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" Baghdad, sir. I don't have anybody who's ever set foot in the city. I'd like to find someone who knows their way around, someone who can get into the city before the op and check things out. Someone who can meet my team there and lead them to the target and back out of the city"
"Do you have anybody in mind?"
"I do, actually." Gray looked at Kennedy. "There's a certain individual who I've worked with from time to time who knows his way around this part of the world very well. We could really use his help."
The President looked at Kennedy. "Who is he talking about?"
" Iron Man. "
"That might be a problem," replied the President.
"Why?" asked a disappointed Colonel Gray.
"Iron Man is in the process of, how should we say this," the President looked to Kennedy, who finished the sentence.
"He's retiring from the field."
Instead of showing disappointment, a sly grin spread across the Delta Force commander's face. "Guys like Iron Man don't retire. Give me five minutes with him, and he'll be begging me to go on this op."
The President folded his arms across his chest and said, "I hope you're right, Colonel."
As General Flood began to reiterate his position on the air strikes, Kennedy's digital phone beeped. She turned away from the group and answered the call. She listened for only a few seconds, ended the call and abruptly stood. There was a secure phone in the Situation Room but she didn't want to talk in front of the others. "Excuse me, Mr. President, but there's something I have to take care of." The President consented with a curt nod and Kennedy quickly left the room in search of a secure phone with some privacy.
At the next corner Rapp took a right turn and pushed Donatella into the first storefront he could find. He drew his weapon and waited for the two men to round the corner. Several seconds later they appeared but continued straight instead of turning. Rapp watched them cross the street and disappear. It was probably a false alarm.
The ringing of his phone caused him to jump slightly. He pressed the call button and said, "Hello."
"It's me. What's up?"
"We've got some big stuff happening. You know that hunch we had about my old friend?"
"Yes"
"We were right."
"Who was she working for?"
"Her old employer."
There was a pause before Kennedy replied. "Say that again."
"Do you remember who hired her originally?"
"Yes"
Rapp looked up and down the street. "They had some type of a free-lance arrangement. He set up the contracts, and she did the work."
"Are you talking about my counterpart over there?" Rapp could tell Kennedy was having a hard time believing this. "That's correct."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, and there's more, but we need to talk in person." Rapp looked at Donatella. Her eyes were closed, and she was leaning against the glass door. He was losing her. "I need a place cleaned up. Do you understand?"
"I think so"
"And I need a doc."
"For you There was concern in Kennedy's voice.