“The French shipping company?” White asked.
Hammond nodded.
“I’ve seen their blue container ships in ports around the world,” White said. “They’re hard to miss.”
“Well, listen to this,” Hammond said. “I’ve learned that Le Groupe Avanti is seriously considering buying Oxley International Shipping Lines for a considerable sum. I’m talking about a ten-figure deal here.”
White considered this. “You think he’ll use the money to finance terrorism?”
Hammond placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Either that or another operation on US soil, like the Ritz-Carlton one.”
“Am I heading to South Africa?” White asked.
“I want you there ASAP. I need you to do a reconnaissance and to establish a pattern of life on Roy Oxley. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the takedown.”
“A takedown?” White asked, raising an eyebrow.
“His assassination.”
White didn’t even flinch. He was glad Hammond had asked him to do that. In White’s book, this wasn’t murder. This was a legitimate operation against a clear and present danger to the United States.
“Is that why you won’t push for my reinstatement with the Secret Service, sir?” White asked.
“It is.”
“Okay, then,” White simply said.
Hammond nodded. “I’ll be your only contact,” he said. “You won’t be talking about this to anyone else. For the first phase of the operation, you’ll be operating with limited support. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Hammond opened his briefcase, from which he pulled out a cell phone.
“I want you to take this,” he said, pushing it toward White. “It’s the best the NSA had readily available. It’s totally secured. There are two numbers already programmed.”
“Yours and who else’s?” asked White.
“Someone I trust, and who’ll be able to provide you with some guidance once you’re in South Africa.”
White inspected the device from every angle. It was black and looked like a regular cell phone, but it was much heavier. “Who else knows about this?” he asked.
“For now, no one.”
“What if my supervisor tries to—”
“I’ve already taken care of it,” Hammond said. “As of zero six hundred this morning, you’re the new special envoy to the vice president-elect. Congratulations.”
“So, does that mean I’m officially done with the Secret Service?”
“For now, but my office pays better anyway,” Hammond said, looking at his watch. “You’ll receive what’s equivalent to a deputy director salary.”
White remained silent, stunned at how quickly his situation had changed in the last twelve hours. White ran his fingers through his hair, contemplating the situation he found himself in. He had promised Veronica he’d find whoever was responsible for yesterday’s attack. This was his chance. Working directly for Hammond gave him the flexibility required to execute the mission. And there was that significant bump in pay too. He did have a wedding to pay for.
“What’s the next step?” White asked.
Hammond beamed and tapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a good man, Clay,” he said. “Here’s what I suggest we do.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
San Francisco, California
One hour later, White was still stunned by his conversation with Alexander Hammond. He had to give it to Hammond, though; the man had played his cards well. By forcing White to sign a nondisclosure agreement prior to their conversation, his future father-in-law had placed him in an unsustainable situation. The fact that he couldn’t discuss with Veronica what he’d learned from their meeting made him sick to his stomach. Hiding things from one’s fiancée wasn’t the best way to keep a strong and healthy relationship. White understood that in the interest of national security some things had to be off limits to civilians—that was simply common sense. But what made him uneasy about the troubling intelligence Hammond had revealed to him was that it directly involved Veronica.
Knowing Veronica was in Fort Worth protected by his former Secret Service colleagues reassured him. Though he couldn’t share with her any specific details about his mission to South Africa, Hammond had allowed him to contact her to give her a quick sitrep.
“Hey, baby,” she said, answering her phone on the first ring. “Weren’t you supposed to call me back once you had more concrete news?”