"Before we knew that you were missing in the storm and maybe even before you in fact were, I received notification from ONI about Christie's disappearance. At the time, it was unclear if he was among the dead at the prison or had escaped. I thought to try to contact you then, but I decided to wait for more information."
"Thus continuing to avoid explaining to me his connection to that whole miserable People's Republic affair?"
"Yes, Lee, it is something I should have told you after you recovered. At the time, I didn't perceive that Christie would ever pose a threat to you again. I was wrong and I apologize for that. Anyway, ONI agreed to keep me posted. The next day, ONI confirmed that Christie and several others were missing. Without knowing for certain whether Anne was alive, I asked Bob Watson to personally ensure that the Marshals were made aware of the potential threat to her. Before I heard back from him, I received a threatening phone call from Christie. I immediately called Watson so he could follow up on it. I also asked Chip to find you. He couldn't. He notified both the Coast Guard and ONI."
"If I know him, he probably also notified the FBI and every police department in Maine."
"Probably the Boy Scouts too, Lee. Fortunately, you got a message to the Coast Guard within twenty-four hours, although Chip and I were both rather upset that you didn't give your whereabouts."
"Well, if I'd have known your concerns, maybe I would have. Sorry, that was petty of me. I'm a little tired. So you knew I was safe, or at least healthy. What happened next, Admiral?"
"By the following morning, ONI had confirmed that Christie was on the loose. That was all they could tell me, aside from that they were following up on leads about his possible whereabouts. Frankly, at that point, I wasn't upset about not knowing your whereabouts. If nobody knew, I presumed you were as safe as possible."
"But for the bizarre coincidence of where I landed, you were right. What about you? ONI or the feds must have wanted to put you under protection?" Lee asked.
"Yes, of course. They wanted me on a secured Naval base. I declined the offer. I felt the Institute was safe enough. Several days later, you returned home, Lee."
"And you immediately wanted to go get Kate, but I balked."
"My desire to go to Anne was pure gut instinct at the time, based on my feeling guilty. Then after you left my office, I heard back from Bob Watson. First, he confirmed what I'd learned from you, that Anne was alive. Second, we were strongly encouraged to intervene on her behalf."
"Why, Sir?"
"The Marshal's Office concluded that Anne violated the terms of the Program. She had yet to report to the safe house and they had reason to believe that she didn't intend to report. They also had learned of your presence at her house the prior week. They contended that also was a violation of the Program."
"But we'd never even met before," Lee said.
"True enough. I suppose someone simply assumed a connection because of yours to me."
"I suppose that Mr. Gurney must have given the Marshal's Office my name. I don't think he would have seen any connections, however. I doubt he even knows who Kate really is," Lee said.
"That suggests that someone in the Marshal's office made the connection or spoke to someone else who helped them make it. It might have been the Justice Department, FBI or even ONI."
"Possible, Admiral, but I can't imagine they'd refuse to protect Kate without confirming a connection. Who was it they spoke to and why didn't they make it clear that our contact was coincidental, that we'd never met or spoken before?"
"Lee, I have no answers to these questions although now I wish I'd thought to ask some of them earlier. It wasn't until I'd sent you ahead and I was on base that I learned about the sub that had been hovering off the Canadian coast. At that point, I knew I'd been manipulated, but there was little I could do."
"What were you told the plan was, Admiral?"
"Once I was on base, I was taken to a conference room with Bob Watson. Two MAAs were positioned outside the door as I entered. Then I learned there wasn't going to be any conference call. Bob laid out what was happening. Bob explained that they had tied the phone number used to threaten me to calls made to the People's Republic embassy. That tie was enough for him and the Joint Chiefs to develop a plan, one Bob told me I wouldn't like at a time when I was in no position to stop it."
Lee glared silently, waiting for the Admiral to continue.
"They figured that Christie would be rendezvousing with that sub. It was unclear to them what his intentions as to Anne were."
"What did they think the possibilities were, Admiral?"
"He planned to kill her and leave or he planned to take her with him. She might have been of value to him with the People's Republic. They also considered that she might be complicit in going. I assured them that wasn't the case, but it didn't matter to what they'd already set in motion."
"Using her as bait to draw that sub into U.S. waters, you mean?" Lee asked.
"Not just her. They weren't convinced that that sub would violate U.S. waters for Christie, Swenson or Anne. They thought of better bait."
"Me."
"Yes, I'm sorry. Having learned that you had a connection with Anne from the Marshal's inquiries, and knowing your history, they let me - encouraged me - to put you there to protect her while not permitting me to go with you. Lee, I went ballistic when I understood what was happening. I was assured that all kinds of safeguards had been put in place and I insisted on some of my own."
