DISCLAIMER: The AGENCY and all the usual suspects of it and of the King-Stetson family aren't mine; I borrowed them with love from Warner Brothers and from Shoot the Moon and thank them kindly for the years of enjoyment I've received from them. Everything else is a product of my overactive imagination; please don't use the ideas or characters without asking me first.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wrote papers on Bio-Chemical warfare in high school in the 1980's (gee, maybe my favorite TV show influenced that...) and had a really hard time finding accurate, accessible information. When I went out to update my research, I was appalled at how much I found on the Internet in less than 5 minutes. I've taken the information in this story from sources that I have cross-checked; any inaccuracies are due to my lack of chemical and biological training.
Chapter 2 * Fort Meade, Maryland * January 21, 1989 * 3:21 a.m. EST (GMT-5)
The overnight Middle East Listening Post Observer, an Air Force Staff Sergeant, glanced up at the vast recording machine when he heard the unmistakable click of a reel-to-reel tape starting. Automatically, he noted the origin and the time of the call with the black, government issue Skilcraft ball-point pen chained to the log book, then turned back to the Hustler magazine hidden behind the Time visible to anyone who might happen by. After all, Iraq was an ally, so there would be nothing of value that couldn't wait until the routine transcription time – especially on Washington's most festive of days.
***
Except that this particular call from the Iraqi Embassy to Baghdad did not terminate at the Foreign Ministry as pre-supposed in Baltimore. Rather, with the use of a special access code, the call was routed to a telephone in a different building in Baghdad, where it was 11:21 in the morning, and automatically conferenced to a telephone in Tehran, where in the oddities of time zones it was 11:51 in the morning.
What did you learn this evening in your chat with the good Dr. Forest? Samir asked from his office in Iran.
Not much of direct value, I'm afraid, but information that may prove useful in the interim, replied the the Iraqi Agricultural Attaché as he sipped a a double shot of Glen Fiddich. The militant adherents of Islam paid Tariq Agazi well to provide information, not to live by their beliefs, and it amused him to know that neither of the men with whom he now spoke would approve.
Ali in Iraq spoke impatiently.
The Gardener is in love.
The lifting of eyebrows in surprise was audible halfway around the globe as the two terrorist leaders processed the new information.
With whom? asked the voice in Iran after a moment.
His executive assistant. I'm told that she's a widow with a small child, although I have not been able to confirm or deny that as yet. Agazi paused for more Scotch, then added, I will be delighted to find out later today.
Samir nodded, unseen by his fellow conspirators. Please do. For for this you will be rewarded handsomely, I assure you.
Inshallah, thank you.
The Washington connection closed, leaving Samir and Ali to contemplate the best way to use this invaluable information.
Washington, D.C. * 1:05 p.m. EST (GMT-5)
I cannot believe that Andy Forest is the Gardener, Amanda said to Francine as they made their way through the bullpen to the conference room for the weekly status meeting, all of last night's antics forgiven and forgotten. I mean, I knew he was smart and all that, but, gosh, I was lab partners with the Gardener. That's amazing.
Francine held her breath, waiting for Amanda to continue. When the other woman didn't, Francine exhaled and replied, Well, he is the reason you made an A' in Bio 101... Her voice rose in unspoken implication.
Amanda laughed and swatted her on the arm playfully with the stack of folders she held in her hand. Nice to know some people never change. They stepped into the conference room and took seats on either side of Lee, who was already in the room going over the agenda with Billy.
A few minutes later, Billy called the room to order with a serious look and a People, please... Undivided attention captured – well, almost undivided, since he knew that Amanda and Lee were holding hands under the table – he started with the good news. The Security Coordinating Committee officially thanks us all for a tremendous job this last week and wishes us the best as we recover from a long night last night.
He waited for the cheers and applause to die down before he dropped the bad news on them. Unfortunately, we're going to have to stay at full weekend staff rather than skeleton crew as I had hoped. The Mossad got a very hot tip on a biochemical terrorist threat cooking for next week during a religious festival.
What, the Yom Kippur War wasn't enough, so now they're going for the Purim Plague? Francine startled a number of people both with the crassness of the comment and with the knowledge it showed.
