Chapter 63

"Director Morgan will see you now, Agent McGee," Marjean said kindly.

"Thanks."

Tim got up and walked into the office. Roy was sitting at his desk.

"Have a seat, Agent McGee. You're looking all right," he said.

"Thanks. I am."

"Good. What do you need?"

"Who is Omar? Why was he part of my protection detail?"

Roy's eyebrow went up.

"He was one of your guards."

"Yes, and he did a good job, but why him? Everyone deferred to him. If there was a disagreement, once he spoke, the disagreement was over. He didn't speak up often but if he did, everyone listened to what he said. Why? Who is he?"

Roy took a breath and looked at Tim for a long moment.

"I won't share it out if you don't want me to," Tim said. "I really just want to understand. He guarded me like they all do, but he was different, and it was obvious that it was different. The only reason I didn't pursue it while we were in Egypt is because it was just a distraction from everything else."

There was a long pause and Tim waited to see if he would get an answer or not.

"Hopefully, he's my successor. I'm not prepared to hang on here as long as Levi did, even if I could. Besides, Marjean recently informed me that she's planning on retiring and I can't imagine having to train a new assistant." Roy smiled for a moment and then got back to business. "However, whoever takes my place needs to know that protecting you is important. It's not something that can be foisted off on another person. I assigned him to be part of your protection detail so that he completely understood what it takes to keep you safe and why that matters. I couldn't have guessed that this would happen, but now, he knows. He's convinced. So if I'm successful in getting him in, he'll be committed to continuing to protect you and your family. As you've said before, until you're obsolete or dead, it's something that is a necessity. I let myself get lulled into a false sense of security before and you suffered for it. That's not happening again."

For a moment, Tim couldn't think of a response. Even though he knew that Roy was simply doing his job, he actually felt somewhat touched by this level of consideration and by Roy's approach to making sure that it was still a priority.

"Does everyone know that?" he asked after a few seconds.

"Probably to some degree. I can't keep everything a secret, but the real reason most of them deferred to him is probably because he's one of the deputy directors."

"He is?" Tim was shocked. He had thought he knew every upper level administrator in every federal agency. How had he missed this?

Roy smiled a little at Tim's consternation.

"If it makes you feel any better, he's the deputy director over science and technology so he might have flown under your radar...as I hope he has everyone else so that it's not obvious that I've handpicked him. I don't have the clout that Levi had and so I need to make him seem innocuous. He is good at his job but he doesn't seem to be the one who would be acting as a regular agent. But people who work within the CIA do know about his abilities and his skills and they won't be taken by surprise when he hopefully gets approved."

"Oh." Tim really didn't know what to say to that, but he appreciated that Roy had answered him.

"Was there anything else?"

"I'm sorry for the lives lost protecting me," Tim said. "I know that it was their job but still... I wish it wasn't like this."

"I know. Now, business-wise. I am not going to suggest that you shouldn't travel in the future. You should while taking precautions, but I would ask that you not do any traveling, even domestically, for at least a few weeks. Give us a chance to regroup and to make sure that we've taken care of the larger problem. How much detail do you want?"

"That's one of the things I wanted to speak to you about."

"What?"

"I don't want details anymore. I may still check in on occasion, but I can't keep waiting for something bad to happen and when I was getting those regular reports from you, that was really all I was doing. I need to get away from it when I can."

"Understood." Roy leaned over and made a note. Then, he paused for a moment and looked up. "I don't know that my opinion matters to you, but I think you're making the right decision on this, Agent McGee. We do our jobs and, by and large, we do them well. Your involvement really is only needed insofar as we need to give you information on what will be best for keeping you and your family safe. You don't need to be directly involved in our work."

"I know that."

"Good. Now, what about your brother-in-law?"

"I don't know yet. I know that he doesn't want to stay here, but he also understands that he won't have protection if he chooses to leave. Do you have a deadline?"

"No. Not at all. I just want to know. If he does stay in the U.S., we'll give him the same protection that you receive. If he leaves, we can help to some degree, but not in terms of protection."

"I understand."

"All right. Is there anything else?"

"I'd like to continue to train with Bob if you don't mind."

"I don't. Far be it from me to tell someone not to be better trained."

"Thank you."

"Then, if that's everything, I do have other meetings I need to attend."

"That's everything."

Roy stood up and stretched out his hand. Tim stood and shook it.

"Agent McGee, I won't pretend that needing to organize a protection detail like this is my first preference, but since it's necessary, I feel that you are the ideal person to protect. Too often, protection details are required for people who are important, mostly because of their corruption. They've only come to us because we're a safer bet than the people they want to betray. You are a good person and while this is a complex situation, I am happy to keep a good person safe."

Thank you, Director Morgan."

Roy nodded and then sat back down and went to work. Tim left the office, nodding to Marjean on his way. As he walked out of the building, his attention was taken by the engraved motto. He noticed it every time he walked into or out of the building.

And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Was that true? Perhaps. Perhaps his truth wasn't about knowing every detail but about acknowledging the truth that he didn't need to know every detail.

But it was time for his next stop. Somewhere he'd not been in a while but a place he felt a connection to nonetheless.

