Lean on them hard? Holley asked.

Daniel, they re out to make a buck selling weapons that kill people. He was impatient now. I couldn t care less what happens to them.

Wonderful, Dillon told him. You ve appointed us to be public executioners.

It s a bit late in the day to complain about that, Ferguson told him. For both of you. What do they say in the IRA? Once in, never out?

Funny, Holley said. We thought that was your motto. But never mind. We ll probably do your dirty work for you again. We usually do. How do you want them? Alive or dead?

We re at war, Daniel. Remember the four bastards who raped your young cousin to death in Belfast? They were all members of a terrorist organization. You shot them dead yourself. Are you telling me you regret what you did?

Not for a moment. That s the trouble.

Dillon said, Leave him alone, Charles, he ll do what has to be done. Have you seen the President yet?

No, I m sitting here in the Hay-Adams with Harry Miller, looking out over the terrace at the White House, waiting for the limousine to deliver us to the Oval Office. We ve prepared to brief him on the security for his visit to London on Friday, all twenty-four hours of it. As far as I can tell, we ve got everything locked down, including his visit to Parliament and the luncheon reception on the terrace.

Westminster Bridge to the left, the Embankment on the far side, Dillon said.

Yes, you ve got experience with the terrace, haven t you? Ferguson said. Anyway, the Gulfstream is standing by, ready and waiting, so the moment I m free, it s off to New York for this UN reception at the Pierre. I want you two there, too.

Any particular reason?

I ve got someone new joining the team from the Intelligence Corps.