Billy
just rolled his eyes; Dr. Smyth had uttered the exact same phrase an
hour before when the flash came across his desk for priority
handling. Francine had to have a soulmate out there somewhere. The
consequences were just too terrifying to contemplate if she didn't.
he continued as the moaning and groaning
died down, all the Mossad can give us at this time is that
there's a 90% probability that information is genuine. They've
asked for our help and we've been handed the coordinating
assignment for U.S. efforts. The duty roster will be posted outside
my office in about 20 minutes.
Billy covered the rest of his agenda
in just a few minutes, then turned the meeting over to Lee for a few
routine Q Bureau assignments. Billy dismissed everyone with a
reminder to check the duty roster, then stopped his three best agents
by name. Scarecrow, Amanda, Francine, hold up. I need you all
to close up shop for the day and meet me at the Georgetown parking
lot in 15 minutes.
Why, sir? Amanda
asked.
I want all four of us briefed
in at the senior level strategy meeting, so we're spending the rest
of the afternoon at the Pentagon.
Yes, sir, she nodded
crisply, bringing smiles to the faces of the three other agents.
Upstairs in the Q Bureau a few
minutes later, Lee tried with minimal success to distract his wife
from her close-up routine at the Q-Bureau. Then again, he realized
after nearly three years, him trying with minimal success to distract
his wife from her close-up routine WAS part of her close-up routine.
It had been a game to help them avoid their feelings at first; now it
was a game they played like so many others at work to help them
channel their emotional energy into something more suited for the
office than the bedroom.
I was really hoping that we
could invite Andy and JoJo over this weekend, Amanda fussed as
she artfully dodged her husband's outstretched hands to put the last
stack of papers in the vault.
I take it you'd like to
catch up with Andy Forest, then. He readied his hands for
another try at her when she stepped out of the vault.
Yes, I would. She closed
and locked the vault door with an extra tug at the handle for
security. And I'd like to get to know JoJo Marley a lot
better.
Lee ran his hand through his hair
before he replied to Amanda. I suppose we could see how the
schedule looks. Sunday's probably better - the boys have less going
on. Do you think they'd mind? Oh, nev--
Jamie would be in seventh
heaven pestering Andy with science questions. I don't know about
Philip, though.
Lee decided not to tell his wife that he had answered his own question even as he asked it. Philip and Jamie were teenagers. Joanna Marley was a drop-dead gorgeous woman built more like Dolly Parton than Twiggy. They wouldn't mind having company on Sunday, no, not one little bit.
The Pentagon * 2:10 p.m. EST (GMT-5)
The Executive Conference Room in the
Defense Intelligence Agency Suite of the Pentagon held 35 people
comfortably. Looking around at the 50 or more bodies already crammed
into the room, Billy Melrose gave up all hope of seats for himself
and his staff, opting instead for space against an as yet unclaimed
stretch of wall along the side. He watched with great amusement as
Amanda and Lee fidgeted, not knowing how to stand without being in
physical contact. They finally settled on standing shoulder to
shoulder - although it was obvious that Lee's hand was in a place
someone other than his wife would not appreciate...
Moments later, the Executive Intelligence Committee walked in. A teasing voice coming from just beyond Francine to his left said, with enough volume for Amanda to hear from where she stood beyond Lee to his right, Well, lookee there, children. If it isn't the overgrown Penguin himself. The tone focused their attention on the stage, where Dr. Smyth had just taken the podium; Billy struggled mightily to strangle to guffaw that rose to his lips at the epithet. From the goofy looks on the faces of his staff members, Amanda, Lee, and Francine were having just as difficult a time as he keeping a straight face.
Dr. Smyth chose that moment to make eye contact; the neutral expression became a cold grimace at the sight of the four agents behaving inappropriately. Just as quickly, though, the expression softened into the first pleasant smile Billy had ever seen on the man's face.
Oh, no. He saw me, the voice moaned, and Billy finally recognized it as Joanna Marley's voice. Got a safe house I can move into for the weekend?
Billy knew he had a stupid grin on his face for the next 20 minutes, but he didn't dare change the look for fear of committing the career ending faux pas of laughing out loud during his own supervisor's section of a major National Intelligence briefing. Francine tapped her foot, Amanda played with her heart pendant, and Lee ran his hand through his hair repeatedly as the time dragged on; this time it was not from boredom that the three fidgeted but from sheer self-preservation, just as was his stupid grin. The overgrown Penguin took his own time reviewing the facts as known.
