The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

That Vatican Treaty, the way the Middle East is settling down. Jack had a big
part in that, but he isn't getting any credit at all. Exactly what part he
played, I'm not sure. He's pretty good at keeping secrets. That's part of his
problem. He keeps it all inside. You do that too much and it's like cancer, like
acid or something. It eats you up. It's eating him up, and this crap in the
papers has made it a lot worse.
'All I can say, Doc, is this: I don't know a better man than your husband, and
I've been around the block a few times. He's put it on the line more than the
times you know about, but there's people around who don't like him very much,
and those people are trying to get him in a way that he can't deal with. It's
typical, dirty, underhanded crap, but Jack's not the kind of guy who can deal
with that. He plays by the rules, you see. So, it's eating him up.'
Cathy was weeping now. Clark handed her a handkerchief.
'I figured you should know. If you think it's necessary, I want you to check it
out as much as you think you have to. That's your decision, and I want you to
make the call without worrying about me or Ding or anybody else, okay? I'll take
you to see Carol Zimmer and the kids. If I lose my job – the hell with it. I've
been in the business too damned long anyway.'
'Christmas presents?'
'For the Zimmer kids? Yeah, I helped wrap them. Your husband can't wrap presents
worth a damn, but I suppose you know that. I even delivered some of my own. My
two are too grown for fun presents, and they're great kids, the Zimmers. It's
nice being an uncle,' John added, with a genuine smile.
'All a lie?'
'I don't know about the financial stuff, just the other things. And they tried
to get at him through you, judging by what you just said.'
The tears stopped at that moment. Cathy wiped her eyes and looked up. 'You're
right. You said you don't know who's doing this?'
'I'm planning to find out,' Clark promised her. Her demeanor had changed
completely. This was some broad.
'I want you to let me know. And I want to meet the Zimmer family.'
'When do you get off work?'
'I have to make a few phone calls and some notes say an hour?'
'I can squeeze that in, but I may have to leave early. They have a 7-Eleven
about ten miles from your place.'
'I know it's close, but not exactly where.'
'You can follow me down.'
'Let's go.' Cathy led them out, or tried to. Chavez beat her out the door, and
held the point all the way back to the hospital. He and Clark decided to stay
outside and get some air, then spotted two youths sitting on their car.
It was strange, John Clark thought as he crossed the street. At the beginning
Caroline Ryan had been the angry one, angry and betrayed. He'd been the voice of
understanding. Now she was feeling much better – though worse in another way –
but he had absorbed all of her anger. It was a little too much to bear, and
there in front of him was an outlet for it.
'Off the car, punk!'
'Christ, John!' Ding said behind him.