Monday 1400 Eastern
Earlier that day
CIA Washington D.C. Offices
After Harm and Mac had left her apartment the night before, Kate slept little, and, now, she stood outside the office of the Director of the CIA, Mr. David Anderson. She had spoken with the director on several occasions, but Clay had always been with her then. Clay had known the director for years and the two men were friends. She took a deep breath, and refused to allow herself to feel timid.
"He'll see you now," the secretary said and she motioned Kate to the door.
Kate had just passed through the door to the office when her resolve was shaken. Sitting across the desk from Director Anderson was Fallon. Kate didn't pause, but continued to walk briskly into the room.
When she had reached the director's desk she stood waiting for him to address her.
"Please, take a seat Agent Grey," Director Anderson finally said, and Kate sat to the left of Fallon. "Deputy Director Fallon tells me that you have been harassing his secretaries for the last few days."
Kate shot an angry glance at Fallon, then she looked at the Anderson. "Sir, I've."
"He says you've plagued his secretaries trying to get a meeting with him," Anderson continued as he tapped his pen on the desk, "And now you've come to my office. What's so important, Agent Grey?"
"Mr. Director, I have reason to believe that CIA protocols have not been followed with regard to Deputy Director Webb's disappearance," she said strongly, "I was attempting to address the issue with Mr. Fallon when he informed me that he already knew of it."
Director Anderson considered this statement for a short moment, but he said, "Agent Grey, Mr. Webb's disappearance really isn't any of your concern."
Kate was stunned but the Director's apparent disregard for her concern, especially considering that Clay was one of his friends too. But she continued, her tone confident, "Mr. Director I am concerned about protocols not being followed because I believe that the reason Mr. Webb disappeared is tied to the espionage ring he was trying to break."
"Well, that was the case he was working on," Anderson said, "Agent Grey, I want you to drop this little investigation of yours."
Kate lost control over her stony features and she looked at the Director with shock and disgust. "Director Anderson, Mr. Webb is your friend," she said aghast, "And he's my mentor. You can't ask me to sit back and do nothing, even if you are content to do so."
Her words seemed to hang in the tense air. Director Anderson looked from her to Fallon and back again, "Agent Grey, you're in no position to say that. In fact, you're being down right insolent."
Kate opened her mouth to speak again, but at a look from Director Anderson, she closed it. Director Anderson looked disappointedly at his desk. When he looked up he addressed Fallon, "John, please excuse us for a moment." Fallon nodded arrogantly, and Anderson continued, "I need to deal with Agent Grey."
Fallon walked boldly from the office and as soon as the door was shut, Kate blurted out, "Sir, before you discipline me, I have to."
"Damn it, Grey," the Director burst out. The Director's temper exploded. Kate sat back in her chair and waited for him to finish his tirade. She weathered it well, until he said, "As a result of you poorly chosen actions, you are suspended. With out pay."
She gaped at him. "Suspended? I haven't done anything that justifies a suspension, director."
"You've been digging, and that's more that enough, Agent Grey," he said coldly, "Get out of my office. Security will escort you out of the building."
"Mr. Anderson, you can't do this," she erupted, "He's a good agent, and he's your friend!"
The Director looked down at his desk and didn't even acknowledge Kate's presence in his office. Kate gave one more disbelieving sigh, then turned on her heel and walked out of the office. Fallon was waiting for her.
"Agent Grey," he said smugly, "I believe this is your escort." Two security guards stood just behind him.
Kate shot him a look that would have felled any other man, but Fallon was too busy snubbing her to care. The security guards walked her back to her office, where they waited outside for her to gather her things. She finished up her work on the computer, collected her cell phone, pager, and papers into her briefcase, locked the drawers, and left.
She was steaming. Director Anderson was more that Clay's boss; he had known his father. Christ, Clay was like a son to him. That bastard. And a suspension; now, when she needed to be at the office more than ever. As her raging thoughts began to ebb away to reason, she shifted her thoughts to what to do next. All of her options were exhausted. She was too close, to Clay to be as objective as an operative had to be, but who else would care enough to find him. Who could?
