'Good,' Rodgers said. 'Hang in. I'll get word to Kline. And Aideen?'
'Yes?'
'If we can't pull this off and it gets hairy, you bail,' Rodgers said. 'All of you.'
'We will,' she promised.
Rodgers clicked off. He looked at McCaskey. 'They're all right,' Rodgers told him.
The former FBI agent eased visibly.
Rodgers looked at Hood. 'Have you got him on the line?'
'He's coming,' Hood said.
Rodgers asked Hood to put the phone on speaker. Rodgers briefed the others while he waited. He was just finishing when Kline picked up.
'What is it, Paul?' Kline said.
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'No, this is Mike Rodgers. Mr. Kline, about forty-five minutes ago, two members of the Unidad Especial tried to take Father Bradbury by force,' Rodgers told him.
'Are you sure?' Kline asked.
'Yes,' Rodgers replied. 'They were killed. So were two Brush Vipers.'
'Bloody hell,' Kline said.
'It must have been,' Rodgers agreed.
'General Rodgers, you must believe me; I had no knowledge about the Spanish soldiers,' Kline said. 'They were ordered to stand down. The message we sent was received and acknowledged. I don't know what happened in the field. Perhaps the Brush Vipers were the aggressors.'
'That isn't the story I was told, but it is not important at this moment,' Rodgers said. 'What I need you to do is keep the Spanish and the Botswana military away. You know we have people on site. They need two hours. They think the Brush Vipers can be persuaded to disband.'
'General, I obviously didn't have a lot of pull with our people. I certainly don't have a lot of sway with Gaborone,' Kline said. 'None of us does. That was why we had to go to Spain in the first place. I also don't know if the Botswana government will accept a delay or even the surrender of Dhamballa. This isn't only about justice anymore. It's about seeming to appear weak. They can't afford that, especially if the Brush Vipers did in fact kill those Spanish soldiers.'
'I understand,' Rodgers said. 'Which is why you have to convince Gaborone that if they attack, Father Bradbury will die. So will my people. Maybe it will help if you tell them that they are three American tourists who were picked up by the Brush Vipers.'
Herbert shook his head vigorously. 'Gaborone could use that kind of standoff for publicity,' the intelligence chief said. 'They may want to show off their hostage negotiating skills.'
'At least it will hold off the attack,' McCaskey said, 'give our people a chance to get out.'
'Maybe,' Herbert said. 'I agree with Edgar. Ayhis point, I think the Botswana government feels it needs a show of
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force. A hostage situation will also cause questions to be asked about who the Americans are and how they got in. We can't risk that.'
'Then call our team and tell them to cut loose,' McCaskey said. 'What else is there to do?'
'Running through the wilderness while Botswana pilots are looking for people running through the wilderness may not be the best course of action,' Rodgers said.
'That is probably true,' Kline said, 'though I don't think they'll shoot at people who don't fit the profile of Brush Vipers.'
'Aideen will concoct some story about being out on safari,' Herbert said.
'They'll have a Jeep to prove it.'
'Gentlemen, without saying anything about your people, I'll do what I can to settle the situation,' Kline said. 'I'll call you as soon as I have an answer.'
'And try to make this order stick,' Herbert said.
Hood had moved to kill the call as soon as Kline finished. He obviously expected Herbert to say something. Rodgers did not think the VSO officer heard. Not that he cared one way or the other. Kline had not proved to be a particularly effective partner.
'So this is where we've ended up,' McCaskey said. He was not so much angry now as resigned. 'They go forward, whatever the price.'
'For now,' Rodgers said. 'Just for now.'
