The Overseer Read Free Page B

big step forward for her.” O’Connell waited for a response; when none came, he reminded Pritchard, “State’s not Committee jurisdiction. You couldn’t touch her even if you wanted to.”
    “We both know that’s not true.” He stood and moved to the bar. “She’ll turn over a few rocks. Test her wings. Probably the best thing for her.”
    “Have you been listening, Arthur?” O’Connell had become far more animated. “Putting her back in the field, no matter how simple the task—”
    “She’s perfect. Her work in Jordan remains textbook.”
    “ Was perfect, Arthur. Was .” He watched as Pritchard took a sip of his drink. “Or are you forgetting what she was like after Amman?” He waited until their eyes met. “This is not an issue for discussion. We leave her alone, Arthur. We let her get on with her life.”
    “Actually … she already has some of the information.”
    “ What ?” It was Stein who spoke. “That’s all very sensitive—”
    “Don’t worry, Bob,” Pritchard continued, avoiding O’Connell’s gaze. “She has the absolute minimum. Names of organizations, various players—oh, and that Enreich thing. If nothing else, she might be able to figure out how that fits in. All of it’s through our contacts in research, so there’s no way to link it to this office.”
    “It’s not this office I’m concerned with,” snapped O’Connell.
    “The report reads like a routine fact finder on the New Right,” Pritchard continued, “no mention of Schenten, our operation, the girl—”
    “ What ?” O’Connell was doing everything he could to contain his rage. “Her mental state aside, you brought her in blind ?”
    “The report’s been put together so that she’ll think she’s doing a general file update. Don’t worry—nothing to set off any alarm bells.”
    O’Connell stared for a long moment at his old friend. “As much as I agree that Bob is blowing this thing way out of proportion, these are major players here, Arthur. Being chummy is one thing, but if the killing is connected—if these men are capable of that—we’d have to ask why. We’d be throwing her into something potentially far more dangerous than Amman.”
    “And that’s exactly why she’s perfect.” Pritchard’s tone became far more pointed. “If it turns out that this is all a wild-goose chase, then we’ve wasted a little of her time, and saved ourselves far more by not having to mount an entire operation. If not … she knows how to take care of herself.”
    “ That remains open to debate.”
    The two men stared at each other; Pritchard then arched his back and turned to the window. Streaks of pink and red darted through the clouds, sending a single beam of light onto the dome of the Capitol. “You know, I love this view. Insisted on the office. Smartest thing I ever did.” The ice in his drink popped and sent a rivulet of whiskey over the side. He turned. “You have to trust me, gentlemen. Know me a bit better than that.” He took a long sip. “I’ll be watching her the whole way—pull her out if things get tight. Chances are, they won’t, but we all agree. The files on our illustrious quartet could always be a bit thicker.” He put his glass down. “Given the nature of the thing so far, something’s bound—”
    “To turn up?” O’Connell had heard it too many times before.
    Pritchard smiled. “Exactly. And when it does, we pull her out. Fair enough? Look, the ball’s already in play. If there is anything here, all she has to do is raise a few eyebrows. How hard could that be?”
     
    Saddled with overnight bag, purse, and briefcase, Sarah Trent looked the typical attorney making her weekly trek to New York. The heavy winter coat bounced playfully just above her knees, revealing a pair of rather exquisite legs. At five foot seven, trim and athletic, Sarah was used to the turned heads, the long stares. She smiled back, her deep chestnut eyes flashing in response, as she moved along