Page 178 of Cry Havoc

“He’s been reassigned. It may be more advantageous to use him to pass disinformation through his cutout to Dr. Brémaud.”

“Is there talk of a State Department Office of Inspector General investigation?”

“Not yet. That would blow the opportunity to play him back against the Soviets.”

“What kind of games are we playing, Nick?”

“This is the gray zone, Tom. I’m not going to lie to you. On this side of the fence, that’s where the game is played. You need to take some time and think through just how much gray you are comfortable with.”

“If I see Eldridge, I might kill him.”

“I wouldn’t blame you, but please let us handle him.”

“I’m not about to make a promise I can’t keep.”

“Will you at least try?”

“That I can do.”

“Thank you. And, there is good news on Trân.”

“Oh?”

“As you know, he got to the hospital in Bangkok, where they managed to stabilize him. An Agency contact tight with the Royal Thai Police was waiting for him when he arrived. The next day we flew him to Okinawa for next-level care. He’s recovering in Costa Mesa, California, right now and is expected to make a full recovery.”

“Well, that’s something.”

“It’s a win, Tom.”

“Doesn’t feel like it.”

“You are due to rotate home soon. I want you to think about staying on.”

“With you? At the CIA?”

“That’s what I’m hoping. We still have a mission here, and you can keep working the POW issue on this side. I won’t forget and I know you won’t. I can’t speak for what happens above us.”

“It seems they are all too eager to put this behind them.”

“Just promise me you’ll consider it.”

Tom took a breath and looked around the room, his eyes coming to rest on a map of Laos. He turned his head back to Serrano and nodded.

“Good. In the meantime, why don’t you get out of that Pittman apartment shitbox and let me put you up somewhere nicer.”

“If I never see the Continental again, it will be too soon.”

“The Caravelle’s not bad. Nice rooftop bar. You will blend right in with your safari shirts.”

Tom smiled.

“There it is. I knew you still had a sense of humor. I recommend it for drinks with Loelia Maxwell.”

“Yeah?”

“Go see her and try to enjoy yourself.”

“That sounds like good advice.”