At long last, Smyth turned the briefing over to the Deputy Director of Intelligence for the Middle East, the fourth in the CIA hierarchy and the first in the chain there who was not strictly a political appointee. Billy liked and respected the man tremendously – he was the highest ranking person in Washington who had ever actually said, I don't know to Billy in a professional capacity. The man's brief but in-depth lecture traced out the suspected ties of many major terrorist groups to suppliers of the chemical and biological weaponry reported to be part of the arsenal in place for the attack on Israel. One name made the entire Agency group stand up straight and take notice.
We believe that a remnant of the now-defunct group led by Adi Birol may have become involved with a group calling itself Hammedatha the Agagite. We also have reason to think that Birol's original funders may be fronting this particular group. From our interrogation of Birol after his capture two years ago, we know that he had access to the same arsenal reported to be in place for this attack; we also know that two members of his inner circle who never came to America are both trained scientists with the ability to supervise the dispersal of chemical weapons during a critical incident.
Amanda shuddered violently; Lee dropped all pretense of professionalism and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
The CIA man continued, We suspect that the biological agents in question are of Russian manufacture, possibly as part of Operation Scarlet Rose, but derived directly from American research. We also do not know if these agents were supplied directly to the terrorists or are black market supply from the on-going Soviet presence in Afghanistan. There is a possibility that many of you will be called upon to go to Israel in the near future. You all need to understand what we may be dealing with. There is no one better qualified in the country – and I doubt in the world – to explain this to you than Dr. Andrew Forest of Project EDIN.
The contrast between the inept bumbler of the night before and the man at the podium could not have been any greater. Polished, relaxed, easy to understand, and piercingly direct, Dr. Forest laid out the weapons thought to be involved in this current threat, as well as the know treatments, side effects, and preventive measures. I'll summarize the key points now – the things you must remember when you walk out of this room, he said after 20 minutes of detailed analysis that, despite the somewhat technical terminology, was clear enough to most people to give the room a distinct odor of fear.
If the threat is real, and if the terrorists indeed have the agents we're told they do, then we are dealing with a highly complex threat of both immediate casualties – including death – and long-term illness resulting from exposure to toxins and chemical agents. These are sophisticated enough terrorists to have the ability to make Tabun and to be in safe possession of the binary agents needed to create VX-2 for aerosol disbursement. They also apparently have massed a sufficient quantity of Botulinum A toxin to contaminate an entire day's food stuffs at a facility known to be hosting the Israeli Prime Minister on Tuesday.
Remember this about these agents: There is no known antidote to Botulinum A. It is 100% lethal in sufficient quantity – and it's a smaller quantity if inhaled than if ingested. Tabun and VX-2 do have some available preventive measures: pyridostigmine is the main inhibitor, and I will have additional information soon on a booster which will most likely contain atropine and diazepam or another anti-convulsant. Your best defense, though, is full CBW gear. Decontamination procedures must include a strong alkali compound – bleach is the best, but it's got to be 80-90% strength to dilute and neutralize any of the agents. If you think it's contaminated, it is until it's decontaminated. Even a single drop can be lethal.
And last but not least, if you are sent to Israel to deal with any of this, either for destruction because we've foiled them, or, God forbid, to assist a targeted population, be careful. These are not chemicals you'll find in your high school chemistry lab – and most of them you won't find in a college lab, either. If you aren't sure what to do, ASK. My staff will have complete directives for whatever we find ourselves in, and they're trained for this better than any CBW team in the military.
Your briefing package will contain this entire lecture as well as a Quick-reference list of signs and symptoms, treatments, and decontamination guides. Thank you for paying such apt attention. Dr. Forest stepped back from the podium to absolute silence. After a moment, the collective breath let go and minimal chattering started before the next speaker got up.
At the end of the briefing, nearly 3½ hours after it started, Dr. Smyth ended the session by giving the operation a code name. Operation Haman starts now, he declared around his cigarette holder, and turned his back on the audience.
Wrong name, Joanna Marley commented to the Agency folks as people all around started to stretch and stand after such a long time in the same basic position.
How so? Amanda asked as she stepped out of her pumps and stretched up on her tip-toes.
Haman was the bad guy in the Purim story. The terrorists, in fact, are calling themselves by the name given to Haman's father - Hammedatha the Agagite. Therefore, it would be far better for us to call our operation Mordecai – or, in honor of the real heroine, Esther. They are the ones who prevented what for all intents and purposes would have been genocide. Esther even took her life into her own hands to approach the king without permission. She could have been killed.
