Free Betrayal by Tim Tigner

cajole. Today his favorite blue shirt augmented their flair while his tie amplified their twinkle.
    “Two minutes, Director Proffitt.”
    Wiley looked over his left shoulder and practiced his most charming gaze as “Thank you, Maxine” rolled off his tongue like warm butterscotch over a sundae. He immediately turned his head back to the mirror but watched her reaction from the corner of his eye. Bingo. It did not matter how old they were, Wiley J. Proffitt could always make the ladies blush.
    ~ ~ ~
    “We’re back with our special Terror-Strikes edition of PoliTalk ,” Jim Fitzpatrick’s Irish face greeted the television crowd. “Joining us now is PoliTalk regular Wiley Proffitt, Director of the FBI. Good morning Wiley.”
    “Good morning, Jim.”
    “Two weeks ago you were on our show discussing terrorism and you predicted that our number was almost up. As everyone in America now knows, one week later it was. Last Saturday, for the first time since 9/11, Americans were victims of multiple simultaneous terrorist attacks. The offices of the US Chamber of Commerce were bombed in Belgium. An American school—empty thank God—was bombed in France. And a hospital was bombed in Iran while an American delegation was present. Of the twelve Americans killed, eight were members of your Bureau, all victims of the hospital attack. Your prediction appears startlingly accurate, especially when viewed against the background of America’s intelligence failures. Do you care to comment?”
    “To be honest, Jim, I’ve been doing everything in my power to prove myself wrong. I have one of the few jobs around that rewards you for doing exactly that.” Wiley looked down for a moment as if to compose himself. “The loss of those eight agents was, well, personal. The FBI is one big family, and now eight of our sons have been slaughtered. I knew several of them personally. Those fine young men were serving our country on a fact-finding mission, covertly inspecting areas we had identified as potential al-Qaeda bases. Obviously our assumption was correct. As you and your viewers know, that particular site was ostensibly a hospital. In truth it was an al-Qaeda training camp. Unfortunately, the terrorists somehow learned that my men were coming and they lay in wait.
    “The FBI’s takeaway lesson is to anticipate similar future leaks.
    “The lesson for the American people is harsher still.  
    “Considering the calculated nature of that attack, it should now be clear to every red-blooded American that our enemies are willing to murder dozens of their own compatriots and even destroy their own infrastructure if in so doing they can also terminate a few American lives. The conventional rules of engagement no longer apply. These terrorists are not trying to win, per se. They just want us to lose.”
    Fitzpatrick began to comment but Wiley held up his hand. “I should add that I hope the members of the Congressional Budgeting Committee are paying attention to that particular fact. We are living in a new paradigm now. If we aim to continue the American way of life, Congress is going to have to release the purse strings. I know that the cost of protection may seem daunting at first, but I can assure you that defense is a bargain compared to the alternative. Prevention only costs an ounce.”
    “Reading between the lines, I take it that you’re expecting more attacks?” Jim asked.
    Wiley nodded somberly. “You take it right.”
    “Anytime soon?”
    “Every-time soon, Jim. We need to remain constantly vigilant and keep striving to become ever better prepared. Tragic though they were, last week’s attacks were a far cry from 9/11. By my reckoning, that trifecta was just a practice swing.”
    Fitzpatrick seemed taken aback. “Let me make sure that I’m getting this right,” he said. “In your professional opinion al-Qaeda is just warming up?”
    “I am afraid so.”
    Fitzpatrick let the air go silent for a moment to emphasize the