Code of Honor

43

The phone on the desk in Ryan’s residential study chirped. He’d been expecting the call and snatched up the handset before the second ring. It was Foley and she was outside in the East Sitting Hall with van Damm.

“They have it, Mr. President,” Mary Pat said after Ryan invited them in. “The F-15s will pick up the thumb drive in…” She looked at her watch. “Eighty-three minutes. They’ll hotfoot it across the Pacific as fast as they can — which is a little faster than reported by Wikipedia — and get it to our labs in Honolulu in a little over three hours, not counting a couple of midair refueling stops.”

“Good to hear,” Ryan said. He knew Jack Junior was part of the team that had gone in, but made it a point not to ask about him personally. “Any mishaps?”

“Chavez got beat up a little,” Foley said. “But they say he’s good to go.”

“Are you both packed?” Ryan asked. They were coming with him to Indonesia, and would depart with him on Marine One from the White House.

“Yes, Mr. President,” they said in unison.

“Something else,” Ryan asked. He could see it in van Damm’s face.

“Mr. President,” the chief of staff said. “It’s about Father Pat. The Indonesian government is now charging him with smuggling heroin. No word on the trial, but until that time, they’re moving him to Nusa Kambangan.”

Ryan felt as though he’d been kicked in the teeth. “Execution Island?”

Foley nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

Nusa Kambangan was off the southern coast of Central Java. Part prison island, part ecotourist attraction, it was often called the Alcatraz of Indonesia — or, more fittingly, Execution Island. Capital punishment for drug offenses was not a foregone conclusion in the Indonesian justice system, but it was far from uncommon. Two of the so-called Bali Nine, arrested for smuggling heroin, had been executed by firing squad just a few years prior, along with six convicted narcotics smugglers from other cases in a lighted field behind Besi prison.

“Have they already moved him?” Ryan asked.

“I have assets checking now,” Foley said. “As does Adler. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”

Ryan picked up the phone to call the communications office. He had a flight to catch, but it wasn’t exactly leaving without him. President Gumelar was expecting him, but he wanted another word with this new information. As Ryan expected, the president of Indonesia was “indisposed” at the moment. It was just as well; Ryan needed a few minutes to calm down so he didn’t come across like he was ripping the ineffectual guy a new asshole. He’d call again once he was aboard Air Force One, and he’d keep calling until Gumelar picked up the phone or Ryan was knocking on the front door of Merdeka Palace.

Ryan looked at his watch, if not calming, at least getting a handle on his anger. His late father had called it “putting a point on things.” Unfocused fury could be terrifying — and had a place once in a great while — but coherent wrath was exponentially more powerful. Aimed at the right target, it was a magnificent and terrible thing.

“Cathy will be on her way soon,” Ryan said. “I’m going to say good-bye to her in a few minutes. I’ll be right down.” He stared out the window into the distance, beginning to nod unconsciously.

Foley gave him a wary eye. “Jack… What are you thinking?”

Van Damm threw up his hands. “Well, hell,” he said. “That look always scares the shit out of me, Mr. President. You’re planning something.”

Ryan put the flat of his hand on the desk and spoke deliberately, like this was something to which he’d given a great deal of thought. “As much as I hate to make this a personal matter,” he said, “it’s time to pull out all the stops, to use whatever means we have available to get Father Pat out of prison. I think it’s time I bring in a heavy hitter to give me some help once we touch down.”

“I see what you’re doing here, Mr. President,” van Damm said. “I’m going on record as being against it. This could have some serious blowback. If it gets out, this single event could be what your administration is remembered for.”

“Oh, I’m well aware, Arnie,” Ryan said.

“You have to say bye to Cathy,” Foley said. “I can make the call.”

“I’ll do it,” Ryan said. “I’m the one who’ll have to live with the aftermath.”