It figures, Francine nodded with a smile as she arched her back. The woman is the – EXCUSE ME! she interrupted herself as someone fell against her.
Oh, I'm terribly sor - the man began, but stopped when eyes so dark they were almost black met the sapphire blue orbs looking down at him.
Francine suddenly knew exactly what Amanda meant about the electricity between her and Lee the first time they met. Her whole body tingled as she peripherally watched the man, dashing in his Marine drab uniform, pull himself up off the floor without losing the connection to her eyes.
I'm so very sorry. I didn't hurt you, did I? he recovered after another moment, extending his hand to her.
His hand was warm and gentle in hers; the careful squeeze he gave sent a chill along with the tingle through her body. She fought for enough composure to reply. Um, no, I'm all right, she finally managed, instantly aware that her heart was pounding in her ears and that this very handsome Marine Lieutenant Colonel still held her hand...
I'm so relieved. Here, let me help you get your bag.
Francine looked down as he squatted to the floor to retrieve her purse, not knowing until he mentioned it that she'd dropped it at all. Even after he let go of her hand, the chilly tingle coursed through her body; she found herself desperately wanting to prolong this incredible encounter. Help came from the woman standing next to her.
Ian Marlowe, as I live and breathe, JoJo said with laughter in her voice.
Jo! What are you doing here? the Lieutenant Colonel asked, handing Francine her purse with a heart melting smile before he reached out to envelope Miss Marley in a bear hug.
JoJo pointed toward the stage area, where Dr. Forest stood holding court in his favorite subject, surrounded by a dozen or more senior officials who obviously wanted details she'd made sure he didn't try to give to the larger audience. Babysitting him, she replied. I see you never lost the knack for blocking and tackling, she teased, turning him back toward Francine. Lt. Col. Ian Marlowe, meet the opposing center, Miss Francine Desmond. Francine, this is Ian Marlowe, three-time New Mexico All-State Defensive Lineman and two-time All-American from Texas A&M. We went to high school together. And before you ask, he actually graduated at the customary age.
Somebody in Los Alamos had to counter the low end of the age pool. It's delightful to meet you, Miss Desmond, he said, extending his hand again.
Unaccustomed as she was to embarrassment, Francine felt herself blush hotly as she shook his hand, corrected him with, Francine, please.
Francine it is. I prefer Ian to Colonel, myself, unless you're also a Marine.
Lee and Amanda, ending a side conversation with someone from the NSA, turned their attention to the trio as Billy tried to disentangle himself from the always unpleasant on-going confrontation with the head of the Washington CIA station. Introductions were made; no one noticed the tall figure sidling his way up the aisle toward them, empty cigarette holder firmly clenched between pale, thin lips.
Joanna Lynne, you really shouldn't associate yourself with these people. They are quite likely to corrupt you irreparably. The tone and the voice were unmistakable and heavily serious.
JoJo rolled her eyes at her companions before she turned her face to the intruder. Uncle Smyth, she said without enthusiasm, kissing his cheek perfunctorily.
Francine, Lee, and Amanda stared in wonder at the change wrought in the usually taciturn man as he relaxed in JoJo's presence. It was as though someone threw a circuit breaker and opened a cage door, allowing a genuine human being to emerge from its prison. Amanda also watched her new friend, who obviously wasn't as thrilled to see Dr. Smyth as was he to see her.
He looked at the Marine officer. Oh, it's you.
Nice to see you, too, Uncle Smyth. The Marine's face remained expressionless.
So, since they vetoed my request to have you as my chief watchdog, who beat me out? He returned his attention JoJo, a hint of malice in his voice as he dismissed the others in his mind.
Dr. Forest, JoJo replied.
Ah, so you're down at Ft. Monroe now. Must remember that the next time I get to Norfolk or TAC HQ at Langley for some conference.
The look on her face plainly said she'd rather he didn't, but she replied politely, That would be nice.
So, Marlena's birthday is soon, isn't it? The cigarette holder came out between pinched fingers and waved expansively in an idle gesture.
Lee's head jerked a bit at that; at Amanda's questioning look, he shook his head and mouthed,
JoJo nodded to Dr. Smyth. Sunday. It's tough being 2 going on 3 away from home. We're hoping to have a party for her at home next weekend with friends and family.
