“Do you want me to pick him up when he goes home tonight?”
“No need. We know where he lives. We know where he works. We can find him at any time.”
“You don’t want me to try to take him out?”
“No, this man has proven himself much too dangerous. I’m bringing in an asset. The man is an expert. You’ll meet him and point out the target. He’ll do the rest.”
“Yes, sir. Do you want me to do whatever he says?”
“He won’t say anything.”
29.
AZIZ STOOD IMPASSIVE, waiting for the assignment.
“You’re going to Paris. You’ll leave at once.” Fahd texted him a photo of Barnett that he’d received from Glenville. “This is the target. At least, this is how he looks now. Two days ago he looked entirely different. He may look different tomorrow. It doesn’t matter. Glenville will point him out.”
Without moving a muscle, Aziz managed to convey what he felt about Glenville.
“The target is at the embassy to ferret out our agent. This must not happen. This must be handled quickly and without fuss. We do not need the French police on high alert. Not now. Not when we are all set. This operation must come off without a hitch.”
Aziz didn’t have to nod agreement. He was always in agreement.
“This man is a problem,” Fahd said. “I have no time for problems. When we arrive in Paris next week, he must be gone.”
30.
THE AGENT AT the front desk was confused. “You wish to see Special Agent Norton?”
“That’s right,” Teddy said.
“But you don’t have an appointment?”
“No, I do not.”
“Special Agent Norton is the station chief.”
“I know.”
“What is it you wish to see him about?”
“CIA business.”
“Yes, of course. What specifically do you mean?”
“I have business with Agent Norton. I can’t tell you what it is because it’s classified. But it’s high priority, and I need to see him at once.”
“You understand the problem?”
“Yes, I do. You are the problem. You only deal with matters that are routine. Anything important is above your pay grade.”
The agent flushed. “Now, see here.”
“You have my credentials. Run them.”
“Sir?”
“Run my credentials. Shouldn’t you know who you’re dealing with before you refuse to let me in?”
The agent gave him a look, then turned to the computer. He punched in the code on the credentials. Immediately, a file came up.
The agent blinked. “This is all classified.”
Teddy nodded. “Most of it. There’s probably some stuff that isn’t, but it won’t be very interesting.”
“What’s your point?”
Teddy groaned. Back in his years at the bureau, this young man wouldn’t have lasted a day. “Now you know what to tell your station chief. An agent, with such highly classified status you can’t access it, wants to see him. What would he like you to do?”
Minutes later a rather wary Station Chief Norton ushered Teddy into his office.
“I’m Special Agent Norton, Paris station chief.”
“Pleased to meet you. Agent Felix Dressler.”
“What can I do for you, Agent Dressler?”
“To begin with, you could teach the young man at the front desk his job. An agent shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to see you.”
“To be fair, he didn’t know who you were.”
“Neither do you, but you let me in.”
“I’m in charge of this station. I can do whatever I want without being second-guessed.”
“To a certain extent that’s true.”
Agent Norton bristled. “Are you trying to tell me something?”
“Absolutely not. For the moment, we’re just sparring with words.”
“Why are you here?”
“I was brought out of deep cover and assigned to report to this station.”
“Why?”
“That’s a good question. I’m sure there’s a reason. There’s usually a reason for what the powers that be do.”
“You don’t know why you’re here?”
“I didn’t say that. As to a specific assignment, it’s sort of open-ended, but I was told I’d receive your full cooperation.”
Norton wasn’t happy with the answer. Teddy hadn’t expected him to be.
“Are we being reassessed?”
“Certainly not.”
“What would you tell me if we were being reassessed?”
“That you’re not being reassessed.”
Norton bit his lip.
Teddy smiled. “Hey, I’m on your side. Let’s work together.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I’d like to meet your field agents.”
“I thought you might.”
“Will that be a problem?”
“Some of them are in the field.”
“I’d like to meet the one’s that aren’t.”
“Of course.” Norton picked up the phone. “Felson. Send in Morrow, Reynolds, and Rowan.” He put down the phone and said, ironically, “Anything else you’d like?”
“Could I get a printout of the personnel?”
“Sure. Just fill out a requisition form.”
Teddy smiled slightly. “So, you’re not concerned about being reassigned?”
Norton tried to stare him down, but Teddy didn’t blink. “But you’re not reassessing the station,” Norton said sarcastically.
“Absolutely not,” Teddy said.
After a moment, Norton gave in and picked up the phone again.
31.
AGENT MORROW WAS pudgy, as if he’d gone soft on the job from a combination of French food and not too much action. Teddy wasn’t sure if that made him more suspicious or less.