The Woman (8 page)

Citizens who did not meet the requirements of education, healthy living, and obedience to the law would be incarcerated with the goal of rehabilitation or, for repeat offenders, termination. This new era of American efficiency and wealth would bring happiness to the four corners of the globe. There would be only one military which would be under the control of the multinational council.

As it currently was, and always had been, with rare exception the voters, in their mindless allegiance to the thirty-second sound bite, voted for the candidate who spent the most money campaigning. The voters appeared to pay little attention to the content of political speeches, ingesting only the syrup of their delivery. These empty messages were overwhelmingly persuasive with the fast-growing, less educated, poorer portion of the populace. The politicians had learned a significant portion of the voters were drawn to idle promises, particularly when that portion of the population paid little, if any, of the income taxes that would fund the promised largess or the rising massive national debt used to finance it. After the election, the winning candidate rarely delivered on the promises, blaming the political opposition for their having been unable to come through for the voters. Then, next election, the process repeated with those same voters likely believing the next round of lies, and so on, election after election. It all had to stop, and Webster saw himself as the man to stop it.

Still, the current abscessed political process had to be used to achieve the laws that would allow the multinationals to take more and more control over the running of the country. Thus, in the short run, it was Webster’s self-appointed task to see that the right candidates got the necessary money to win elections. Webster’s genius was that he used the corrupt political process to generate the very funds needed to back his chosen candidates. Funds obtained through being paid vast sums by those for whom he curried political loopholes and lax regulatory oversight. On those few occasions when his clients’ dirty dealings were exposed, the government, choosing to not bring light on its own culpability, cried that they lacked sufficient regulations. When, in fact, the failings were in large part a result of failure to enforce regulations that already existed. These failures, often brought about by Webster employing his bribes and leverage over legislators and regulators, could result in a failure to measure the safety of deepwater oil drilling rigs or the requirement to test their functionality. Or, a blind eye turned toward an unscrupulous investment broker whose real business was building a Ponzi scheme.

Then Webster saw Aviv Cohen, Israel’s Defense and Armed Forces Attaché. Webster casually drifted in his general direction until the military attaché saw him and moved out onto the rear patio. Webster followed. When they were both on the veranda, they each feigned surprise at seeing the other and came together along the balustrade.

“How are things, Webster?” Cohen asked.

Nearly everyone in power called him Webster, something he did nothing to discourage. In turn, he called most by their given names.

“Couldn’t be better, Aviv, thank you for asking.” This was a lie, of course. For the first time ever, Testler had failed him, and Webster would not sleep until Testler explained what went wrong.

Then Webster bulled into what had brought him here tonight. “What’s the latest on Iran’s nuclear program?”

“They continue as they always have, lying to the world as they move still closer to nuclear weaponry.”

Normally such information would not be discussed with the power brokers from the financial world, but Webster had long ago bought his access.

“How soon?” Webster asked.

“A year, maybe as long as three, but not likely.”

“What are the influences?”

“If they are left unconstrained, one year. The more successful your president is in bringing pressure through Russia and some countries in the Middle East, the longer some of their testing will be delayed. Your president could do much more to make it difficult for Iran to get some of the necessary materials and equipment.”

“We agree, my friend,” Webster said with his hand on Aviv’s shoulder, “but we can’t count on President Jackson being very effective. The man is surrounded by fools who advise him that Iran is not a serious threat even with nuclear capabilities.”

“Reference to a nuclear threat or any other for that matter is always determined within the context of
to whom
. In the case of Iran, the sooner threat will be against my homeland. And, as Hezbollah expands its control in Lebanon, nuclear weapons from Iran will find their way there as well. In any event, left to their own devices, over time the Iranians will enhance their launch capacities to reach central Europe, and one day over the pond into your Virginia countryside.”

“I trust Israel will take action before your homeland falls within that shadow.”

“Ah, my friend, even with you I cannot discuss our positions on that subject. However, such actions, if necessary . . . perhaps, I should say when necessary, would be much easier if your president would step up to the plate on this one.”

The tap of a woman’s high heels on the Italian marble flooring pulled the two men’s attention. A voluptuous woman on the arm of a man in a white dinner jacket stepped out through a second door, moving in their general direction. Webster nodded. She smiled. Her escort nodded.

“They’re with me. Security,” Aviv said. “They won’t come too close.”

Webster moved to the other side of the Israeli Deputy. From that position the Israeli agents could not read his lips. Then he said, “Yes, well, I’m still working on getting you a statement of clear support from our president. A statement that will tell the world America will support Israel, should such action become necessary.”

“Sadly,” Aviv said, “I can’t see that coming from President Jackson. And this situation may well boil over before your next election.”

Chapter 13

At precisely midnight, Webster heard the light knock for which he had been listening. Plush carpeting muffled his steps as he moved across the open seating area of his hotel suite. He looked through the peephole before opening the door. Ryan Testler came in after glancing each way down the hall. The two men nodded, but did not shake hands.

“This is your first absolute failing,” Webster said, ignoring any pleasantries. “I want to know why. And I want it straight.”

“First off,” Testler began, “the major piece of the mission, SMITH & CO., went just as planned, a success not a failure. I shipped you their hard drives and backup disks.”

“I’ve been told they’ve arrived. They’re being looked at as we speak. Now tell me about Darby. That should have been the easier part of the assignment.”

