Code Name Antares

Chapter 20

President Carr’s secretary, Rachel, stood in front of her desk with an open calendar day book, going over the afternoon schedule with the secretaries and assistants. Her attention shifted and she glanced past the women. “Claudia, look behind you,” she whispered.

Everyone turned around, seeing Grant and Adler walking into the room, both dressed in dark blue business suits.

“Oh, no,” Claudia whispered. She laid her steno pad and her pen on the edge of the desk, then started toward the two men.

“I’ll be over there, Skipper,” Adler said, pointing to a couch near the Oval Office door. He nodded and smiled as Claudia passed him.

She stood in front of Grant, reached to touch the bandage on his head, then pulled her hand away. “What happened?”

“Uh, sorry, but it’s classified,” he winked, but she realized it was the truth. He moved closer to her, looking down into her hazel eyes. “Listen, I want to apologize for not calling.”

“Not necessary,” she said, lightly touching his arm in its sling. “Will you be all right?”

“Affirmative! Hey, why don’t we start over? How’d you like to have dinner with me?”

“I’d like that,” she smiled broadly.

“Good. I’ve still got your home number. But you might have to give me a few extra days,” he said, moving his arm slightly. “Unless you wouldn’t mind Joe driving us.”

“Either way,” she laughed.

“Captain Stevens?” He looked toward the Oval Office door, seeing the secretary. “The President will see you and Lieutenant Adler now.”

He started walking past Claudia. “I will call. Promise,” he smiled. Then he met up with Adler and they went into the Oval Office.

Claudia rejoined the other women, and picked up her pad and pen. The meeting continued, but all she saw in her mind was Grant, his injuries. She wondered: Is this what happens? Is this what it’s like for these men, and for anyone they become involved with? The classified missions to places unknown; separations; worry. She reminded herself they were just going to dinner. But still, she wondered.

Carr sat behind his desk, leaning back, with his hands folded on his stomach. His eyes went to Grant then Adler, then back to Grant. “Grant, what’s the prognosis on that arm?”

“It’ll be fine, sir. Doc’s prescribed therapy. He doesn’t see any future problems.”

“Any leftover issues from the drugs?”

“Tests showed my system was clean, organs working properly.”

“And the concussion?”

“Get an occasional headache, but that’s all.”

“You were lucky all the way around then, weren’t you?”

“Yes, sir. And I’ll be the first to admit it.” Grant cleared his throat. “Mr. President, have you received any word on how the agents are, the ones who were in the accident?”

“Two broken arms, bumps and bruises, but I’ve been told they’re all back to work.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Carr rocked back and forth. His demeanor left both Grant and Adler uncomfortable, worrying about the upcoming G2.

“You want to tell me about that evening, Grant?”

“Well, sir, after ‘meeting’ Easton in the garage, not a whole lot has come completely into focus.” He revealed all he could remember, with bits and pieces of actual conversation still missing. “What I do remember is Jack telling me why he did it.” Grant shook his head slowly, still not believing. “I don’t know when I’ve felt more shocked.

“But what I remember most clearly was a Beretta pointed at me, and the sound of the gun firing. I wish I could tell you more, sir, because I need answers, too.”

“Joe,” Carr said, “I’ll get to you in a minute.” Then, he returned his attention to Grant. “You knew Jack Henley at the Naval Academy?”

“I did, but after graduation, we never kept in touch, so when we met that night in England, both of us were surprised.” Grant readjusted the sling. He looked away from Carr, momentarily. “I can’t believe he turned traitor because of me.”

“Us,” Adler added, with Grant nodding in agreement.

“You both actually think that’s why he did it?”

“Maybe we could’ve handled that op differently. Maybe we didn’t put enough emphasis on finding Mrs. Henley.”

“Look, the man was obviously deranged. I think his wanting to kill you, Grant, made that pretty damn clear.”

Grant locked eyes with Carr. “Four good men died, Mr. President, because Jack wanted revenge. If he were alive, I’d see that he was charged with treason and murder, just as if he pulled the trigger himself.”

“I’d have to agree with you there. But what about Kalinin? I’d say he was just as responsible, if not more so.”

“Possibly, but maybe the men who were aboard that chopper took it upon themselves to kill those four men, so there wouldn’t be any witnesses. Men for hire have not been known to have scruples. And again, it still started with Jack.”

“Speaking of that chopper, Grant, do you think Kalinin had anything to do with it going down?”

“I… I don’t know. The initial report was some kind of an explosion. Agent Mullins is staying in contact with the Coast Guard. Do you know if NIS has found anything?”

“I’m still waiting for their report.” Carr turned to Adler. “Joe, how about you tell me your part of the story?”

Adler kept his eyes on the President during the entire time he relayed the facts of Grant’s rescue. “Once we were on scene, sir, it was over pretty quick. The cops questioned Mike and me, but I’m sure their investigation will be on-going.”

