High Alert

CHAPTER 44

Elizabeth Harker was sipping her first cup of coffee of the day when DCI Hood called her.

"Clarence, good morning."

"Good morning, Elizabeth. How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"We have new satellite photos of Musudan-Ri," Hood said. "The damage is extensive, but that's not why I'm calling. There's been a coup in North Korea. The military has taken control. Yun is dead."

"How?"

"The official explanation is an unfortunate accident."

"Unfortunate for Yun," Elizabeth said. "Good for the rest of the world."

Hood continued. "The country is shut down. State television is playing funeral music and showing patriotic clips featuring Yun. The propaganda machine is spinning full blast."

"Who succeeds him?"

"The generals are setting up Yun's nephew as the new Great Leader. It preserves the bloodline of the leadership."

"He's only a boy. What is he, nine years old?"

"That's right. The real control of the country rests with a military junta, led by Marshal Park."

"Park's a hardliner."

"Yes, but he's not crazy like Yun. He might be someone we can deal with."

"We can hope," Elizabeth said.

"Tell me about the mission."

She filled Hood in on the details. "The Chinese were a complication nobody expected. Beijing can't be happy but they're not going to say anything. Nick thinks they were there to sabotage the launch. I think he's right. They could have screwed up the whole operation."

"We were lucky," Hood said.

"This time," Elizabeth said.

"Are you feeling well enough for dinner this evening?"

"I'd like that," Elizabeth said, "but I'm still tired. I'll take a rain check."

"I'll keep my umbrella handy."

After she'd hung up, she turned to Stephanie.

"Do we have anything new on Haltman?"

"I told Freddie to find out everything he could," Stephanie said. "Let's ask. Freddie, did you hear Elizabeth's question?"

Yes, Stephanie. There is something new.

"What have you discovered?"

You requested that I look for calls from Langley made to numbers linked to General Sanford. I found one such call.

"Excellent," Elizabeth said, "but what is the connection with Haltman?"

The call was made after the assassination of the Chinese ambassador to someone in Northern California. The area is rural and sparsely populated. Triangulation indicates the call came from an area north of San Francisco and south of Oregon. Haltman's private estate is located in the area. Given that Haltman designed and manufactured the technology identified in the drone and video, there is statistically significant likelihood that the call was made to him. Probability that Haltman is responsible for passing classified material to North Korea is ninety-eight point eight two percent.

"Got him," Stephanie said.

Would you like to know what else I have discovered?

Stephanie looked at Elizabeth and shrugged her shoulders.

"I didn't know he'd be like this," she said. "Yes, Freddie, we would like to know what else you have discovered."

Haltman has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has approximately six months to live. The assassin Chun was also diagnosed with terminal illness. He was treated in the same hospital in Beijing at the same time as Haltman. It is logical to conclude that Chun and Haltman met each other there. Chun's family is now living in the United States. It is logical to conclude that Haltman persuaded Chun to assassinate the ambassador in return for protecting his family.

"He may have six months to live, but I'm going to make sure he doesn't live them out comfortably," Elizabeth said.

There is more that may be of interest to you.

"Go on."

The man you know as Gregory Haltman was not born with that name. His name was changed legally when he was thirteen years old. His mother divorced and was awarded custody. She remarried and Haltman's stepfather petitioned for the name change.

"You're right, that is interesting. What was his birth name?

Gregory Hudson Lodge.

Elizabeth was startled. "What!"

Gregory Hudson Lodge.

"I heard you, Freddie."

Did you not just make an interrogative exclamation?

"Yes, but I heard you."

I do not understand.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, wondering what the answer would be to her next question.

"Stephanie will explain it later. Freddie, did he have any siblings?"

One younger brother. The siblings were separated during the divorce and subsequent custody dispute. The younger brother remained with his father.

"What was the brother's name?"

Wendell Oliver Lodge.

Elizabeth and Stephanie looked at each other.

"It can't be," Stephanie said.

"Freddie, do you have any information on the brother?"

Yes.

"Well, what is it?"

Wendell Oliver Lodge was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency when he graduated from Yale University. He eventually became director of the agency. He committed suicide five years, three months, four days and seventeen minutes ago.

"Oh, my," Stephanie said.