He drove to Fort Meade and got admitted to the NSA Headquarters. He had to wait outside Director Liu's office for about twenty minutes because he was occupied by...something. He sat quietly, trying not to fidget or worry, trying to focus only on what he was needing to do.

Then, the door opened and Tim looked up, surprised that Director Liu was just opening the door rather than having Tim admitted to his office.

"Come in, Agent McGee," he said.

"Thank you."

Tim walked into the office. Director Liu was still mostly an enigma to him. He had only spoken to him a couple of times and, while Director Gellman had reassured him that his successor knew about the situation, Tim still didn't feel on firm ground.

"Sit down, Agent McGee," Director Liu said, tersely. "What do you need?"

"Thank you. I'll try not to take up too much of your time," Tim said. "Given what just happened, do you wish to continue having me involved in the NSA in any way?"

Director Liu's eyebrow raised and Tim had a moment of whimsy.

Do all directors have a lesson in how to raise a single eyebrow without moving the other one?

The thought almost made him want to laugh, but he didn't. Still, it was interesting that Gellman had also possessed that skill. It was like they had such perfect control over everything that they could even completely isolate tiny muscles in their faces.

"Do you really think it's possible to remove you from the NSA, Agent McGee? You are the architect of our current security system and still working with Agent Bishop on finding bugs."

"Not right away and probably not completely for a long time, but Director Gellman never indicated any interest in changing my connection to the NSA. If you wanted to, you could start the process of divesting me from the NSA. It would take years to do it, but it is possible."

Director Liu leaned forward. "Why would you suggest it?"

"Because I'm aware that you may feel that you have no choice in assisting me when things go wrong simply because I am so involved with the NSA."

"Agent McGee, if I was interested in getting you out of the NSA business, I would simply arrange to have you killed. It would be difficult and take a lot of planning to succeed given your CIA guards, but I could have it done if I determined that you were more of a threat than I wished to deal with."

Tim was genuinely surprised at the blunt statement. Whether Gellman had felt the same or not, he had never indicated that he did. He decided to be equally blunt.

"Would you do that?"

"If you changed sides...in a heartbeat and without a single regret," Director Liu said. He paused just long enough for the silence to be awkward. "However, given that nothing has made you change sides thus far, I can't help but accept that you are more of an asset than a detriment. That being said, your role will be changing."

"In what way?"

"We are already planning to begin the process of changing the security, using the knowledge we've gained from you and we will be having you trying to break in once we get to a point where we can do those tests."

"Until that time?"

"I'd be glad to have you continue working with Agent Bishop. Does that work for you?"

"Yes."

"Good. Was there anything else you needed?"

"No, I don't think so. Thank you for your help in getting me out."

"All we did was find you." Another lengthy pause. "How did you track down the location of your brother-in-law?"

"A combination of luck and planning," Tim said, giving nothing away.

"I see. If that's everything..."

"Yes." Tim stood up and walked to the door. Then, he turned back. "Just a piece of friendly advice, Director. I understand that you have the resources to take me out if you deem it necessary, but don't underestimate what I'd be willing to do, especially if my family were to be put in danger."

As Tim expected, Director Liu showed no concern, but there might have been a bit of respect in his expression.

"Understood."

"Good."

Then, Tim left the office. He didn't breathe easily until he got out of the building and into his car. Director Liu was different from Gellman, but then, it was possible that Gellman might have been willing to go that far as well but never said so. Regardless, Tim trusted that Director Liu wouldn't do anything without cause and it was good to know that.

One more stop.

This one was not to a place he'd gone more than once...and even then, the one time had only been in the parking garage and he'd never gone back again.

But now he was, albeit under completely different circumstances.

He walked into FBI Headquarters and to the security guard.

"Hello, I'd like to speak with Director Norton, if I could."

The security guard gave him the usual skeptical look Tim got when people didn't know who he was. To be honest, Tim wasn't sure if Director Norton would want to admit him or not. His feelings toward the FBI had not really improved over the years, and even though he could admit that Jorgenson's actions in the past did not mean the FBI was corrupt, his instant reaction was always distrust.

"I don't have an appointment, but if you could let him know that Timothy McGee is here, I'm sure he'll at least tell me whether or not he has the time."

There was a moment when Tim wondered if he'd actually have to go through the regular process for making an appointment. He didn't like doing that simply because it would let people definitively know where he was going to be at a given moment, but he could acknowledge that it may not go over well with some people that he just showed up unannounced.

But finally, the guard picked up a phone and called up. After a few seconds, his expression changed from skeptical to surprised. He handed Tim a visitor badge.

"He said that he has a few minutes, not much more."

"Thank you," Tim said. "I won't need more than a few minutes."

Tim was permitted to enter and he got onto the elevator. When the doors opened, he hesitated for a moment before getting off. What he was here for may or may not go over well, especially given Director Liu's blunt admission that killing him was on the table if necessary. Strangely, that didn't bother Tim as much as he might have thought it would.

He took a breath and stepped off the elevator and then walked to the director's office. An assistant sat at a desk and gestured.

"Director Norton said for you to go right in, Agent McGee," he said.

