'The problem of anti-American economic activities,' Rodgers said.
'Exactly.'
'How do you know the senator was behind the killing of Mr. Wilson?'
Rodgers asked. He wanted to draw Stone deeper into conversation, focused on him and not on the senator.
'Orr told the admiral, and the admiral told me,' Stone said.
'Did you ask the senator yourself?' Rodgers asked.
'Why bother? He would have lied to me. Anyway, the admiral never lied. Not to me.'
Rodgers was just a few paces away. 'If this is true, I need you to tell me everything. Then I can pass it along to Op-Center.'
'Op-Center!' Stone snarled. He turned a little more. 'They were the ones who screwed this up for all of us '
Rodgers saw an opening and took it. Stone had raised his arm slightly so the Glock was pointed away from both Donald Orr and Kat Lockley.
Rodgers reached across Stone and grabbed the man's right wrist with his own right hand. He forced the gun toward the floor as he simultaneously swung his left hand toward the gun. Rodgers pressed left with his right hand, against the back of Stone's forearm, and right with his left hand. Stone's wrist snapped audibly. The gun hung loosely in his trembling fingers, and Rodgers snatched it.
The marines moved in. One of them secured Stone by pushing him facedown on the carpet. The other ran to look after Kat and the senator. He told Kat to call downstairs for the hotel physician.
Rodgers picked up the Glock.
'You don't know what you're doing!' Stone said.
'Saving you from death by lethal injection, I think,' Rodgers replied.
He motioned for the marine to let Stone sit up. Then the general crouched beside him. 'Where is Admiral Link?'
'I don't know,' Stone replied.
'I don't believe you,' Rodgers replied. 'You were filibustering outside the hotel while his limo was being hijacked. You wanted to keep me from seeing anything.'
'That doesn't mean I know where he went,' Stone said.
Rodgers shook his head. 'Don't you get it? The counter process is over. Whatever it is, whatever it was supposed to be, this whole thing is done. Cooked. The only way you save any part of your own ass is by cooperating.'
'I believe that what we have done is right,' Stone replied. 'And I won't rat out my boss. Neither will Ms. Peterson.'
'This gentleman says he will,' said a voice from the bedroom door.
Rodgers looked over. The other male member of Stone's party was standing there. His short marine guard was behind him, the assault rifle lowered. There was something contrite in the manner of the big man.
'Who are you?' Rodgers asked, rising.
'Thomas Mandor, sir.'
'What is your role in all this?' Rodgers asked.
'Just muscle,' Mandor replied.
'He was hired by Admiral Link's staff, supposedly as a personal security officer for the senator,' Kat said bitterly.