"Besides our men on FS1, exactly what were those, because I didn't see any?" Lee asked.
"A SEAL unit was stationed at an airfield minutes away from the house. Before you or Anne returned to her house, ONI bugged it so they would know whether to send in the SEALs. "
Lee's head whipped to the side "What did you just say?"
"ONI installed listening devices at the house so they would know if intervention by the SEALS was needed."
Lee picked up the nearest object, a dish, and hurled it across the room.
"Lee, what's the matter?"
"Either you were lied to or . . . . how could they? I . . . . Oh, Christ. Admiral Watson only asked about what I learned from Christie on the boat, not in the house. They listened to the whole thing, but never sent the SEALS inside. Why? How could they?"
"Lee, I don't understand. What did they listen to?"
"Where to begin? I can't even. Kate and I, we were hurting long before we got on that boat."
"I had no clue. I was with Bob Watson nearly the whole time. I don't think he knew either," Lee.
"Or he didn't care to know. The brass just wanted us taken to that sub, damn the consequences."
"Just to bait a People's Republic sub into our waters?" Nelson asked.
"Yes."
Nelson paced as he reasoned aloud. "And I sent you into the lion's den!" Nelson paced some more. "But why was it so important to do that? As far as I know, there are no imminent threats against us from the People's Republic."
"The root of all evil," Lee said rubbing his fingers to his thumb.
"Money?"
"Funding. Congress has been squeezing the military budget tighter and tighter. Maybe highlighting a threat to national security reverses that?"
"Someone risked your life and Anne's just for funding?"
"Kind of upsetting, Admiral?"
Nelson had turned six shades of crimson.
"I made a decision earlier, before I even fully understood the scope of what was going on. You deserve to know about it directly from me before it becomes public," Lee said.
"Don't do anything hasty, Lee. I'll find out who manipulated us and take care of it."
"It's not just about that. I've taken steps to make certain that Dirk Christie's treason, both the past and present, is exposed."
"Lee, you are under orders not to discuss the matter outside the command chain."
"I wasn't under those orders at the time."
"When you disappeared from the hospital, Lee?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"For Kate, justice for Kate."
"Nothing you can do will bring back the three years she's lost, Lee."
"No, but if she is out from under threats of retaliation by the mob for exposing Christie, she might have a future, Sir."
"With Christie dead, the Witness Protection Program will be better able to protect her than before. You don't need to put your career on the line like this."
"No, Admiral. You don't understand. If Kate has to go back to that kind of isolated life, if she can't do the work she loves, after what she's been through, I don't think she'll make it."
"Does that mean you're ready to tell me exactly what happened, Lee?"
"No, not now. Just accept my word that this is how it has to be."
"Lee, how much of the story have you leaked? Did you relate your suspicions about the Navy's complicity in the matter?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"So I can do damage control," Nelson said.
"I'll take the fall for any and all of it, Sir."
"You may want to, but damn it, I was used as well! You were put at risk and I was the tool for it!"
"There's too much at risk for the Institute for you to do this, Sir."
"We'll find a way to get by without federal funding."
"Admiral, we're being allowed to operate a nuclear powered submarine armed with deadly warheads in United States waters. You could be shut down forever with a slash of a pen."
"Damn it, Lee, I know."
"It's a vulnerability that has resulted in painful choices for you more than once. I understand that now, better than ever."
"I hate it, Lee."
"So I do I, but there's no reason for me to take the Institute down with me. I'll submit my resignation right now, so you can distance the Institute."
"No, Lee, I won't accept that. Let's see how things play out before we make any dramatic gestures. Maybe they won't be needed. There may be things I can do. Let me try."
"There are a couple of things I do need to ask of you, Sir."
"What?"
"Dr. Jamieson will need both logistical and financial assistance. I'd like you to authorize Angie to give him what he needs."
"You could do that."
"Any non-Seaview related expenses exceeding $1,000 require your direct approval."
"Oh, right. Is that all you're going to tell me, Lee?"
"It would be better for all concerned to do it this way."
"All right. What else, Lee?"
"I'd like to borrow your DynaTAC and the charger."
"There's a phone on the desk . . . oh . . . I see."
"I'm not going to use it for anything that will tie you to my leaks, Admiral. In fact, I just want to take steps to find one. I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk to Admiral Watson about anything we've discussed until I have some friends at ONI dig a little deeper."
"Certainly, Lee. Good hunting."