'You are uniquely qualified,' Link added.
'I'm also a little confused,' Rodgers said. 'Are you making me an offer?'
The senator laughed. That one was a short stage laugh. 'As I said, Texas is in here.' Orr touched his chest. 'I watched how you walked into the office. That's the way I want my cabinet members to step to a podium.'
Rodgers was flattered and also suspicious. Either Orr was hooking him for some other reason, or he was exactly as he said: a straight-shooting politician.
'General, may I ask how things are at Op-Center?' Link said.
'Why?' Rodgers asked. 'What have you heard?'
'Not much,' Link replied.
'In D.C.? That's unlikely,' Rodgers said.
'He's got you there, Ken.' Orr laughed, once again for real.
'Touche,' the admiral said. 'The truth is, we just heard they're spearheading the investigation into the murder of William Wilson.'
'Really?' Rodgers said.
Link was watching him. 'You seem surprised.'
'I am. Who's the point man?'
'I don't know. But whoever it is, he's good,' Link replied. 'He's the one who found signs of trauma under the tongue that the medical examiner missed. He turned this from a heart attack to a homicide.'
'I see,' Rodgers replied.
That sounded like a street-smart 'get' by Darrell McCaskey. Op-Center must have become involved at the request of Interpol or Scotland Yard.
'General, we heard that the CIOC has instructed Op-Center to make budget cuts,' Link went on. 'Why would Director Hood take on an outside project like this in an environment trending toward austerity and realignment?'
'You would have to ask him,' Rodgers said.
'Of course,' Orr said. 'Ken, you're asking General Rodgers to breach departmental confidentiality '
'Actually, it's more than that,' Rodgers informed the men. 'This morning I learned that I am part of those bottom-line reductions. My tenure as deputy director is effectively over.'
'They asked for your resignation?' Orr asked, surprised.
'Two weeks from now I'm either working with you or back at the DoD in some other capacity.'
'Now that's a kick in the damn teeth,' Link said. 'They ship out an American hero, then help to investigate a decadent British billionaire.'
Orr's phone beeped. He answered, listened, said he would be right there. 'I'm expected in the conference room for a pre-interview with Mr. Dan Rather's associate producer,' he said. 'General, will you be able to stay for a bit? This should not take more than fifteen minutes.'
'Of course,' Rodgers said, rising as the senator did.
Orr left the room and shut the door behind him. Rodgers sat back down.
Link was looking at him. Rodgers took a sip of coffee.
'General Rodgers Mike, if I may do you mind if I ask you something personal?'
'Go ahead.'
