The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

provided to go along with his passport were honored by the State of Colorado,
after he passed a written test, and he had a photo-certified license card to go
along with the tags. His only 'mistake' was messing up one of the forms, but the
clerk let him sign a fresh one while Russell dumped the first in the trash can.
Or appeared to. The blank form slid into the pocket of his parka.
***
Johns Hopkins Hospital is not located in the best of neighborhoods. As
compensation for that fact the Baltimore City Police guarded it in a way that
reminded Clark of his time in Vietnam. He found a parking place on Broadway,
just across from the main entrance. Then he and Chavez went in, walking around
the marble statue of Jesus which both found rather admirable in size and
execution. The large complex – Hopkins is a vast facility – made finding the
right part difficult, but ten minutes later they were sitting outside the Wilmer
Eye Institute office of Associate Professor Caroline M. Ryan, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Clark relaxed and read a magazine while Chavez cast his lecherous eyes on the
receptionist whom Mrs Ryan evidently rated. The other Dr Ryan, as Clark thought
of her, showed up at twelve-thirty-five with an armful of documents. She gave
the two CIA officers a who-are-you look and breezed into her office without a
word. It didn't take much of a look on his part either. She'd always appeared to
him a very attractive and dignified female. Not now. Her face, if anything, was
in worse shape than her husband's. This really was getting out of hand, John
thought. Clark gave it a ten-count and just walked past the open-mouthed
receptionist to begin his newest career, marriage counsellor.
'What is this?' Cathy asked. 'I don't have any appointments today.'
'Ma'am, I need a few minutes of your time.'
'Who are you? Are you going to ask me about Jack?'
'Ma'am, my name is Clark.' He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the
card-sized CIA photo-pass, attached as most were, to a metal chain that went
around his neck. 'There may be some things you need to know about.'
Cathy's eyes went hard almost at once, the anger taking over from the hurt. 'I
know,' she said. 'I've heard it all.'
'No, ma'am, I think that you do not know. This isn't a good place to talk. May I
invite you to lunch?'
'Around here? The streets aren't all that – '
'Safe?' Clark smiled to show just how absurd her observation was.
For the first time, Caroline Ryan applied a professional eye to her visitor. He
was about Jack's height, but bulkier. Whereas she had once found her husband's
face manly, Clark's was rugged. His hands looked large and powerful, and his
body language proclaimed that he could deal with anything. More impressive was
his demeanor. The man could have intimidated almost anyone, she realized, but he
was going out of his way to appear gentlemanly, and succeeding, like the
ballplayers who sometimes came here to see the kids. Teddy bear was what she
thought. Not because he was, but because he wanted to be.
'There's a place right down Monument Street.'
'Fine.' Clark turned and lifted her overcoat from the clothes tree. He held it
almost daintily for her to put it on. Chavez joined them outside. He was much
smaller than Clark, but more overtly dangerous, like a gang kid who was trying