'It's not that clean, Paul,' Rodgers said. 'I've been offered a position with Senator Orr's new political party. The way this investigation is being handled could hurt us. And you.' 'I don't understand,' McCaskey said.
'People are going to regard your involvement as opportunistic,' Rodgers told them. 'Op-Center gets downsized, the director redefines its mission in a very public way, the cuts get restored.'
'I hope you don't believe that,' Hood said.
'I don't, but there are people who will,' Rodgers said. 'They may try to hit you again.'
'So this is your lifeline to us?' McCaskey asked.
'Partly,' Rodgers said. 'I also want to protect the senator. The Wilson death is already big news. The Metro Police are on it. People expect that. I'm worried that when they find out Op-Center is also involved, we'll start hearing about international conspiracies.'
'And you think that our involvement will kick things to another level,'
McCaskey said.
'Exactly,' Rodgers said. 'It will bring even more unwanted attention to the senator and his cause.'
McCaskey saw Rodgers's point. The murder was already crime news and business news. This would make it spy news.
'Mike, what's the senator's take on Wilson's death?' McCaskey asked.
Rodgers pinned him to the wall with a look. 'Are you asking as part of the investigation?'
'Nothing we talk about leaves this office,' McCaskey replied sharply.
'The senator had no beef with the man,' Rodgers said. 'He didn't like his banking plans but was going to fight those politically.'
'Does he think someone at the party may have been responsible?'
McCaskey pressed.
'I really don't know,' Rodgers said. 'I didn't see anything unusual while I was there.'
'I didn't realize you were there,' Hood said. He seemed genuinely surprised.
'They asked me over for a meet and greet, and then made the job offer,'
Rodgers said.
'Now I see why you're uncomfortable about this,' Hood said. 'You'd be a great asset to any team.'
'But we can't just drop this.'
'Why? It's a police matter.'
'We'll be sharing information with the Metro Police, and we can shift the bulk of our load to them over the next few days. Hell, we have to do that. Darrell is needed elsewhere. But Scotland Yard asked for our help. Darrell found the evidence. For better or worse, we have to show London and the world some follow-through.'
'Or else?'
'Key alliances may be hurt, and we can't afford that now,' Hood said.
'We're going to need to out source more foreign recon than before.'
'You should also realize that the deeper you get, the more difficult it will be to ease out,' Rodgers said. 'There will be a turf war with the police, and then you'll have to see this through or come off looking weak. People will wonder why you were involved in the first place.
They won't get the quid pro quo side of our business. They'll think you were grandstanding.'
'Perhaps,' Hood said. 'I'm hoping there's a middle ground and that we can find it.'
