'True enough. Lead on, Captain.' Together they drove the mile or so to the Consolidated Mess in Caruso's C- class Mercedes. The car marked him as a single man, to Hardesty's relief.
'I didn't expect to see you again for a while,' Caruso said, from behind the wheel.
'Or at all?' the former Special Forces officer asked lightly.
'That, too, yes, sir.'
'You passed the exam.'
It was enough to turn his head. 'What exam was that, sir?'
'I didn't think you'd notice,' Hardesty observed with a chuckle.
'Well, sir, you have succeeded in confusing me this morning.' Which, Captain Caruso was sure, was part of today's plan.
'There's an old saying: 'If you're not confused, you're misinformed.''
'That sounds a little ominous,' Captain Caruso said, turning right into the parking lot.
'It can be.' He got out and followed the officer toward the building.
It was a large single-story building full of hungry Marines. The cafeteria line had racks and trays of the usual American breakfast foods, Frosted Flakes to bacon and eggs. And even some—
'You can try the bagels, but they aren't all that good, sir,' Caruso warned as he got two English muffins and real butter. He was clearly too young to worry about cholesterol and the other difficulties that came with increasing years. Hardesty got himself a box of Cheerios, because he
'Okay, Mr. Hardesty, what can I do for you?'
'Number one, I know you have security clearances, up to TS, right?'
'Yes, sir. Some compartmented stuff, but that doesn't concern you at all.'
'Probably,' Hardesty conceded. 'Okay, what we're about to discuss goes a little higher than that. You cannot repeat this to anyone at all. Are we clear on that?'
'Yes, sir. This is code-word stuff. I understand.' In fact, he didn't, thought Hardesty. This was actually beyond code word, but that explanation would have to wait for another venue. 'Please go on, sir.'
'You've been noticed by some fairly important people as a prime recruit prospect for a rather… a rather special organization that does not exist. You've heard this sort of thing before in movies or read it in books. But this is quite real, son. I am here to offer you a place in that organization.'
'Sir, I am a Marine officer, and I like that.'
'It will not prejudice your career in the Marines. As a matter of fact, you've been deep-dipped for promotion to major. You'll be getting that letter next week. So, you'll have to leave your current billet anyway. If you stay in the Marine Corps, you'll be sent to Headquarters Marine Corps next month, to work in the intelligence/special- operations shop. You're also going to get a Silver Star for your action in Afghanistan.'
'What about my people? I put them in for decorations, too.' It was the mark of this kid that he'd worry about that, Hardesty thought.
'Everyone's been approved. Now, you'll be able to return to the Corps whenever you wish. Your commission and routine advancement will not suffer from this at all.'
'How did you manage that?'
'We have friends in high places,' his guest explained. 'So do you, as a matter of fact. You will continue to be paid through the Corps. You may have to set up new banking arrangements, but that's routine stuff.'
'What will this new posting entail?' Caruso asked.
'It will mean serving your country. Doing things that are necessary to our national security, but doing them in a somewhat irregular manner.'
'Doing what, exactly?'
'Not here, not now.'
'Can you be any more mysterious, Mr. Hardesty? I might start understanding what you're talking about and spoil the surprise.'
'I don't make the rules,' he replied.
'Agency, eh?'
'Not exactly, but you'll find out in due course. What I need now is a yes or a no. You can leave this organization at any time if you find it not to your liking,' he promised. 'But this isn't the proper venue for a fuller explanation.'
'When would I have to decide?'
'Before you finish your bacon and eggs.'
The reply caused Captain Caruso to set his muffin down. 'This isn't some sort of joke, right?' He'd taken his share of razzing due to his family connections.
'No, Captain, it isn't a joke.'
The pitch was deliberately designed to be nonthreatening. People like Caruso, however courageous they might be, often regarded the unknown — more properly, the not-understood unknown — with some degree of trepidation. His profession was dangerous enough already, and the intelligent among us do not blissfully go seeking after danger. Theirs is usually a reasoned approach to hazard, after first making sure their training and experience are adequate to the task. And so Hardesty had made sure to tell Caruso that the womb of the United States Marine Corps would always be available to take him back. It was almost true, and that was close enough for his purposes, if not, perhaps, to the young officer's.
'What's your love life like, Captain?'
The question surprised him, but he answered it truthfully. 'No attachments. There's a few girls I date, but nothing very serious yet. Is that a concern?' Just how dangerous might this be? he wondered.
'Only from a security point of view. Most men cannot keep secrets from their wives.' But girlfriends were a different question altogether.
'Okay, how dangerous will this job be?'
'Not very,' Hardesty lied, not skillfully enough to be entirely successful.
'You know, I've been planning to stay in the Corps at least long enough to be a light colonel.'
'Your evaluator at Headquarters Marine Corps thinks you're good enough to make full-bull someday, unless you step on your crank along the way. Nobody thinks that's likely, but it has happened to a lot of good men.' Hardesty finished his Cheerios and returned his attention to the coffee.
'Nice to know I have a guardian angel up there somewhere,' Caruso observed dryly.
'As I say, you've been noticed. The Marine Corps is pretty good at spotting talent and helping it along.'
'And so have some other people — spotted me, I mean.'
'That's correct, Captain. But all I am offering you is a chance. You'll have to prove yourself along the way.' The challenge was well considered. Capable young men had trouble turning away from one. Hardesty knew he had him.
It had been a long drive from Birmingham to Washington. Dominic Caruso did it in one long day because he didn't much like cheap motels, but even starting at five in the morning didn't make it any shorter. He drove a white Mercedes C-class four-door much like his brother's, with lots of luggage piled in the back. He had been stopped twice, but on both occasions the state police cars had responded favorably to his FBI credentials — called 'creedos' by the Bureau — and pulled away with nothing more than a friendly wave. There was a brotherhood among law- enforcement officers that extended at least as far as ignoring speeding violations. He arrived at Arlington, Virginia, just at ten that night, where he let a bellman unpack his car for him and took the elevator to his room on the third floor. The in-room bar had a split of a decent white wine, which he downed after the needed shower. The wine and boring TV helped him sleep. He left notice for a seven o'clock wake-up call, and faded out with the help of HBO.
'Good morning,' Gerry Hendley said at 8:45 the next morning. 'Coffee?'
'Thank you, sir.' Jack availed himself of a cup and took his seat. 'Thanks for calling back.'
'Well, we looked at your academic records. You did okay at Georgetown.'
