them. Halabi will disappear and they’ll switch to another smuggling route. Our chance of stopping them will be even worse.”
“That’s the story Alexander and that bitch Kennedy will tell, but no one’s going to listen. After the fact, it’ll just sound like an excuse. What the American people would take away is that the White House and CIA were keeping a serious threat secret so they wouldn’t look bad during the election season.”
“What if this goes beyond politics, Senator? What if our actions actually do help the terrorists?”
She shrugged. “How would that hurt me?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You read the briefing. It’s anthrax. It can’t be used as a weapon of mass destruction. We’re talking about a few high-profile targets. Hysteria grows and Alexander’s administration gets the blame.”
“People will die.”
“According to Gary Statham, fewer than a hundred. What would be much worse for us is if Alexander’s people actually succeed. What I don’t need to see on television is a bunch of spec ops guys busting up terrorist cells. Or even worse, one of them putting a bullet in Sayid Halabi. That could give Alexander’s party a bump at the worst possible moment.”
“And what do you think the chance of that is?”
“Of them pulling off something big? Low. And even lower now. My understanding is that Mitch Rapp is out. Alexander’s afraid of letting him off the leash during the election cycle.”
Gray didn’t look as happy about that as he should have.
“Relax, Kevin. I’ve got Secret Service and thirty private contractors working my security.”
“Yeah, your security. But nobody’s looking for suspicious white powder in my mailbox.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “ISIS isn’t going to bother with you.”
“You have no idea what ISIS is going to bother with.”
“Fine,” she said. “Figure out what security you’re comfortable with and set it up. Happy now?”
Based on his expression, happy was an overstatement. But he gave a short nod. “So what do you want to do, Senator?”
She fell silent for almost a minute as she considered the question. “Right now? Nothing. But we need to be ready. Start looking into how we can leak with zero chance of it being tracked back to us. If I decide to move on this, I want to be able to move fast.”
“Fine,” Gray started. “But laying the groundwork is very different than acting on it. We’ve got a lead in the primary that’s looking unassailable and your numbers against your likely opponents in the general are just about as good.”
“Don’t start resting on your laurels, Kevin. We need to stay on the offensive.”
“Are you sure? Risk and return, Senator. What we don’t need right now is an unforced error.”
“Hell yes, I’m sure!” she said, the volume of her voice rising. “Those poll numbers aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. People will say they’ll vote for a woman, but when they actually get in the booth, will they? Or will I go into the general with a twenty-point lead and come out giving a concession speech? When Election Day comes, Alexander, his party, and whatever idiot they run against me have to have been destroyed. Do you understand me? When we’re done with them, their own mothers are going to question voting for them. And if you’re willing to do what it takes to get me there, then you’ve got a very bright future ahead of you. If you’re not, then not only will I replace you, but I’ll make sure you never work in politics again. Am I being clear?”
“Senator, we—”
“Am I being clear?”
Gray stared back at her for a couple of seconds, but finally diverted his gaze and stood. “Crystal.”
CHAPTER 25
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
USA
A FEW hard kicks got the sticky rubber doorstop free and Rapp pulled the door open. Thomas Braman and Holden Flores spun toward him, along with another man who hadn’t been in evidence when Rapp arrived. All had donned bulletproof vests and the new man was holding a Remington 870 shotgun. Flores immediately put his hand on his sidearm but didn’t draw it, instead leaning left to get a look at the blood-splattered room and the two corpses. For a second it looked like he might throw up.
Braman’s eyes remained locked on Rapp, but most of his attention seemed to be focused on the phone plastered to his ear. It wasn’t hard to guess what was happening on the other end: absolutely nothing. His bosses in Washington would be hiding in their offices while their assistants provided excuses and transferred him to another unavailable executive.
And Braman,