Chapter 14

           «Where’sLangdon?»Fachedemanded,exhalingthelastofacigaretteashepacedbackintothecommandpost.

           «Stillinthemen’sroom,sir.»LieutenantCollethadbeenexpectingthequestion.Fachegrumbled,»Takinghistime,Isee.»ThecaptaineyedtheGPSdotoverCollet’sshoulder,andColletcouldalmosthearthewheelsturning.FachewasfightingtheurgetogocheckonLangdon.Ideally,thesubjectofanobservationwasallowedthemosttimeandfreedompossible,lullinghimintoafalsesenseofsecurity.Langdonneededtoreturnofhisownvolition.Still,ithadbeenalmosttenminutes.

           Toolong.

           «AnychanceLangdonisontous?»Facheasked.

           Colletshookhishead.«We’restillseeingsmallmovementsinsidethemen’sroom,sotheGPSdotisobviouslystillonhim.Perhapshefeelsill?Ifhehadfoundthedot,hewouldhaveremoveditandtriedtorun.»

           Fachecheckedhiswatch.«Fine.»

           StillFacheseemedpreoccupied.Allevening,Collethadsensedanatypicalintensityinhiscaptain.

           Usuallydetachedandcoolunderpressure,Fachetonightseemedemotionallyengaged,asifthisweresomehowapersonalmatterforhim.

           Notsurprising,Colletthought.Facheneedsthisarrestdesperately.RecentlytheBoardofMinistersandthemediahadbecomemoreopenlycriticalofFache’saggressivetactics,hisclasheswithpowerfulforeignembassies,andhisgrossoverbudgetingonnewtechnologies.Tonight,ahigh-tech,high-profilearrestofanAmericanwouldgoalongwaytosilenceFache’scritics,helpinghimsecurethejobafewmoreyearsuntilhecouldretirewiththelucrativepension