Grant interjected, “They came to the hospital and questioned me, too, sir.”

“I assume both of you have seen the newspaper article?”

“We have.” Enough was said.

Carr rolled his chair away from the desk, then stood and went to the window. Grant and Adler shot brief glances at each other, expecting what was coming next.

Carr slowly walked to the front of his desk, then sat on the edge, directly in front of the two men. “Joe, how’d you find out where Grant was being held?”

“A phone call, sir.”

“A phone call.”

“That’s correct.”

“And you believed this… caller.”

“Mr. President, we were desperate. We didn’t have a clue where he was, and didn’t know where to begin. But after finding the homing device under his car, we knew it was a planned kidnapping. To tell you the truth, the Team believed that considering the overall time he’d been missing, our chances of finding him alive were pretty slim.” Adler cleared his throat. “Whoever that caller was, we felt we had to put our trust in him.”

“‘Him?’”

“Most definitely.”

“This caller didn’t happen to identify himself, say, with the name ‘Nicolai Kalinin,’ did he, Joe? Or maybe he used the name ‘Nick?’”

“No, sir! I’d definitely remember that! But as soon as he gave me Jack’s address, the phone went dead. Mike and I hauled ass right after… oh, excuse me, sir.”

Dead silence in the Oval Office, until Carr asked, “Grant, what if that was Kalinin? Why do you suppose he would have helped you — hypothetically speaking, of course.”

“Hypothetically?” Carr nodded. “Well, sir, it may have been possible he felt some kind of obligation because I saved him from possibly being killed.”

“I’d hardly expect an adversary to think like that, Grant, especially after you brought him back to the States, and turned him over to the FBI.”

“He was nearly shot by a ‘comrade,’ Mr. President. That had to give him something to think about, something to question, along with the ‘connection’ I mentioned the other day.”

“You know, gentlemen, everybody, and I mean everybody, was looking for that Russian.”

“Agent Mullins notified us the Russian plane departed Dulles yesterday, and … ”

“Kalinin was onboard. Yes, I know, Grant.”

Silence again, until Carr said, “I’m sure you heard that the other Russian plane had been located in the North Sea, along with the black box.”

“We have.”

“I’ve contacted the Russian premier and offered America’s condolences.”

“I hope they find answers soon.”

“Is there anything else you gentlemen need to add — or want to add?”

Grant looked at Adler, who gave a slight shake of his head. Grant responded, “No, sir.”

Carr stood, immediately followed by the two men. The meeting was over.

Carr offered a hand to Adler. “Joe, thanks for your help in finding those weapons, and finding your buddy.”

“Mr. President.”

Carr then extended his left hand to Grant. “Take care of that arm.”

“I will, sir.”

“Oh, by the way. Have your sniper—‘Mike’ is it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have him report to Indian Head next week. I’ve arranged for him to do some of his own testing with one of those prototypes.”

“Be happy to! Does he get to keep it?”

Carr smiled. “We’ll see, Grant.”

“I’ll guarantee that weapon will never fall into the wrong hands, Mr. President.”

“One final word, gentlemen. You both need to lose that guilt you’re carrying around for Mrs. Henley.”

“We’ll work on it, sir,” Grant answered, then turned to leave.

Adler opened the door, and took a step into the outer office, when he heard Grant call quietly, “Joe, wait up.”

He saw the expression on Grant’s face. Shaking his head slowly, he whispered, “No. Don’t do it.”

Grant kept his eyes locked on Adler’s, and without replying, he closed the door. No matter what the outcome, he knew he couldn’t live with himself unless he cleared up the facts.

Carr stood by his desk, watching Grant, waiting, when the intercom buzzed. “Yes, Rachel.”

“Mr. President, there’s … ”

“Give me a few minutes, Rachel.”

“All right, Mr. President.”

Carr switched off the intercom, then looked at Grant, who was still by the door. “Grant?”

Grant exhaled a long breath, then turned and walked to the desk, standing in front of Carr. “Mr. President, I have a feeling you know what happened, how Nick got to the embassy. It was my decision, mine alone, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

“Why, Grant? Why the hell did you do it?”

Grant rubbed a hand across his forehead. “I… I just had a feeling in me. Something told me I had to.”

“That gut of yours?”

“Maybe, but maybe there was more to it.”

Carr looked at Grant through narrowing eyes. He’d seen the pictures of Kalinin. Suddenly, a thought registered, a thought almost too hard to comprehend. “Grant, you don’t seriously believe Kalinin’s … ”

“I thought I’d shaken the idea, but apparently not. And it wasn’t just our appearance. We seemed to think alike, too.”

“But… how in the hell could it even be possible?!”

“My dad was stationed in Europe.”