After Harm and Mac had left her apartment the night before, Kate slept little, and, now, she stood outside the office of the Director of the CIA, Mr. David Anderson. She had spoken with the director on several occasions, but Clay had always been with her then. Clay had known the director for years and the two men were friends. She took a deep breath, and refused to allow herself to feel timid.
"He'll see you now," the secretary said and she motioned Kate to the door.
Kate had just passed through the door to the office when her resolve was shaken. Sitting across the desk from Director Anderson was Fallon. Kate didn't pause, but continued to walk briskly into the room.
When she had reached the director's desk she stood waiting for him to address her.
"Please, take a seat Agent Grey," Director Anderson finally said, and Kate sat to the left of Fallon. "Deputy Director Fallon tells me that you have been harassing his secretaries for the last few days."
Kate shot an angry glance at Fallon, then she looked at the Anderson. "Sir, I've."
"He says you've plagued his secretaries trying to get a meeting with him," Anderson continued as he tapped his pen on the desk, "And now you've come to my office. What's so important, Agent Grey?"
"Mr. Director, I have reason to believe that CIA protocols have not been followed with regard to Deputy Director Webb's disappearance," she said strongly, "I was attempting to address the issue with Mr. Fallon when he informed me that he already knew of it."
Director Anderson considered this statement for a short moment, but he said, "Agent Grey, Mr. Webb's disappearance really isn't any of your concern."
Kate was stunned but the Director's apparent disregard for her concern, especially considering that Clay was one of his friends too. But she continued, her tone confident, "Mr. Director I am concerned about protocols not being followed because I believe that the reason Mr. Webb disappeared is tied to the espionage ring he was trying to break."
"Well, that was the case he was working on," Anderson said, "Agent Grey, I want you to drop this little investigation of yours."
Kate lost control over her stony features and she looked at the Director with shock and disgust. "Director Anderson, Mr. Webb is your friend," she said aghast, "And he's my mentor. You can't ask me to sit back and do nothing, even if you are content to do so."
Her words seemed to hang in the tense air. Director Anderson looked from her to Fallon and back again, "Agent Grey, you're in no position to say that. In fact, you're being down right insolent."
Kate opened her mouth to speak again, but at a look from Director Anderson, she closed it. Director Anderson looked disappointedly at his desk. When he looked up he addressed Fallon, "John, please excuse us for a moment." Fallon nodded arrogantly, and Anderson continued, "I need to deal with Agent Grey."
Fallon walked boldly from the office and as soon as the door was shut, Kate blurted out, "Sir, before you discipline me, I have to."
"Damn it, Grey," the Director burst out. The Director's temper exploded. Kate sat back in her chair and waited for him to finish his tirade. She weathered it well, until he said, "As a result of you poorly chosen actions, you are suspended. With out pay."
She gaped at him. "Suspended? I haven't done anything that justifies a suspension, director."
"You've been digging, and that's more that enough, Agent Grey," he said coldly, "Get out of my office. Security will escort you out of the building."
"Mr. Anderson, you can't do this," she erupted, "He's a good agent, and he's your friend!"
The Director looked down at his desk and didn't even acknowledge Kate's presence in his office. Kate gave one more disbelieving sigh, then turned on her heel and walked out of the office. Fallon was waiting for her.
"Agent Grey," he said smugly, "I believe this is your escort." Two security guards stood just behind him.
Kate shot him a look that would have felled any other man, but Fallon was too busy snubbing her to care. The security guards walked her back to her office, where they waited outside for her to gather her things. She finished up her work on the computer, collected her cell phone, pager, and papers into her briefcase, locked the drawers, and left.
She was steaming. Director Anderson was more that Clay's boss; he had known his father. Christ, Clay was like a son to him. That bastard. And a suspension; now, when she needed to be at the office more than ever. As her raging thoughts began to ebb away to reason, she shifted her thoughts to what to do next. All of her options were exhausted. She was too close, to Clay to be as objective as an operative had to be, but who else would care enough to find him. Who could?
