vice president looked at his watch.
'Mr. President, forgive me, but we're wasting time. We need to get on with this meeting.'
'I agree,' said General Burg.
'I'm not up to speed on any of this back-and-forth, and it isn't my job to say which of these gentlemen is full of gravy. But whether we play offense or defense, we have to make some quick decisions if we're going to match Iran's deployment.' The president nodded.
'Then get on with the meeting, Mr. President, General Burg,' Hood said.
'But please delay taking military action for as long as possible. Give me time to finish the investigation we've begun.'
'I asked for evidence to back your claims,' the president said, his voice extremely calm.
'You don't have that.'
'Not yet,' Hood said.
'And we don't have the extra time I thought there'd be to investigate. We've got to proceed as if the Caspian threat is real,' the president said with finality.
'Which is exactly what they want you to do!' Hood said. He was growing agitated and had to pull himself back. An outburst would undermine his own credibility.
'We believe a crisis is being engineered, one that will call into question your ability to govern.'
'People have argued about that for years,' the president said.
'They voted me out of office once. But I don't make decisions based on polls.'
'I'm not talking about a policy debate,' Hood said.
'I'm talking about your mental and emotional state. That will be the issue.' Fenwick shook his head sadly.
'Sir, mental health is the issue. Mr. Hood has been under a great deal of stress these past two weeks. His teenage daughter is mentally ill. He's going through a divorce. He needs a long vacation.'
'I don't think Mr. Hood is the one who needs a leave of absence,' the First Lady said. Her voice was clear and edged with anger. It quieted the room.
'Mr. Fenwick, I have watched my husband being misled and misinformed for several weeks now. Mr. Hood looked into the situation at my personal request. His investigation has been methodical, and I believe his findings have merit.' She glared at Fenwick.
'Or do you intend to call me a liar as well?' Fenwick said nothing. The president looked at his wife. Megan was standing straight and stoic at Hood's side. There was nothing apologetic in her expression. The president looked tired, but Hood thought he also seemed sad. He could not tell whether it was because Megan had run an operation behind his back or because he felt he had let her down. The couple was silent. It was clearly an issue they would settle some other time, in private. After a moment, the president's eyes returned to Hood. The sadness remained.
'Your concern is noted and appreciated,' the president said.
'But I won't jeopardize the nation's interests to protect my own. Especially when you have no evidence that they're at risk.'
'All I want is a few hours,' Hood said.
'Unfortunately, we don't have a few hours,' the president replied. For a moment, Megan looked as though she was going to hug her husband. She did not. She looked at Fenwick and then at the joint chiefs.
'Thank you for hearing us out,' she said.
'I'm sorry to have interrupted.' She turned and started toward the door. Hood did not know what else to say. He would have to go back to the Cabinet Room and work with Herbert and Orlov. Try to get the proof the president needed and get it quickly. He turned to follow the First Lady from the Situation Room. As he did, there was a gentle beep from somewhere in the room. A cell phone. The sound had come from the inside pocket of Fenwick's suit. He shouldn't be able to get a signal in here. Hood thought. The walls of the Situation Room were lined with chips that generated random electrical impulses or impedence webs. The IWS were designed to block bugs from broadcasting to anyone on the White House grounds. They also blocked cell phone calls with one exception: transmissions relayed by the government's Hephaestus satellite array. Hood turned back as the NSA chief had slipped a hand into his jacket. Fenwick took out the phone and shut off the ringer. Bingo. If it got through IW security, it had to be a Hephaestus call. Highest security. Who wouldn't Fenwick want to talk to right now? Hood leaned over the NSA chief and pulled the phone from his hand. Fenwick reached for it, but Hood stepped away.
'What the hell are you doing?' Fenwick demanded. He pushed the chair back and rose. He walked toward Hood.
'I'm betting my career on a hunch,' Hood said. He flipped open the cover and answered the call.
'Yes?'
'Who is this?' asked the caller.
'This is Jack Fenwick's line at the NSA,' Hood said. He walked toward the president.
'Who's calling?'
'My name is David Battat,' said the clear voice on the other end. Hood felt the world slide off his shoulders. He held the cell phone so the president could listen as well. Fenwick stopped beside them. The NSA head did not reach for the phone. He just stood there. Hood saw just where the weight of the world had shifted.
'Mr. Battat, this is Paul Hood of Op-Center,' said Hood.
'Paul Hood?' Battat said.
