Ghost Sniper

60

Midori walked into Pope’s office unannounced and shut the door. “We need to talk about Fields.”

Pope looked up from his computer, rocking back in his chair. “Have a seat.”

She took the chair before his desk. “He’s run amuck. He just called the boys from Baja.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“They’re maniacs.”

The CIA director took off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Fields has a tough job down there right now. As you know, my primary Mexico assets have gone off the grid. So he’s doing the best he can with what he’s got to work with.”

“You mean he’s doing the best he can to cover up the fact you had Alice Downly assassinated.”

Pope let out a sigh. “It would appear that I’ve trained you too well.”

“Tell me why you did it, Robert.”

“I’m trying to stabilize the border. Downly wanted to escalate hostilities. The president was in support of sending Special Forces troops into Mexico, and I couldn’t talk him out of it. Such an escalation would get out of hand, and many, many innocent people would die.”

“So it’s mathematics?”

“Life is mathematics.”

“No. Life is breathing human beings. And you’ve lost sight of that.”

“You’re wrong,” he said quietly. “I’m the only person in this town who hasn’t lost sight of it. What is one life weighed against thousands? Or hundreds? Or even just dozens? We kill based on numbers, and numbers never lie. You know that as well as I do. Are you upset because I weighed the life of an American woman against the lives of hundreds of Mexicans and found her wanting?”

“You broke the law.”

“We break the law every day. That’s our job.”

Aware she was losing the battle of logic, Midori changed her tack. “Do you know that Fields is using Mariana to get to Jessup?” She noted the hint of surprise in his eyes. “You didn’t, did you?”

“Mariana left the reservation,” he said obdurately.

“She left because Fields scared her off of it!”

“She left because she worries more about Crosswhite than she should.” He was showing irritation for the first time. “She’s throwing away her career over a man who belongs in prison.”

“My God, what a hypocrite you’ve become.”

“There is no hypocrisy. Crosswhite murdered in Chicago for personal profit. The people we kill from this building are killed to serve the greater good. That’s a mathematical fact.”

“And suppose Fields orders the Baja boys to kill Mariana?”

“If she isn’t smart enough to avoid that trap, she doesn’t have what it takes. I shouldn’t have to remind you that I didn’t order her to Mexico. She went down there of her own volition, and she met with Castañeda without consulting me.”

“I see. That’s why you don’t care what happens to her.” Midori got up from her chair. “What about me, Robert? Am I expendable?”

He looked up at her, his expression suddenly soft and calm. “You’re my most loyal protégé, and I value your life above all others.”

She walked out of the office, and he sat staring at his computer, wondering if Mariana would do as he’d planned. I’m not so sure now, he thought to himself. She’s become less predictable.