The Threat

231440Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//Anybody here?

231440Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//Been logged on since 0900. Where you?

231440Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//Reporter in office. Gone now.

231441Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//How’s your day?

231441Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//Totally certain this wire secure?? Security monitoring? NSA?

231441Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//They don’t have access.

231442Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//They have access to everything!!

231442Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//Not time-critical point-to-point strategic communications. The phone system goes first. Then the Internet. Then GCCS. But this stays up. That’s why it’s text only. Low baud rate. But it’ll always be there.

231442Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//I don’t feel comfortable discussing this issue.

231443Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//It’s only a contingency plan. In case P gets totally out of hand.

231443Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//So what’s the intent?

231443Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//As G described it when you saw him at the 30th.

231443Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//That’s a pretty fucking vague concept of operations, cowboy.

231444Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//Really want to know details?

231444Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//Point taken. Who’s got the op end? Do you have a candidate?

231444Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//Still in the search phase.

231445Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//Just for the record, let me add this. The only reason we’re talking is to have it for, like you said, the contingency. Which I have a real problem envisioning ever being needed.

231446Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//That’s right.

231446Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//And you’d need the go-ahead from Two to implement it. It would all have to go according to the—. All perfectly legal. Looking at it from outside. Anyone who knew otherwise??

231446Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//Would not be available to testify.

231448Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//I want to say again I have no intention of agreeing that anything like this be carried out!!

231448Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//What, you want that on the record? I keep telling you there’s no record. There will never be a record.

231449Z AUG

AMICABLE:

//***Null response***

231449Z AUG

SCHOLAST:

//Remember to log out at end of chat. I power down my terminal too, just to make absolutely sure nothing left anywhere. Out.

***LOGOFF***

231450Z AUG

AMICABLE:

***LOGOFF***

I

WEST WING

1

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The corner of Seventeenth and Pennsylvania, early, but the Starbucks across the street was already walled in by secretaries, interns, lobbyists, and Hill rats. The air smelled of exhaust, perfume, latte, and fresh croissants. It was the end of summer, and the morning heat promised a scorching afternoon.

Dan Lenson glanced at his watch as he paced along the black wrought-iron fence. On the other side, camera crews were setting up satellite feeds on the putting-green smoothness of the North Lawn. His gray two-button suit felt loose, baggy, after so many years of wearing a uniform.