Puzzle by Nora Phoenix

7

Calix drummed his fingers on the armrest of the couch in the Oval Office.

“Chill, would you?” Del asked him, not for the first time. “You’re acting as if you’re facing the firing squad.”

Calix sighed. “Sorry. In my defense, it feels that way.”

He wasn’t easily intimidated, but John Doty, the minister of defense and a retired lieutenant general in the Army, scared the crap out of him. The man had a coldness over him Calix had found unsettling from the moment he’d met him. Having a cool head might be a good trait to have in combat, but the degree to which Doty possessed one made for icy relationships and frigid conversations.

And now they had to give him some highly unexpected and probably unwelcome news. Calix had promised Del he’d be there for this particular conversation, and he’d never break his word, but he would’ve paid good money to skip this one. Doty was not someone he wanted to have as an enemy, and yet he was convinced that was exactly what was about to happen.

Del dragged a hand through his hair. “I know. I’m not looking forward to this meeting either, but the alternative is even worse. I can’t have him in the position he’s in when we’re not sure of his loyalty, especially when the first round of subpoenas is about to hit. I’ve been told a grand jury has been convened.”

“You’re being too kind. We’re damn sure where his loyalty is…and it’s not with you. Not with the constitution either. If what Marcus Pizer told Henley was true…”

“He has no reason to lie,” Del said softly. “That’s what I keep coming back to. Why would Victor’s deputy lie? He has to be telling the truth, and let’s face it, what he said explains a lot, like why Markinson kept Doty on as secretary…and why he upped his Secret Service protection.”

“I know. I’m right there with you, but…”

A subtle knock on the door and then Issa stuck his head around the corner. “Do you need anything before your next appointment, Mr. President? A water, a coffee, a Coke you’ll hide from everyone to make them believe you’re sticking to your healthy habits?”

Calix hid his grin behind his hand. Issa was exactly as he’d presented himself in the interview: an absolute firecracker who didn’t take shit from anyone, including Del.

Del looked guilty. “I’ll have a water, please. And can you charge my Kindle, please, so I can read a bit later?”

“It’s already on the charger, Mr. President.”

Issa sailed into the room, gesturing at Del to get up. Without a word of protest, Del obeyed. Issa took a step forward, put Del’s collar up, then straightened his tie, pulling it tight before folding the collar back in place. “There. Better.” He nodded with a satisfied smile, then stepped back. “Water coming right up. For you, Calix?”

Calix pointed at his glass of water. “I’m good, thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

Calix waited until Issa had left the Oval again. “How is he working out?”

Del looked pained. “He’s very organized.”

“You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Cal, he color-coded my socks and underwear. The man went through my entire wardrobe and color-coded it. It’s…mildly disturbing.”

Calix snorted. “He’s nothing if not efficient.”

He stopped talking when Issa returned and placed a cold bottle of water and a glass on the table to the right of Del. He put a small bowl with some cashew nuts next to it.

“To prevent you from snacking on the fun-size candy bars in the bottom drawer of your desk, Mr. President.”

Del merely sighed. “Thank you, Issa.”

“My pleasure.”

“See what I have to put up with?” Del complained when Issa had left again, but his words held no fire.

“You mean someone who makes sure you drink enough water and eat healthy snacks? Yes. Absolute hardship. You have my sympathy.”

Del rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything, the door opened. “Secretary Doty is here, Mr. President,” Max said.

Calix looked at Del. “Showtime.”

They both rose from their seats. Del straightened his shoulders, then placed a quick hand on Calix’s right shoulder. “Thank you.” Del’s eyes softened. “For being by my side.”

Calix smiled at him. “I serve at the pleasure of the president.”

Del took a deep breath, then nodded at Max. “Send him in.”

Doty marched in as if he owned the place, but maybe that was the self-confidence rooted in years of being in charge of large numbers of troops. “Good afternoon, Mr. President. Calix.”

They both got a nod that at the surface seemed affable but made Calix’s skin crawl with the underlying condescension.

“Thanks for coming, John.”

Calix turned his head away so Doty wouldn’t see the laughter in his eyes. That right there was why Del was president and Calix wasn’t. Having grown up with an overbearing father, Del had become immune to power games. He played right along up until the point where he’d had enough or it no longer served his purpose, and then he put his foot down. Calling Doty John rather than Mr. Secretary or General was far from subtle, but judging by the tightness on Doty’s face as he sat down, the warning shot had the intended effect. Del had made it clear he wasn’t in the mood to be disrespected.

“What can I do for you, Mr. President? As you can imagine, I had a busy day planned until I was summoned.”

And with that, the tone was set. Not that Calix had ever expected this to be a friendly, casual conversation, but the lines were drawn in the sand.

“I’m going to have to ask you to resign, John.” Doty took a sharp intake of breath, but Del gave him no opportunity to protest before he’d done his whole spiel. They’d prepared this little speech together, and Calix knew Del would finish it before he allowed Doty to speak. “You’ve served your country far beyond what could be expected after your distinguished career in the military. I’ve come to understand why President Markinson kept you on, even though he may have disagreed with your views, but the Department of Defense needs some fresh blood. You’ve certainly earned your retirement, so it’s time to get serious about making that trip to Normandy you talked about recently.”

