Darren Priest Mysteries Collection

Chapter 7

Five Weeks Earlier

Washington, D.C.

“Sit down,” he said.

“Sit down,” he said.According to the sign on the office door, “he” was Dr. Matthew Bordrick, but I knew nothing about him and still couldn’t piece together why I was called here for the interview. We were in a nondescript office building in Washington, on a block just steps from the Old Executive Office Building.

According to the sign on the office door, “he” was Dr. Matthew Bordrick, but I knew nothing about him and still couldn’t piece together why I was called here for the interview. We were in a nondescript office building in Washington, on a block just steps from the Old Executive Office Building.“Darren Priest, right?” Bordrick began.

“Darren Priest, right?” Bordrick began.I nodded.

I nodded.“May I call you Armando?” he said as he closed the door to the office. I thought it might be pointless to argue that I was actually Darren Priest, but I remained silent.

“May I call you Armando?” he said as he closed the door to the office. I thought it might be pointless to argue that I was actually Darren Priest, but I remained silent.Bordrick circled back around his desk and lowered himself into the chair slowly. He opened a folder and leaned in to read from it.

Bordrick circled back around his desk and lowered himself into the chair slowly. He opened a folder and leaned in to read from it.“Armando Listrani. Born July 25, 1985. Parents Bernardo Listrani and Alice Kraft Listrani.” He paused and looked up at me, then returned to the folder.

“Armando Listrani. Born July 25, 1985. Parents Bernardo Listrani and Alice Kraft Listrani.” He paused and looked up at me, then returned to the folder.“Served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer from 2008 to 2012 with tours of duty in Syria, Afghanistan, and…” and he paused to peer at me over his reading glasses, “…and ‘other assignments not on the official record.’ What does that mean Armando? Not on the official record?”

“Served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer from 2008 to 2012 with tours of duty in Syria, Afghanistan, and…” and he paused to peer at me over his reading glasses, “…and ‘other assignments not on the official record.’ What does that mean Armando? Not on the official record?”It seemed like the best answer was just to shrug, but I did so without looking away from Bordrick.

It seemed like the best answer was just to shrug, but I did so without looking away from Bordrick.“’Not on the official record,’” Bordrick repeated. “But this is your Top Secret folder. What could not be on this official record?”

“’Not on the official record,’” Bordrick repeated. “But this is your Top Secret folder. What could not be on this official record?”Bordrick reached below the top sheet of paper to retrieve another sheet from the bottom of the stack.

Bordrick reached below the top sheet of paper to retrieve another sheet from the bottom of the stack.“Operation Best Guess,” he said with careful enunciation. “Code Word project with the most limited access of any operation I have ever seen. What does Best Guess mean, Mr. Listrani? Or Priest, if you prefer.”

“Operation Best Guess,” he said with careful enunciation. “Code Word project with the most limited access of any operation I have ever seen. What does Best Guess mean, Mr. Listrani? Or Priest, if you prefer.”If he was reading from a paper that contained the name of the mission Best Guess, he already knew about my military service and my personal life before it. But he didn’t really know what we did, what we could do. Only the squad and Sergeant Randal knew. Very possibly some others at very high levels. But until this moment, I had not seen my own secret file and didn’t know how much it contained – or who else might have read it.

If he was reading from a paper that contained the name of the mission Best Guess, he already knew about my military service and my personal life before it. But he didn’t really know what we did, what we could do. Only the squad and Sergeant Randal knew. Very possibly some others at very high levels. But until this moment, I had not seen my own secret file and didn’t know how much it contained – or who else might have read it.“There were six of you,” he continued, reading from the paper. “You interrogated prisoners. Sometimes interrogated our own guys,” he said, occasionally referring to the notes on the page. “Three remain, including yourself, Pelman, and Kramer. Talkin, Brothers, and Ramon are gone.” Then he unceremoniously dropped the folder on the desk, looked at me and said, “All three suicides.”

“There were six of you,” he continued, reading from the paper. “You interrogated prisoners. Sometimes interrogated our own guys,” he said, occasionally referring to the notes on the page. “Three remain, including yourself, Pelman, and Kramer. Talkin, Brothers, and Ramon are gone.” Then he unceremoniously dropped the folder on the desk, looked at me and said, “All three suicides.”With a slight sneer, he asked, “Best Guess, Armando. Does that mean you were famous for making guesses?”

