lied to the man on the phone. Thornhill understood quite clearly that
deceit was nothing more nor less than a highly effective tool of the
trade. One just had to make sure that lies at work didn’t interfere
with one’s personal life. But Thornhill had always been good with
compartmentalization. Just ask his country club wife. He could
initiate a covert action in Central America in the morning and play,
and win, at bridge at the Congressional Country Club in the evening.
Now, dammit, that was compartmentalization!
And whatever anyone said about him within the confines of the Agency,
he had always been good with his people. He pulled them out of
situations when they needed to be pulled. He had never left an agent
or case officer spinning in the wind, helpless. But he also kept them
in the field when he knew they could carry it home. He had developed
an instinct for such things, and it had hardly ever proved wrong. He
also didn’t play political games with intelligence collection. He had
never told the politicians simply what they wanted to hear, as others
at the Agency had-sometimes with disastrous consequences. Well, he
could only do what he could. In two years it would be someone else’s
problem. He would leave the organization in as strong a state as he
could. His parting gift. There was no need to thank him. Service and
honor. He lifted his drink in memory of his late father.
CHAPTER 46
“STAY Low, FAITh,” LEE SAID AS HE EDGED CLOSE to a window overlooking
the street. He had his gun out and was watching a car drop a man off
out front. “Is that Buchanan?” he asked.
Faith anxiously peered over the windowsill and then immediately
relaxed.
“Yes.”
“Okay, answer the front door. I’ll cover you.”
“I told you it was Danny.”
“Great, then go let Danny in. I’m not taking any unnecessary
chances.”
Frowning at this remark, Faith went to the front door and opened it.
Buchanan slipped through and she closed and locked the door behind him.
They exchanged a prolonged hug as Lee watched from the stairs, his gun
in plain sight in his belt clip. Their bodies shook together, and
tears streamed down their faces. He felt a pang of jealousy at this
embrace. It quickly passed, though, as he sensed the exchange of
affection was clearly that of a father and his daughter; a reunion of
souls separated by life’s circumstances.
“You must be Lee Adams,” Buchanan said, extending his hand. “I’m sure
you regret the day you ever took on this assignment.”
Lee came down and shook his hand. “Nah. This one’s been a piece of
cake. I’m actually thinking about specializing in this area,
especially considering no one else would be stupid enough to do it.”
“I thank God you were there to protect Faith.”
“Actually, I’ve gotten pretty good at saving Faith.” Lee and Faith
exchanged smiles, then Lee looked back at Buchanan. “But the fact is
we have one additional complication. A very important one,” Lee
added.
“Let’s go to the kitchen. You might want to hear it over a drink.” As
they sat at the kitchen table, Lee filled Buchanan in on the situation
with his daughter.
Buchanan looked furious. “That bastard.”
Lee eyed him keenly. “This bastard have a name? I’d love to know it,
for future reference.”
Buchanan shook his head. “Trust me, you don’t want to go down that
route.”
“Who is behind all this, Danny?” Faith touched his arm. “I think I
have a right to know.”
Buchanan looked at Lee.
“Sorry,” Lee said, putting up his hands, “that’s your call.” Buchanan
gripped Faith’s arm. “They’re very powerful people and they happen to
work for this country. That’s all I can really say without endangering
you even more.”
Faith sat back astonished. “Our own government is trying to kill
us?”
“The gentleman I’ve been dealing with tends to go his own way. But he
does have resources, lots of them.”
“So Lee’s daughter is in real danger?”
“Yes. This man will usually say rather less than what he actually
intends.”
“Why’d you come here, Buchanan?” Lee wanted to know. “You got away