Page 116 of The House of Cross

“From my perspective, I think everyone left on that list should be looked at very closely.”

Wilson, the Secret Service agent, held up his hand. “I agree, Dr. Cross. This is all a very real threat. But I cannot let that interfere with my job to protect the inauguration.”

“Exactly,” the acting FBI director said. “Which is why the Bureau is going to work closely with Marshal Zhang and give her whatever manpower she deems necessary to protect the justices starting ASAP. Does that work, Marshal?”

Zhang, who was in charge of all security at the court,including the protection of the nine justices, nodded. “It works. And I’d like to point out that two of the justices have been sick, though they are both determined to be at the inauguration.”

“You’ll provide us with all routes of travel, companions, and the names of the officers on their regular security detail?”

“I’ll make that happen right now, Director,” Zhang promised.

Hamilton gave her a half smile. “I’m not director yet, Marshal. But thank you. And Mr. Reilly? CIA? We’re hoping you can be of help.”

Timothy Reilly, a whippet-thin operations chief for the Central Intelligence Agency, sat forward and said, “Unless I have to break laws.”

“Not today. We’re looking for information on a former Russian national.”

I said, “We knew her as Katrina White. Malcomb said she was once a GRU Sparrow.”

Reilly lost color. “You think there’s a Sparrow involved? Here in DC?”

Mahoney said, “She’d be a likely candidate. We believe she was the shooter of the potential court nominees.”

Bree said, “No, weknowthat she was. Malcomb said as much. And we believe Katrina White was not with the other Maestro operators hunting us as we escaped.”

Reilly nodded, said, “I’ll start searching names and aliases straightaway. But if we do have records on her at Langley, especially biometrics, I’d have to seriously wonder how she’d get into the U.S. without triggering alarms. I mean, we share that information with immigration, border patrol, FBI, and NSA. She should have been picked up trying to come in.”

CHAPTER 92

DIRECTOR HAMILTON TOLD REILLYto notify her immediately if anything on Katrina White came up in the CIA files, then asked Ned, Bree, and me to come to her office; Marshal Zhang would follow ten minutes later.

It was 4:55 a.m. when Hamilton closed the door behind her. Her assistant offered us more coffee, which we all accepted gratefully.

“I know I said some pretty nice things about you last night on the flight, but I wanted to commend you all in person again. I will be briefing the president-elect at five and I’ll be happy to tell her of the destruction of that fortress and your rescue.”

Mahoney said, “Why do I feel like there’s abutcoming?”

Hamilton sobered. “Because there is, Ned. Even with what you have done, I don’t know if it’s enough to make Winter change my status from acting director to director.”

Bree shook her head. “What would be enough?”

I said, “You want us to catch this Sparrow if she’s here. Make her the face of the end of Maestro’s reign of terror, then lean on her until she gives us Malcomb. Then arrest him too and bring M to justice at last.”

The acting director smiled. “Yes, Dr. Cross, I think that would do it nicely. And if you’re successful, I haven’t thought it all through yet, but I’m considering a special team that would work the Bureau’s most pressing and sensitive cases with you three and your Detective Sampson as the core group.”

Mahoney gave her an awkward smile. “A discussion for another time.”

Hamilton grew serious. “Of course. How can I be of help? What am I missing?”

Ned said, “There should be a team of Boston agents on standby near Paladin’s headquarters, ready to seize it immediately when the president signs the order.”

“Done.”

I said, “You should have Keith Karl Rawlins from cybercrimes at the Quantico lab up there with them. He’ll be your best bet at getting control of their supercomputers.”

“We’ll make it happen,” Hamilton said, and looked toward her assistant; he pulled out his cell phone.

There was a knock at the door and Diana Zhang entered, looking harried.

---