“The secretary, Walters. He was eliminated?”

“Well, no. I left him unconscious.”

There was a silence.

One of the other masked men said, “The plan was to eliminate the secretary to give emphasis to the Senator as to our determination.”

Casey’s voice remained even. “As it worked out, it seemed expedient to follow through as I did.”

The chairman said, “Very well. The field operative works with considerable range of discretion. No one can foresee what will develop once an operation is under way.”

Warren Casey said nothing.

The second board member sighed. “But we had hoped that the sight of a brutal killing, right before him, might have shocked Phil McGivern into submission immediately. As it is now, if our estimates of his character are correct, the best we can hope for is capitulation after several of his intimates have been dispatched.”

Casey said wearily, “He will never capitulate, no matter what we do. He’s one of the bad ones.”

The third board member, who had not spoken to this point, said thoughtfully, “Perhaps his immediate assassination would be best.” The chairman shook his head. “No. We’ve thrashed this all out. We want to use McGivern as an example. In the future, when dealing with similar cases, our people will be able to threaten others with his fate. We’ll see it through, as planned.” He looked at Casey. “We have another assignment for you.”

Warren Casey leaned back in his chair, his face expressionless, aside from the perpetual weariness. “All right,” he said.

The second” board member took up an assignment sheet. “It’s a Priority One. Some twenty operatives are involved in all.” He cleared his voice. “You’ve had interceptor experience during your military career?”

Casey said, “A year, during the last war. I was shot down twice and they figured my timing was going, so they switched me to medium bombers.”