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“No.” The president laughed slightly. “Chairman Rudin and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, sir, why can’t you get the party leadership to reel him in?”
President Hayes thought about the question for a moment and said, “Chairman Rudin is a strange duck. Between you and me, I’ve never liked the man. He is filled with irrational hatred which tends to cloud his judgment. He has his place in the party, however.” Hayes shook his head. “Unfortunately for you and me, the party put him where they thought he could do the least damage. I suppose I could make a few calls, but it might only serve to enrage him further.”
“Well, do what you think is best. I might be able to do some things to help, but my real concern is where he’s getting his information.”
“He could just be guessing.” The president looked at Stansfield for a response.
“He could, but given the fact that Mitch’s mission was compromised, I’m inclined to believe we have a leak.”
President Hayes didn’t like hearing this. He exhaled a slow, painful breath. “What in the hell have I gotten myself into, Thomas?” The president put his elbows on the table and cupped his face with his hands.
“What do you mean, sir?”
“If it gets out that I ordered the assassination of one of Germany’s leading citizens, it will be devastating.”
“Sir, in your position, you have three options to deal with this growing threat. The first, diplomacy, has had very poor results; the second, military action, is ill suited to combat the small force we are up against; and the third option, sir, the one you have chosen, is the best option. We take the battle to them with small covert units. You made the right decision, sir.”
“If this thing blows up in my face, it will not have been the right decision.”
“I will not let that happen, sir.”
“How?” The president sounded skeptical.
“We are making some progress in finding the leak.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“What have you found?”
“We think it might be someone at the State Department.”
“How high up?”
Instead of answering the question, Stansfield said, “Irene told me about the meeting you had the other day with the German ambassador.”
Hayes leaned back in his chair. “And?”
“How have things been between you and Secretary Midleton?”
After thinking about it for a moment, the president replied, “I don’t think he ever got it in his head that I’m the boss.”
“He thinks you’re both still colleagues back in the Senate.”
“Yes. You’ve seen it before?”
“Many times. It’s strange that it always seems to be that position more than the others.”
“Secretary of state?”
“Yes. For some reason they tend to think of themselves as the most important person in each administration.”
“I should have known better. Charles has always fancied himself as American royalty. When I won the election, I owed him. He had raised a lot of money for the campaign, and I knew he would be an easy confirmation. He was my first nominee, and I wanted to get it right.”
“You’re not the first, sir.”