With a slight sneer, he asked, “Best Guess, Armando. Does that mean you were famous for making guesses?”“We didn’t guess,” I responded, my voice a mix of pride in my work and contempt for this doctor, whatever his specialty was. “We were chosen because we could glean the truth from what the target was telling us.”

“We didn’t guess,” I responded, my voice a mix of pride in my work and contempt for this doctor, whatever his specialty was. “We were chosen because we could glean the truth from what the target was telling us.”“You mean you knew what he was thinking? That’s ridiculous. You can’t read minds.”

“You mean you knew what he was thinking? That’s ridiculous. You can’t read minds.”“We didn’t read minds.” I crossed my right leg over my left without breaking eye contact with Bordrick. “I said we could tell when they were lying.”

“We didn’t read minds.” I crossed my right leg over my left without breaking eye contact with Bordrick. “I said we could tell when they were lying.”“And how did you do that?”

“And how did you do that?”After all this time it was still hard for me to distill all the factors that went into the Best Guess team’s conclusions. Body language, facial expression, a subtle rise in temperature of the target that caused his skin color to take on a tinge of pink. The faintest movement of his eyeball, the tightening of certain muscles around his eyes, nose, or mouth. The cadence of the target’s words was easy to interpret; the muscular twitches of his exposed forearms were more complicated and elusive.

After all this time it was still hard for me to distill all the factors that went into the Best Guess team’s conclusions. Body language, facial expression, a subtle rise in temperature of the target that caused his skin color to take on a tinge of pink. The faintest movement of his eyeball, the tightening of certain muscles around his eyes, nose, or mouth. The cadence of the target’s words was easy to interpret; the muscular twitches of his exposed forearms were more complicated and elusive.Sergeant Randal drilled us not to think. He raged at us when we tried to understand what was happening instead of unconsciously reacting to the signals.

Sergeant Randal drilled us not to think. He raged at us when we tried to understand what was happening instead of unconsciously reacting to the signals.“If you think about it,” he bellowed, “you’ll lose it. It’s got to be below your skin, outside your mind, unthinking reaction to a host of non-verbal signals. Signals that our early human ancestors were experts at reading because they had to interpret every signal in their environment, signals they got from other animals competing for the environment’s limited resources. Even signals from members of other human tribes.”

“If you think about it,” he bellowed, “you’ll lose it. It’s got to be below your skin, outside your mind, unthinking reaction to a host of non-verbal signals. Signals that our early human ancestors were experts at reading because they had to interpret every signal in their environment, signals they got from other animals competing for the environment’s limited resources. Even signals from members of other human tribes.”Randal recited this history with a strong sense of pride in what early hominids were capable of, as if he identified more closely with them than he did with his contemporaries. And he often ended with a disappointing conclusion about where we had turned away from the path.

Randal recited this history with a strong sense of pride in what early hominids were capable of, as if he identified more closely with them than he did with his contemporaries. And he often ended with a disappointing conclusion about where we had turned away from the path.“But Homo sapiens lost the ability to read such things,” he said, “when we thought we had developed a better brain.”

“But Homo sapiens lost the ability to read such things,” he said, “when we thought we had developed a better brain.”Randal always scoffed at this last point. He was brilliant and had, as far as I could tell, an encyclopedic memory of his favorite hobbies – ontogenesis and phylogenesis – how from the earliest stages of embryonic development – ontogenesis – the human body nearly mirrored the developmental stages of human evolution – phylogenesis.

Randal always scoffed at this last point. He was brilliant and had, as far as I could tell, an encyclopedic memory of his favorite hobbies – ontogenesis and phylogenesis – how from the earliest stages of embryonic development – ontogenesis – the human body nearly mirrored the developmental stages of human evolution – phylogenesis.“We are more animal and more instinctual than we think,” he often said. His disdain for H. sapiens’ belief in our own exceptionalism was the metaphorical knotted cord he used to beat us with, pushing us to ignore our thoughts and rely on our instincts.

