“How many times are you going to say that?” demanded Mac.
“As many times as necessary,” said Elkins.
“Mac, please,” added Baker. “Chill.”
Mac ran a hand over his mouth. “Chill?” he said. “Are you kidding me? Do you realize what is about to go down? If that device goes off, you can forget about the couple thousand it will kill right away. That’s the tip of the iceberg. They’re going to have to evacuate the entire city. Ten million people or more. And by yesterday.” Mac raised his left hand above his head, gauging the wind. “Feel that? Breeze coming out of the west at ten to fifteen miles per hour. I know. It was our job to reckon wind velocity before taking a shot. Versailles is over that way. Due west. All the fallout from that bomb is going to come straight into the center of the city. There will be no getting away, not in time. You’re talking tens of thousands of innocent people dead and tens of thousands more who’ll die from cancer. Paris will be an exclusion zone for twenty years.”
“Please,” said Jane. “Talk to Vincent again. Convince him.”
“As far as Deputy Director Dalin is concerned,” said Elkins, “Mac is en route to the airport to catch a flight to the States. How do you think we got you out?”
“Maybe you had your daddy call,” said Mac. “The senator.”
“You SOB,” said Elkins.
“I knew I was in trouble when I heard you’d joined the Agency,” said Mac. “You never forgot about that crazy old man in Iraq. That was a bomb, too, wasn’t it?”
“And I thought I had a long memory,” said Elkins. “Pot meet kettle. On the contrary. You should thank me.”
“For what? Red-flagging me?”
“For believing you. For realizing that I was wrong about you. For getting to the Al-Sabahs’ mansion in time to see you being dragged out in cuffs. The reason you’re a free man at this instant is because I swore an affidavit that you are a current employee in good standing of the Central Intelligence Agency. Why else do you think they let you go? Your charm and good looks? Sorry, Mac, your ass is mine, and you’ll do what I tell you.”
“You didn’t,” said Mac.
“Dad, she did,” said Jane. “Cut her some slack.”
“That’ll be the day,” said Mac. He pointed an accusing finger at her. “Did you know she wanted me to leave the Agency and go to work for her father, the senator? Now, she kindly gives me my job back. Make up your mind, Lizzie.”
“That’s enough, Dekker,” said Baker, coming between them. “Put a sock in it.”
A uniformed policeman opened the door to the prefecture. Behind him, Vincent Dalin led Ava Attal outside. Someone had provided her a navy peacoat, to cover her dress, and a pair of well-used sneakers. Dalin extended a hand to Elkins. “This concludes matters,” he said.
“Thank you, Vincent,” said Elkins in her most syrupy voice. “If there’s ever anything I can do.”
“Happy to help,” said Dalin, practically bowing and kissing her hand. The French. Blond hair, big boobs, and they melt every time.
“Did you read the files, Vincent?” asked Mac, testily.
Dalin cleared his throat. “Interesting material. Madame Attal made a persuasive case.”
“That means you’re shutting it down,” said Mac. “The conference. You’re evacuating Versailles. You’re going after TNT.”
“I’ve given the dossier to my superiors,” said Dalin.
“And?”
“I believe Madame Attal is telling the truth. I’ve offered my recommendation that we act immediately.”
“Thank God,” said Mac. “Good news.” He looked at Ava, expecting her to share his relief. She kept her eyes cast down, saying nothing. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I can’t be trusted,” said Ava. “I’m a foreign agent acting without permission on French soil. The fruits of my investigation are tainted a priori. I should be lucky I’m not locked away for ten years, isn’t that right?”
“You’re kidding?” said Mac.
“That is not my personal opinion,” said Dalin. “However, my superiors must look to the larger question. Qatar is a close ally of France and the principal supplier of our natural gas. They are also, alongside the French president, the sponsor of a historic conference, which against all odds has reached a successful conclusion. The idea that Tariq, himself a Qatari, the minister of the interior, no less, would try and sabotage the conference is unimaginable.”
“But you have the proof,” said Mac. “Ava risked her life to get it. What are you waiting for?”
