The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

to smooth off his edges. Chavez, she saw, took the lead as they walked outside,
preceding them up the sidewalk in a way that was almost comical. The streets
here were not what she thought safe – at least not for a woman walking alone,
though that was more a problem at night than during the day – but Chavez moved
like a man in battle. That, she thought, was interesting. They found the small
restaurant quickly, and Clark steered everyone into a corner booth. Both the men
had their backs to the wall so that they could stare outward at any incoming
threat. Both had their coats unbuttoned, though they both seemed outwardly
relaxed.
'Who exactly are you?' she asked. The whole affair was like something from a bad
movie.
'I'm your husband's driver,' John replied. 'I'm a field officer, paramilitary
type. I've been with the agency for almost twenty years.'
'You're not supposed to tell people stuff like that.'
Clark just shook his head. 'Ma'am, we haven't even started breaking laws yet.
Now I'm mainly a Security and Protective Officer, an SPO. Ding Chavez here is
also an SPO.'
'Hello, Doctor Ryan. My real name is Domingo.' He held out his hand. 'I work
with your husband also. John and I drive him around and protect him on trips and
stuff.'
'You're both carrying guns?'
Ding almost looked embarrassed. 'Yes, ma'am.'
With that, the adventurous part of the meeting ended, Cathy thought. Two
obviously very tough men were trying to charm her. They had even succeeded. But
that didn't change her problem. She was about to say something, but Clark
started off first.
'Ma'am, there seems to be a problem between you and your husband. I don't know
what it is – I think I know some of it – but I do know that it's hurting the
guy. That's bad for the Agency.'
'Gentlemen, I appreciate your concern, but this is a private matter.'
'Yes, ma'am,' Clark responded in his eerily polite voice. He reached into his
pocket and pulled out Xerox copies of the Holtzman articles. 'Is this the
problem?'
'That's not any of your. . .' Her mouth clamped shut.
'I thought so. Ma'am, none of this is true. I mean, the sexual impropriety part.
That's definitely not true. Your husband hardly goes anywhere without one of us.
Because of where he works and who he is, he has to sign out for every place he
goes to – like a doctor on call, okay? If you want, I can get you copies of his
itinerary for as far back as you want.'
'That can't be legal.'
'No, it probably isn't,' Clark agreed. 'So?'
She so wanted to believe, Cathy thought, but she couldn't, and it was best to
tell them why. 'Look, your loyalty to Jack is very impressive – but I know,
okay? I went through the financial records, and I know about that Zimmer woman,
and I know about the kid!'
'What exactly do you know?'
'I know that Jack was there for the delivery. I know about the money, and how he