“So they told me.”
“And?” she asked. “Did you get him?”
“Sooner or later,” said Mac, “we always get ’em. And you—how’d everything turn out ... you know, with Dr. Shah and his magic container?”
“We’re still evaluating,” said Eliza. “We want to bring in a few experts to validate his claims. Take a closer look at his work.”
“You’re not serious?”
“But I am,” said Eliza. “We are.Me. My father. The Armed Services Committee. The American people deserve to know that we came here for a valid reason.”
“Or an invalid one,” said Mac. “I think what they deserve most is the truth.”
The truth. A malleable commodity, in Eliza’s worldview. One thing was certain: she needed Dekker on her side. “Come back,” she said, taking his hand, swinging it gently.
“Back? Where?”
“The States. DC. I’d like to see you again.”
“My job’s here,” said Mac.
“Your job can be anywhere,” she said playfully, as if he were a sales rep for a software company, not a trained and blooded paramilitary officer. “Last I looked, the CIA has one or two small buildings in Langley.”
Mac laughed, but not in the way she wanted.
“I’m serious,” she said.
“Miss Elkins, I have some bad news,” he said, fixing her with that gaze. “We’re not leaving this place anytime soon.”
“You can do good work in DC too.”
“Me ... a suit and tie? A commute?”
“Work for my father,” said Eliza. “The senator. He could use a decorated veteran.”
“Use one for what?” asked Mac.
“Legislative aide. Foreign policy adviser. Pick a title.”
“And I don’t even have to apply for the job.”
“Of course you don’t,” said Eliza, with alacrity. “I’ll tell Daddy. Done deal.”
“No kidding,” said Mac. “Just tell Daddy.”
Eliza nodded, proud of herself and her august family in equal measure. “You do know he’s the most powerful man on the Hill.”
Just then, a crowd of men and women streamed out of the front entrance. Their newly purchased desert–war zone attire screamed “congressional delegation.”
“Dekker,” shouted a short, trim man in a khaki suit, his hand raised to be seen. Eliza recognized him on the spot. Senator Todd Lindhurst, ranking Dem on the Armed Services Committee. Not Daddy’s favorite. “Good talking to you,” said Lindhurst, straining to be heard. “I’ll make sure to pass along what you told me. Appreciate the honesty.” Lindhurst saw Eliza, and his tone cooled noticeably. “Miss Elkins, good day.”
Like that, they were gone.
Eliza grasped Mac’s arm. “You had a meeting with Lindhurst?”
“I was debriefing the ambassador, and he happened to be in the room.”
“Oh, bullshit,” said Eliza.