“We are more animal and more instinctual than we think,” he often said. His disdain for H. sapiens’ belief in our own exceptionalism was the metaphorical knotted cord he used to beat us with, pushing us to ignore our thoughts and rely on our instincts.I turned my attention back to Bordrick.

I turned my attention back to Bordrick.“Best Guess was about understanding what the target was thinking,” I began, “or what he was trying not to think, even if he didn’t fully understand it himself. If we could get past the surface and decode the intent of his actions, we could steer him toward revealing more to us than he would to people who tortured him with rubber hoses and electric prods.”

“Best Guess was about understanding what the target was thinking,” I began, “or what he was trying not to think, even if he didn’t fully understand it himself. If we could get past the surface and decode the intent of his actions, we could steer him toward revealing more to us than he would to people who tortured him with rubber hoses and electric prods.”Bordrick stared at me without blinking. I could sense his doubt, his not wanting to believe what I had told him and not wanting to accept the premise of Operation Best Guess.

Bordrick stared at me without blinking. I could sense his doubt, his not wanting to believe what I had told him and not wanting to accept the premise of Operation Best Guess.He flipped the cover of the folder closed and then looked up at me.

He flipped the cover of the folder closed and then looked up at me.“I don’t believe you, and I don’t believe you have any special talent, but he does.”

“I don’t believe you, and I don’t believe you have any special talent, but he does.”“Who’s he?” I asked.

“Who’s he?” I asked.“The man I work for.” Bordrick quickly shifted the conversation before I could ask who that was.

“The man I work for.” Bordrick quickly shifted the conversation before I could ask who that was.“And this ‘Darren Priest.’ Is that your other name?” he asked me.

“And this ‘Darren Priest.’ Is that your other name?” he asked me.I shrugged. I had adopted the name when I left the Army. I was not ashamed of my earlier work, but the sensitivity of our operations – and the people that I had interacted with – convinced me and Sergeant Randal that it would be best to erase Armando from the present tense. So, now, I lived mostly under Darren Priest and shed references to my past as Armando Listrani. Both monikers appeared in this file, though. Still, I wasn’t going to make it easier for Bordrick until I knew more about him.

I shrugged. I had adopted the name when I left the Army. I was not ashamed of my earlier work, but the sensitivity of our operations – and the people that I had interacted with – convinced me and Sergeant Randal that it would be best to erase Armando from the present tense. So, now, I lived mostly under Darren Priest and shed references to my past as Armando Listrani. Both monikers appeared in this file, though. Still, I wasn’t going to make it easier for Bordrick until I knew more about him.“You said something about the man you work for,” I said as I tried to reverse the direction of the conversation. “Who is that?”

“You said something about the man you work for,” I said as I tried to reverse the direction of the conversation. “Who is that?”When I was called by my point of contact at the Defense Department and told to report to Bordrick’s office, she said she couldn’t tell me the purpose of the meeting. “Just show up,” was all she said. I had served through my period of active duty and through the statutory period of inactive reserves afterward. But I also knew that certain careers lingered longer, like the muse who sits on your shoulder and might, at any time, whisper “come back.”

When I was called by my point of contact at the Defense Department and told to report to Bordrick’s office, she said she couldn’t tell me the purpose of the meeting. “Just show up,” was all she said. I had served through my period of active duty and through the statutory period of inactive reserves afterward. But I also knew that certain careers lingered longer, like the muse who sits on your shoulder and might, at any time, whisper “come back.”My career was like that.

My career was like that.I pressed the woman at DoD for more information, reminding her that I was living a comfortable existence as a wine and food writer now, and she let out a little laugh.

I pressed the woman at DoD for more information, reminding her that I was living a comfortable existence as a wine and food writer now, and she let out a little laugh.“Sorry,” she said, and I could almost see her shoulders shrug through the cell phone connection. “Some things you don’t get to unvolunteer for.”

“Sorry,” she said, and I could almost see her shoulders shrug through the cell phone connection. “Some things you don’t get to unvolunteer for.”It was a well understood reminder, a code phrase in my work that allowed no dispute.

It was a well understood reminder, a code phrase in my work that allowed no dispute.I clicked off the call and assumed that I would be meeting this Bordrick guy and then, maybe, I would find out.