"Thank you," Tim said and then forced himself to walk in without pausing.

Director Norton was sitting at his desk with a somewhat bemused expression.

"What brings you to the FBI, Agent McGee?" he asked. "I was under the impression that this is about the last place you'd want to be."

"Generally speaking, that's true. I shouldn't need to take much of your time," Tim said.

"Well, you might as well sit down."

"Thank you," Tim said. He kept saying that and the repetition was somehow removing the meaning of the words. How grateful was he? Not very much, really. Oh, well.

"What is it?"

"How does the FBI view me?"

"In what respect?"

"The CIA sees me as someone valuable enough to guard. Killing me would be the absolute last resort. The NSA reluctantly sees me as an asset, one that they'd rather not need. What about the FBI?"

"Why does it matter?"

Tim decided to be completely honest. "Because while I recognize that I can't control everyone, it's vital that I understand how I am seen by people in positions of power. While I don't think you're at all like your predecessor, I don't know what your views are and I need to. For my own sake."

Director Norton's eyebrow went up, but he wasn't quite as good at it as Director Liu.

Maybe he got a lower grade in eyebrow raising, Tim thought to himself in another fit of whimsy that he tried not to express.

"My feeling is similar to Director Liu's. We shouldn't have put so much importance on one person. That's always a mistake. I can only imagine that those who began this either didn't think about that or they assumed that you'd always be in their control."

"It was mostly the latter."

Director Norton nodded once. "Then, after that beginning, from what I've been told, you were simply a commodity that everyone wanted to use without thought of what that would do."

"Correct."

Another single nod. "I can't definitively say that I would have rejected that course of action at the time, but with hindsight, I can say that it shouldn't have happened. Lest you think this is out of sympathy, it's not. It's because we've given ourselves an Achilles heel that was unnecessary. However, that being said, much like the actual Achilles tendon, we can't just cut you out and be done with it. We've made you a necessity and we can't go back. You are valuable, Agent McGee, no matter how much I wish you weren't. That being the case, I view it as important to keep you safe and, quite frankly, to keep you happy. We can't afford to have you give up on your country."

"No, you can't," Tim said. "I wish I wasn't important and valuable, but I am. However, I have no intention of giving up unless there is no other option."

"And what would that scenario be?" Director Norton asked, mildly.

"If the government came after me. I don't count Jorgenson's actions as the government coming after me, but when that happened, I was willing to flee to Morocco to get away. If there was government authority behind it, you'd find me willing to go much further."

"As I would expect."

"Might I ask how far you went this time to keep me safe and happy?"

"You can ask, but I won't give details. Suffice it to say that I know people who have access to Russian information and I used that access to find out how far up the ladder the orders for your abduction went. I have also used that access to deliver a warning about a repeated attempt. Will that eliminate the risk from that quarter? I don't know, but I have made sure that the message was delivered."

"I see. Thank you. Even if it's simply a practical decision on your part, I do benefit from it and I appreciate what it takes."

Finally, Director Norton smiled a little. "Agent McGee, the one thing that makes this easier to deal with is that it's obvious that you are grateful and that you aren't abusing your value. Was there anything else?"

"No. That's it."

"Then, if you don't mind, I have plenty to do today."

"I don't mind. Thank you for your time."

Tim turned to leave.

"Why come here, Agent McGee? You could have simply sent a message, requesting the information you wanted."

Tim paused with his hand on the door.

"Because coming here scared me and I needed to get rid of any source of fear I can because there are far too many that I can't escape. Knowing where I stand helps."

"Well, for what it's worth, if there's anything else the FBI can do to help on that score, you can ask and expect help... legally."

"Thank you, Director."

"You're welcome."

Tim left the office and then the building, taking a deep breath as soon as he was back out on the street.

This hadn't been a relaxing set of appointments by any means, but each one had been important and he was now ready to go home.

...and he was ready to start the real work of getting himself on track again.

He smiled a little to himself. Maybe Bob would be willing to let him get back to work again.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

It was rare that Suhayl made use of the Saudi postal system. His life was not one that needed to send letters, but there had been the occasional time.

Like now.

And since a group was going to make a rare trip to the city to buy supplies, he would send a letter along. Quickly, he sealed the page inside an envelope and then addressed it. It would take time to reach its destination, but it would get there eventually.

Then, he strode out of the tent to meet the group.

"Shay' akhar," he said.

"Na'am?" Farad asked.

"Arsil hathahi risāla."

Farad took it in surprise, but he nodded and stowed the letter away.

"La tansā," Suhayl warned.

"Ana lan."

"Ma'a salāma," Suhayl said.

They all mounted their camels and headed off into the desert. There was always a degree of risk in sending a group rather than waiting until they were able to move the entire clan within easy reach of the city. They couldn't wait for that, though.

"Suhayl!"

Suhayl watched as the group went on their way. Then, he turned his attention back on the daily tasks he had to fulfill. There was no real end to them.

And he loved it.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Translations:

Shay' akhar - One more thing

Arsil hathahi risāla - Send this letter

La tansā - Don't forget

Ana lan - I won't

Ma'a salāma - Farewell (with peace)