Deception Point Page 68

The answers he got were hard to swallow.App atomic number 18ntly the CIA had been prepared to ladder on this cell months out front and was plain waiting for the high-res transmit photos so that they could programme a pinpoint attack on the terrorists mountain hide stunned in Afghanistan. Those photos were plan to be filln by the $1.2 gazillion NRO sa submitite code-named Vortex 2, the same sa publishite that had been blown up on the digs by its NASA launch vehicle. Because of the NASA accident, the CIA strike had been postp adeptd, and immediately Diana Pickering had died.Pickerings mind told him that NASA had non been directly responsible, exactly his heart found it hard to forgive. The probe of the rocket explosion revealed that the NASA engineers responsible for the fuel injections system had been forced to use second-rate materials in an effort to stay on budget.For nonmanned f faint-hearteds, Lawrence Ekstrom explained in a press conference, NASA strives for cost- effectiveness above all. In this case, the results were admittedly not optimal. We get out be looking into it.Not optimal. Diana Pickering was dead.Furthermore, because the rat satellite was classified, the public never versed that NASA had disintegrated a $1.2 billion NRO project, and along with it, indirectly, legion(predicate) Ameri croup lives.Sir? Pickerings secretarys voice came over his intercom, galvanize him. Line one. Its Marjorie tench.Pickering shook himself out of his jounce and looked at his telephone. Again? The blinking light on line one seemed to wink with an irate urgency. Pickering frowned and took the call.Pickering here.tenchs voice was seething mad. What did she tell you?Im sorry?Rachel sexton tieed you. What did she tell you? She was on a submarine, for Gods sake Explain thatPickering could tell immediately that denying the fact was not an filling tench had been doing her homework. Pickering was surprised shed found out about the Charlotte, nevert heless shed apparently thrown her weight around until she got some answers. Ms. Sexton contacted me, yes.You arranged a pickup. And you didnt contact me?I arranged transport. That is correct. Two hours remained until Rachel Sexton, Michael Tolland, and Corky Marlinson were plan to arrive at the nearby Bollings rail line Force Base.And yet you chose not to claim me?Rachel Sexton has made some actually disturbing accusations.Regarding the authenticity of the meteorite and some build of attack on her life?Among other things.Obviously, she is lying.You are aware she is with 2 others who confirm her story?Tench paused. Yes. Most disturbing. The whiten hideowship is very concerned by their claims.The sporty House? Or you mortalally?Her tone turned razor sharp. As far as you are concerned, director, on that point is no difference this evening.Pickering was unimpressed. He was no stranger to blustering politicians and support module trying to establish footholds over the i ntel community. hardly a(prenominal) put up as bullnecked a front as Marjorie Tench. Does the hot seat know youre calling me?Frankly, director, Im shocked that you would sluice entertain these lunatic ravings.You didnt answer my head word. I see no logical debate for these people to lie. I bring on to impress they are either telling the truth, or they rich person made an respectable mistake. misinterpretation? Claims of attacks? Flaws in the meteorite data that NASA never axiom? Please This is an obvious semipolitical ploy.If so, the motives head for the hills me.Tench sighed heavily and lowered her voice. Director, on that point are forces at work here of which you might not be aware. We can buoy speak about that at aloofness later, but at the moment I need to know where Ms. Sexton and the others are. I need to get to the bottom of this before they do any lasting damage. Where are they?That is not information I am comfortable sharing. I go out contact you after the y arrive.Wrong. I will be in that respect to greet them when they arrive.You and how many privy(p) Service agents? Pickering wondered. If I inform you of their comer period and location, will we all have a chance to chat want friends, or do you intend to have a private army take them into custody?These people pose a direct threat to the death chair. The vacuous House has every right to detain and question them.Pickering knew she was right. Under Title 18, Section 3056 of the get together States Code, agents of the U.S. Secret Service can persist firearms, use deadly force, and take out un-warranted arrests exclusively on suspicion that a person has committed or is intending to commit a felony or any act of aggressiveness against the president. The aid possessed carte blanche. fifty-fifty detainees included unsavory loiterers outside the snow-white House and school kids who sent minatory e-mail pranks.Pickering had no doubt the service could justify dragging Rachel Sex ton and the others into the basement of the White House and keeping them there indefinitely. It would be a dangerous play, but Tench clearly realized the lay on the line were huge. The question was what would happen next if Pickering allowed Tench to take control. He had no innovation of alineing out.I will do whatever is necessary, Tench declared, to protect the President from false accusations. The mere implication of nauseating play will cast a heavy shadow on the White House and NASA. Rachel Sexton has abused the hope the President gave her, and I have no intention of seeing the President fix the price.And if I request that Ms. Sexton be permitted to present her case to an official ornament of inquiry?Then you would be handle a direct presidential ordination and giving her a platform from which to make a goddamn political down I will ask you one more time, director. Where are you flying them?Pickering exhaled a long breath. Whether or not he told Marjorie Tench that t he plane was coming into Bollings port Force Base, he knew she had the means to find out. The question was whether or not she would do it. He sensed from the determination in her voice that she would not rest. Marjorie Tench was scared.Marjorie, Pickering said, with observable clarity of tone. Someone is lying to me. Of this I am accredited. Either it is Rachel Sexton and two civilian scientists-or it is you. I believe it is you.Tench exploded. How dare-Your indignity has no resonance with me, so only it. You would be wise to know that I have absolute proof NASA and the White House broadcast untruths tonight.Tench fell suddenly silent.Pickering let her reel a moment. Im not looking for a political meltdown any more than you are. further there have been lies. Lies that cannot stand. If you want me to function you, youve got to start by being honest with me.Tench sounded tempted but wary. If youre so certain there were lies, why havent you stepped forward?I dont interfere in pol itical matters.Tench muttered something that sounded a lot like bullshit. are you trying to tell me, Marjorie, that the Presidents announcement tonight was entirely accurate?There was a long silence on the line.Pickering knew he had her. Listen, we both know this is a time bomb waiting to explode. But its not too late. There are compromises we can make.Tench said nothing for several(prenominal) seconds. Finally she sighed. We should meet.Touchdown, Pickering thought.I have something to disposition you, Tench said. And I believe it will shed some light on this matter.