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A billionaire with powerful political connections and a past shrouded in secrecy； he was a shadowy figure who pulled strings in capitals all over the world。 He was in his late sixties； a meticulous man whose every movement was precise and methodical。 He had razorsharp features and hooded eyes that revealed nothing。 Willard Stone believed in wasting neither words nor emotions； and he was ruthless in obtaining what he wanted。
The rumors about him were fascinating。 He was reported to have murdered a petitor in Malaysia and to have had a torrid affair with the favorite wife of an emir。 He was said to have backed a successful revolution in Nigeria。 The government had brought half a dozen indictments against him； but they were always mysteriously dropped。
There were tales of bribes； and senators suborned； business secrets stolen； and witnesses who disappeared。 Stone was an adviser to presidents and kings。 He was raw； naked power。 Among his many properties was a large； isolated estate in the Colorado mountains where every year scientists； captains of industry； and world leaders gathered for seminars。 Armed guards kept out unwanted visitors。
Willard Stone had not only approved his daughter's marriage； he had encouraged it。 His new son…in…law was brilliant； ambitious； and； most important； malleable。
Twelve years after the marriage； Stone arranged for Dustin to be appointed ambassador to South Korea。 Several years later； the President appointed him ambassador to the United Nations。 When Admiral Ralph Whittaker was suddenly ousted as acting director of ONI； Thornton took his place。 That day Willard Stone sent for his son…in…law。
〃This is merely the beginning；〃 Stone promised。
〃I have bigger plans for you； Dustin。 Great plans。〃 And he had proceeded to outline them。 Two years earlier； Robert had had his first meeting with the new acting director of ONI。
〃Sit down； mander。〃 There was no cordiality in Dustin Thornton's voice。
〃I see by your record that you're something of a maverick。〃
What the hell does he mean？ Robert wondered。 He decided to keep his mouth shut。
Thornton looked up。
〃I don't know how Admiral Whittaker ran this office when he was in charge； but from now on we're doing everything by the book。 I expect my orders to be carried out to the letter。 Do I make myself clear？〃
Jesus； Robert thought； what the hell are we in for here？
〃Do I make myself clear； mander？〃
〃Yes。 You expect your orders to be carried out to the letter。〃 He wondered whether he was expected to salute。
〃That's all。〃
But it was not all。
A month later； Robert was sent to East Germany to bring in a scientist who wanted to defect。 It was a dangerous assignment because Stasi； the East German secret police； had learned about the proposed defection and was watching the scientist closely。 In spite of that； Robert had managed to smuggle the man across the border； to a safe house。 He was making arrangements to bring him to Washington when he received a call from Dustin Thornton telling him that the situation had changed and that he was to drop the assignment。
〃We can't just dump him here；〃 Robert had protested。
〃They'll kill him。〃
〃That's his problem；〃 Thornton had replied。
〃Your orders are to e back home。〃 Screw you； Robert thought。 I'm not going to abandon him。 He had called a friend of his in M16； British Intelligence； and explained the situation。
〃If he goes back to East Germany；〃 Robert said； 〃they'll chop him。
Will you take him？〃
〃I'll see what can be done； old chap。 Bring him along。〃 And the scientist had been given haven in England。
Dustin Thornton never forgave Robert for disobeying his instructions。 From that point on； there was open animosity between the two men。 Thornton had discussed the incident with his father…in…law。
〃Loose cannons like Bellamy are dangerous；〃 Willard Stone warned。 〃They're a security hazard。 Men like that are expendable。 Remember that。〃 And Thornton had remembered。
Now； walking down the corridor toward Dustin Thornton's office； Robert could not help thinking about the difference between Thornton and Whittaker。 In a job like his； trust was the sine qua non。 He did not trust Dustin Thornton。
Thornton was seated behind his desk when Robert walked into his office。
〃You wanted to see me？〃
〃Yes。 Sit down； mander。〃 Their relationship had never reached the 〃Robert〃 phase。
〃I've been told you've been temporarily transferred to the National Security Agency。 When you e back； I have a…〃
〃I'm not ing back。 This is my last assignment。〃
〃What？〃
〃I'm quitting。〃
Thinking about it later； Robert was not sure exactly what reaction he had expected。 Some kind of scene。 Dustin Thornton could have shown surprise； or he could have argued； or been angry； or relieved。 Instead； he had merely looked at Robert and nodded。
〃That's it then； isn't it？〃
When Robert returned to his own office； he said to his secretary； 〃I'm going to be away for a while。 I'll be leaving in about an hour。〃
〃Is there some place where you can be reached？〃
Robert remembered General Hilliard's orders。
〃No。〃
〃There are some meetings you…〃
〃Cancel them。〃 He looked at his watch。 It was time to meet Admiral Whittaker。
They had breakfast in the center yard of the Pentagon at the Ground Zero Cafe； so named because it was once thought that the Pentagon was where the first nuclearbomb attack against the United States would take place。 Robert had arranged for a corner table where they would have a degree of privacy。 Admiral Whittaker was punctual； and as Robert watched him approach the table； it seemed to him that the admiral looked older and smaller； as though semiretirement had somehow aged and shrunk him。 He was still a striking…looking man with strong features； a Roman nose； good cheekbones； and a crown of silvered hair。 Robert had served under the admiral in Vietnam and later in the Office of Naval Intelligence； and he had a high regard for him。 More than a high regard； Robert admitted to himself。 Admiral Whittaker was his surrogate father。
The admiral sat down。
〃Good morning； Robert。 Well； did they transfer you to the NSA？〃
Robert nodded。
〃Temporarily。〃
The waitress arrived； and the two men studied the menu。
〃I had forgotten how bad the food here was；〃 Admiral Whittaker said； smiling。 He looked around the room； his face reflecting an unspoken nostalgia。 He wishes he were back here； Robert thought。 Amen。
They ordered。 When the waitress was out of earshot； Robert said； 〃Admiral； General Hilliard is sending me on an urgent three…thousand…mile trip to locate some witnesses who saw a weather balloon crash。 I find that strange。 And there's something else that's even stranger。 'Time is of the essence；' to quote the general； but I've been ordered not to use any of my intelligence contacts abroad to help me。〃
Admiral Whittaker looked puzzled。
〃I suppose the general must have his reasons。〃
Robert said； 〃I can't imagine what they are。〃 Admiral Whittaker studied Robert。 mander Bellamy had served under