I clicked off the call and assumed that I would be meeting this Bordrick guy and then, maybe, I would find out.“Where did you get the name?” Bordrick’s question brought me back to the present. I didn’t have an answer for him. It had just come to me when I was rewriting my personal history to erase Armando Listrani from the public record. So, I shrugged my shoulders, still unwilling to give him much until he started to reveal more to me.

“Where did you get the name?” Bordrick’s question brought me back to the present. I didn’t have an answer for him. It had just come to me when I was rewriting my personal history to erase Armando Listrani from the public record. So, I shrugged my shoulders, still unwilling to give him much until he started to reveal more to me.“And you write for The Wine Review,” he continued, glancing at the page in the file. “Are they any good? Are you any good?”

“And you write for ,” he continued, glancing at the page in the file. “Are they any good? Are you any good?”“Depends,” I replied.

“Depends,” I replied.“On what?”

“On what?”“On whether you’re cultured enough to appreciate good wine.”

“On whether you’re cultured enough to appreciate good wine.”Bordrick’s lips stiffened and his right eyebrow arched slightly at the open insult.

Bordrick’s lips stiffened and his right eyebrow arched slightly at the open insult.“President Pendleton wants to see you,” he said with finality, standing to show me out the door. There was a uniformed guard outside the office who turned to me as I stepped over the threshold and he pointed down the hallway.

“President Pendleton wants to see you,” he said with finality, standing to show me out the door. There was a uniformed guard outside the office who turned to me as I stepped over the threshold and he pointed down the hallway.“I will escort you to the White House, sir,” was all he said. I followed him down the corridor to the elevators, then down to the garage below the building. There was another armed officer already in the driver’s seat of the Chevy Suburban, so I got in the back as the first officer settled into the front passenger seat.

“I will escort you to the White House, sir,” was all he said. I followed him down the corridor to the elevators, then down to the garage below the building. There was another armed officer already in the driver’s seat of the Chevy Suburban, so I got in the back as the first officer settled into the front passenger seat.Images of the Oval Office are all over the news and have been for decades. The decorations may change, from the subtle blues and greens of presidents like Kennedy, Bush, and Obama, to the gaudy gold and tinsel of Trump, but the basic layout is familiar to any American and most foreigners. Still, I had never been in the room and I was pleasantly awed when I was ushered in.

Images of the Oval Office are all over the news and have been for decades. The decorations may change, from the subtle blues and greens of presidents like Kennedy, Bush, and Obama, to the gaudy gold and tinsel of Trump, but the basic layout is familiar to any American and most foreigners. Still, I had never been in the room and I was pleasantly awed when I was ushered in.I stood in the middle of the carpet without touching the furniture, lightly unnerved enough to avoid even sitting down on the couch, when the side door opened and the tall, lanky frame of President Michael Pendleton strode in. A Secret Service agent had his hand on the doorknob and quietly pulled the door shut, leaving me alone with the most powerful man in the world.

I stood in the middle of the carpet without touching the furniture, lightly unnerved enough to avoid even sitting down on the couch, when the side door opened and the tall, lanky frame of President Michael Pendleton strode in. A Secret Service agent had his hand on the doorknob and quietly pulled the door shut, leaving me alone with the most powerful man in the world.“It’s nice to meet you,” Pendleton said extending his hand and smiling, then motioning for me to sit down on the chair next to him. He didn’t sit behind the Resolute Desk, choosing instead to sit close to me, nearly knee to knee at the chairs that were nested close together in front of the desk.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Pendleton said extending his hand and smiling, then motioning for me to sit down on the chair next to him. He didn’t sit behind the Resolute Desk, choosing instead to sit close to me, nearly knee to knee at the chairs that were nested close together in front of the desk.“You were in the Army,” Pendleton said, and I nodded as the President settled back into the cushions.

“You were in the Army,” Pendleton said, and I nodded as the President settled back into the cushions.“In a special interrogation unit,” he said. His follow-up wasn’t a question. He knew the answer, so I just nodded again.

“In a special interrogation unit,” he said. His follow-up wasn’t a question. He knew the answer, so I just nodded again.“I have something that I need for you to do,” he said, reaching out to the desk to retrieve a piece of paper.

