[Greg Anos]

He didn't tell me the C.O.'s name, so

when I went into the house, I was in for a

bit of suprise. I knew the guy in charge

there.


"Howdy, Jake. How was Pinwheel?"


"It was that discord at customs with your

assistant that brought me back. I've been

trying to repair my career ever since

then."


"You shoulda given me a ring. I would

have talked to the Brass."


"I've already had too much of your help."


I shrugged. There's just no pleasin'

some people. "At least you could

introduce me to the Major."


He turned a bit red, but spat out, "This

is Major Ruiz. He's in charge of the

tactical situation."


I stuck out my hand. "Good to meet you,

Major. I'm Red Edwards. You can

call me Red. A Marine is always

welcome at my house."


"Red, how did you spot my man?"


"Now don't hold it against him. The FBI

hadn't spotted him. That's a real

hard place to do full camo at. He

did a great job, but those Barret

.50's are real hard to hide. I've got

one myself. I expect if I'd kept on

lookin' I'd have found your other

nests."


"What other nests?"


"Don't play me for a chump, Major.

If you've got one side of a building

covered, you've got all the sides of

the building covered. And you've got

an assault team around here, too,

or at least on the way."


The major forced a grin. "You're

obviously an experienced campaigner."


"The sniper I met had excellent

discipline. Didn't even twitch when

he realized he was spotted." I

always like to look out for the real

workers.


Jake decided to stick his oar in. "Now that

you've finished complementing the

military, how about you leaving and

telling the FBI it's no longer their

jurisdiction. It's a State department

matter now."


I don't mind people sticking in their oars,

but they d----d well better know how

to paddle. I reckoned it was time to

give ol' Jake a few lessons.


"Jake, stop bein' a Foggy Bottom Idiot for

once. If the FBI was being taken off,

somebody with real authority would be

taking them off. And they wouldn't be

usin' me as a mouthpiece. Even a dumb

redneck like me knows that one." I

ignored the suppressed snicker from the

major.


Jake wasn't payin' attention to anything

but me. "Out!" He shouted, "You're not

on this case any more!"


"Jake, I can't leave the case without being

shown overriding authority. Everybody

knows that. Show me your authority."


"Here's my authority!" and waived a State

Department paper at me.


"Easy, Jake, let me read it."


I looked it over. Full authority to handle

the hostage situation had been given

him by the Secretary Of State. The

old battle-axe was trying to sneak

one by The Prez. I shook my head.

Politicians and promises.


"Why haven't you already knocked on the

FBI's door?"


" I'll do it when I ready to."


"You mean you'll do it after you get the

assault team deployed. Which it

obviously isn't." I suspected that

certain military commanders weren't

pleased by their orders and were

draggin their heels.


I turned to the Major. "Don't worry,

Major. I'll have this sorted out in

30 minutes or so. The record of the

Marines won't be smirched."


"Now Jake," I said, turning back. "That's a

real pretty piece of paper, but

doesn't have enough stroke behind

it."


"You think you've got more authority

than The Secretary Of State?"


"Nope, I know I've got more authority

than the Secretary Of State.

Now do you want to tell Kaitempi

Kate that she's been outranked,

or shall I?"


Jake sneered, "Prove it, bigshot."


I sighed. Some people can't add two plus

two. He was being set up as the

fall guy for one of Kaitempi Kate's

power grabs.


"Ok, Jake, we're gonna play a game of

Diplomat Double Jepardy. The category

that has been chosed for you is

Political Power. You've just wagered

your career and pension on the

following question. And the answer

is - What offical in the US

Government has the right to throw

a Secretary Of State out on her

keister. Please remember to answer in

the form of a question."


I started humming the Jeopardy theme

song. "Da de dum dum da de dum,

da de dum de daaa de dum dum

dum dum dum....."


Jake stopped being angry and started

being bit pale.


"...de dum dum. Time's up, Jake. What's

the question."


Jake said in a small voice, "The

President."


"It needs to be in the form of a question."


"Who is The President."


"Right. And you win your pension. I have

direct authority from The Prez. And

this entire conversation is on a wire

straight to the FBI team over there,

so it won't do you any good to have

me shot. Now do you want to call her

or shall I?"


"You'd better call her. I think all I'd get

done is get fired."


"Wise choice." Why did I get all the dirty

jobs. I heard Bubba laughing in the

back of my head. "'Cause you do

them so well...."