W E B Griffin – Men at War 2 – Secret Warriors

There were several reasons why Donovan could not permit this. At the top of the list was Canidy’s involvement with the “movement” of Grunier from Morocco to the United States. Canidy knew nothing about why Grunier was important, of course, but he knew about Grunier, and that meant he was privy to a nuclear secret, and that in itself was enough to deny him return to the Navy. And that wasn’t the only secret he knew. He had been in contact with Sidi Has san el Ferruch, pasha of Ksar es Souk. Donovan believed that Roosevelt in the end would decide in favor of the notion of using el Ferruch’s Berbers in the. But even if he didn’t, the necessity for absolute secrecy about American plans for North Africa was such that Canidy’s knowledge of them-presuming he was not a cheerful, willing, obedient, loyal Boy Scout’s honor COI volunteer-made him a security risk. So would his very knowledge of the inner workings at the top of COI For these reasons, if he became “difficult” Donovan would have to have him sit out the war at a remote base in Alaska or Greenland. It might even be necessary for Donovan to order his “hospitalization for psychiatric evaluation.” In the opinion of Roosevelt’s attorney general, the legal right of habeas corpus did not apply to mental patients. If Canidy were “hospitalized,” it would be for the duration. Captain Doug lass could not threaten Canidy with any of this when he asked to return to the Navy. What he did say to him was that he should sit and think a moment about why it might be impossible for him to pin his golden naval aviator’s wings back on.

Canidy, who was by no means stupid, saw what the writing on the wall was, and agreed-by no means enthusiastically-to stay on. “No,” Doug lass said to Donovan.

“He’s hardly what you could can a happy volunteer, but he seems to have reconsidered his situation.”

“If he were a happy volunteer,” Donovan said, “that would worry me.”

Donovan was pleased, and relieved. He liked Canidy personally, and it would have been unpleasant to order his “hospitalization.” And he agreed with El don Baker, the longtime professional intelligence officer in charge of the Moroccan operation, that Canidy was one of those rarities who have the strange combination of intelligence, imagination, courage, and ruthlessness that an agent needs. It would have been a pity had it been necessary to lock those talents up for the duration. Captain Doug lass chuckled.

“Okay,” Donovan said.

“Then he’s the man. Have Chief Ellis get him out of the lady’s bed, tell him what he has to know, and then let him handle it. Didn’t you tell me you’d gotten him a marshal’s badge?”

“It’s in the safe.”

” Well, give it to him,” Donovan said.” Send Ellis along with him.

Chief Boatswain’s Mate Ellis was an old China sailor from the Yangtze River Patrol. Ellis was Doug lass’s jack-of-all-trades in Washington.

“Yes, Sir.”

“And maybe you better go with them too. Sit in the car or something, where nobody can see you. just make sure that letter is not intercepted.”

“If I have any trouble, I’ll call you back,” Doug lass said.

“Otherwise, I will call you when Whittaker is safe in the house on Q Street.”

“Fine.”

“How are you, Colonel?” Doug lass asked. “I’m sitting up in bed drinking rat poison and Scotch whiskey,” Donovan said.

“Thank you for asking, Peter.”

“Good night, Sir.” Somewhat bitterly, Donovan thought he was spending much too much time in political warfare with the ranking member of the American military establishment. But it couldn’t be helped. His allegiance belonged to Roosevelt, and no one else.

ONE I Alameda Naval Air Station Alameda, California April 4, 1942

The twin-engine B-25 Mitchell medium bomber taxied up to the Alameda transient parking ramp and killed its engines. Mounted just below the pilot’s-side window on the fuselage was the single silver star insignia of a brigadier general on a red plate the size of an automobile license plate.

A door opened in the bottom of the fuselage and a short ladder appeared.

A lieutenant, wearing aviator’s wings and the insignia of an aide de-camp, descended the ladder and started toward base cps just as a Navy captain and an Army captain walked out of the base cps building.

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