Shoot Him If He Runs

38

Hugh English knocked, then entered Kate Lee’s office. “Good morning, Director,” he said.

“Good morning, Hugh,” Kate replied. She thought he looked a little flushed and angry. “Let’s go straight in to lunch, shall we?”

“Of course.”

Kate led him into the small dining room off her office, where the round table was set for three and a bottle of Chardonnay was on ice. “Please take a seat.”

“Is someone joining us?”

“Yes, I’ve asked Lance to come a little later; first, though, I want us to talk.” She continued quickly, not giving him time to ask questions. “Hugh, first thing is I want to thank you again for stepping in after Dick Stone’s murder and holding things together.”

“I was happy to help.”

“I know you had to delay your retirement plans and that it may have been expensive for you to do that, so let me assure you, the Agency will make you whole in that regard.”

“Thank you, Director.”

“Secondly, I want to ask you to stay on just a little longer.”

“I suppose I can do that. Have you made any progress on choosing my replacement?”

“Yes, I’ve decided to promote Lance Cabot to the job. I realize, Hugh, that Lance would not have been your first choice, but I’m sure you know that I have my own priorities. I know you will agree that Lance has been a more than capable officer for us, winning good outcomes on a remarkable number of important efforts over the past few years.”

“Well, yes,” English said without enthusiasm. “I suppose you’ve already told Lance.”

“No, I wanted you to be here for that; it’s the purpose of our lunch. I also want to have a conversation among the three of us about the future of the operations directorate.”

“When is Lance’s appointment going to take effect?”

“Right after this luncheon,” Kate said. “What I’d like you to do is to gather your deputies and assistants this afternoon, tell them of the transition and ask them to assemble summaries of the various operations, both under way and contemplated. Tomorrow, or the next day, if they need the time, I’d like them to make full-blown presentations to Lance, so that he will have the greatest possible grasp of what’s happening everywhere. At your meeting this afternoon with your people, I’d like you to tell them to begin immediately to report to Lance on absolutely everything, and to cable all stations and all field agents to do so, as well. Instructions should go out before close of business today. It will be a bit of a cold shower for Lance, but I think it’s the fastest way to get him up to speed. I’ll make a written announcement to the building at half past four this afternoon.”

“Very well, I’ll get out of my office this afternoon.”

“That won’t be necessary, Hugh. Lance can continue to work from his temporary office until you feel the transition is as complete as you can make it. I know that Lance will want to consult with you on an hour-by-hour basis, until he has all the reins firmly in his hands. I know that moving out of an office you’ve occupied for as long as you have will take time; there’ll be a lot of files and mementos to go through, and I’ll appoint a screening committee to sift through everything as you send it home, to protect both you and the Agency from any inadvertent transfer of classified material.”

“All right.” English was looking a little deflated now.

“Also, Hugh, I know you’ll probably want to write your memoirs, and I’d like you to do that on a secure Agency computer, which we will install in whatever home you choose. Because of the sensitivity of your work here, I want to place a moratorium of one year from today on any contact with the press or publishers. You may instruct an agent to offer your book to publishers, if you wish, but of course, we’ll want to vet the proposal, which should be vague.

“I know, Hugh, that over the years you’ve established an outstanding network of contacts in Congress, and I hope that, at a series of lunches here at the Agency, you will introduce Lance to as many key people as you can, even though congressional approval is not required for his appointment, as it was not for yours. I must ask you, though, to refer any questions from Congress about any operations to your successor.”

“Of course. How much longer do you contemplate that you will need me in the building?”

“I should think at least a few days, perhaps longer, but that will be up to you and Lance. When you both feel that Lance is comfortable in the job, then we’ll send you on your way with all our best wishes.”

There was a knock at the door, and the director’s secretary stuck her head in. “Lance Cabot is here.”

“Would you ask him to wait just a moment, please?”

The woman left, and Kate turned back to Hugh English. “Hugh, is there anything you’d like to talk about before we invite Lance in?”

“Yes, Director; I have some questions about whatever it is that Lance is doing in St. Marks.”

“Hugh, I’m afraid that, in the circumstances, I can’t answer your questions, at least not yet. Lance is firmly in control of his very small operation there, and this afternoon, he’ll be talking with Jim Tiptree, Bill and Annie Pepper and the ambassador, just to get everybody on the same page.”

“Well, certainly everybody is not on the same page now.”

“I know, and I apologize for that being necessary in the circumstances. I know you felt left out of this business, but please be assured that that was not due to any lack of trust in you. It was necessary to compartmentalize, it was done on my authority, and I hope there will be no hard feelings for Lance on your part. If blame is to be assigned for anything, please assign it to me. Anything else?”

“No, Director, I think not.”

“Then I’ll ask Lance in,” she said, pressing a buzzer. “Please send Lance Cabot in.”

Lance knocked, then opened the door.

“Come in, Lance,” Kate said, “and have a seat.” She reached over, took the bottle of wine from the cooler and poured them each a glass. “I’d like to propose a toast,” she said, and they all stood. “To the Central Intelligence Agency’s new deputy director for operations.”

“Congratulations, Lance,” Hugh English said, mustering a trace of warmth. “I know you’ll do a great job.”

The director and English drank, while Lance looked stunned.

“I’m sorry if I’m speechless,” Lance said.

“Never happened before,” Kate said, and they all chuckled.

“Director, I want to thank you for your trust; Hugh, I want to thank you in advance for all the help I’ll need from you to get a grip on the job.” He raised his glass and drank.

They all sat down, and lunch was served.