Terminal Compromise

"No one did. He insisted on complete secrecy. He had not picked a successor to run OSO, and in some ways he denied the reality."

"Excuse my tired old brain, but you're talking Spook-Speak. How did you know...?"

"Old habits..." Marvin agreed. "As you well know, from your employ here, we have a.s.sets in every major company in the world.

Especially those companies that buy and sell elected officials in Was.h.i.+ngton. OSO and h.o.m.osoto are quite guilty of bribing their way into billions of dollars of contracts. Our a.s.sets, you see, can work in two directions. They let us know what's going on from the inside and give us a leg up on the G2. Then, we can plant real or false information when needed. The Cold Economic War."

"So you told h.o.m.osoto what to do?" Miles followed closely.

"Not in so many words." Marvin wasn't telling all, and Miles knew it. "We knew that through our a.s.sets we gave h.o.m.osoto and several others the idea that U.S. computers were extremely frag- ile. Back in 1983 the DoD and CIA prepared cla.s.sified reports saying that computer terrorism was going to be the international crime of choice in the last decade of the century. Then the NRC, NSC and DIA issued follow-up reports that agreed with the origi- nal findings. We saw to it that enough detail reached Tokyo to show just how weak we were."

Jacobs continued to tell Miles how the NSA effected the unwitting recruitment of h.o.m.osoto. "That, a well timed resignation on your part, and advertising your dissatisfaction with the government made you the ideal person to launch the attack." Marvin smiled widely holding his drink in the air, toasting Miles.

Miles responded by raising his gla.s.s. "And then a suicide, how perfect." Jacobs did not return the salute, and Miles felt sudden iciness. "Right? h.o.m.osoto's suicide." Jacobs still said nothing. "Marv? It was a suicide, wasn't it?"

"Miss Perkins was of great help, too," Marvin said ignoring Miles questions.

"Perky? What's she got to do with this?" Miles demanded.

"Oh? You really don't know?" Marvin was genuinely shocked. "I guess she was better than we thought. I thought you knew." He looked down to avoid Miles's eyes. "Didn't you think it odd...?"

"That she introduced me to h.o.m.osoto?" Miles asked acrimoniously.

"She didn't."

"Of course she did," Miles contradicted.

"We have a tape of the conversation," Marv disagreed. "All she did was ask you if you would work for a foreigner and under what circ.u.mstances. Perkins' job was to prep you for h.o.m.osoto or whoever else we expected to contact you. An admirable job, huh Miles?" Marvin Jacobs seemed proud of her accomplishments, and given the stunned gaping expression on Miles' face, he beamed even more. Miles didn't say a word, but his glazed eyes said loud and clear that he felt defiled.

"I'm sorry Miles," Marvin said compa.s.sionately. "I really as- sumed you knew that she was a toy. You certainly treated her that way." No reaction. "If it helps any, she was on h.o.m.osoto's payroll. She was a double."

Miles jerked his head back and then let out a long laugh. "Well, f.u.c.k me dead. G.o.dd.a.m.n, she was good! Had me going. Not a f.u.c.k- ing clue." Miles stood from his chair and laughed and smiled at Marvin. "What a deal. I get b.l.o.w..j.o.bs courtesy of the American taxpayer and you get paid to watch."

"Miles, we know how you felt for her..."

"Bulls.h.i.+t," Miles said quickly. "That's f.u.c.king bulls.h.i.+t." He pounded on the desk.

"She's

Miles couldn't completely hide the dejection, the feeling of loss, no matter how loudly he denied it. "f.u.c.k her!" Miles exclaimed. He walked over to the high tech bar and made himself another strong drink. Perfect drink to get dumped by. "Another?"

he asked Marvin who handed Miles his gla.s.s for a refill.

"As I was saying," Marvin said, "this country owes you a thanks, beyond any medals or awards, and unfortunately, there is no way we can publicly express our appreciation." Marvin sat down with his drink and addressed Miles.

"Hey," Miles said holding his hands in front of him. "I knew that going into the deal. I did my job, for my country, and maybe I lose some face, but I didn't do this for fame. Retiring in style, maybe the Alps is a nice consolation prize." The pain, so evident seconds ago about Stephanie, was gone. Miles gloated in his achievement.

