She was also concerned that Hargrave was downplaying the possibility that Rapp had discovered the existence of the dossier on Claudia Gould. How hard would it be for Claudia to identify and locate her surviving enemies? Once done, Rapp could either kill—like he perhaps had done with Enzo Ruiz—or subvert them with threats. While these kinds of people might have a heightened thirst for revenge, they possessed an equally heightened survival instinct. Defying Mitch Rapp wasn’t the path to a long life.
Finally, the idea of Rapp becoming obsessed with Legion after Claudia’s death seemed overly optimistic. Would a man like him even give Legion a second thought? There was nothing personal there—just a business providing a service for payment. Much more likely, Rapp would focus his substantial energy and resources on finding out who had written the check. Technically Enzo Ruiz, but would he be satisfied with that? Or would he be motivated to look deeper?
She squinted into the sunlight coming through the windows and the figure moving through it. Her husband wasn’t a brilliant man in the normal sense, but he’d also never been a stupid one. Along with his gift for connecting with the common man, he’d always had a natural intuition for who to trust, who to subvert, and who to destroy. Now he seemed to be hanging on Darren Hargrave’s every word. He’d become so desperate for protection against Mitch Rapp that he’d actually convinced himself that Hargrave was capable of providing it.
Could a man who had become defined by doubt and fear win a second term in the White House? Realistically, they needed four full terms to achieve the kind of power necessary to perpetuate it indefinitely. Losing would be the end of everything they’d dreamed of.
“Things aren’t going well,” she said finally.
“We’ll find Rapp.”
“I’m not talking about him, Tony. I’m talking about your poll numbers. You look weak and ineffective. We didn’t run on an ambitious legislative platform. We ran on the force of your personality. Your ability to make your constituents feel like they have power and a voice. The longer you stay behind these walls, the more that fades.”
“I know you’re not impressed with what Sam’s setting up, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
“I concede the point. But it can’t be the only step. You’re not even engaged in social media anymore. You’re leaving it to people who don’t have the authority to put out anything but bland government-speak. Your gift is understanding what people want and giving it to them. You can’t let your fear of Mitch Rapp cause you to lose that. We’ve got a couple of potentially strong opponents in the next elec—”
“I can’t win if I’m dead.”
“You think Rapp can’t control his impulses, but I think he can. What would happen if he just went to ground and stayed there? I’m afraid you’d run down to the White House’s bunker and huddle there until you lose the election. Then he’d have you right where he wants you. If Rapp really is after you—and at this point you and Darren may have made that a certainty—your only defense is your ability to stay in power.”
He stopped pacing and glared down at her. “If he does manage to get to me, I imagine you’ll end up behind my desk.”
She couldn’t tell if it was an accusation or just an observation. Either way it was a rather obvious and banal statement that didn’t merit a response. His assassination would almost certainly be an event powerful enough to ride into the White House. The much more difficult problem was if he survived to lose the next election.
If her husband insisted on destroying himself, was she obligated to go down with him? To give up everything she’d worked for because of his cowardice and miscalculation? Their relationship was largely one of convenience and shared vision. Each of them had a unique role to play in realizing that vision. Could he still be counted on to play his part? How ironic that she was now concerned that the president of the United States could become an obstacle to the accumulation of power.
“That’s not the plan, Tony. And you’re not going to die. For now at least, you have more security than anyone in history. Mitch Rapp is a talented killer, but he’s not an avenging angel. He can’t walk through walls or be in two places at once.”
Cook didn’t respond, instead turning his back to her and staring through the window.
CHAPTER 27
SOUTHWESTERN UGANDA
RAPP stepped off the chopper, shouldering his duffel and running crouched through the swirling dust. Claudia was visible, standing at a safe distance in the dawn light, but no one else was in evidence.