“I have something that I need for you to do,” he said, reaching out to the desk to retrieve a piece of paper.“But, sir, I’m not in the Army anymore. I’m a…”

“But, sir, I’m not in the Army anymore. I’m a…”“A wine writer,” he interrupted with a wave of his hand. His demeanor seemed to blend respect for my past career but amusement at my choice of follow-on endeavors.

“A wine writer,” he interrupted with a wave of his hand. His demeanor seemed to blend respect for my past career but amusement at my choice of follow-on endeavors.“You knew that your time in the Army will follow you,” he added. “People will wonder, they’ll write stories. You knew that, right?”

“You knew that your time in the Army will follow you,” he added. “People will wonder, they’ll write stories. You knew that, right?”He paused to sip gently at the rim of the coffee cup that he had lifted from the brass coaster on the desk. Steam from the hot liquid swirled toward his face, and he followed with another careful sip. I sat quietly, considering the point he was making about my time in the Army, admitting without comment that I had already considered that bleak possibility myself.

He paused to sip gently at the rim of the coffee cup that he had lifted from the brass coaster on the desk. Steam from the hot liquid swirled toward his face, and he followed with another careful sip. I sat quietly, considering the point he was making about my time in the Army, admitting without comment that I had already considered that bleak possibility myself.“I appreciate the time you spent in the service of our country, Armando. The country appreciates it. But although you were undercover, even deep undercover, at some point your activities – legitimate though they may have been – could be discovered and be made public.”

“I appreciate the time you spent in the service of our country, Armando. The country appreciates it. But although you were undercover, even deep undercover, at some point your activities – legitimate though they may have been – could be discovered and be made public.”Even though the President seemed pleasant and friendly, his affable manner couldn’t dispel the odd sensation I got that his phrasing carried with it a small dose of threat. Reading his expression was easy; Pendleton may be president, but he was inept at disguising his thoughts. Knowing that he – and certain others – were in possession of my entire file, the threat I perceived could entail the use of information about me, from the past to the present. As far back as high school, which was about how far service records and background investigations went for security clearances. All that was in the file or could be added to it.

Even though the President seemed pleasant and friendly, his affable manner couldn’t dispel the odd sensation I got that his phrasing carried with it a small dose of threat. Reading his expression was easy; Pendleton may be president, but he was inept at disguising his thoughts. Knowing that he – and certain others – were in possession of my entire file, the threat I perceived could entail the use of information about me, from the past to the present. As far back as high school, which was about how far service records and background investigations went for security clearances. All that was in the file or could be added to it.“We didn’t engage in any t*****e, sir,” I said defensively. It was rare that I would feel defensive about the work of Best Guess, but the Oval Office had that effect on me. “We didn’t have to,” I added.

“We didn’t engage in any t*****e, sir,” I said defensively. It was rare that I would feel defensive about the work of Best Guess, but the Oval Office had that effect on me. “We didn’t have to,” I added.Pendleton smiled slightly, as if my comment was of little concern and possibly irrelevant to the greater context.

Pendleton smiled slightly, as if my comment was of little concern and possibly irrelevant to the greater context.“Would you have tortured the prisoners to get information?” he asked.

“Would you have tortured the prisoners to get information?” he asked.“Never. It’s repugnant. And if that’s not enough, it’s also immoral and illegal. Not to mention completely ineffective. The kind of information you get from someone terrified by t*****e and trying only to stop the pain…”

“Never. It’s repugnant. And if that’s not enough, it’s also immoral and illegal. Not to mention completely ineffective. The kind of information you get from someone terrified by t*****e and trying only to stop the pain…”“Would be useless?” he interjected with raised eyebrows.

“Would be useless?” he interjected with raised eyebrows.I paused to cool my head, but the carefully constructed protocols for interrogation had been corrupted by untrained people hoping for a quick hit with waterboarding or other inhumane techniques. I wanted the President to know that we abhorred that tactic, for reasons of human dignity as well as effectiveness.

I paused to cool my head, but the carefully constructed protocols for interrogation had been corrupted by untrained people hoping for a quick hit with waterboarding or other inhumane techniques. I wanted the President to know that we abhorred that tactic, for reasons of human dignity as well as effectiveness.“Funny,” Pendleton laughed, “earlier administrations didn’t agree with your assessment. But I agree with you, Armando. Still, that’s not the point.”

