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The Third Option :: Flynn Vince
Страница: 225 из 267I didn't have time to get cleaned up.»
«No apology needed.» Stansfield was speaking with a slight slur. «Where is Commander Coleman?»
Kennedy answered for Rapp. «He's at Langley with Marcus and several of his men, reviewing files.»
«State Department?»
«No,» answered Rapp. «They came up empty on State, so I told them to check Langley's files.»
«How is Ms. Rielly?»
Rapp was a little surprised by Stansfield's question. Neither man had ever acknowledged the relationship before. «She's doing all right.»
«Do you need me to ask the president to have a talk with her?»
«No… I don't think so:' Rapp stood near the fireplace, looking back and forth between Stansfield and Kennedy, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He wanted to get this over with. It was the reason he was here during this short respite in the action. With some awkwardness, he said, «As long as I have the two of you alone, I'd like to discuss something.» True to form, Stansfield and Kennedy returned his look with stoic, expressionless faces. «When this is over… as soon as we find out who this Professor is… I'm done.»
Neither of them spoke. They recognized his comment in no observable way. No head shaking, nodding, shrugging, raising of an eyebrow, nothing. They just stared back at him with their all-knowing eyes. «I'm serious,» said Rapp. «And there's nothing you can do to talk me out of it. I'll take care of the Professor, and then I'm done.»
Finally; Stansfield said, «I'm sorry to hear that, Mitchell. Your talents will be irreplaceable.»
«There were talented people before me, and there will be people after me.»
«The ones who came before you were not your equals, and I fear the ones who come after you will fall far short of filling your shoes.»
«Langley will be fine.»
«No. The truth is, Langley will not be fine. If the president can pull it off: Irene will succeed me, and if we are that fortunate, she will need you.»
«Well, I'm not available.» Rapp folded his arms stubbornly across his chest. «I've given enough.»
«Yes, you have, but I'd like you to consider giving more.»
«No.» Rapp couldn't look at them anymore. He just wanted them to accept his wishes and move on without him.
«Mitchell, I can understand why you want out. Irene has told me that you plan to ask Ms. Rielly to marry you. I could not have stayed in the field and been a good husband and father. The two do not mix. But we could bring you inside.
«No apology needed.» Stansfield was speaking with a slight slur. «Where is Commander Coleman?»
Kennedy answered for Rapp. «He's at Langley with Marcus and several of his men, reviewing files.»
«State Department?»
«No,» answered Rapp. «They came up empty on State, so I told them to check Langley's files.»
«How is Ms. Rielly?»
Rapp was a little surprised by Stansfield's question. Neither man had ever acknowledged the relationship before. «She's doing all right.»
«Do you need me to ask the president to have a talk with her?»
«No… I don't think so:' Rapp stood near the fireplace, looking back and forth between Stansfield and Kennedy, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He wanted to get this over with. It was the reason he was here during this short respite in the action. With some awkwardness, he said, «As long as I have the two of you alone, I'd like to discuss something.» True to form, Stansfield and Kennedy returned his look with stoic, expressionless faces. «When this is over… as soon as we find out who this Professor is… I'm done.»
Neither of them spoke. They recognized his comment in no observable way. No head shaking, nodding, shrugging, raising of an eyebrow, nothing. They just stared back at him with their all-knowing eyes. «I'm serious,» said Rapp. «And there's nothing you can do to talk me out of it. I'll take care of the Professor, and then I'm done.»
Finally; Stansfield said, «I'm sorry to hear that, Mitchell. Your talents will be irreplaceable.»
«There were talented people before me, and there will be people after me.»
«The ones who came before you were not your equals, and I fear the ones who come after you will fall far short of filling your shoes.»
«Langley will be fine.»
«No. The truth is, Langley will not be fine. If the president can pull it off: Irene will succeed me, and if we are that fortunate, she will need you.»
«Well, I'm not available.» Rapp folded his arms stubbornly across his chest. «I've given enough.»
«Yes, you have, but I'd like you to consider giving more.»
«No.» Rapp couldn't look at them anymore. He just wanted them to accept his wishes and move on without him.
«Mitchell, I can understand why you want out. Irene has told me that you plan to ask Ms. Rielly to marry you. I could not have stayed in the field and been a good husband and father. The two do not mix. But we could bring you inside.