Consent To Kill

Ke

"Everybody, including and especially the Pentagon, are using civilian contractors, and they're not just hiring engineers to build bridges, schools, and hospitals. They're hiring firms left and right to provide diplomatic security, food prep services, cleaning services, trucking…you name it, and if it doesn't involve actual combat, the Pentagon is using private contractors."

"Scott?" Ke

"I've seen my business grow from about two million a year to over twenty."

"Tell her about Black Watch." Rapp was referring to the private security firm that had been started by one of Coleman's fellow SEALs.

"They're going to do over two hundred and fifty million in business with the government alone this year. They have six thousand acres down in North Carolina that they've turned into a Disneyland for shooters. They have a race track to teach defensive driving, they have a state-of-the-art sniping range and shooting house, their own airstrips, planes, helicopters, armored perso

"Their philosophy," interjected Rapp, "is that they can do it better and in a more cost effective way than the federal government."

"That wouldn't be difficult."

"Well, they're the first people to really try it, and they are succeeding."

Ke

"So, where I'm going with this," said Rapp, "is that we begin to use a series of companies to…" Rapp didn't get to finish his sentence because the door to Ke

"Don't bother getting up," a

Rapp looked over his shoulder with undisguised irritation. He'd been in countless closed-door meetings in this office, and when the door was closed it was for a good reason-especially this morning. This was a first. People did not simply barge in on the director of the CIA una

"Irene, sorry to intrude, but I was in the neighborhood and decided to drop by." Ross reached the area where they were sitting and let his gaze fall on Rapp. "Mitch," he said, placing his left hand on Rapp's shoulder and extending his right hand. "Good to see you as always."

Rapp nodded. He'd only met the new intel czar twice, both times when Ross was in the Senate. Ke

The ski

"I see that pretty wife of yours on TV every day," Ross continued. "You're a lucky guy." He took his hand off Rapp's shoulder and looked at the third party in the room. It was obvious by the square jaw and athletic build of the man that he was not your average Langley bureaucrat. He appeared to be a Nordic version of Rapp, and Ross suddenly found himself wondering what he, Rapp, and Ke

"Mark Ross," he introduced himself to the blond-haired man. "Director of National Intelligence."

Coleman nodded. If he was impressed he didn't show it. "Scott Coleman."

"You work here at Langley?"

"No, my IQ is too high." Coleman gave him his best shit-ass grin.

Ross laughed. "I don't think there are too many people in this town with an IQ as high as Doctor Ke

"Navy."

"SEALs?"

"That's classified."

Ross hesitated for a second, and Rapp thought he noticed a flash of anger just beneath the surface. Ross quelled it and looked to Ke

Rapp was the only one in the room who laughed. Ke

Before Coleman could respond Ross placed his hand on the back of the man he'd come in with and said, "This is Jonathan Gordon, my new deputy. He's going to be my point man on all coordination between Langley and National Intelligence."

"Nice to meet you, Jonathan," replied Ke

Gordon was a half head shorter than his boss and looked to be in his early forties. Rapp tried to size him up, but got nothing.

"Again, sorry for interrupting," said Ross as he clapped his hands together. "I'm trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible. I'll let you three get back to whatever it was you were discussing. I'm going to go check in on a couple of my old intel buddies, and then I'll pop back up here in about thirty minutes." Ross checked his watch. "Will that work for you, Irene?"

"If you give me a few minutes to finish up here, I'll show you around myself."

"No, don't bother," Ross insisted. "I still remember my way, and besides you're too valuable to be giving tours." He started to back away, and in a quieter tone said, "I'll stop back up in a bit. There's a few things I'd like to discuss with you." Ross and Gordon then left the corner office as quickly as they'd arrived.

When the door was closed Rapp turned to Coleman and asked, "Why do you have such a problem with authority?"

Ke

ROSS, GORDON, AND the two bodyguards approached the bank of elevators. Ross stopped and folded his arms across his chest. He looked back toward Ke