“Funny,” Pendleton laughed, “earlier administrations didn’t agree with your assessment. But I agree with you, Armando. Still, that’s not the point.”“It is precisely the point, sir, if I may. We…”

“It is precisely the point, sir, if I may. We…”“We? You mean the team of Operation Best Guess?”

“We? You mean the team of Operation Best Guess?”“Yes. We were trained to be…”

“Yes. We were trained to be…”“Trained?”

“Trained?”“Well, no. Adapted. Talented,” I replied.

“Well, no. Adapted. Talented,” I replied.Pendleton clearly knew that the team of Best Guess had an obscure ability to discern truth and lies based on behavior and physical responses alone. His question betrayed a familiarity with our ops and convinced me that our team’s secrets were well briefed to him.

Pendleton clearly knew that the team of Best Guess had an obscure ability to discern truth and lies based on behavior and physical responses alone. His question betrayed a familiarity with our ops and convinced me that our team’s secrets were well briefed to him.“Still,” Pendleton interrupted my explanation, “whether you choose to be a wine writer or a plumber, Armando Listrani’s past could catch up with him. Why not kill him?”

“Still,” Pendleton interrupted my explanation, “whether you choose to be a wine writer or a plumber, Armando Listrani’s past could catch up with him. Why not kill him?”The directness of his solution caught me by surprise.

The directness of his solution caught me by surprise.“Don’t worry, Armando,” he chuckled. “I don’t want somebody to kill you.” Then he leaned forward in his chair toward me and added, “But wouldn’t your new career proceed more easily if you could just go on as a wine and food writer without the cumbersome burden of the Listrani identity lurking in the shadows?”

“Don’t worry, Armando,” he chuckled. “I don’t want somebody to kill you.” Then he leaned forward in his chair toward me and added, “But wouldn’t your new career proceed more easily if you could just go on as a wine and food writer without the cumbersome burden of the Listrani identity lurking in the shadows?”I had to consider his suggestion. And not for the first time.

I had to consider his suggestion. And not for the first time.“I didn’t do anything wrong, sir. We didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, sir. We didn’t do anything wrong.”I felt the need to justify my career as an interrogator. Our services were vital to success during the war, and we – the six of us on the team – carried out our duties without inflicting physical or emotional harm on the subjects. We simply listened to them, picked up on misdirection signals however subtle, and steered the conversation toward new avenues until the subject gave up the information we were looking for.

I felt the need to justify my career as an interrogator. Our services were vital to success during the war, and we – the six of us on the team – carried out our duties without inflicting physical or emotional harm on the subjects. We simply listened to them, picked up on misdirection signals however subtle, and steered the conversation toward new avenues until the subject gave up the information we were looking for.There were the easy ones, mostly guys whose wives and children made them fear American authority and who gave up their secrets almost as soon as we entered the room. There were some who thought they could beat us, giving off a glow of confidence, but who crumbled when we told them things, we detected that they thought they had hidden, clues to things not said.

There were the easy ones, mostly guys whose wives and children made them fear American authority and who gave up their secrets almost as soon as we entered the room. There were some who thought they could beat us, giving off a glow of confidence, but who crumbled when we told them things, we detected that they thought they had hidden, clues to things not said.And then there were others who were skilled at layered stories, each layer disguising some kernel of truth but hidden beneath off-the-cuff comments that created a directional nightmare. Still, they broke too. We didn’t have to read their minds; we only had to uncover how they were being untruthful. Each time we were able to point out where their statements didn’t have the ring of truth, a slowly simmering fear would grow inside them. As the fear of our abilities to read into their comments grew, so did the simmer, which turned to a boil, which revealed itself as “tells” that even a first-year interrogator could unpuzzle. Even the hardened targets collapsed under that strategy.

