you know when I've checked something out,' Rodgers told him.
'I've got to run. I'll call you as soon as I can.'
'Go get 'em,' Herbert said and hung up. He lowered the phone and looked at the others.
'Go get who?' McCaskey asked.
'Mike didn't say,' Herbert said. 'He told me he'll call in thirty minutes or so. The only thing I know for sure is it's ironic.'
'What is?' Hood asked.
Herbert replied, 'That the man who is in the best position to put this one away doesn't really work for us anymore.'
FIFTY-TWO
San Diego, California Wednesday, 4:29 p.m.
The news of the abduction shocked Kat Lockley. It also concerned her.
Senator Orr would never have organized that, and she could not imagine who would. Someone from the outside, perhaps. Maybe Rodgers?
That was not important right now. What mattered was the senator and his safety. After talking with Stone, Kat jabbed the elevator call button. While she waited to take the carriage to the penthouse, she phoned the senator and told him what had happened. She asked him to stay in his room and said she would be there in a minute or two.
Senator Orr agreed, at least until security could be organized for him to go downstairs. He felt it was important to talk to his people as soon as possible, to let them know that he was all right and the convention would go on. Kat said she would see to that. Her second call was to Pat Simcox, head of security. She wanted to make sure he stayed at his post outside the senator's room and did not join the detail searching for Admiral Link. Simcox said he had no intention of leaving. He told her not to worry. If this were a plot against the USF, no one would get through to the senator.
She believed him. The truck driver turned security man was tough.
The elevator arrived, and guests streamed out. There were concerned looks and questions for Kat. She told them the senator was all right, then excused herself and entered. On the way up, she was joined by Kendra Peterson.
'Eric called to tell me what happened,' Kendra said. 'I just spoke with the senator. He said you suggested he stay put.'
'I did. Is there a problem with that?'
'No,' Kendra insisted. 'I think that's a good idea.'
'Good.'
Kat was glad. She did not feel like having it out with Kendra over this issue. The elevator opened, and Kat went to the senator's suite.
She knocked on the door, and it opened. She stepped through.
Into something she did not expect.
Pat Simcox was standing in the entrance of the suite. He was pointing a 9 mm Glock model 19 handgun at Kat Lockley. A Gemtech SOS silencer was fixed to the barrel.
Kat stopped. Her eyes snapped from the gun to Sim-cox's brown eyes.
