Free Liberty by Stephen Coonts

everyone knows about the hunt for the bombs. And what the FBI is doing about Mr. Doyle.”
    â€œI thought you said the president just asked you to find the weapons?”
    â€œHe did. Presumably the FBI will take care of friend Doyle, but I’ve got this feeling. Ilin linked the bombs and Doyle together, if only by discussing them both in the
same conversation. The commander in chief gave me a lot of authority, so I’m going to use it.”
    â€œWhy not?” Toad muttered. He was beginning to see the dimensions of this mess. “You’re going to be out there on the tightrope all by yourself, aren’t you?” he demanded. “Without a net.”
    â€œOh, no. You’re going to be right there beside me, shipmate, all the way across. If we make it, we’ll probably get adjoining cells in some ritzy federal penitentiary.”
    â€œThere’s a happy thought,” Toad said without enthusiasm.
    The director of the Central Intelligence Agency was a tall, portly man, almost bald, named Avery Edmond DeGarmo. He and Jake had crossed swords before. His round, jowly features wore a frown as Jake entered his office, which Jake knew from past experience to be DeGarmo’s usual expression. He looked like a man who rarely heard good news.
    This morning the director had the president’s letter on his desk. Jake knew because he had been kept waiting in the reception area while DeGarmo called the White House, confirming the authenticity of the letter.
    â€œAt it again, I see, Grafton,” DeGarmo said testily.
    â€œAt what again, Mr. DeGarmo?”
    â€œCharging off to save the republic.”
    â€œI didn’t ask for this assignment.”
    DeGarmo made a rude noise.
    â€œI would think that you would welcome all the help you can get to find those missing Russian warheads.”
    â€œAmateurs mucking up the water won’t help much,” DeGarmo snapped. “If I thought they would, I’d have called Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
    Jake was losing his patience. He and DeGarmo had first butted heads a year ago when USS America was hijacked and Jake assisted in the investigation. DeGarmo apparently thought that the less the public knew of the inner
workings of the intelligence bureaucracies, the better. Certainly better for the bureaucrats, Jake reflected. “The president appointed me, and we’re both stuck with it,” he said dryly. “I’d like a look this afternoon at everything this agency knows about the weapons and where they might be. I want to see every file.”
    â€œI guessed as much.”
    â€œI want a personal commitment from you to actively assist in my investigation.”
    â€œAre you implying that I would do less than my duty?”
    â€œI’ve been ordered to find those weapons. I intend to do just that. You can help in every way possible, or I’ll run right over you, Mr. Director, and leave you bleeding in the road. The choice is yours.”
    Avery Edmond DeGarmo’s finger shot out as he leaned across his desk toward Jake. “I was appointed to this post by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. You will get all the cooperation this agency can give you, I promise you that. And if you screw up, Admiral, I guarantee that you will never hold another position of trust in the United States government as long as you live.”
    Jake Grafton stood. “If we don’t find those warheads,” he said evenly, “there may not be a United States government.”
    Before DeGarmo could respond, Jake walked out of his office.
    In the outer office, Jake retrieved his hat from the coffee table and nervously ran his fingers through his hair. He hadn’t handled that interview well. Off to a fine start, he thought.
    Toad had rounded up a car and driver for Jake, so he rode to the FBI building in style. After credentials checks and a trip through a metal detector, he was led