And then there were others who were skilled at layered stories, each layer disguising some kernel of truth but hidden beneath off-the-cuff comments that created a directional nightmare. Still, they broke too. We didn’t have to read their minds; we only had to uncover how they were being untruthful. Each time we were able to point out where their statements didn’t have the ring of truth, a slowly simmering fear would grow inside them. As the fear of our abilities to read into their comments grew, so did the simmer, which turned to a boil, which revealed itself as “tells” that even a first-year interrogator could unpuzzle. Even the hardened targets collapsed under that strategy.“No, of course you didn’t do anything wrong,” the President added, bringing me back to the moment. “But people who traffic in conspiracies could make something of your methods – and your past. You seem to be very happy with your writing and your wine tasting. Why not secure that as your true identity?”

“No, of course you didn’t do anything wrong,” the President added, bringing me back to the moment. “But people who traffic in conspiracies could make something of your methods – and your past. You seem to be very happy with your writing and your wine tasting. Why not secure that as your true identity?”“Why would you become involved in this?” I asked.

“Why would you become involved in this?” I asked.“I need your help on something,” he replied.

“I need your help on something,” he replied.“But I’m not volunteering for…”

“But I’m not volunteering for…”The President raised his hand to stop me and smiled.

The President raised his hand to stop me and smiled.“Some things you can’t unvolunteer for.”

“Some things you can’t unvolunteer for.”President Pendleton’s use of that same phrase made me realize that he was dead set on this, and he wasn’t asking me if I was agreeing to do it.

President Pendleton’s use of that same phrase made me realize that he was dead set on this, and he wasn’t asking me if I was agreeing to do it.I wouldn’t – couldn’t – jump right in. I still worried that my background was being used to put me in a dangerous, possibly irreversibly dangerous, position.

I wouldn’t – couldn’t – jump right in. I still worried that my background was being used to put me in a dangerous, possibly irreversibly dangerous, position.“What is it that you want me to do?” I asked. I decided it was worth hearing him out. Besides, the President had already made it clear that he held the strongest hand.

“What is it that you want me to do?” I asked. I decided it was worth hearing him out. Besides, the President had already made it clear that he held the strongest hand.“Politics is a dirty business,” he said, his gaze turning downward in an instinctual move used by most people unconsciously trying to hide from the truth. He spoke quietly but otherwise made no effort to conceal the nature of our conversation. My mind drifted back to the days of Watergate and the taping system that Nixon had used in this very room. From Pendleton’s frank words, I concluded that there was no such system in place now.

“Politics is a dirty business,” he said, his gaze turning downward in an instinctual move used by most people unconsciously trying to hide from the truth. He spoke quietly but otherwise made no effort to conceal the nature of our conversation. My mind drifted back to the days of Watergate and the taping system that Nixon had used in this very room. From Pendleton’s frank words, I concluded that there was no such system in place now.“Not everyone plays by the rules,” he continued, and I had to stifle a laugh. The game of politics might have rules, but most people had long since given up thinking these rules were designed for everyone.

“Not everyone plays by the rules,” he continued, and I had to stifle a laugh. The game of politics might have rules, but most people had long since given up thinking these rules were designed for everyone.Pendleton stood and stared out the window with his back to me. The move required that he raise his voice a bit more, another clue that what he was about to say was less sensitive than what he had already revealed. He might not have known what his body language revealed, but I did.

Pendleton stood and stared out the window with his back to me. The move required that he raise his voice a bit more, another clue that what he was about to say was less sensitive than what he had already revealed. He might not have known what his body language revealed, but I did.“Someone is trying to blackmail me. The files he has are made up of course, fictions made up about things I have supposedly said or done in private, people that I knew but didn’t disclose, and ideas that I supported but denied. He’s willing to attack my family, figuratively or literally.”

“Someone is trying to blackmail me. The files he has are made up of course, fictions made up about things I have supposedly said or done in private, people that I knew but didn’t disclose, and ideas that I supported but denied. He’s willing to attack my family, figuratively or literally.”“Who is it?”

“Who is it?”“That doesn’t matter just now,” he said. “But he has collected enough of this crap that he could use it against me in the next election.”

“That doesn’t matter just now,” he said. “But he has collected enough of this crap that he could use it against me in the next election.”I thought we were talking about his family, but Pendleton made it clear that this was politics. Besides, the ‘family’ angle was overused. It was the most common misdirection employed by politicians, and I quickly picked up physical tells that revealed his prevarication. Sergeant Randal’s scowl came to mind, so I didn’t try to analyze the President’s skin tone, pupil dilation, or other factors. But I also had complete faith in my innate ability.