Well, Joanna Lynne, bring her to the club for a grown-up lunch on Sunday. The last time I saw her –
Uh, actually, sir, Lee interrupted, Amanda and I have invited Dr. Forest, Marlena, and Joanna over to our house for the day on Sunday.
Had Amanda not known the whole story behind JoJo and her husband, she would have been instantly jealous at the grateful look the woman sent to Lee at his words. Yes, sir, we've booked some entertainment for our guest of honor, she added with a silent nod to the relieved mother.
Dr. Smyth deflated a bit. Oh, well, umm... He straightened and looked at Amanda with the saddest eyes she had ever seen on an icicle. May I come by for cake and ice cream? I know it's rude...
Flabbergasted at the man's humility, and after a sigh and a quick nod from JoJo, Amanda replied with a lingering squeeze of her husband's hand to stop him from interrupting. Of course, Dr. Smyth. How about 3 o'clock Sunday?
Make it 2 o'clock, please, if you don't mind, Amanda. Marlena usually naps between 2:30 and 4. She's apt to be cranky if she's still up at 3.
Two o'clock at the Ki – Stetson house it is, Dr. Smyth confirmed, happy in a way no one could quite believe. Ta, ta, folks, he waved as he sauntered off with a delirious spring in his stride.
JoJo stepped up to the Stetsons and threw her arms around the couple in thanks. Oh, my gosh, you have NO IDEA how grateful I am...
Think nothing of it, Lee answered. We were already planning to ask you over. We just didn't know about the extra special third party.
Francine, you come, too, if you can. And you too, Colonel – oops, sorry – Ian, Amanda added, wanting JoJo to have a truly enjoyable day, forgetting for the moment about Dr. Smyth's obvious disdainful acquaintance with the man as well as with JoJo.
Billy finally broke away from the CIA man in time to hear Amanda's invitation to Francine and Ian. Come where?
Joanna's daughter's 3rd birthday party, Billy. Marlena's party, Lee emphasized. Bring Jeannie for the afternoon.
Picking up on Lee's meaning, Billy assented without hesitation for himself and Jeannie, promising to come immediately after church.
Francine tried to introduce Ian to Billy, but she got so adorably flustered that he practically introduced himself. I'm Marlena's godfather, by the way.
Billy noticed the electricity happening before his eyes, realizing that he was seeing a replay of Lee and Amanda's early relationship – and prayed quickly that it would take significantly less time to develop than the Stetsons' had. Then he reluctantly pulled his three agents aside to give them their weekend assignments.
Ian and JoJo conversed quietly in the meantime. Ask her out, JoJo said without preamble.
Is it that obvious, Jo? he asked with a grin.
Ian, my love, we've known each other since I was 3 and you were 8. I watched you fall in love with every other woman in our high school, jealous because I was too much your little sister and WAY too young for you. I've seen you in countless short-term relationships with women who were smart, beautiful, and connected. But I have only seen one other man drool over a woman the way you were just drooling over Francine. I married him, slobber and all. I'd wager that you can't remember a quarter of what was said this afternoon while you sat right over there and swooned. She pointed a slender, perfectly manicured finger toward the seat he had occupied during the briefing.
The chiseled face, angular in the way that only one showing Native American heritage can be, betrayed him as he grinned sheepishly. You'd win, he admitted.
I always do, Ian. Or almost always.
He noted the sudden sadness in her eyes and wrapped a strong arm around his long-time friend's narrow shoulders. Don't worry, honey, he said softly into her hair. There's another man out there who deserves you.
She looked up at him, then toward the front of the room. And I think he's coming this way.
I think so, too, Ian affirmed, surprising her as he nodded up the aisle toward the slowly approaching lab-coated figure.
I didn't think you liked Andy very much.
Oh, I was prepared to hate his guts. But then I saw the way he looks at you and the way he and Marlena worship each other. I can't hate a man that much in love with my best friend.
You amaze me, you know that? she asked, kissing his cheek lightly. So, do you have your orders yet?
I only know that I'd be told after the briefing. I know that I'm TDY to SPSA.
She grinned at him devilishly. More specifically, you're TDY to me. I convinced the powers that be that this little escapade could get out of control very quickly and that I needed back up. It was very easy to arrange for your services.
Well, aren't you the sneaky one? I wouldn't have it any other way, mind you, he added swiftly. His eyes danced as another thought came to mind. I can spend some time with Andy talking sense into him about you...
Only if you go out with Francine this weekend.