Romanov Succession by Brian Garfield Read Free Book Online Page A

President. That’s the way it’s got to be—we’ve got to cover the President’s ass. Clear enough?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIf I’m challenged I’m prepared to testify that you and I are meeting right now to discuss your duties on your new assignment on the Soviet desk at War Department Intelligence. That’s your official roster duty, by the way, until you hand in your resignation.”
    â€œMy what?”
    â€œWe’ll get to that,” Buckner said. “This is a complex operation they’ve proposed. We’re going to need close liaison at all points. Your name was put forward by Prince Leon and his group—they said you were one of them and one of us at the same time, you’d be the ideal contact man.”
    â€œWhat about you? What do you think?”
    â€œI go along with them. It’s their operation.”
    â€œFrom the way you’re talking I’m getting the feeling you’re making it yours. President Roosevelt’s.”
    â€œIt’s got to be a Russian operation. Led by Russians and manned by Russians exclusively. There can’t be a single American involved in it. We’ll provide support but it’s got to be invisible. You can understand that.”
    â€œI might if I knew what it was.”
    â€œI have to leave that up to your own people.”
    â€œI’m an officer in the United States Army. You’re my people,”
    â€œNot if you take this job on. You’ll have to resign your commission. That’s what I meant before.” Buckner smiled a bit ruefully; his smile laced crow’s feet around his eyes and gave him an outdoor look. “It won’t be a piece of cake, Colonel, but it could make you a mighty big place in history if that sort of thing impresses you.”
    â€œTell me this—who’s got the final authority over operational plans?”
    â€œI’d hope we’d be able to take that on the basis of mutual cooperation. But the decision will have to be up to your people, ultimately. Frankly that’s one reason I’m pleased with this meeting. I have a feeling you and I should be able to work together pretty well.”
    Buckner riffled the files in the open folder on his desk. “If your people blow the operation it’s their own neck. The United States had nothing to do with it. I hope they all understand that.”
    â€œI’ll make sure they do.” It could affect their decisions; it might even cool them from the plan, if that seemed necessary. He felt handcuffed by ignorance: he had to contain his anger.
    Buckner produced a typed letter-order. “You’re officially on thirty-day furlough as of now. Go to Europe, talk to them, get it all settled among you. Then come back and tell me what you’ve decided and we’ll get to work.” He handed it across the desk. “Don’t waste time. The war isn’t standing still for us. I’m going to book you on the diplomatic plane to Lisbon tomorrow afternoon.”
    â€œYou’d better make it two seats.”
    It caused a momentary freeze. Buckner’s expression inquired of him; then it changed before Alex could speak. “The Countess. Sorry, I forgot.”
    It was Irina’s mother who was the Countess but he didn’t take the trouble to set Buckner straight. “You don’t miss much, do you?”
    Buckner had an ingratiating grin that showed a great many teeth. “Not when it counts. That’s what the President pays me for.”
    Alex found himself liking the American despite his suspicions. Buckner didn’t have the secretive trappings that usually went with positions like his.
    Buckner seemed to sense the line of his thinking. “You’re coming into this dead cold, aren’t you? It’s all brand new to you. I gather the Countess couldn’t tell you much about it.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThat’s a hell of a woman.” He was