I thought we were talking about his family, but Pendleton made it clear that this was politics. Besides, the ‘family’ angle was overused. It was the most common misdirection employed by politicians, and I quickly picked up physical tells that revealed his prevarication. Sergeant Randal’s scowl came to mind, so I didn’t try to analyze the President’s skin tone, pupil dilation, or other factors. But I also had complete faith in my innate ability.The President was not telling the truth, at least not all of it. Maybe some of the information was true, but probably this person he was talking about had corralled enough information to cause trouble for him.

The President was not telling the truth, at least not all of it. Maybe some of the information was true, but probably this person he was talking about had corralled enough information to cause trouble for him.“What else can you tell me? And what do you want me to do about it?”

“What else can you tell me? And what do you want me to do about it?”“He has some records,” Pendleton resumed his description, now walking around the desk in a complete circuit before returning to me, almost like he was pacing. He stood next to me, hovering a bit, when he continued.

“He has some records,” Pendleton resumed his description, now walking around the desk in a complete circuit before returning to me, almost like he was pacing. He stood next to me, hovering a bit, when he continued.“They are probably not here in the U.S.”

“They are probably not here in the U.S.”“Why do you think that?”

“Why do you think that?”“He has a lot of friends around the world. And he has assured me that I could ‘shake every tree in America’ and not find his files.”

“He has a lot of friends around the world. And he has assured me that I could ‘shake every tree in America’ and not find his files.”“Then where?”

“Then where?”Pendleton sat on the edge of the Resolute Desk, one knee swung up on the surface so that his lower leg dangled. He paused to take another sip of the now cooled coffee.

Pendleton sat on the edge of the Resolute Desk, one knee swung up on the surface so that his lower leg dangled. He paused to take another sip of the now cooled coffee.“There are three likely places – Berlin, Mendoza, and Vienna – but I’ve checked out Berlin and Mendoza through other channels. Frankly, I can’t completely cross them off the list, but my money is on Vienna. Austria, that is, not Virginia.”

“There are three likely places – Berlin, Mendoza, and Vienna – but I’ve checked out Berlin and Mendoza through other channels. Frankly, I can’t completely cross them off the list, but my money is on Vienna. Austria, that is, not Virginia.”“Why there?”

“Why there?”“He has invested a lot of money and kept it off the books in the States. I found out that he deals with a company called DFR-Wien, a bank that is headquartered in Vienna. They manage large portfolios for customers around the world, and they offer additional levels of security gratis for their high rollers.”

“He has invested a lot of money and kept it off the books in the States. I found out that he deals with a company called DFR-Wien, a bank that is headquartered in Vienna. They manage large portfolios for customers around the world, and they offer additional levels of security for their high rollers.”“Like?”

“Like?”“Complete secrecy.”

“Complete secrecy.”That’s a red herring. In my business, we know there is no such thing as complete secrecy. ‘No secret is known to only one person,’ Sergeant Randal often reminded us.

That’s a red herring. In my business, we know there is no such thing as complete secrecy. ‘No secret is known to only one person,’ Sergeant Randal often reminded us.“So, you think that in addition to the money he has invested at this bank – DFR, right? – this guy is holding information about you that would endanger your career and possibly your family?”

“So, you think that in addition to the money he has invested at this bank – DFR, right? – this guy is holding information about you that would endanger your career and possibly your family?”I ripped off the end of that sentence without pausing. A corollary to my being able to pick up on other people’s lies was learning how to sound convincing on my own. If my voice had broken as I said, “possibly your family,” Pendleton might have sensed – even in an unconscious way – that I doubted him. For now, I knew that I should keep him believing that I believed him.

I ripped off the end of that sentence without pausing. A corollary to my being able to pick up on other people’s lies was learning how to sound convincing on my own. If my voice had broken as I said, “possibly your family,” Pendleton might have sensed – even in an unconscious way – that I doubted him. For now, I knew that I should keep him believing that I believed him.“Yes,” was his terse reply.

“Yes,” was his terse reply.