JК
The Third Option :: Flynn Vince
Страница: 56 из 267At the time, they had quietly mused over death's habit of bringing one's true feelings to the surface. Kennedy took the chair across from her boss and asked him how he felt.
«Pretty good, but let's not worry about me. There's nothing we can do about that.» Stansfield studied her for a moment and asked, «What's wrong?»
Kennedy wasn't exactly sure where to start, and after a brief hesitation, she said, «The operation we were running in Germany last night…»
«Yes.»
«Things didn't go exactly as planned.»
«How bad?»
«Mitch hasn't reported in yet, and the BKA has put out a continentwide bulletin on three individuals they believe are responsible for the death of Count Hagenmiller.»
«This was expected.»
«Yes, it was, but some other things have transpired.» Kennedy went on to describe the fire and the strange piece of information they had intercepted from the BKA – that it appeared Rapp left the mansion after the Hoffmans and had to steal a car to get away.
When she was done, Stansfield said, «It sounds to me as if something didn't go according to plan. My guess is that Mitch told the Hoffmans to make a break for it and he'd lay down a diversion.»
Kennedy nodded. «That's what I thought at first, but Mitch hasn't checked in, and I just recently received a message- from the Hoffmans. They» – Kennedy shook her head – «said the target was achieved, but an asset was lost in the process.»
«Mitch.»
With a sad, slow nod, Kennedy said, «Yes.»
«What about this third individual the BKA has on tape?»
«We haven't been able to get any further information on that.»
Stansfield sat back, a little surprised. He would have thought Irene fully capable of verifying the report through several channels. «Why?»
«There's another problem that has arisen. When I arrived at the CTC this morning, Tom Lee informed me that Secretary Midleton was looking for me.»
This caused the frail Stansfield to sit up a bit in his chair. The secretary of state had no business calling his director of counterterrorism without going through him first. «What did Mr. Midleton want?»
«It appears he and the count shared the same passion: fine art.»
Stansfield looked out the window, making the connection. He knew that the arrogant secretary of state was very proud of his private art collection. Stansfield remembered a profile that had been done by the New Yorker discussing the renaissance man's fifty-million-dollar collection.
«Pretty good, but let's not worry about me. There's nothing we can do about that.» Stansfield studied her for a moment and asked, «What's wrong?»
Kennedy wasn't exactly sure where to start, and after a brief hesitation, she said, «The operation we were running in Germany last night…»
«Yes.»
«Things didn't go exactly as planned.»
«How bad?»
«Mitch hasn't reported in yet, and the BKA has put out a continentwide bulletin on three individuals they believe are responsible for the death of Count Hagenmiller.»
«This was expected.»
«Yes, it was, but some other things have transpired.» Kennedy went on to describe the fire and the strange piece of information they had intercepted from the BKA – that it appeared Rapp left the mansion after the Hoffmans and had to steal a car to get away.
When she was done, Stansfield said, «It sounds to me as if something didn't go according to plan. My guess is that Mitch told the Hoffmans to make a break for it and he'd lay down a diversion.»
Kennedy nodded. «That's what I thought at first, but Mitch hasn't checked in, and I just recently received a message- from the Hoffmans. They» – Kennedy shook her head – «said the target was achieved, but an asset was lost in the process.»
«Mitch.»
With a sad, slow nod, Kennedy said, «Yes.»
«What about this third individual the BKA has on tape?»
«We haven't been able to get any further information on that.»
Stansfield sat back, a little surprised. He would have thought Irene fully capable of verifying the report through several channels. «Why?»
«There's another problem that has arisen. When I arrived at the CTC this morning, Tom Lee informed me that Secretary Midleton was looking for me.»
This caused the frail Stansfield to sit up a bit in his chair. The secretary of state had no business calling his director of counterterrorism without going through him first. «What did Mr. Midleton want?»
«It appears he and the count shared the same passion: fine art.»
Stansfield looked out the window, making the connection. He knew that the arrogant secretary of state was very proud of his private art collection. Stansfield remembered a profile that had been done by the New Yorker discussing the renaissance man's fifty-million-dollar collection.