A low warble came from the phone on Marvin's desk. He read a message that appeared on the small message screen attached to the phone and struck a few keys in response. At that moment, the double doors from the Office-2 reception opened and in came Tyrone Duncan and two other FBI agents. Miles turned to see who was interrupting their meeting. It was the same man who had arrested him a few weeks before.

Miles gulped deeply and felt his heart skip a beat. 'What the h.e.l.l is going on', he thought. He quickly glanced at Jacobs. His pulse and respiration increased to the point of skin sweat and near hyper-ventilation.

Tyrone spoke to the Director. "Mr. Jacobs, we are here to see Mr. Foster." Jacobs gestured to Miles in the deep chair across from the marble desk.

Miles' mind raced. What was Marv doing? And Duncan again?

"Mr. Foster," Tyrone Duncan said. Miles looked up. "You are under arrest for violation of the espionage and sedition laws of the United States of America. In addition, you are charged with violating the Official Secrets Act and..." Tyrone read off 94 federal crimes including racketeering and 61 a.s.sorted counts of conspiracy.

As Tyrone read the extended list of charges, Miles shook to his core, turned to Marvin in abject terror. His face cried out, 'please, help me.' Jacobs watched with indifference as Tyrone continued with the new charges.

"You have the right to remain silent..." Tyrone read Miles his Miranda rights as he lifted him from the chair to put on the cuffs.

"Marv!" Miles shouted in panic. "This is a joke, and it's not funny...Marv...Jesus f.u.c.king Christ!" Miles struggled like an animal. He thought he was free. "I'm the f.u.c.king fish food.

Aren't I? Marv," he shouted even louder. "Aren't I?"

"It seems to me that you've dug your own grave, son. I can't tell you how disappointed I am in your actions." Jacobs played the role perfectly.

"You f.u.c.king liar! The President doesn't even know about what I did for you? Does he?" Miles was screaming as Tyrone and another agent restrained him by the arms. "Why not? You told me that this project had approval from the highest level."

"Are you mad?" Marvin sounded like a caring parent admonis.h.i.+ng a misbehaving lad who knew no better. "Do you think that he would have approved of such a plan? Ruin his own country? Is that why you went to h.o.m.osoto? Because we said you were crazy?"

"You told me he approved it!" Miles screamed at Marvin. "You lied! About that, about Stephanie, what else have you lied to me about?"

Jacobs sat silently as Tyrone turned the handcuffed Miles toward the door.

"Why don't you just admit it? I'm the f.u.c.king fall guy for your scheme, aren't I?" Miles shouted. "Admit it G.o.dd.a.m.nit, admit it!"

Jacobs looked down at his desk and shook his head from side to side as if he were terribly disappointed.

"I'll get you, I will get you for this," Miles shrieked. "I trusted you, like a father and then you f.u.c.k me. f.u.c.ked me like every other dumb s.h.i.+t that works here." His vicousness intensi- fied. "Suck my d.i.c.k!" he shouted with finality.

Tyrone tugged at Miles to keep him from the Director's desk. "Is there anything else Director Jacobs?"

"Yes, Agent Duncan, here." Jacobs opened a drawer and pulled out a large envelope, marked with Miles' name. Miles stared at it, eyes bulging with fear. Tyrone looked questioningly at Marvin.

"I believe you will find enough in there to put Mr. Foster in Tokyo with Mr. h.o.m.osoto at the time he died." Tyrone took the package. "I think the Tokyo Police would be most interested in making a possible case for murder."

Miles screamed, "sc.u.m bucket! You're f.u.c.king nuts." His vicious verbal a.s.saults were aimed directly at Marvin who ignored them.

"You know I had nothing to do...G.o.dd.a.m.n you! I spend five years of my life helping my country and you..."

"I think very few would agree that what you've done can be con- sidered helpful."

"I will get even! Even, do you hear!" Miles' voice was getting hoa.r.s.e from the outrageous tirade.

DIRNSA Marvin Jacobs raised his right hand to Tyrone indicating that Miles was dismissed. Miles continued bellowing at Marvin and Tyrone and the two other agents tried to keep him in tow.

When they had left, and the door closed behind them, Jacobs pushed a b.u.t.ton on his phone and spoke casually.

"Miss Greeley? Could you please get me a 2:00 P.M. tee off time?"