The Case Officer

The Case Officer Read Free

Book: The Case Officer Read Free
Author: F. W. Rustmann
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further
delay in the evacuation would end in disaster. He couldn’t let that happen. If
Spinelli wasn’t going to confront the ambassador, he was going to have to do
it.
    “Sir, the security situation
absolutely dictates we evacuate everyone today.” He leaned forward for emphasis
and locked his eyes on the ambassador’s. “If we don’t, Aideed’s men will be
coming over the walls and we’ll have to start shooting people, and I don’t have
enough Marines or ammunition to hold off such a large force.”
    Sweat dripped down the
ambassador’s face, his eyes locked evenly on MacMurphy’s. “You’re not going to
shoot anyone,” he spat. “I will not have any shooting in this compound, no
shooting, none, and that’s final.”
    MacMurphy leaned back and stared
at the ambassador incredulously. “You want us to let them into the compound? Is
that what you want? They will come over the walls, you know.” His eyes
refused to let go of the Ambassador’s.
    “There will be no bloodshed. Not
while I’m in command of this embassy. No one is going to be shot.”
    Spinelli leaned forward over the
table, “But sir, what do you expect us to do? We have to either leave or defend
ourselves. We can’t just sit here and be captured. Not by that mob. We’ve got
to get out of here while we still have the chance. That mob will hack us up
like animals if we stay.”
    The ambassador trembled with
rage. He wagged a boney finger at them and declared, “This is a fortress. We
will remain inside until help arrives. When State sees our situation, they will
understand and come to their senses. We cannot abandon this embassy. We will
not. Not as long as I’m in charge.”
    Spinelli slumped in resignation.
MacMurphy shook his head.
    “Let me get this absolutely
clear, sir. You intend to remain in the embassy with your staff, and you are
ordering me and my Marines not to defend the compound when , and I
don’t mean if , Aideed’s men attack. Is that correct, sir?”
    “That is correct, Captain. Absolutely
correct. Our country will not abandon us. We will hole up in the chancery
building until help arrives. We will force our government to come to our aid.
Those are my final orders.”
    The ambassador abruptly rose from
his chair, knocking it against the plastic wall,  and hustled for the door.
With his hand on one of the plastic handles, he turned and glared at the two
officers. “When the non-essential people and our friends have been evacuated,
you will assemble the remaining people in the chancery with enough food and
water to last for as long as necessary. Then you can batten down the hatches, Captain.
Is that understood?”
    Then he was gone, leaving the
door of the bubble open behind him.
     
    MacMurphy and Spinelli remained
seated, joined in disbelief, for several moments. The silence blared. Finally
MacMurphy spoke. “What are you going to do, Mr. Spinelli? The ambassador has
lost it.”
    “I know, I know…but there’s
nothing I can do other than report this to headquarters and hope they can
prevail on State to talk some sense into the moron. That’s it. That’s all I can
do...”
    MacMurphy stood as if to leave,
and then abruptly turned back. “Maybe there’s something I can do.” He paused
and then went on. “Let Washington know about our situation, and meanwhile I’ll
try to buy us some time. Either someone has to bring that idiot to his senses,
or we’re going to have to arrest him and take him out of here in handcuffs.
Please tell your people I said that. This situation is critical.”
    “I will, Captain. Just don’t do
anything stupid…”
     
    Chapter Three
     
    M acMurphy walked briskly through
the deserted halls of the chancery building, his mind moving faster than his
footsteps, which echoed through the marble corridors. Descending the wide
staircase, he hurried through the main entrance, waving at the Marine security
guard on duty as he passed Post Number One. He entered the numerical code on
the

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