Carr turned away, then walked behind his desk, analyzing an explanation he never expected. “And did you discuss this with Kalinin?”

“Negative, sir.”

Glancing down at an open folder, Carr finally asked, “It was Kalinin that called Joe, wasn’t it?”

“I believe Joe when he said the caller didn’t identify himself as ‘Nick.’”

“I believe him, too, Grant. But what name did he use?”

“‘James Broyce.’ He called himself ‘James Broyce.’”

Carr gave somewhat of a smile. “So, Joe only gave me part of the truth then.”

“Not really, sir. Neither one of us knew his American name.”

Carr picked up a paper and handed it to Grant. “Take a look at this.”

The report confirmed what Grant had suspected all along: fingerprints on file with the Department of the Navy, a ‘Secret’ security clearance, a copy of an official Navy ID card for ‘James Broyce.’

“You were right on target with your assumption,” Carr commented.

Grant didn’t feel a need to respond and handed the paper to Carr who put it back in the folder. He tapped a finger against it before looking up at Grant’s pained expression.

“Mr. President, I apologize, and again, I assume full responsibility. I’m prepared to accept any punishment you deem fitting.”

Carr came around the desk, stood less than an arm’s length away from Grant, then with a low, stern voice, he said the words slowly. “You aided and abetted a Russian operative, Grant.”

Grant was quiet, and then, “Yes, sir. I did.” Even though he’d said the same words to himself, hearing them from the President cut into him like a jagged knife.

“Can I just let that go?”

“No, sir. You can’t.”

Carr’s eyes met Grant’s. “Once again you risked your life, you recovered top secret weapons, you saved a life, and you were instrumental in uncovering two traitors, although probably not in a manner you would have preferred.”

Grant’s brow furrowed. He was having difficulty comprehending what Carr was implying. Maybe those damn drugs were still in his system!

“I… I don’t understand, Mr. President.”

“Listen, Grant, in this case, I believe the good definitely outweighed the bad.” He patted Grant’s good arm, and offered a smile. “Relax. I’ll delay my decision about Leavenworth for the time being.” Obvious surprise showed on Grant’s face, then Carr laughed, “Bet your gut didn’t see that coming!”

“Sure didn’t, Mr. President.”

“C’mon. I’ll walk you to the door.” Carr had a hand on the doorknob, but before turning it, he offered a suggestion. “You know, Grant, there’s a way for you to resolve your issue.”

Grant nodded. “DNA testing.”

“Think about it.”

Grant closed the Oval Office door, seeing Adler pacing in front of the windows. “Joe, let’s go.”

Adler spun around, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. He caught up to Grant. “No handcuffs?” he asked quietly.

“I’ll talk to you outside.” He didn’t see Claudia, and assumed she’d gone to lunch.

On their walk to the car, Grant told Adler the entire conversation he had with the President. Adler unlocked the doors to his Mustang, then peered over the roof at Grant, who was putting on his aviator sunglasses. “Listen, Skipper, I’ll admit you scared the hell outta me when you went back in the Oval Office. But, I guess you did the right thing all the way around.”

“Couldn’t keep it inside me, Joe.”

Adler understood completely. Time to lighten up the conversation. “Lunch! What about lunch?!”

“Did you forget Grigori and Alexandra invited us over?”

“Oh, yeah! I’d never pass a chance to sample Alexandra’s cooking! Hey! What say we contact the guys? Maybe we could all head up to the mountains for a couple of days of R&R, you know, the cabins you go to in the Blue Ridge.”

“Sounds good, Joe. We sure as hell could use it.”

They got in the car, and Adler asked, “Wanna invite Scott?”

“Sure. Wonder if he’d want to bring his girlfriend.”

“They’ll have to get their own cabin!”

“I’ll call Grigori and let him know we’re on our way. Then I’ll call the guys.”

Adler turned the key in the ignition, then shifted into first, noticing Grant’s hand lingering on the phone. The setting of the square jaw, grinding of teeth again. Adler shifted into neutral, and rested his arms on top of the steering wheel. “Well, what the hell are you thinking about? The DNA thing?”

“Yeah.”

“You want my opinion?”

“You’ll give it to me anyway, so, sure.”

“Get it done.”

“I’ll think about it — seriously.” He looked at his good friend over the top of his sunglasses. “Aren’t you curious what sort of reception Nick might’ve gotten?”

“Well, sure.”

“He failed his mission, Joe.”

“Yeah, but not for lack of tryin’. You even admitted it was a helluva plan.” He closed his eyes as if in thought. “I can just picture it now.”

“What?”

“The next time the two of you meet up. I’ll pay big bucks for tickets to that one!”

“I wouldn’t hold my breath! C’mon!” Grant said, as he picked up the phone. “Let’s get the hell outta here. I’m hungry!”