“I wish I knew more than I do,” Ryan said, taking a seat on the arm of an overstuffed chair after Webster had first sat on the facing couch. “I had two men, men we’ve used before, skilled men set up to take Linda Darby at her home. Five minutes from launch, she unexpectedly left to go for a walk. I dispatched the operatives to an alleyway she would pass. I considered waiting for Darby to return home, but we couldn’t chance where she was headed. She often got together with Cynthia Leclair. Darby could have been heading to Leclair’s home. She could even have had a key or she could have walked to SMITH & CO., expecting to meet Leclair. Had she walked into the middle of either of those scenes, she would have called the police. Had that happened we would not have gotten to Darby in time to learn what, if anything, Leclair had told her. The alley would have made her death appear more random for her killer could have been anyone. With my two men positioned in the alley, I went into a restaurant/bar where I have often been seen by the locals. I wanted the staff to be able to confirm I had been there when Darby went down.”

“You could’ve stayed close enough to observe.”

“To stay near the scene would offer the possibility of someone seeing me there. That would bring me into the investigation. Make it possible for some local to say, ‘The new guy in town. The one who’s always taking pictures, I saw him near the alley.’ Sea Crest is a small town. There was no need for that risk. I had two men handling a small task, and the target was a nonprofessional. To set my alibi, I had dinner and then drank until midnight.”

“But something did go wrong,” Webster said, his eyes burning into Ryan’s.

“Yes,” Testler admitted. “Something went wrong, that’s field ops. They often aren’t smooth.”

“So what happened?”

“I have no information on that, sir. When the men didn’t report back, I went to the alley after leaving the bar. They were both dead. I didn’t linger.”

“You saying they bungled the job?”

“That’s obvious, sir.”

Webster frowned, and then got up from the couch. “You want something from the mini bar?”

“No, thank you. I had my fill on the plane.”

Webster sat back down forgetting about the mini bar. “Were these good men?”

“I’ve used them several times. They are rough men. One is a great interrogator, and both would behave exactly as two hooligans. They were the right men for that job.”

“The results don’t say so,” Webster said. “If you’re right about their skills, I can’t imagine any local being able to take them out.”

“And certainly not the woman on her own,” Testler added. “What counter forces are in play?”

“That’s not your concern.”

“Look. I don’t really give a rip what you’re up to. You pay well and I do my job, but the fact remains that your damn compartmentalization complicates things. Had I known what other force might be in the field against my mission, I could have taken that opposition into account.”

“Perhaps, but, need-to-know is the best policy. And you didn’t. Still don’t.”

“Generally, sir, I agree. However, your not filling me in on that appears to have contributed to the failing.”

“Be careful, Testler.” Webster said, pointing his finger. “I don’t tolerate insubordination.”

“Now listen here, Webster, I have years of getting it done for you, always with proper restraint and respect. You asked for this report, ordered me back here to give it. That makes it my job to lay out what I know and the possibilities of what went wrong. I mentioned you not telling me of any possible forces only as part of that report, albeit mostly supposition.”

“In that context, I accept your criticism.”

“Thank you, sir. And, while I’m at it, let me add that I personally watched Linda Darby for more than a week, up close and from a distance. I tapped her phone and searched her home, including electronic surveillance. I even perused her email when she would go out for the night. I don’t believe you have anything with which to be concerned. In my judgment, Linda Darby knows nothing about Cynthia Leclair’s work at SMITH & CO., or that firm’s activities. Therefore, I recommend you leave Darby alone, and let things in Sea Crest return to normal. Another killing isn’t needed. Darby is not part of our world even tangentially. She is an innocent bystander.”

“You may be right. But what if you are wrong? No. We must be sure. We must question her. Then, she must die.”

“I don’t think that’s wise, sir.”

“You aren’t paid to think beyond how best to carry out your assignments.”

“Your judgment has always been superior,” Testler said, knowing he could not push it further without casting suspicion on his loyalty. “If you don’t have another assignment, then, sir, I think I’ll take a holiday for a week or so. I’ll check in when I return.”

“Not so fast, mister, I want you back in Sea Crest.”

“I can return if you’d like. I use photography for my cover. The area has a beautiful beach, backstopped with miles of mountain country. The camera lets me take whatever pictures I need.”

“You should know,” Webster said, “I’ve sent Blue to Sea Crest. He will be there within the hour. If we’re lucky, he may just wrap up the Darby matter tonight.”

“Sir, you put me in charge of this mission, why send another man?”

“The time delay while you came here to report was too great. If Darby knows something, we can’t leave her flopping about until you get back.”

“I tell you again. Darby knows nothing.”

“What we are involved in, well, it is too important to America, to the world, to be left to chance. Against that, Darby is insignificant, if only as insurance against Leclair having talked out of school. No. Darby must be questioned and eliminated. And, if she passed on anything she heard from Leclair, you have my approval to follow that trail to whomever it leads. I don’t want to hear any further opposition on this. I’ve decided.”

“Of course, we should be certain,” Testler said. “One thing I’ll need, have Blue give me the time and place he plans to take control of Darby. I need to be somewhere else at that time. Just like with the alley, if you want me to linger in Sea Crest to read what happens I need to be sure I don’t become the stranger who came into town and whose whereabouts can’t be accounted for when these events took place. Give me Blue’s number. I’ll call him after I leave you so we can coordinate his actions.”

“No need. It is likely Blue will have finished with Darby before you can return to Sea Crest. Trust me, he’s better than the two bozos you used. And, assuming he completes his assignment while you’re in transit, your being somewhere else becomes ironclad. In any event, I still want you there for that extra time, listening for rumors about why Leclair and Darby were killed.”