The Red Cell AndrĂ© Gallo (essential reading .txt) đ
- Author: André Gallo
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âSteve Church? Wasnât he ordered back to the States a few days ago? Didnât we cancel that extraordinary rendition? How does Steve know this Barnes? And do we even know the minister has a brotherâ
âActually sir, Barnes contacted Marshall Church, and Marshall put Steve and Barnes together. As far as the brother is concerned, MI-6 ran him for several years and shared the reporting with us. The Brits lost official contact with him, but Barnes and Cain reconnected.â
âWell, Vickie should be here in a day or two, and weâll be able to get to the bottom of this,â the president said as if to dismiss LaFont, and she well understood his skepticism and reluctance to act on a single report.
They were both getting up when Jonathan Spencer, a tall man impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit, with his black hair combed straight back, was ushered into the room. Although Spencer was an Iranian specialist, LaFont always thought of him as a cross between a character in a De Niro gangster movie and a Las Vegas croupier.
âIâm sorry to be late, sir,â Spencer said. âI just got the call, the director is traveling. And I understand this has to do with Iran?â LaFont noticed Spencerâs signature diamond ring and smiled.
âJonathan,â the president said, âThĂ©rĂšse will brief you. Is there any more, ThĂ©rĂšse?â
âYes, there is,â LaFont said. âAccording to Cain, V.A. Dalton or âNightingale,â which is her Iranian codename, is originally an Iranian citizen, born in Shiraz.â
âThat is patently false. We all know she was born in India.â The president seemed to be containing his anger by shutting down his emotions behind tight lips. LaFont thought she was looking at a gunslinger about to draw. âNightingale? Cain? Is this for real?â
âIâm afraid so, sir,â she continued. âThe Nightingale is the Iranian National Bird. As far as her place of birth is concerned, she came directly from the Senate and, apparently, her background was not thoroughly checked.â She did not look at Spencerâthe FBI was responsible for background checksâbefore adding, âThereâs one more thing, sir.â She watched Tremaine return the crystal donkey back to the table and stand to leave the room. âShe could choose not to return to the United States. It would be very easy for her to go back to Tehran from Brussels, or simply to disappear. In that case, we would lose a great deal of intelligence.â She glanced at Spencer, who seemed lost. âDo we have your authorization to either hold her, try to double her back, or use her as an unwitting channel of false information to the Iranians?â
âThĂ©rĂšse,â he said, head thrust forward and index finger pointing at her, âYou are talking about my chief of staff as if you were her judge and jury. In this country, she is not guilty until proven otherwise. Good night.â
He took two steps toward the door, stopped, and turned. âI want the two of you to come back with a well-thought-out recommendation in the morning. And bring Harry. Iâll talk to him then, too.â
LaFont hesitated a second before saying, âYes, sir, good night.â She decided the president was probably better off for the moment not knowing about the kidnapping and counter-kidnapping that had taken place in Brussels.
As she walked out with Spencer, she wondered which way the vice president would lean.
26. Back at Kristenâs Apartment
The appetizing smells of butter and sausages bonding in the frying pan wafted into the dining room from the kitchen, where Kristen, wearing well-fitting jeans and a snug sweater and a barefoot Hunter in a long sleeved shirt hanging over well-worn jeans were making breakfast.
âI am better known for my cheese omelets than for my breakfast sausages,â he said. âSo, whoâs up for my world-famous dish?â
âAll of us,â Kella said, as she walked into the kitchen. âThatâs five plus the two of you, I assume.â She gave Hunter a hug and said, âI donât think Iâve thanked you for saving my life yesterday. I probably shouldnât say this, but Muscles, the guy you shot, deserved that bullet. Frankly, I donât care if he lives or dies.â She put her hand to her stomach and she was back in the Charleroi house for a moment deciphering the wallpaper and, hate in her soul, waiting anxiously for the guardâs footsteps.
âDonât thank me.â Hunter replied. âIt was Steveâs idea to hit them early, before they got close to our exchange location. They were so not ready for us.â
âThe CIA,â Vanness said, laughing as he joined them the kitchen, âdoes not play fair.â
âPlaying fair is for losers,â Hunter countered.
âWith that prematurely balding head of yours,â Kristen said, âyou remind me of Prince William.â
âOkay,â Hunter said, âthen you can be my Kate Middlebum.â
âNo, I canât,â Kristen replied with a smile. âI never mooned the boys from my dorm window.â
âHere, let me help you,â Kella said, as she helped Kristen bring coffee to the dining room, where Vanness, Steve, and McCabe were about to sit at the table.â
âYouâre not on duty today Kella,â Steve said, as he took the coffee pot from her. âYou sit down and relax.â
âSounds good to me,â she said. âBut first, let me open the curtains. This must be the first sunny day Iâve seen in Brussels since we got here. You canât imagine how good that shower felt. And clean clothes.â She looked down at her pressed khakis with a smile.
âAnd
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