JК
The Third Option :: Flynn Vince
Страница: 243 из 267Stansfield had yet to share these thoughts with anyone. He would wait to hear what their visitor had to say before he would draw any further conclusions. It was disheartening for him to have worked so tirelessly to ensure the neutrality and stability of his beloved Agency and then now, when he barely had the strength to fight, to find out that he was under an assault by a group that he could not identify. He could not allow the CIA to fall into the hands of someone who might use its vast resources for political or personal gain. He had to make sure that Irene Kennedy succeeded him and that she was armed with the knowledge to defend herself.
The CIA was too powerful a weapon to let fall into the wrong hands. The president would nominate Irene Kennedy, and he would use all of his political skill and clout to make sure she was confirmed. Hayes had many reasons for agreeing to this, despite the missteps of the last week. First off, Kennedy was more than qualified, and secondly he trusted her. This led to the third and maybe most important reason far as the president was concerned. He needed his flank protected. With Kennedy at the helm of the CIA, he wouldn't have to worry about any aggression coming from that direction.
As much as both men wanted Kennedy to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the man they were about to meet with had as much or even more say in whether or not that happened. The fact that he had asked see them during the middle of this Peter Cameron problem was slightly unsettling.
Senator Hank Clark entered the Situation Room, and the president stood to shake his hand. When Stansfield tried stand, Clark put a firm but comforting hand on his shoulder and said, «Now, Thomas, you just stay right there. A living legend like yourself doesn't need to get up for me.»
The president smiled and winked at Clark, approving of his gesture. «Would you like anything to drink, Hank?»
«No thanks, Robert.» Clark and Hayes had served in the Senate together for two full terms. Hayes was on the InteIligence Committee when Clark was named chairman. Hayes preferred to be called by his first name when they were alone like this.
«Are you sure? It's no trouble at all.»
«No, I'm fine. I might need one when we're done, but until then, I think I'll lay off the stuff.»
«All right.» The president gestured to a chair on the other side of the table from Stansfield.
Clark walked slowly around the table and unbuttoned his suit coat before he sat. Looking across the table, he asked, «Thomas, how are you doing?»
«I'm dying.»
Clark grinned.
The CIA was too powerful a weapon to let fall into the wrong hands. The president would nominate Irene Kennedy, and he would use all of his political skill and clout to make sure she was confirmed. Hayes had many reasons for agreeing to this, despite the missteps of the last week. First off, Kennedy was more than qualified, and secondly he trusted her. This led to the third and maybe most important reason far as the president was concerned. He needed his flank protected. With Kennedy at the helm of the CIA, he wouldn't have to worry about any aggression coming from that direction.
As much as both men wanted Kennedy to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the man they were about to meet with had as much or even more say in whether or not that happened. The fact that he had asked see them during the middle of this Peter Cameron problem was slightly unsettling.
Senator Hank Clark entered the Situation Room, and the president stood to shake his hand. When Stansfield tried stand, Clark put a firm but comforting hand on his shoulder and said, «Now, Thomas, you just stay right there. A living legend like yourself doesn't need to get up for me.»
The president smiled and winked at Clark, approving of his gesture. «Would you like anything to drink, Hank?»
«No thanks, Robert.» Clark and Hayes had served in the Senate together for two full terms. Hayes was on the InteIligence Committee when Clark was named chairman. Hayes preferred to be called by his first name when they were alone like this.
«Are you sure? It's no trouble at all.»
«No, I'm fine. I might need one when we're done, but until then, I think I'll lay off the stuff.»
«All right.» The president gestured to a chair on the other side of the table from Stansfield.
Clark walked slowly around the table and unbuttoned his suit coat before he sat. Looking across the table, he asked, «Thomas, how are you doing?»
«I'm dying.»
Clark grinned.