“You’re making a mistake, and it could be a huge one.”
The man shook his head, and though it was his superior who was criticizing his decision, he didn’t hold back with his response. He wasn’t that sort of a man. “This was carefully conceived. Not foolproof, of course, because that’s impossible. No one can predict precisely what a person will do in changing and uncertain circumstances. But weighing many factors, this seems the prudent way to go. We need to know, and what better way to find out? This will work.”
“But he’s had no training, no preparation for what he may encounter. Just basics, not even how to handle a pistol. He doesn’t know something simple, like how to disappear in a crowd, and that could make a world of difference, a lifesaving one. You’re basically throwing him to the wolves. A babe, naked in the woods.”
“But don’t you see? That’s the beauty of this plan! Who’d ever expect such a naive, inexperienced young man to be on such an important mission? Adversaries would just let their eyes flit past him to the next person in line. He’s perfect.”
“Or you could call him a dead man walking. And with him goes his mission.”
“He’s not a fool. College graduate, high IQ, quick learner, principled, dedicated. Put him in a stressful situation, and I believe he’s the sort who’ll think on his feet and do what’s necessary. If anyone knows what he’s doing, well, that’s what we need to know. There are certainly risks, but he knows that.”
“You just hope that’s the case. I’m the one who greenlighted it. My ass is on the line here, and you’d better believe that yours is too. I just hope no one knows about this. You think someone might?”
He ignored the question. “So are you telling me to withdraw him?”
His superior remained silent for an uncomfortable amount of time. The silence stretched out, and then he finally stood up and stepped away from his desk to his window. He was one of the few with an office large enough to have a window and situated where a window could look over the grounds. If one looked carefully, he could even see a corner of the White House and the top of the Washington Monument.
Then he returned to his desk and sat down. He didn’t look happy, but fastened the man standing in front of him with hard eyes. “I’ll think about this. At least you haven’t sent him into the field yet. That’s still set for tomorrow?”
The man being questioned laced his fingers together behind his back. He wanted to move, but thought it would look like he was squirming. He steadied himself. “Today, actually. He left this morning.” His voice rang with confidence, showing that he’d done the right thing and had no doubts and certainly no regrets.
His superior shook his head, then reddened. “Why so soon?” His voice was not friendly. “And why wasn’t I told? The plan was always tomorrow. You’re out of line. You’ve stepped off the reservation. You’d better have a damn good reason for this!”
“He was getting antsy, and you’d already said it was a go.” The man pulled his posture up straighter. “The way he was acting, I just thought it best to move forward. I tried to tell you; you were in meetings. Like always.”
“Don’t you dare put this on me! You could have waited.” The man behind the desk shook his head, then sighed, but the scowl hadn’t left his face. “What’s done is done. You’d better cross your fingers. Don’t think you can shift the blame onto me if this goes south. You overstepped your authority and you know it.”