JК
The Third Option :: Flynn Vince
Страница: 15 из 267«Anything else?» askedKennedy.
«Yeah.» Rapp paused. «This is it.»
«What do you mean?»
«I'm done. This is the last one.»
Kennedy knew this was coming, but now wasn't the time to talk about it. Mitch Rapp was a valuable asset, perhaps the most valuable asset on the team. It would not be easy to let him go. «We'll talk about it when you get back.»
In a firm tone, Rapp said, «It's not up for debate.»
«We'll talk.»
«I'm serious.»
Kennedy sighed into me receiver. It seemed as if the walls were closing in. One more thing to worry about «There are some things you need to know before you make mat decision.»
Rapp read a little too far into the comment and said, «What in the hell is that supposed to mean?»
«Nothing.» Kennedy sighed. She needed some sleep, she needed to spend some time with her son, and she needed to put things in order with Stansfield before he died. The fabric was starting to fray. «I just need to bring you up to speed on what's going on around here.»
Rapp sensed that she was a little frazzled, which for Kennedy was a rarity.» All right. We'll talk when I get back.»
«Thank you.»
«No problem.»
«Anything else?»
Rapp tried to think if he had missed anything. «Nope.»
«All right… good luck, and keep me in the loop.»
«You got it.» Rapp placed the handset back in the cradle and ended the call. Leaning toward the window, he pulled back the curtain and looked out into the dark night. He couldn't shake the feeling in his stomach. Something wasn't right.
3
Senator Clark picked up the gavel, almost as an afterthought, and let it fall to the wooden block. Members of his committee were already out of their chairs and headed for the door. It was very unusual for senators to be working at all on a Friday, let alone into the late afternoon. But Washington was in the midst of a fall budget battle, and everybody was putting in the extra hours to try to find a way around the impending impasse. As was often the case, the Republicans wanted a tax break and the Democrats wanted to increase spending. The president, for a change, was actually trying to broker a compromise rather than exploit the situation, but neither party was willing to budge. The town was more partisan than ever. The polarization of special interests had left little room in the middle. You were either part of the solution or part of the problem. It was no longer okay to hold certain beliefs, no matter how well thought out. If you disagreed, you were the enemy.