threat. Voters also don't like it when the rich get special attention. Finding the killer of a European multi billionaire who was trying to take money from American banks, and jobs from our shores, is not as important as making sure landmarks and airports are secure.'
'I can't believe our society has gotten that self-absorbed,' McCaskey said. 'I refuse to believe it.'
'Oh, we have,' Hood assured him. 'We once saw endless possibility and opportunity in all directions except down. That was the American definition of beauty. Do you know what happens to the narcissist who stops feeling beautiful?'
'Yeah. He gets botox treatments.'
'No,' Hood said. 'He gets scared that he's going to lose everything else.'
'He does that, or America does that?'
'Both, I suppose,' Hood replied.
McCaskey looked a little sad. Hood did not like where this was going.
The next visit would be from Liz Gordon, who would chat and probe and try to determine if he were acting out.
Maybe with good reason, Hood thought. 'Darrell, look. I'm not asking you to have a seat in my bunker.'
'I know that, Paul '
'My personal concerns don't change the fact that the threat to Op-Center is real,' Hood went on. 'We lost a fifth of our budget today. We can't ignore the possibility that there will be additional cuts.'
'I agree.'
'At the same time, we have to do what we can to help our colleagues,'
Hood continued. 'All I want you to do is fly as far under the radar as possible.'
'In D.C.?'
'I know,' Hood said with resignation. 'Just be careful. If your name gets attached to this, I don't want any interviews. Make sure your Yard contact understands the low-profile agenda, and maintain minimal C and C with your colleagues at the Bureau.'
C and C was contact and collaboration. It described the friendly enemy status of relations between rival domestic law enforcement and intelligence groups. Most international agencies got along fine.
'I will go out in stealth mode,' McCaskey promised.
'Good. And when you nail the guy who did this, we'll have another look at how to play it with Debenport and the CIOC.'
'Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia, and then we'll talk.'
'Something like that,' Hood said.
'Sounds good. And chief? I know it's been a tough morning. If I came on a little hard, I'm sorry.'
'You asked the right questions at the right time,' Hood said. 'If I can't take that, I don't deserve to be in this chair.'
McCaskey smiled. It was good to see that.
When McCaskey left, Hood told Bugs to hold his calls for five minutes.
Then he rubbed his forehead and thought again about the situation with Frankie Hunt. If it were about his son, Alexander, Hood would not have failed to get him an internship. Sharon knew that. So she would know that her former husband had given this minimal effort if that. Would the little bit of self-respect he gained be worth the little bit of self-respect he could give?
Hesitantly, as though it were a coiled snake, Hood reached for the phone. He began making more calls, in a less ambivalent voice than he had used that morning.
