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The Third Option :: Flynn Vince
Страница: 257 из 267The fire department was here so fast they got the flames put out before they did too much damage;' «Yeah, but still. This is amazing.»
The two men stopped in front of the door that led to the Situation Room. Warch asked, «Mitch, are you carrying?»
«What do you think?»
«I know you are, but I'm trying to be polite.»
Rapp was tempted to make a smart-ass comment, but he knew this was a subject that the Secret Service found little humor in. «Would you like to hold on to my gun for me?»
«Very much so.»
Rapp took his Beretta out of his shoulder holster and checked to make sure the manual safety catch was in the up position. Warch took the weapon and then punched a code into the cipher lock. The door clicked, and the Secret Service agent opened it. Immediately to the left was the door to the conference room. Warch knocked twice and then opened the door. Staying in the hallway, he ushered Rapp into the room and closed the door.
Rapp stood awkwardly for a moment, slightly surprised to see Kennedy and Director Stansfield. For some reason, Kennedy had given him the impression that he would be meeting alone with the president. President Hayes spun around in his large leather chair.
«Thank you for coming, Mitch. Could you please take a seat?»
Rapp said nothing as he took the first available chair, which was next to Stansfield. He sat and looked briefly at Kennedy, who was on the other side of the table.
«How is Anna?» asked the president. Rapp didn't answer at first. He looked at Hayes and wondered where to start. Anna was doing well in the sense that she was alive and apparently out of harm's way, but other than that, he wasn't sure she was doing all that well. Rapp decided it was best not to open up that can of worms in front of the president. «She's fine, sir. A little concerned, but essentially she's all right.»
«She's a tough woman. I'm sorry she got caught up in this mess.»
«It's not your fault, sir.»
Hayes wasn't so sure. The president leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. «Mitch, it's been a very bad week.»
«Yes, it has.»
«Irene tells me you want out.»
Rapp was completely caught off-guard. «I'm ready to move on with my life, sir.»
The president looked at Rapp with an unwavering stare. «What if I told you your country couldn't afford to lose you?»
«I'd tell you I'd already given enough to my country.»
The president grinned. There was no intimidating Mitch Rapp. «Yes, you have. No one would argue that… especially me. But I'd like you to consider staying on for a while longer.
The two men stopped in front of the door that led to the Situation Room. Warch asked, «Mitch, are you carrying?»
«What do you think?»
«I know you are, but I'm trying to be polite.»
Rapp was tempted to make a smart-ass comment, but he knew this was a subject that the Secret Service found little humor in. «Would you like to hold on to my gun for me?»
«Very much so.»
Rapp took his Beretta out of his shoulder holster and checked to make sure the manual safety catch was in the up position. Warch took the weapon and then punched a code into the cipher lock. The door clicked, and the Secret Service agent opened it. Immediately to the left was the door to the conference room. Warch knocked twice and then opened the door. Staying in the hallway, he ushered Rapp into the room and closed the door.
Rapp stood awkwardly for a moment, slightly surprised to see Kennedy and Director Stansfield. For some reason, Kennedy had given him the impression that he would be meeting alone with the president. President Hayes spun around in his large leather chair.
«Thank you for coming, Mitch. Could you please take a seat?»
Rapp said nothing as he took the first available chair, which was next to Stansfield. He sat and looked briefly at Kennedy, who was on the other side of the table.
«How is Anna?» asked the president. Rapp didn't answer at first. He looked at Hayes and wondered where to start. Anna was doing well in the sense that she was alive and apparently out of harm's way, but other than that, he wasn't sure she was doing all that well. Rapp decided it was best not to open up that can of worms in front of the president. «She's fine, sir. A little concerned, but essentially she's all right.»
«She's a tough woman. I'm sorry she got caught up in this mess.»
«It's not your fault, sir.»
Hayes wasn't so sure. The president leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. «Mitch, it's been a very bad week.»
«Yes, it has.»
«Irene tells me you want out.»
Rapp was completely caught off-guard. «I'm ready to move on with my life, sir.»
The president looked at Rapp with an unwavering stare. «What if I told you your country couldn't afford to lose you?»
«I'd tell you I'd already given enough to my country.»
The president grinned. There was no intimidating Mitch Rapp. «Yes, you have. No one would argue that… especially me. But I'd like you to consider staying on for a while longer.