Calix held his breath. They’d come up with this exact wording so Del couldn’t ever be accused of lying, but would Doty pick up on the underlying meaning?

Doty’s face sported barely concealed anger. “I’m unpleasantly surprised by this, Mr. President. You’ve given me no indication you took issue with the way I’ve been fulfilling my position.”

“That’s because I have no issues with it. It’s simply time for a change. I’m not a proponent of having people in the same job for too long. It breeds complacency.”

Technically, Del was right. Even though he and Calix both suspected Doty of mixed loyalties, he hadn’t done a bad job. At least not in public. The behind-the-scenes stuff was what worried them, but, of course, they couldn’t bring that up.

“I assume you have an equally qualified replacement in mind?”

Del looked at Calix, his cue to take over. “We haven’t formally asked anyone yet, as we didn’t think that appropriate until we’d spoken to you, Mr. Secretary.”

“I’m sure you have someone picked already.”

“We have, but we don’t feel it’s the right timing to release names as we haven’t approached this person yet,” Calix said smoothly.

Doty turned to Del. “You need a strong man in this position. Someone from the ranks of the military who understands how to run the armed forces. After the assassination and the renewed threat we’re facing from Al Qaeda and its offshoots, we need to send an undeniable signal that the US military is still the best and the most powerful in the world.”

“My vision on the threat level from Al Qaeda differs somewhat from yours, John, maybe because I have access to more information than you.”

Oh, Dell was playing dirty now, and Calix loved it. They’d kept Doty in the loop on the aspects concerning Hamza Bashir and Al Saalihin, but not the domestic component—for obvious reasons.

“I still don’t understand why I’m not fully read into the investigation. It’s a hindrance in doing my job if I don’t have all the information.”

“That’s a moot discussion at this point, as is your opinion on Al Qaeda. Rest assured that we’ll find the best person for the job.”

“You’re not going to go with a military man?”

His tone grated on Calix’s nerves, but he swallowed his anger back. Del had to handle this, and he would.

“We may not even go with a man, John.” Del’s voice was mild but with an iron edge to it. Did Doty pick up on it as well?

“You can’t put a woman in this position. She’ll never get the respect from the chiefs of staff and the military in general. Letting women serve is one thing, but they lack the experience at this level of leadership.”

“And they always will unless we allow them the same courtesy as we do to men, and that is to give them a chance to prove themselves.”

The steam was practically coming out of the man’s ears, but he had the smarts to hold back. Maybe he realized that this wasn’t an argument he’d ever win. “I’ll stay on until you’ve announced my replacement.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’d like you to resign now,” Del said.

“You can’t leave the Department of Defense without a leader.”

“It won’t be. Deputy Secretary Karyn Barette will lead in the meantime.”

“She’s not suitable to lead the whole department. She’s served for only four years, and that was eons ago.”

“She left the Army with an honorable discharge because of injuries sustained in battle. I’d say that’s a damn good reason to cut a military career short. Besides, I’ve only served four years, and I’m the commander in chief, so I’m confident we got this.”

“With all due respect, Mr. President, but you need someone with more military experience.”

“I don’t, actually. The secretary of defense has always been intended as a civilian position. When President Markinson wanted to appoint you, he needed a waiver from Congress, since you’d only retired two years prior. I think it’s time to bring civilian leadership back in this position.”

“Mr. President, I must once again object to—”

“John, we’re done talking about this. I’m giving you the chance to resign and walk away with your head held high. You have until five p.m. today. If you don’t, I’ll fire you, leaving you with a stain on what is otherwise an honorable career of serving your country.”

Del rose to his feet, sending a clear signal this conversation was over. Doty got up as well, his face red. “You will regret this.”

“That sounded an awful lot like a threat to me. Are you threatening me, General…like you threatened President Markinson?”

Del’s eyes were spewing fire now, nothing left of his previous concern about what Doty could do in retribution. Apparently, he’d decided to fuck caution and confront him. Del was usually so mild-mannered, rarely losing his temper, that outbursts like this always made an impression on Calix.

“I never threatened Markinson.”

The first crack in Doty’s confidence was obvious, a slight tremor in his voice and a nerve that ticked right beside his left eye.

“We both know you did…and why.”

The tic grew stronger. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“If that’s the truth, then you have nothing to worry about. If not, you should be afraid. I’m not President Markinson. I don’t run from a fight, and I sure as fuck don’t hide, not even after losing my wife. And I swear I will move heaven and earth and leave no stone unturned to find each and every person responsible for her death and the senseless murders of all the others who perished…and when I do, there won’t be a place to hide for them. That mighty US Army you bragged about? I’ll send it to the ends of the earth if I have to, to capture them all, and I will bring them to justice. And that’s not a threat, General. That’s a promise.”

That had gone well.